On the eve of the March 8 elections, incumbent Alderman Michael McMillan can demonstrate in more than 86 ways how he’s helped deliver more than $1.08 billion in economic development throughout his 19th Ward in two terms.
“In just about eight years, I have attracted more than $1 billion in development projects for our neighborhoods, building a strong economic development base for good businesses, schools, jobs and civic events,” McMillan said.
The alderman points to the two-year-old Martin Luther King Shopping Plaza at Page and Grand avenues as a primary example of how his economic development plan has been successful.
The $7.2 million MLK Shopping Plaza has generated 150 new jobs. The center also has generated hundreds of thousands in revenue annually, McMillan said.
The shopping plaza is composed of a Save-A-Lot grocery store, Foot Locker and a strip of various retail clothing and bargain shops. The Plaza also holds the renowned London & Sons Restaurant.
“The MLK Shopping Plaza has had a definite economic impact throughout my ward and downtown St. Louis. There were no grocery stores or strip malls in this area, so we worked to change that,” said McMillan.
Rodney Crim, executive director of the St. Louis Development Corporation, said the work of McMillan, as well as other North St. Louis aldermen and women, has been effective in producing housing stock and new businesses.
“The MLK Plaza is excellent. It was built in an underserved area. It put retail back in this area and has been very successful,” Crim said.
“We have worked with all the Board of Aldermen in their specific wards to help in development projects. We are excited about the housing redevelopment and business development in (McMillan’s) ward, as well as others throughout St. Louis.”
“As alderman, I wanted to prove that projects can survive in North St. Louis,” McMillan said. “My major responsibility, besides providing basic services, is to get as many resources as possible for this community.”
Tim Person, president of Mound City Development Co. of St. Louis, credits McMillan for having the economic plan and the vision. Mound City Development is co-owner of the shopping center.
“Without the alderman’s leadership and vision, this project would have never been done,” Person said.
“Mike followed a strategic plan to provide the community with a much-needed shopping center and keep dollars in the community. Now, people living near here don’t have to get into their cars or on buses to buy food and clothing in another neighborhood.”
The center, McMillan said, was financed through the city of St. Louis and through Tax Increment Financing (TIF) money.
Now, he said, “We want to develop more businesses near the MLK center.”
In addition, McMillan lists various educational institutions, such as Cardinal Ritter College Prep, Vashon High School, Loyola Academy and Saint Louis University as entities that have received his help in realizing economic development.
Another of McMillan’s favorite economic development projects is Kim’s Kids of Missouri, 720 N. Leonard, a 24-hour, licensed daycare facility and learning center which meets a need in his ward.
Sherry Davidson, Kim’s Kids chief operating officer, said McMillan’s efforts helped her open the $1.7 million educational facility. Davidson approached McMillan three years ago to develop a second daycare center to expand on a an existing daycare facility in East St. Louis.
“We worked long and hard together to get the property for this project. Without him, the Missouri daycare facility would not have been possible,” Davidson said. “He helped us cut through a lot of red tape. He is a wonderful man, a real mover and shaker.”
Taking the 5th
Alderwoman April Ford Griffin n who is facing a challenger, 5th Ward Democratic Committeewoman Cheryl Nelson, in the upcoming election n said she is gathering steam as she reaches nearly $551 million in economic development projects for her 5th Ward constituents.
“I have been working very hard to create new housing, businesses and other economic development projects that create jobs for residents of the 5th Ward,” Ford Griffin said.
In the last eight years, the 5th Ward landscape of blighted homes and businesses has been transformed into upscale, moderate- and low-income housing, as well as new and thriving businesses with jobs for 5th ward residents.
“We are very excited about the housing development in her ward,” Crim said.
Griffin said she has been working hard to develop the “Bottle District” near the Edward Jones Dome along with the Cochran Gardens Neighborhood Community.
“The $226 million Bottle District entertainment project will include a bowling alley, in-door go-cart track, restaurant, lofts and grocery store,” Ford Griffin said, adding that these businesses will create nearly 1,000 new jobs.
“I assisted private developers by passing a Tax Increment Finance and redevelopment plan for nearly $226 million,” Ford Griffin said.
“The Bottle District is more than a $200 million development project. The alderwoman was very effective in supporting this project,” Crim said.
“It’s right there near the Dome and the Laclede’s Landing area. We are real excited about this development in her ward.”
The alderwoman noted the Bottle District project is near the $60 million Cochran Gardens Community housing redevelopment project.
“I helped in securing a $20 million HUD grant through the Hope VI program,” Ford Griffin said regarding Cochran Gardens.
“I also helped to make sure that women- and minority-owned business had an opportunity to become major contractors on housing and economic development projects in my ward.”
Michael Kennedy Sr., president and chief executive officer of KAI, formerly Kennedy Associates Inc. of St. Louis, credits Ford Griffin with helping his minority-owned company apply for and receive the $20 million Hope VI grant for the $60 million project.
“April worked with us as lead person of an organization called the Community Task Force for Redevelopment of Cochran Gardens,” Kennedy said.
“The developers, the task force and the residents came up with the master plan for how best to develop the project. April showed that she wanted this project to be a place to improve the lifestyles of people who live there.”
Mary “One” Johnson, chief executive officer of Mary #1 Roz Enterprise and Mary “One” Home Team Realty, said Ford Griffin was the catalyst for helping her create St. Louis Place Estates and reshaping housing developments in the 5th ward.
The St. Louis Estates homes on 21st Street at St. Louis Avenue was awarded the 2004 City of St. Louis Development of the Year and the 2003 Shining Star Award by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development.
“April had the vision and the business sense to make this housing development happen,” Johnson said.
“April fought very hard to make me the contractor for this development. She really knows how to put people together, attract the city, state and federal money needed for housing development without drawing attention to herself,” Johnson said.
Ford Griffin said she is continuing to work hard at passing legislation and gathering financial packages and tax credits from federal and state programs to help developers redevelop the 5th ward.
“We are working on building and completing the Fifth Ward Elderly Housing Project,” she said. The $10 million housing project will consist of 187 units for senior citizens at the intersection of 22nd Street and Sullivan.
Ford Griffin is also working hard with developers to complete the $13 million Vaughn Elderly Housing project with 111 senior citizen units on O’Fallon at 20th streets.
Jack Thompson Square, Ford Griffin said, serves as one of her major accomplishments.
The $64 million commercial construction consists of lofts, retail shops, business offices and a nightclub. Ford Griffin recalled working with Anthony Thompson of Kwame Building Group Inc., another minority-owned business, on the square.
“I feel it’s important to give as many residents in my ward, young and old, the opportunity to have nice and affordable housing and businesses as long as I am alderwoman,” Ford Griffin said.
