Rarely in the history of St. Louis politics has an independent city agency like the St. Louis Development Corporation had an impact on a mayoral election.
That started to change last year after Clayco founder Bob Clarkâs proposal to build a concrete plant in North St. Louis was rejected by the agency. Clark, reportedly angry with SLDC and former Mayor Tishaura Jones, publicly backed candidate Cara Spencerâs campaign and promised to influence other wealthy developers to follow suit.
Spencer resigned from SLDCâs board citing claims of inefficiency. She went on to receive unprecedented donations from some developers and won the election.
The future of then-SLDC president Neal Richardson became shrouded in doubt.
It was soon announced that Richardson was out and former SLDC leader Otis Williams, 77, would serve on an interim basis.
By all accounts, Williams served efficiently during his 22 years as head of SLDC. Heâs credited for facilitating projects like the redevelopment of Busch Stadium, Ballpark Village and navigating the deal to build a $1.75 billion National Geospatial-Intelligence Agencyâs (NGA) headquarters north of downtown St. Louis.
Williams, however, also helmed SLDC in 2009, when the St. Louis Board of Aldermen approved developer Paul McKeeâs $8-billion plan to transform nearly two square miles of north St. Louis in exchange for $390 million in tax incentives.
McKee also promised to build new housing, parks, schools, churches and other major developments that never came to fruition.
In an interview with Williams Monday, the interim director denied the cityâs culpability in any of McKeeâs failed endeavors stating it was state the that wasted money on the developer and not the city.
He also revealed that Spencer approached him about filling Richardsonâs shoes while she was a candidate – and again after she became mayor.
Williams was candid about his past record as SLDCâs president, his ambitions as interim director, and his goal to further some of the agencyâs North St. Louis economic development programs and his desire to maintain his reputation of honesty, integrity and never, ever being âfor sale.â
St. Louis American: What have you been doing these past four years?
Otis Williams: I was retired. As you know, I spent almost 30 years in the Army and then 25 years with SLDC in various capacities.
SLAM: So, you served as SLDCs director from 2013 to 2021, correct?
Williams: I was deputy director prior to that (2013) but, yes.
SLAM: So, youâve served under Mayors Slay and Krewson, right?
Williams: No, I started with Mayor (Clarence) Harmon, then Mayor (Francis) Slay then Mayor (Lyda) Krewson and then about 3 months under Mayor Jones. I was part of the search (team) that found Neal as the new director.
SLAM: What did you think of him then?
Williams: Heâs a fine young man and I thank him for his service. But Iâm here to move us forward based on the mayorâs guidelines.
SLAM: Which mayor would you say was best at utilizing SLDC for economic growth and community development?
Williams: Thatâs a tricky question because time has evolved, and circumstances and funds were different with all of them. So, Iâm not going to name one because each had their own strengths.
SLAM: Let me rephrase it: Under which mayor do you think the city made the most progress in community development?
Williams: During the Slay Administration there was a plan in place and we were executing that plan. We made a lot of progress; a lot of development did occur. Under the Krewson administration, we made a huge dent in getting development going.
Starting with Slay, in 2015, we did a study looking at economic incentives. As a result of that, (we) developed a quantitative analysis that was sort of the birth of what many consider the economic benefits analysis (today)âĤit led to us doing the equitable economic framework which was a precursor to the economic justice action planâĤit focused on what we could do in North St. Louis and Neal was able to take it a step further with an action plan.
SLAM: He had an advantage [that] you didnât, which was access to ARPA funds to implement the plan, right?
Williams: Yes, he had the ARPA funds and later, I believe, there were discussions about access to Rams (settlement) funds.
SLAM: So, given that background, where do you see what you initiated and then Richarson actually started going forward?
