Mayors Near Lambert Airport Want Answers About Privatization
Date Posted: October 25, 2019
Posted In: Discussion,
From St. Louis Public Radio: On a cool October morning, Woodson Terrace Mayor Lawrence Besmer stands on a construction site eyeing the progress of a new hotel going up off Interstate 70, across from St. Louis Lambert International Airport.
But Besmer worries that the success of this hotel and another planned for his city of 4,000 residents hinges on what ultimately happens across the street — where officials are discussing whether to lease the airport to a private operator.
“It would just be nice to know what’s going on,” he said. “We can’t plan without knowing what they’re doing. So, it’s hard.”
Hotels and car rentals serving airport passengers make up a considerable chunk of the city’s economy. While the airport plays a crucial role in the well-being of Woodson Terrace and many other municipalities in the county, Lambert belongs to the city of St. Louis — and Besmer doesn’t get a say in what happens to it.
For more than a year, the St. Louis Airport Advisory Working Group has been exploring the idea of privatizing Lambert. Earlier this month, the effort gained momentum when the group put out a call for interested companies to submit their qualifications.
One big opportunity the group sees out of a private deal is the potential to redevelop 1,200 acres of land around the airport. If that happens, though, Besmer worries that car rental companies will leave for closer access to customers, and existing hotels will be met with fierce competition.
“I worry for these guys, you know. I don’t want these hotels to go belly up,” Besmer said. “I mean, we want them to be very successful, and we’re trying to look out for their interests.”
That’s why this week Besmer is sending an open letter to St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson. It asks for greater transparency in the privatization process, as well as a sit-down meeting to brief mayors in the area.