Ned Beatty Appreciation Week: Day 3

The City of St. Louis to Jim Day's Royal Auto Repair: bend over and squeal like a pig:

An agency backed by the city is preparing to take Day's business by eminent domain to make way for something called a "Media Box."

Day can take the offer of $67,500 for his property -- less than the city says it's worth -- or continue with an already drawn-out court battle. Either way, he has little chance of keeping his shop on a triangle of land at Spring Avenue and Olive Street....

"I can't talk to you about the Media Box," Eric Friedman, a real estate agent who describes himself as a principal in the project, said earlier last month.

But last week, Michelle Cohen, a public relations executive recently hired by Grand Center, said the "Media Box" is a building that will hold a design studio and apartments or condominiums.

"The 'Media Box' is really the working title for the design studio piece of it," Cohen said.

Friedman is working with the city's postmodern standard-bearer, an asbestos lawyer turned multimedia artist named Paul Guzzardo. Guzzardo has been involved in creative presentation of images, including projecting the last episode of "Seinfeld" on the side of a building on Washington Avenue. He also owned an "interactive" nightclub, Cabool, where dance moves were broadcast over the Internet.

"I have an interest and kind of obsession with information culture and urbanism," Guzzardo said recently -- although he also refused to discuss the Media Box.

The proposal submitted to the city by Grand Center says nothing about using Day's property for commercial purposes. Still, Schoemehl says the intended use of the land is consistent with the redevelopment plan.

"It is not simply being condemned in furtherance of a piece of abstract art," Schoemehl said.

Reason has covered eminent domain abuse in many articles over the years, including pieces by Bill Steigerwald and Sam Staley.

Comments

Unnecessarily long sentence name guy | February 2, 2005, 11:13am | #

In related news, the newly minted Republican majority in Georgia is trying to pass a bill to expand eminent domain.

David | February 2, 2005, 12:48pm | #

This story is sadly unsurprising. There is a condo development group in Hollywood, FL trying to force out the smallbeach front homes and motels so they will have adequate parking for their villas. The have pre-sold most of their units in the $1million to $5million range. The are threatening an eminent domain suite against the people who have not sold to their development.

I have a question. If you you still have an active mortage on a property seized through eminent domain, what would your responsibilities to that loan be? Do you continue to pay on a property that has been forcibly purchased from you at a loss? Or do the new property holders assume the remainder of that debt.

Thomas Paine's Goiter | February 2, 2005, 12:56pm | #

Firstly, I'm now a bit frightened because of all of the Ned Beatty around here.

Secondly, this is no surprise. It's going on in almost every major city in the country right now. Until one of these property owners finds a federal judge that can actually understand the meaning of the freaking constitution, they're screwed.

WSDave | February 2, 2005, 1:22pm | #

As much as I hate the idea of taking anyone's property, I think it would be funny as hell if the voters got some new blood into office, and then specifically took the homes and property of the politicians who created this fiasco.

If you create a monster, you shouldn't be suprised when it eats you.

just another lurker | February 2, 2005, 1:33pm | #

"Day's business is just steps way from the Fox Theatre, Powell Hall, the Contemporary Art Museum and other cultural institutions. The area is struggling and has been targeted for redevelopment by the city. Leading the charge is Grand Center Inc., a nonprofit organization headed by former Mayor Vincent C. Schoemehl Jr. ... Grand Center's vision has the area becoming the "cultural soul" of the city...."

Who is "struggling" in this area? Apparently not the auto repair shop, if it can pull in 67 grand in 3 months.

So basically the difference between the "OH, No" case and this one is that that the first wants to steal land to build a Crate & Barrell, and this one wants to steal it to expand the artsy-fartsy district into a "cultural soul"?

Waiting for joe to condemn this abuse of power as well... or explain to us how that would be shortsighted.

Oh, and it appears that Schoemehl is a Democrat. Eminent domain abuse is indeed bipartisan.

Thomas Paine's Goiter | February 2, 2005, 1:40pm | #

Oh, and it appears that Schoemehl is a Democrat. Eminent domain abuse is indeed bipartisan.

Oh dear jesus yes. The city of Pittsburgh (motto: GOVERNED INTO BANKRUPTCY AND OBSCURITY BY DEMOCRATS FOR THE LAST 70 YEARS) has been stealing homes and business left and right since the early 90's. They are now embroiled in a battle with about seven business owners because they want to take the "blighted" properties and create an African-American cultural center.

They seized property and gave it to Lord and Taylor, Lazarus, cultural development organizations....it's been a real treat to watch.

The best part is that Lord and Taylor and Lazarus, after having been granted free land via eminent domain, after receiving property tax breaks for years, both closed and left last year.

joe | February 2, 2005, 2:25pm | #

The desire of politicians to build monuments to themselves crosses the aisle.

It's what we refer to as an "Edifice Complex."

