Citizens of Crestwood, what say we give the new development director an idea?
What if you were to place on the blog what type of business, or what name company you would like to see at the new Sappington Square development? What I have seen so far is dialog about "high, low end" businesses, but nothing about what you think would be the correct type of business to locate there.
If you will post on here what you would like to see, and what you would patronize, I will take it to Alderman Roby, who will then give it to our new Economic development director!
Once she has an idea of what we, the citizens would patronize we will stand a much better chance of seeing those type of retailers here in Crestwood!
I went out to the new Cabella's store in Hazelwood (St. Louis Mills) and I will tell you that if we had that instead of Crestwood Plaza, we would be home free! I saw cars from Iowa, Cape Girardeau, and all over Missouri and Illinois in the lot, and the place was packed! Now you talk about "land locked,) that would be the place if it were not for name brand retailers (and a lot of them!)
This is your chance folks, get off the gripe machine for a change, and tell the E /D what you want!
Tom Ford
No. 363
If you will post on here what you would like to see, and what you would patronize, I will take it to Alderman Roby, who will then give it to our new Economic development director!
Once she has an idea of what we, the citizens would patronize we will stand a much better chance of seeing those type of retailers here in Crestwood!
I went out to the new Cabella's store in Hazelwood (St. Louis Mills) and I will tell you that if we had that instead of Crestwood Plaza, we would be home free! I saw cars from Iowa, Cape Girardeau, and all over Missouri and Illinois in the lot, and the place was packed! Now you talk about "land locked,) that would be the place if it were not for name brand retailers (and a lot of them!)
This is your chance folks, get off the gripe machine for a change, and tell the E /D what you want!
Tom Ford
No. 363
posted by Crestwood Independent at 21:11
48 Comments:
I think the new Development Director should have already hit the ground running. She should have the total expertise to know what the lay of the land in Crestwood is. What is missing, what is open and what has left. Also, know what businesses are open to her contacting them, etc. She really will need to show her stuff because frankly this position is going to be responsible for working long and hard to bring it in. Otherwise, what is this position for? This should have been made perfectly clear when she was interviewed. As with most similar positions of development, shoe leather and persistence is what it will take, not plans and spreadsheets. With our retail revenues needing revving up and our books needing a boost, this position is earning bucks that will need to prove themself.
How on earth did we ever manage to lose the Bread Company and Olive Garden? Yes, a big job is ahead and it will take a big effort.
Now don't you think that may be a bit of a stretch to think that she sould know Crestwood forward and back?
Hit the ground running, yes, long hours, yes, and I am sure these things are being done as we speak.
I think, like any of us she will need a little time to gain the knowledge of Crestwood that is so needed to make this job work.
I know, I was critical of the former director, but then she had a couple of years to get us something, anything, and yet I don't think we can attribute even a dog house to her hard work.
Now it's up to you, but as for me, I am going to give her a few ideas of what I would like to see, and I hope all of you will as well.
This is our City folks, were all here for better or for worse, so what say we try to help instead of finding fault?
Tom Ford
Salvation Army Thrift Store, Hoods Discount Store, Typewriter Repair business, Check Cashing business, London and Sons chicken wings resturant, Battery Store where hearing aid batterys can be sold, Pay Day Loan store, Hollywood Video store, someplace that sells nothing but those health items that the average aged Citizen of Crestwood would need, a store that sells nothing but surf boards for surfing around here, you know, the kind stores that don't compete with what we have here already.
How about another Kohl's?
Or another bank?
Oh come on Tom, do you really think we need to focus on economic development? Why worry about income generation? We can just tax residents more and and what shoppers we have left. We need to concentrate on the important stuff, like codes of conduct, keeping the Call happy, adding layers of government where layers aren't needed, making sure the swim club is happy ... you know, the real important stuff!!!
12:08 PM blogger: Well you have me there, what can I say? It would appear that the priorities have been somewhat "skewed" over the last couple of months.
But that's the idea of this post, let's try and be serious and see if we can't get the train back on the track.
I pray that the new director, and "most" of the City fathers want better things for Crestwood, and I would like to help wherever I can.
