[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",5983441,"mediaKeyId","5793302-fbea97c22a78cc70ae43fe3adfb47def","parentId",5793302,"title","Real estate committee approves SLPS letter of support for Mark Simmons affordable housing project","audioSeconds",898,"startMs",2824000,"endMs",3722000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5793302-fbea97c22a78cc70ae43fe3adfb47def&start=2824&end=3722","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5793302-fbea97c22a78cc70ae43fe3adfb47def/thumbnail_2824000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5983441/Missouri/Real-estate-committee-approves-SLPS-letter-of-support-for-Mark-Simmons-affordable-housing-project","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5983441-77764b38f0ad1b9365cc4ed7520c280a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184912&Signature=FBlJtUtT2UkX7AfOYrr2FsI7e3f3mhr60GRFtlAJd68i1ZOPI3ZutRq7JoQGXCaBWoY4pIGhrdo8bV6h8b~xxNh1ztI100kwHIfA1PAUB9Xc0fX0CsuF-IdeFwb2NgdTzsT4hSw2mHgSQ221cJAChTbQyBQy1VShsdQoPz1k9bFtSD-AZqT~gH6qoYbwIU4pEDS7BRc184nNn1zWN-yn6fSbvSX9OIkr2APnIeRkuiypCt~KsyOrfZ1RpAhodyVGP~Ofuau4lX-e0cWqUTqm9LdcaECIjM80~ujTAn7L8sjLV94JtQ0bA3lXgByRPMd8SQaGnKvqn4Z1d6wLp2mJSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Saint Louis Public Schools","date","2025-09-16T09:05:31Z","article","The Saint Louis Public Schools Real Estate Committee voted Sept. 15 to provide a letter of support from SLPS for the Mark Simmons redevelopment project, a proposal by Fleur de Lys Development Corporation that seeks low-income housing tax credits and plans to convert Simmons Elementary School into senior affordable housing.

Laura Hughes, representing Fleur de Lys Development Corporation, described the project and its context in the Ville neighborhood. Hughes said she purchased the Simmons property about a year ago and intends to renovate it into a 100% low-income, 55-and-older building with 58 units. She said the project is part of a larger Ville Chapter 99 redevelopment plan covering roughly 600 parcels and that a 25-year tax abatement was approved by LCRA in 2022 for the redevelopment area. Hughes said she is pursuing competitive 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), state and federal historic tax credits and other financing, and that rising costs (including Buy America requirements) affect the capital stack but that she plans to preserve affordability through the chosen financing strategy.

Hughes described steps taken to secure the property and protect it from nuisance activity after the May 2025 tornado, including boarding and locking openings and coordinating neighborhood cleanups. She said prior demolition and insurance work was performed, and she described plans to provide on-site supportive and senior services, to coordinate with Tandy Recreation Center and the Board of Elections for on-site services, and to host a farmers-market-style open market in the building’s green space.

Committee members asked technical questions about LIHTC (competitive 9% credits versus the noncompetitive 4% program) and about the project’s capital stack and timeline. Hughes said the timeline depends on receiving all layers of funding; she estimated 12 months for construction once financing and tax-credit closings are complete. Hughes requested a letter of support from SLPS; a committee motion to provide a letter was moved and seconded and passed on roll-call vote by committee members present. No conditions were recorded in the motion.

The committee’s approval was framed as a letter of support to accompany the project’s LIHTC application; staff will prepare the letter for the board.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Real Estate Meeting - 9/15/25","oneSentenceSummary","The committee voted to provide a letter of support from Saint Louis Public Schools for the Mark Simmons redevelopment project, a low-income, 55+ housing proposal by Fleur de Lys Development Corporation that seeks Low-Income Housing Tax Credit funding and is part of a broader Chapter 99 redevelopment plan.","taxTitle","St. Louis City, School Districts, Missouri","taxId",13573,"location","Missouri","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5983445,"SLPS staff presents Vertical Bridge lease buyout options for two school cell towers; committee delays decision pending legal review",426,2291000,2717000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5793302-fbea97c22a78cc70ae43fe3adfb47def&start=2291&end=2717","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5793302-fbea97c22a78cc70ae43fe3adfb47def/thumbnail_2291000.jpg","/articles/5983445/Missouri/SLPS-staff-presents-Vertical-Bridge-lease-buyout-options-for-two-school-cell-towers-committee-delays-decision-pending-legal-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5983445-b59935b115b05386b7e04fd108ad1156/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184912&Signature=YPHkDHOaBuWCQV43OayPhB8sjCviHoZnY3xUV5NGqULvROa~9Is9-wvY6sbmCPQmzrjozfjjoghgFwf0p6PUHNS3dWMKznhoxpwvbXa3kz4jzcnK1oCJSrl04K4E1lP4T9Wm-DWzkf87RczXltwbwqt~Pz99rUzcBp-WmUUIX2LtsL11XPJItI8sAICmEJ~st3lAi0ReqRwiEbELDQcEJkaMIFB5jD2tjEPVinvcOMoEa0UcoFPmxTzZdo73vj7FTzd3t5o1MhJ3UvJNajajDRpywO7qYoxgiw9DCKJ5nUu-05mdJgWWcYH7qhjR2djb6cRpN7IzfjV~IYQH3A5Wvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","SLPS staff reported Sept. 15 that Vertical Bridge has offered lease buyout options for two cell-tower sites on district property: Nance Elementary School and Long Middle School. The committee reviewed lump-sum and installment options and directed staff to obtain legal review of successor provisions before selecting an option.

