Mayor, Comptroller Reach Agreement on America’s Center Expansion
Date Posted: November 1, 2019
Posted In: Projects,
From St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Mayor Lyda Krewson and Comptroller Darlene Green appear to have resolved their long-standing dispute over the handling of bond financing for the planned $200 million expansion of America’s Center downtown.
The city’s Board of Estimate and Apportionment — made up of Krewson, Green and Aldermanic President Lewis Reed — voted unanimously Thursday to assign a city entity for years connected with Green’s office to issue the city’s half-share of the bonds.
“This has been held up for a long time, too long,” Krewson said after the brief estimate board meeting. “We’ve got to get these bonds issued. We don’t have a competitive convention center right now.”
Green in a news release said the vote means that “the business and hospitality communities can be confident” that the project is moving forward.
However, various details have yet to be finalized. And it’s unclear when the bond-issuing entity — the St. Louis Municipal Finance Corp. — will actually approve the financing package. The finance corporation’s board is made up of representatives of Krewson, Green and Reed.
Also yet to be disclosed is what agency will issue St. Louis County‘s half-share of the expansion bonds.