As Elliott would say "let em know what you think, cause you paid for it!"
Tom Ford
July 12, 2007 -- Crestwood Hires New Economic Development Director
Prior to being hired by the City of Crestwood, Ms. Brown has held the position of Assistant Director of Economic Development at the City of O’Fallon, Missouri. Her duties included business attraction, expansion and retention for commercial development, managing community service projects, grant writing, and seeking community involvement for festivals and events. The experience she has gained working in the City of O’Fallon will be a valuable asset as the City of Crestwood looks towards building a vibrant business community.
Ms. Brown actively works with Retail and Manufacturing businesses, assisting with any expansion needs they may have. Including but not limited to the location of available property, the purchasing of capital assets and training needs. Business retention is done on an individual basis according to the needs of the business. Business attraction is a continual process. Attending business expositions and conventions keeping her finger on the pulse of what retail business are available but not yet in the area. Tryla has also actively worked with O’Fallon’s Downtown Neighborhood Association to assist with the revitalization of the downtown area.
Ms. Brown’s recent accolades include: 2007 VISION St. Charles County Leadership Program graduate, a recipient of the St. Charles Business Magazine’s “Forty Professionals Under Forty” award (2006-2007), 2005 Leadership Candidate Program graduate (sponsored by the City of O’Fallon), St. Charles County 2006 Community Builder of the Year Award, recipient of a Proclamation of Excellence by the City of O’Fallon and the State of Missouri for “Professional Business Services Above and Beyond”. She is also a current nominee for the 2007 DOVE award which recognizes local women of achievement. She has been nominated under the category of Governmental Impact.
Prior to her tenure at the City of O’Fallon, Tryla held management and training positions with The End Up Furniture Company and Motorola, respectively. Her education background includes a B.A. in Business Administration, and Associate of Arts in General Studies. She is a certified Public Notary and is currently working towards her M.B.A.
Just a bit of a bio on the new director.
Tom Ford
Tom,
Here are several ideas:
1. Open up dialogue with Westfield. From what I have read, she already plans to do that. Once Westfield decides to do with the plaza, its visibility needs to be increased. Yes, I know it's lower than Watson Road, but more storeFRONTS and better visibility might help business. Right now, all you can see is a brick facade covered by some trees on the hill.
2. Garden Ridge. The Garden Ridge in Bridgeton does a great business from what I've seen and its market is the homeowner who takes pride in his house with gardening, crafts, etc. With the amount of homes in Crestwood and surrounding suburbs, a Garden Ridge should do a great business.
3. A restaurant to fill the vacancy left by Lonestar Steakhouse. Maybe an Italian restaurant or cafe. Maybe a sub shop or a Chicago style pizza place.
Any thoughts or other ideas?
Tom,
What are the Mayor's qualifications to be Mayor? Maybe the reason Westfield will not open a dialogue with Crestwood is because of the position taken on tax/govt. assistance to developers by the Mayor, some of the BOA and many of the posters to your blog, you being included.
As far ideas for new stores in Crestwood, all listed sound great, all the posters have to do is open up their check books and they can open up any of the ideas listed above.
But you know, those new business, even if opened by a reader of this blog, might need a TIF or TDD to get started. Worse yet, the business person may be a member of the Swim Club or of St. E's Church or a former Alderman or Mayor on whom you have allowed attacks on them to be printed on your blog. If they read this blog, why would they want to do business with Crestwood?
What do you say to these ideas?
3:02 PM blogger: Good ideas my friend, I shall pass them on.
3:41 PM blogger: Well in your world we would all go away and let you do what you wished. In my world, I will continue to ask the questions asked by responsible Alderman every time a TIF, TDD, CID is proposed. If I were moving into a town to start a business, I would want a citizenry that was interested in the town's well being as well as mine, so the blog wouldent be a negitive at all.
You know there is a "long term effect" here, not just what's good for the present, but what's good for the future! This area is becoming "development tax relief poor!" We all need to take a very close look at what were giving for what were recieving.
But whatever we do, we had better do it fast as Jim Buttler is leaving in September (Garden Ridge?) and we will be shopping for a new tenant very soon!