Staff said SLPS currently receives about $12,000 a year from each tower lease. For Nance Elementary, Vertical Bridge presented three options: a lump-sum payment of $165,000; a three-year installment option totaling $185,000; and a five-year installment option totaling $200,000 (presented as approximately $33,333 per year). For Long Middle School, the offers were a lump sum of $152,000; a three-year installment of $175,000; and a five-year installment totaling $190,000 (presented as approximately $31,667 per year).

Staff recommended the five-year installment option at both properties as it yielded the highest total payout. Committee members asked clarifying questions about what is being leased (rights to use towers located on SLPS property used by wireless carriers), maintenance responsibilities (Vertical Bridge handles maintenance now and would continue to), exclusivity (Vertical Bridge would hold rights that other carriers would need to negotiate through Vertical Bridge), and why Vertical Bridge was exercising the option now (to control financing).

Legal concerns drove the committee’s decision to delay approval: several members requested assurance that any buyout or installment agreement include successor-liability language protecting SLPS if Vertical Bridge is sold or goes out of business. Committee members also asked for a specific review by legal counsel before a vote. Staff agreed to return the agreements with legal counsel’s findings at the next real estate meeting; no vote was held on Sept. 15.

Staff noted the buyouts would materially increase near-term revenue if approved, but any spending plan for the proceeds would require coordination with finance.","Staff presented buyout offers from Vertical Bridge for cell-tower leases at Nance Elementary and Long Middle School, showing lump-sum and installment options; committee asked legal counsel to review successor-liability language and held action to the next meeting.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5983450,"Real estate committee denies request to add Parents Action Committee as member",577,1690000,2267000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5793302-fbea97c22a78cc70ae43fe3adfb47def&start=1690&end=2267","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5793302-fbea97c22a78cc70ae43fe3adfb47def/thumbnail_1690000.jpg","/articles/5983450/Missouri/Real-estate-committee-denies-request-to-add-Parents-Action-Committee-as-member","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5983450-16cd5d1f4f3152acd95f74d1022af37b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184912&Signature=goWuNaXhtGGtR-GcpVTitE3l5KjEoe1H3~HQWoH6OlAdl1PECg6JWad-UQ682mlXdgMoXhnnRG-aGUc3PMAe5GB01d-SGtG3l5XUQqDkFG4NJhlSpLXwtXsyCo~cteHMaqpZ2v5nwOLGE4UPwebUMtDQjXajDGGGmpqctQmXqPBD~BKYu6Jn3NdhUUcMIAuY3XLQhFNfA1fc7ZlISWdvgL8P51ok8XOwnpFN9qSGy1I9ZXROvbS-neltgqLtEDD2-RaFROjtZniNhoPKPOMqMn33WVs27eeKbmAdXwDCIo1l9dl4GbWqcSz~nqPOs~FEA1wA70j3OihrG4tLwa9GKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Saint Louis Public Schools Real Estate Committee voted on Sept. 15 to deny a motion that would have allowed the Parents Action Committee (PAC) to participate as members of the committee.

Committee members said the PAC’s repeated presentations had not made clear whether the group sought full committee membership or what scope of participation it wanted, and they raised specific concerns about tax abatement and tax-increment financing (TIF) issues, which can affect district revenue and are frequently discussed in closed session. Several members said community representation on other committees exists but that organizational representatives seeking a committee seat could open the door to many other groups.

At the meeting, a motion to allow PAC participation was made and seconded; during roll-call voting the committee recorded multiple “No” votes and the chair announced the motion was denied. Members discussed alternatives, including limiting any outside representative’s role so that a community representative would not participate in tax-abatement or TIF deliberations, or inviting community members who represent themselves rather than an organized committee.