Shannon Love | February 2, 2005, 2:31pm | #

I am stuck by how much we are moving to a Fascistic model of property ownership i.e. people have private property rights based only on the day-to-day whim of the state.

Ownership is the right to make decisions about a resource. The more decisions you can make, the ownership you have. Regulations have steadily eroded the number of decisions that property owners can make, effectively destroying their property rights.

The idea that the collective can overrule the individual is the very foundation of modern tyranny. Each year we substitute the decisions of the collective for the decisions of the individual. The idea that the collective can decide which private entity can best manage a particular property is just the logical end result of this long term trend.

Stevo Darkly | February 2, 2005, 2:32pm | #

Firstly, I'm now a bit frightened because of all of the Ned Beatty around here.

As I posted elsewhere, we are now living in The Ned Beatty Century.

Who is "struggling" in this area? Apparently not the auto repair shop, if it can pull in 67 grand in 3 months.

It has been awhile, but I used to go to college in that area. It is not a wealthy area, or particularly safe (but probably better than when I went to college). It was where a guy with a gold tooth asked me if I wanted to buy some acid while we were waiting in line at Jack in the Box. There was a rapist running around there when I attended school there, also. It has been significantly developed and beautified since I went there, but it's still not quite the garden spot of the city, yet.

This might be the only auto repair shop in the general neighborhood. I bet a lot of the business comes from Saint Louis University students living on campus who have cars -- it's probably the only shop in walking distance from SLU.

Needless to say, the land-grab is evil. And if it's just to give the land to another private concern in hopes of getting more tax revenue, it's also illegal. But it's a growing trend nevertheless. Ditto for that other "blight" thread.

Steven Crane | February 2, 2005, 2:42pm | #

Being a Southern Illinois resident, with a girlfriend at Washington U., I can provide eyewitness accounts that THE ENTIRE FREAKING DOWNTOWN of St. Louis is "blighted".

Seriously. It's a soulless vacuum.

Shannon Love | February 2, 2005, 3:02pm | #

Joe,

"Edifice Complex."

Hah! That is hilarious!

I think I will steal it.

xray | February 2, 2005, 3:10pm | #

Shannon: it's not stealing since you will put it to better use than joe, thereby benefiting the entire community.

joe | February 2, 2005, 3:21pm | #

Thanks, Shannon. I stole it, too.

George Costanza | February 2, 2005, 3:54pm | #

But I've got Jon Voight's car! Now where am I gonna get it fixed?

Thomas Paine's Goiter | February 2, 2005, 4:51pm | #

As I posted elsewhere, we are now living in The Ned Beatty Century.

Hold me, I'm scared.

just another lurker | February 2, 2005, 5:32pm | #

Joe: cute comment, but doesn't really tell me what I want to know.

Situation: long-established hard-working taxpaying small business owner providing tangible service to community gets land taken away (and brazenly cheated on compensation price for not rolling over gladly) by organization headed by politically well-connected wealthy individuals, for avowed public good of civic renewal through nebulous artistic/cultural development project. I'm too lazy to research it all, but I'm assuming this is financed a good deal by public funds and that there is substantial profit to be made by those well-connected (like the owners of the new condos).

Joe, do you think this is wrong? Not sad, or unfortunate, or whatever. Right or wrong? I mean, I think I know where you'd stand if this was for a Wal-Mart. But does providing a spot for "the city's postmodern standard-bearer, an asbestos lawyer turned multimedia artist named Paul Guzzardo" rather than providing brake jobs for some coed's '86 Accord make this morally defensible?

Just your opinion, Joe. I'd really like to know.

Stevo Darkly | February 2, 2005, 9:42pm | #

Being a Southern Illinois resident, with a girlfriend at Washington U., I can provide eyewitness accounts that THE ENTIRE FREAKING DOWNTOWN of St. Louis is "blighted". ... Seriously. It's a soulless vacuum.

As a resident of St. Louis County and former briefcase-toting downtown office drone, I can confirm this.

And this is what really pisses me off about this. You've got a entrepreneur who is willing to open up a business in an ailing city, and stay there even though the area is not so nice, and show you can do well -- just the sort of thing the city needs if it wants to regain economic strength. And what dos the city government do? It demonstrates that the property rights of a small business-owner' are not secure; that any business you open downtown can be taken away arbitrarily and given to some flashy high-profile dude with connections. Yeah, that's gonna encourage more entrepreneurs to set up shop downtown.

Dumb-asses. Dumb-asses. Dumb-asses. Dumb-asses.

Steven Crane | February 3, 2005, 3:38am | #

So, Stevo.... why doesn't the city eminent domain-away something that actually IS blighted, like that damned St. Louis Center mall thing?

joe | February 3, 2005, 12:39pm | #

Lurker, it is absolutely wrong to screw him on the sales price.

It is wrong to use eminent domain to promote the interets of the politically connected, rather than the public interest. I don't really know enough about the case to decide if that is what's happening here, though it doesn't look good.