That's prime real estate folks, and I think Ms. Brown will be able to get the maximum bang for our buck without giving away the farm keys!
As for the Mayor's qualifications, well he printed them for all to see in the last race, look it up!
Tom Ford
Gee, OK...
So, what were Killoren's, Brasfield's, Robertson's, and Fagan's qualifications to be mayor?
Maybe Westfield has other plans for the mall. I don't think Westfield would hesitate to ask the city for a TIF, TDD, or CID considering the fact that Grewe and THF got TIF assistance.
But you know, you might have some points. Why would anyone want to open a business in Crestwood? For years, economic development was on the back burner while the city was rebuilding parks, furnishing the mayor's office with furniture, trying to build a huge police station, appointing one person to do two high profile jobs.
Don't forget, sales taxes here are sky high. Why would a customer buy from here when he or she can go to your competitor a few miles away and get something cheaper?
Besides, we still have vacant storefronts along Watson Road, but what is more important? Well, I'll tell you, a code of conduct! That's what's more important. Instead of marketing Crestwood, let's spend hours bickering about a code of conduct.
What do you say to those ideas?
Please ask the Crestwood Swim Club members because they shop in Crestwood.
Tom,
I appreciate your efforts and I for one would love to see some interesting businesses locate here. For example, some form of entertainment would be nice. U City has Blueberry Hill, ( Great Blues venue). Or equally as nice, how about a business like Ted Drewes, or a restaurant like U-R-Cooks, great steaks that you cook yourself. I believe we need to think outside the box. Just a thought.
6:53 PM
Do they? I know that some live outside of Crestwood.
7:54 PM
An Ice Cream parlor or custard parlor like Ted Drewes would be a great idea.
It would be nice if "the Mall" housed some sort of museum or point of interest. You have a 1/2 million tourists (Grant's Farm) in your backyard every summer and they never spend a dime in Crestwood.
I agree with Tom that Crestwood and surrounding demographics probably would support a Bass Pro Shop type operation.
Bass Pro + Route 66 museum + NASCAR attraction would bring people in. And I'll say it before some other wisecracker does. It will bring hoosiers in. Yes it will bring a lot of hoosiers with money to spend....
Crestwood probably not trendy enough for J. Bucks.
Something Route 66 or NASCAR might fit in very well.
What about putting an office tower in Crestwood Plaza?
How about a Dairy Queen, Carl's Root Beer Stand, Donut House?
Do all of you really think that our Development Director needs our help?
No, I'm sure she is very capable. But she might like to hear what residents might want.
Honestly, I don't think developers really care what Crestwood or an economic development director wants.
Developers just care about how much taxpayer assistance they can get.
All the big chains do their own market research or contract it out.
The most we can do is get our "brochure" in front of their noses.
Eminent domain is "taboo" now so we can't help there.
Westfield owes the taxpayers of the Lindbergh school district something. They helped kill the Sunset Hills development.
California Pizza Kitchen could not even make it in Crestwood so I'd be careful who you "squeeze out" as not high end enough.
Tom,
I just wanted to share with you my new blog. Perhaps some of your visitors would also like to join me. Some of the info is relevant to Crestwood residents also.Thanks
http://southcountynews.blogspot.com/
Tom,
having looked at the new blog, do you know how a comment can be posted on it?
I am sorry ony the blog master can tell you that. Just E-mail them and ask.
Tom Ford
You know what folks, I just looked at that new blog, and if what that man says (and he has the proof,)is true, I am thankfull that that rag does not want me to link to them! Who would want to!
Pillers of the community? I think not! What a background that "gentlemen" has, sheesh!
Tom Ford
WOW The new blog really gives the goods on the "Call". Let's hope all our citizens have the opportunity to read this. This young man is 'one of us' and sounds really sincere, as going so far as giving us actual court documents. Alot of people have called the call and said, don't send your rag to me anymore and this blog explains why people would do that. Go Mike Go!
Yeah, this guy's really upstanding. Here's what Chuck VanGronigen had to say about him in a letter to the editor of the Call:
2006-03-22 Opinions
Oversight panel chairman outlines facts Heins chose 'to ignore'
March 22, 2006 - To the editors:
After reading Mike Heins' responses to your candidates' survey, I feel compelled to respond.