Committee discussion also noted the PAC had presented to the committee three times and that staff and committee members remained unclear about the group’s goals. Some members suggested community members on committees should be individual residents rather than organizational delegates. No follow-up vote or motion to create a restricted participation option occurred during the meeting; the committee left the status quo in place.","The Real Estate Committee voted to deny a motion to allow the Parents Action Committee (PAC) to participate as members of the SLPS real estate/tax-abatement committee; members expressed concerns about unclear purpose, tax-abatement exposure and closed-session access.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5983453,"Post Building owners seek SLPS support for event MOU, 13th Street vacation and Interco Plaza purchase",381,955000,1336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5793302-fbea97c22a78cc70ae43fe3adfb47def&start=955&end=1336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5793302-fbea97c22a78cc70ae43fe3adfb47def/thumbnail_955000.jpg","/articles/5983453/Missouri/Post-Building-owners-seek-SLPS-support-for-event-MOU-13th-Street-vacation-and-Interco-Plaza-purchase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5983453-24bbe5450f30045d630c3a2eed2863be/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184912&Signature=l2sMmgVsc62FMmu8iSAy2XC7uEcjNirWCJM8dJhUFi-CZXLIcvLbaxDx3XGR2gM1B-vh76sqggcWrwk8VivI5Tg8iIhHkbJ0vv5-pqXWtiR-09FYDcYyU2c8pB4eTeOkHimAUu1G4fhSqOjAdD8WACvbuBQIvNcMedHalkEpK2uCYMm2T3OixL5sOp3-IId70e4aB~SKpf9kXAfmMzMpOBpPUvLc-D1MrvmUYzQkTzPkIljU0~vbS2OotA6eekgVho827Lo82sLuONHVXzejaUfVNroY5Wc~rnt-ULN30keSmyCu9DZHAMKervh4JtmagRul5HsEAi11L52tc25fVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","John Bergland, manager for the ownership group of the Post Building, told the Saint Louis Public Schools Real Estate Committee on Sept. 15 that his company is seeking a letter of support from SLPS for three related items: an events memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SLPS, a city vacation of 13th Street between Cole and MLK, and the city’s sale of Interco Plaza to the developer.

The request matters because the MOU would formalize discounted event access in the Post Building for SLPS and related programming, while the street vacation and Interco Plaza purchase would allow the developer to combine adjacent property parcels for parking, tenant access and enhanced security, Bergland said.

Bergland said the Post Building project is a roughly $80 million renovation begun more than seven years ago with commercial tenants such as Square and Scale AI and that the building provides event space SLPS has used. He said the draft MOU the committee had in packet materials (not available on the online agenda) is structured as a one-year agreement with a discounted rate for SLPS. Claire Anderson, operations lead for the Post Building, said the proposed SLPS rate in the MOU is an 80% reduction off retail, with a set number of free events and other discounts, and that the district’s on-site costs have been supported by the Post Building’s foundation partner via purchase orders.

Bergland described the stretch of 13th Street between Tucker and 14th as underused for north–south traffic and said the developer owns property on both sides; vacating the street would allow consolidation of parking and improved perimeter security. He also described Interco Plaza as a largely neglected parcel the city has not maintained; the developer is pursuing a city sale and said that converting the plaza to parking would address a common question from prospective tenants: where to park.

Committee members asked for details the packet did not include. Several requested a diagram of the lots and a copy of the MOU; Bergland and Anderson said they would provide those documents. Anderson confirmed event counts and costs: the Post Building hosted more than 40 events and conducted 80 tours in 2024; since August of the current year it had hosted six SLPS events at an approximate total purchase-order cost to the district of $6,000 (about $1,000 per event). She also cited an August back-to-school event of about 800 participants that relied on the Post Building’s kitchen and indoor space when weather was poor.

No formal motion or vote on a letter of support or the street vacation occurred at the Sept. 15 meeting; the request was received and committee members asked staff to obtain the missing MOU and lot diagrams so the committee can review the materials in a later meeting.

The committee also discussed public-safety concerns that prompted previous site fencing; Bergland said encampments after the COVID-19 pandemic led to “tents” and “violence and even a fatality,” which motivated earlier security measures. He said the developer would not be buying any SLPS-owned parcels and that the SLPS-owned portion of Interco Plaza would remain under SLPS ownership if the city sells its portion.

Committee members explicitly framed their follow-up requests as document and site-clarification items: provide the MOU text, diagrams of the proposed parking layout, and any survey/appraisal information related to the Interco Plaza purchase to return to the committee for formal consideration.","Developers of the Post Building asked the Saint Louis Public Schools Real Estate Committee for a letter of support for an events memorandum of understanding, a vacation (closure) of 13th Street between Cole and MLK and for the city's sale of Interco Plaza to expand parking and security.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Real estate committee approves SLPS letter of support for Mark Simmons affordable housing project

SLPS staff presents Vertical Bridge lease buyout options for two school cell towers; committee delays decision pending legal review

Real estate committee denies request to add Parents Action Committee as member

Post Building owners seek SLPS support for event MOU, 13th Street vacation and Interco Plaza purchase