Williams: Well, the big piece for meâĤis a focus on community. We were identifying project managers that would have a geography that essentially focused on coordinating with the aldermen-particularly northside aldermen- (to ensure) we had neighborhood organizations …one of the purposes was to identify the needs in these communities then bring city services and finances to the areas. I think what I want to do is ramp that up to make it even more active and reactive so we can get (more) action in those areas.
SLAM: To be clear, the (economic justice) plan-be it his or yours-will still go forward?
Williams: Yes, it will still go forward.
SLAM: Iâm assuming, even though you were retired, you were still watching what was going on with SLDC these past four years?
Williams: No, I wasnât (laughs)âĤI would occasionally read a news article, but I didnât follow governmentâĤI wanted to get away from it.
SLAM: Who and when were you approached about serving as director of SLDC and was it about serving on an interim basis?
Williams: Yes, it was always interim…one of my purposes is to head the process in identifying a search firm that will identify candidates that will be interviewed for the permanent position.
SLAM: Do you recall who approached you?
Williams: Well, it was MayorâĤor, at the time, candidate Spencer and I didnât accept until after she was elected.
SLAM: Have you set a timeline to serve as interim director?
Williams: No, there is a process (search committee, interviewing candidates, etc.) âĤ but itâs going to be several months.
SLAM: Your successes as director of SLDC have been well noted but are there any areas under your leadership where you feel the agency fell short?
Williams: Well, you identified it earlier. If we had more funds, I think we could have done moreâĤwe had a real focus on what we could do to change the dynamics of North St. LouisâĤbut some of that was curtailed because of a lack of funds.
SLAM: How about the Paul McKee piece; would you consider SLDCâs relationship or interactions with him and his projects a mistake or not?
Williams: Well, letâs go backâĤat the time of the initial agreements and arrangements with Mr. McKee, it was felt he was a very viable developer given his successesâĤwe found later that we were suing to terminate his redevelopment rights. So, when we realized (2017, 2018) we were not going to get what we thoughtâĤwe went to court.
SLAM: But by that time, he had already received millions in tax abatements and incentivesâĤ
Williams: No, no, noâĤletâs get it correct: He received a lot of incentives from the state and that was for land clearance and assemblyâĤif you look closely-while he was granted various city actions, there was no funding provided. Thatâs the thing people sometimes donât quite understand; while he may have gotten authority for tax financingâĤyou have to generate the taxes with successful projects in order for those funds to come to you.
SLAM: Right now, SLDC and the LCRA (Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority) have initiated eminent domain proceedings on McKeeâs properties near the NGA. Do you have any plans to reverse that decision?
Williams: Actually, Iâm being briefed on that this afternoonâĤ so Iâm not going to be able to comment on it one way or another.
SLAM: Do you know if youâll continue Jonesâ and SLDCâs programs to address property abandonment and blight or are you imagining a different approach?
Williams: I canât identify anything specific but that has always been our effortâĤone of the challenges was finding funds to help with demolitions. The cityâs budget, over the years, has always been short of our requests to eliminate blight. The fortunate part is that ARPA has provided funds that can help in that process. So, no, weâre not going to stop anything.
SLAM: Iâm sure you know that [some] wealthy developers supported Mayor Spencerâs campaign. Do you think they have some expectations they didnât receive under Jones and, if so, how will you meet or navigate those expectations?
Williams: Well, people were supporting their candidate of choice. For me, there is no navigating (necessary) because I have a reputation for being honest, that I have integrity and that I will always do things in the right way. Iâm not for sale.
SLAM: In a recent interview, Mayor Jones expressed sadness about her inability to complete the Monarch at MLK project, the workforce development hub. Will you encourage the mayor to complete that project?
Williams: Well, thatâs one of the things Iâm looking atâĤwhere I think itâs a great idea, it also needs funding. I think itâs between a $25 and $30 million project and we only have a third of the funds to be able to work with. So, in order to fulfill that dream, if you will, we have to be able to identify the funding to make it all happen. All good ideas that were out there, we will continue to try to make them happen if we can.
Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.