Stevo Darkly | February 3, 2005, 2:01pm | #

So, Stevo.... why doesn't the city eminent domain-away something that actually IS blighted, like that damned St. Louis Center mall thing?

I dunno. Maybe because someone with money and connections doesn't want that to happen. Maybe the city is waiting for someone money and connections to show up and say they want to use the site for something else. Maybe it's because the St. Louis Center mall was touted as a cornerstone of downtown development, and declaring it blighted would be too big an admission of failure for the city.

I tend not to follow politics down in the city, and even less the gov't/business finger-effing that goes on, so I'm not really well-informed about that.

Steven Crane | February 3, 2005, 3:23pm | #

joe, what possible public interest could some cheesy postmodern "Media Box" serve? Not heckling, just wondering.

Stevo: Where are you in StL county? Also, why is it that there are ABSOLUTELY NO 24-hour diner-type restaraunts in the area, particularly around the universities? The IHOP in Clayton is the only IHOP I've ever seen that actually closes.

David Laslie | February 3, 2005, 7:13pm | #

The story about Jim Day's struggle with Grand Center,
Inc.
(http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/2395E726FA04C73E86256F9B001791A2?OpenDocument&Headline=Eminent+domain+takes+aim+at+life's+work&highlight=2%2Cgentle%2Cjim%2Cday)
is only the most recent chapter in a long saga of
faulty policies brought about by force in Grand
Center.

For more information about these faulty policies and
the resultant abuse of stakeholder rights, please
refer to the following:

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/editorialcommentary/story/3FA99979707802F486256F800037BA3E?OpenDocument&Headline=URBAN+RENEWAL%3A+Make+Grand+Center+live+up+to+its+name+-+Give+

http://www.thecommonspace.org/2003/04/stockton.php

http://www.thecommonspace.org/2002/07/communities.php

http://www.udf-stl.com/gcipost.html

These heavy handed policies, resulting from GCI and
SLU's collusion to use taxpayer money to fund the
construction of a building (SLU Arena) intended for
sectarian purposes (illegal) or smoke and mirrors pipe
dream follies like the "Media Box," are unacceptable.


(The "Media Box" would most likely be partially funded
through the Grand Center TIF, unless a private entity
with deep pockets intends to pay for it completely,
and therefore profits from the abuse of eminent
domain. Since the bulk of the Class A TIF bonds are
set aside for the Arena, imaginary projects like the
?Media Box? would have to get Class B or C bonds,
which will be worthless. This project is an
illusion.)

Grand Center intends to confiscate Jim Day's property
not to build a 'Media Box' but to forcibly banish a
business that does not fit into their elitist, upper
class, white, suburban vision for our neighborhood.

Such issues as these are now pending in the US
District Court.
http://news.estrong.com/strongfunds5/NewsStory.asp?Mode=Theater&cat=Entertainment&Story=20041014/288e2348.xml

In the meantime, it is important to let the powers
that be know that the public will not accept
government supported bullying of residents and small
business owners for selfish purposes, or otherwise.

So, give them a call:

Mayor Francis Slay 314.622.3201
Ald. Michael McMillan, 19th Ward 314.652.1992
Fr. Lawrence Biondi, President, SLU 314.977.7777
Vince Schoemehl, President, GCI 314.533-1884
x202

Thank you.

David Laslie, small business owner in Grand Center

Stevo Darkly | February 3, 2005, 9:59pm | #

Steven Crane: Stevo: Where are you in StL county?

I grew up in North County (Florissant), currently live in NW County (Maryland Hts./Creve Couer area) and work in the Clayton area.

Also, why is it that there are ABSOLUTELY NO 24-hour diner-type restaraunts in the area, particularly around the universities?

I don't know much about the university neighborhoods ... when I went to SLU there were hardly any civilized amenities of any type in the area. Elsewhere, there are 24-hour Dennyses, Waffle Houses and White Castles galore. Offhand, I can't think of any "diner" type establishments with any "atmosphere" that are open 24 hours. But I may not be the best person to ask.

Maybe it's because STL is a little on the quiet side. It's not exactly New York, "the city that never sleeps."

The IHOP in Clayton is the only IHOP I've ever seen that actually closes.

Hey, I was there just last Friday! Occasionally I will go there after a happy hour as part of the sobering-up ritual before the drive home. And yes, I think they close from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. Quite the bummer if you get a craving for sausage, eggs, pancakes and coffee at 3 p.m.

Steven Crane | February 4, 2005, 7:41am | #

Stevo:

See, in the U. City/Loop area, even though there's college students galore, there's not even a freakin' White Castle open late. I've got to drive all the way to Uncle Bill's Pancake House on the Hill to get crappy food at 3 AM.

Also, the IHOP in Clayton closes at 11 on all weekdays not Friday, I believe.