I served as the chairman of the Mehlville School District Proposition P Oversight Committee for several years. In his responses to your survey, Mr. Heins blames me, individually, for the cost overruns on the building projects financed by Proposition P. Here are the facts that Mr. Heins is choosing to ignore:
• The Oversight Committee had no authority to commit funds. Our role was advisory only.
• The Oversight Committee reviewed projects to determine if they were in keeping with the spirit of Proposition P.
• Mr. Heins was a member of the board that voted to spend the money.
• Mr. Heins was a member of the board that voted several times to increase the budget for construction.
• Mr. Heins, as a board member, was responsible for managing the construction projects.
• Mr. Heins, as a board member, was responsible for managing the performance of the McCarthy Construction Co. as project manager.
• Mr. Heins attended less than a handful of Oversight Committee meetings during the course of the entire project.
• Most of the recommendations were brought to the board as "recommended with reservations." Most often, the committee's reservations were over the budget and costs.
• I personally voted against many of the projects and cited concerns over cost overruns.
• The administration provided the committee misleading budget estimates containing the code "Non Prop P Funds," which they misrepresented as general operating budget funds, essentially hiding additional funds generated by the favorable bond offering results.
• The committee voted to allow members of the board and members of the administrative team to vote on projects brought before the committee. I voiced concern about the conflict of interest and voted against it.
Proposition P was the right thing to do. The facts are that the administration concealed the additional revenue generated by Proposition P and the board voted to authorize $20 million in additional expenditures. The board should have said no and it didn't. The board could have managed the project, but it didn't.
I voiced my concerns repeatedly in Oversight Committee meetings and in my reports to the board. Mr. Heins was on that board, had the responsibility for protecting the taxpayers' funds and voted to spend the money in a way that he now thinks is a problem — a problem caused by an advisory board and me in particular.
The facts don't support that claim and Mr. Heins has damaged my credibility and reputation by trying to deflect his personal responsibility as a board member. Shame on him.
Chuck VanGronigen
south county
http://southcountynews.blogspot.com/
A new entry has been posted today.
Apparently even students didn't have a high opinion of Mike Heins as a Mehlville Board of Education member as indicated by this letter to the editor of the Call:
2006-03-29 Opinions
Oakville High student will not vote for Heins
March 29, 2006 - To the editor:
After reading all of the Mehlville Board of Education candidates' responses to the Call's questionnaire, only Mr. (Mike) Heins pointed to the success of the district's exceptional students in both the National Merit Scholar program and the ACT.
While I do not deny this recent success, I do deny that Mr. Heins should be using this success to boost his re-election campaign for this school district.
Since I am one of the National Merit Finalists he refers to, I should note that my dad played a huge role in getting me to take the PSAT — the qualifying test for the National Merit program. The district did not do that.
Furthermore, most of the prominent colleges I've applied to require the SAT Subject tests in addition to the classic SAT Reasoning Test. The district did not tell me about that. Last year, I independently studied for two AP exams because I learned that I did not need to take an AP class to take the test. The district did not inform me about that.
Granted, there are some teachers in the district who helped point me in the right direction or made some inroads here and there, but neither the district as a whole nor Mr. Heins deserve credit for creating an environment that promotes the kind of success other students and I have had. The resources and help available to exceptional students at my high school are quite substandard. When another student and I were applying to Stanford online, we could not find our high school among their list of schools.
Another student I know had to go through a jungle of red tape just to prove that she could place into a higher class in math. Taking all of this into account, is this recent academic success the product of Mr. Heins and the district or the students, their parents and some teachers?
My former principal, Dr. (Eric) Knost, always reminded his students about the importance of choices and their consequences.
Mr. Heins can choose to play off the academic excellence of some students when he has contributed little to it, but as a consequence of that choice, I will call him out for it, and I will choose not to vote for him.
Mike Wacker
Oakville High School senior
Mr. Heins,
be careful when you cast the first stone
I think Mr. Heins has stirred up something!
