The Randolph

Alderman Lyda Krewson met with Randolph owners on 3/30 to discuss the proposed DeBaliviere SBD.  Here are the notes from the meeting.

First, Lyda seemed rather pessimistic about whether the SBD would pass.  If you’re in favor of the SBD but weren’t thinking your vote would matter, I encourage you to get to the polls next Tuesday.  The reason your vote is important is the extremely low voter turnout in the neighborhood.  In the last five elections combined  only 500 votes were cast from DeBaliviere Place.  In the election in March, only about 120 votes were cast from the neighborhood, including only five from the Randolph.  People opposed will almost certainly turn up to vote, so it seems wise if you’re in favor to make sure you cast a ballot.

As to why you might want to vote in favor, here are a few things that came up:

• Many new apartments and condos are going up within a 1-2 mile radius of our neighborhood.  Without reinvestment, we risk losing the best owners and tenants to other neighborhoods.
• Other neighborhoods already have SBDs in place, including six that are in the 28th ward.
• As the Randolph has some of the highest property values in the neighborhood, we should be interested in protecting our property values through neighborhood improvements.
• Security
  • Crime is a problem in the neighborhood, with drug deals going on at the metrolink station, problems at the Express Mart, and shootings in the neighborhood.
  • DPA has been ratcheting up it’s security budget over the past few years, but even taking that peak amount the SBD would have more than double that amount to spend on security.  And something like 4x over what the DPA was spending just a year ago or so on security.
  • SBD could also invest in lighting, cameras, and other items to discourage crime.
  • Recommend joining the CWE security initiative with other neighborhoods that have SBDs.
• Money could also be spent on neighborhood appearance and marketing for the neighborhood.
• The SBD would include all properties in the neighborhood, including many that aren’t in the DPA.  The Congress and the Senate, the Branscome, and others are examples that aren’t in the DPA but would be paying into the SBD.
• Property tax to fund the SBD — an 11% increase — would be partly offset by a reduction in DPA dues to a nominal sum.  The exact amount of the change for people in the Randolph ranges from about a $40 increase to about a $200 increase annually.

There was also a little discussion of what the SBD would look like if it passes next week:

• By law, a 7-person board runs the SBD.  The members are appointed by the mayor but he will likely rely on the alderman for recommendations.
• All SBD meetings are open and subject to the sunshine laws in MO.
• Revenue would be collected as part of the property tax bill.  Most people pay taxes in December and January and the SBD money would become available then.  This is likely to be a much more effective way to collect money than through letters that the DPA sends out, for example.
• The members of the SBD board would set the budget, but would keep to the guidelines established in the petition of 70% going toward security.

Lyda is also putting together an email with more details on the SBD.  I’ll pass it along to everyone when I get it.