MARYLAND HEIGHTS • Officials here say that in the days just after news broke that the City Council had authorized a call for redevelopment proposals and that Stan Kroenke was in the picture through a business partner who planned to propose a tax-assisted project, the city got about 200 messages and phone calls, most strongly opposed to any plan linked to the Rams owner.
, and is trying to buy the rest of the 1,800-acre Howard Bend project just northwest of Creve Coeur Lake Park for mixed-use shopping and office project.
Most of those who contacted city officials asked that the council not give a project with links to Kroenke any public support in the wake of his decision to move the Rams to California and the disparaging comments he made about the ¹û½´ÊÓƵ area.Â
The communication stopped after a few days, officials said.
Only James Surgeon, a council candidate, spoke on the topic at the City Council meeting on Thursday night. He suggested a town hall meeting be called to offer public information about the redevelopment and to stimulate discussion.
"There'll be some major decisions for the council to make, and we don't want people saying, 'They didn't tell us,'" Surgeon said. "We need to know where this goes."
Bornstein's plan was revealed on Feb. 4 and that same day the council began the formal process that would allow for tax incentives to aid in the redevelopment, voting to advertise a request for proposals.
No city officials had any comment about the redevelopment at the meeting Thursday night. They said proposals will be accepted through April 15 and then the long process of naming a developer and deciding what if any tax incentives are granted will proceed.