Was it Mr. Heins that cast the first stone??? That is the question!
is it the question?
Who's on first?
No, what's on second!
Tom Ford
All Mehlville administrators will receive 6-percent salary increases...
The installation of synthetic turf to replace the grass athletic fields at Mehlville and Oakville senior high schools is continuing...
Sounds like the Mehlville School Board has education spending at the top of their list.
Sure glad we arent in the Mehlville School district. Wonder why anyone would post on a blog whose name alone implies it is about Crestwood, things about Melhville? Must be an agenda of someone.
It could be an agenda, maybe not. But I agree with you, I'm glad to be in Lindbergh!
You bet he has an agenda, just read his blog. Why he make's me look like goodie two shoes in comparison!
However, he isn't at all afraid to state his opinions now is he,
Tom Ford
Mr. Heins apparently has a long history of harassing people he doesn't agree with. Just ask Dan Fowler as documented in this excerpt from an article written by Alyson Raletz and published Oct. 23, 2003 in the Call:
Fowler told the Call that he has has received other e-mails from Heins that he considers “bizarre,’’ and views the e-mails as harassment and an attempt to intimidate him from writing future columns for the Call.
In an Aug. 14 column, Fowler was critical of the manner in which the administration and the board have handled the Proposition P districtwide building improvement program.
In an Aug. 14 e-mail to Fowler, an insurance agent, Heins wrote: “Hey Dan, There’s a rumor going around that American Family is going to stop writing auto and home policies. Is this true?’’
Fowler told the Call he did not respond to that e-mail and three others from Heins, including the Sept. 18 e-mail, because of their “bizarre’’ nature.
“I think that the e-mails were uncalled for,” Fowler said. “It’s a very dirty form of politics. From our point of view, we viewed it as harassment and intimidation.”
Sandy Fowler, who works as a part-time counselor’s clerical assistant at Oakville Middle School, said the fact that a Board of Education member was looking into her hire date made her feel uncomfortable.
“I did feel intimidated,” she said. “I didn’t take it as an out-and-out threat, but it was very intimidating. It was a very uncomfortable feeling for someone to look into a job that is only 15 hours a week.”
Dan Fowler said there was no need for the e-mails.
“Mr. Heins knows my phone number,” he said. “If he knows the date of my wife’s employment, obviously someone gave him that information. He knows I am a former board member. What was the point other than to harass and intimidate?”
Fowler said if he receives any more e-mails from Heins, he intends to file an ethics complaint with the Missouri Ethics Commission on Heins and the Mehlville School District.
Tom,
Could this be someone from the "paper" posting on your blog?
On January 5, 2006, President Bush signed into law: H.R. 3402, the "Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005," which reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act for for years 2007-2011, makes amendments to criminal and immigration law, consolidates major law enforcement grant programs and authorizes appropriations for the Department of Justice for for years 2006-2009. According to "TITLE I--ENHANCING JUDICIAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TOOLS TO COMBAT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, Section 113. Preventing Cyberstalking ... Whoever ... utilizes any device or software that can be used to originate telecommunications or other types of communications that are transmitted, in whole or in part, by the Internet ... without disclosing his identity and with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any person ... who receives the communications ... shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than two years, or both."
Just because someone has the facts you think they must be working for a paper? Wow, I'd think the good reporters would be getting the info on the sale of the Mall instead of reading this blog. Guess by this time next week after reading all the local papers we will know which reporters know how to get the news.
1;20 PM blogger: Well it's possible, they have at least one "puter," (and some say they can write?) so anything is possible!
Lord, I hope they don't link to me!
Tom Ford
1:45 PM blogger: And the point of all this is?
Tom Ford
I live west of Crestwood, in Sunset Hills, in the area that was supposed to be developed by Novus, where Famous Barr was going to be stolen from Crestwood Plaza. I have lived here about 20 years, and my former neighbors (now deceased) said that the area betweeen I-44 and Watson Road used to be orchards. Another neighbor said that Crestwood Plaza used to be a dairy farm. If any of you know the history of the Crestwood Plaza property, such as being a dairy farm, please post it here. Thank you,
John Ploughman
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