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July 8 Mall Open House: Get the Facts
July 10, 2015
Thank you to all the Lindbergh parents and community members who attended the July 8 Crestwood Mall redevelopment open house. Organizers report that about 700 residents attended, sharing their valuable feedback about the redevelopment project.
Addressing False Information
We understand that representatives for the developer, UrbanStreet, are sharing inaccurate information with local residents and business owners. We want to be very clear that Lindbergh Schools’ goal through all of this has been to make decisions that are in the best interest of students, now and in the future. We support redevelopment at Crestwood Mall, but we do not support a residential TIF that will bring new students into the district, without the necessary funding to educate them.
We believe it is important to address three false statements being made by the developer:
What is true is that throughout this process, Lindbergh Schools has always been ready to meet with UrbanStreet or a representative from the city of Crestwood. Even with these recent attempts to discredit the school district, we await communication from UrbanStreet and Crestwood, and will meet in good faith with either of these parties.
Parents Speak Out
The open house provided an important opportunity for parents and residents to share what retail, dining and entertainment they’d like to see at Crestwood Mall. More importantly, many in attendance shared their concerns regarding the use of tax increment financing to fund 225 residential apartments. We are encouraged by the large turnout of Lindbergh families, and appreciate their continued support.
Thank you to all the Lindbergh parents and community members who attended the July 8 Crestwood Mall redevelopment open house. Organizers report that about 700 residents attended, sharing their valuable feedback about the redevelopment project.
Addressing False Information
We understand that representatives for the developer, UrbanStreet, are sharing inaccurate information with local residents and business owners. We want to be very clear that Lindbergh Schools’ goal through all of this has been to make decisions that are in the best interest of students, now and in the future. We support redevelopment at Crestwood Mall, but we do not support a residential TIF that will bring new students into the district, without the necessary funding to educate them.
We believe it is important to address three false statements being made by the developer:
- FALSE: The school district has been contacted numerous times by UrbanStreet with requests to meet. The district is refusing to meet and is not returning the developer’s phone calls.
- FACT: Superintendent Dr. Jim Simpson and CFO Chuck Triplett did meet in person on May 5 with Bob Burke from UrbanStreet, Mayor Gregg Roby and City Administrator Mark Sime. We expressed our concerns with the tax increment financing being proposed to fund residential development on a portion of the mall property, and formally requested that any residential development be removed from a TIF proposal. Since May 5, the school district has not received ANY contact from UrbanStreet. Not a single phone call, email or any form of communication.
- FALSE: UrbanStreet has offered Lindbergh Schools money to help cover the cost of educating students.
- FACT: UrbanStreet has not communicated with the school district at all since May 5, and has not offered any sort of funding alternatives.
- FALSE: UrbanStreet says a residential TIF will not harm the school district.
- FACT: The school district stands to lose about $200,000 annually in property tax from the residential portion of this proposed redevelopment. That is enough to educate 20 students. With our already overcrowded district growing at a rate of more than 250 new students per year, Lindbergh Schools simply cannot afford to add new students without the funding needed to educate them.
What is true is that throughout this process, Lindbergh Schools has always been ready to meet with UrbanStreet or a representative from the city of Crestwood. Even with these recent attempts to discredit the school district, we await communication from UrbanStreet and Crestwood, and will meet in good faith with either of these parties.
Parents Speak Out
The open house provided an important opportunity for parents and residents to share what retail, dining and entertainment they’d like to see at Crestwood Mall. More importantly, many in attendance shared their concerns regarding the use of tax increment financing to fund 225 residential apartments. We are encouraged by the large turnout of Lindbergh families, and appreciate their continued support.