ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

Council legislation to blight the Black Jack site — the first step toward developing the site for residential, retail and commercial business use — must now be reintroduced to county lawmakers.

“We unfortunately have to start all over again,� County Executive Steve Stenger told reporters following the 5-2 council vote to defeat amended legislation to remove decisions on the future of the mall property from the Land Clearance Redevelopment Authority and place oversight with the council.

The LCRA has a state mandate to oversee the blighting and development of projects using public funds.

An arm of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, the LCRA has over the past two years negotiated the sale of a mall owned by the real estate divisions of the five major retailers that once occupied the site.

The amended bill sponsored by 4th District Democrat Rochelle Walton Gray would have superseded a proposal to allow the LCRA proceed with the process of blighting the 142-acre mall site.

Gray believes the power should reside with the council, specifically the councilwoman representing the district where the mall is located — hers.

“For me to have no say in what happens makes no sense at all,� Gray told council members during a testy Tuesday afternoon caucus. “It’s my district.�

Fellow Democrat Hazel Erby supported Gray’s position, reminding county lawmakers, “It’s her district. I’ve never (before) seen everyone jump in with both feet about what is happening in someone else’s district. She should be the navigator, the driving force — not us.�

Other council members sought to assure Gray the process guarantees the North County councilwoman and her constituents a say in the site redevelopment.

Zoning of the property and other particulars must ultimately be approved by the council.

“It’s your district, I understand that, and you will have the final say,� 5th District Democrat Pat Dolan told his council colleague.

Stenger concurred, telling reporters that “she and the council will have great input� on the reshaping of the mall property.

Gray, as she has for two weeks, continued to question an opinion from County Counselor Peter Krane supporting the LCRA as the best legal option for transforming a structurally unsound mall to a multiuse housing, retail and commercial business destination.

The councilwoman two weeks ago presented an opposing opinion drafted by her father, former state Rep. Elbert Walton Jr.

Krane’s argument, however, eventually won the day by persuading South County Republican Ernie Trakas to join the five-member majority that defeated the amended legislation.

“I am concerned the substitute bill will not survive a legal challenge,� said Trakas, who along with Gray is the council’s newest member.

Stenger and Gray over the past four weeks have clashed frequently over fate of the mall.

The county executive said he sees no reason he and the councilwoman can’t work together on the project in the months to come.

“This has nothing to do with politics, it has to do with public service on behalf of a desperate public,� said Stenger, adding, “This causes no bad blood (with Gray) as far as I’m concerned.

Stenger sees the council task of blighting the mall starting anew later in February. Barring another legislative challenge, the LCRA will again be in charge.

“This vote wasn’t against the revised bill,� Stenger said. “It was for moving the process forward.�

Editor's note: This replaces an earlier version that gave an incorrect first name for Elbert Walton Jr. in the 15th paragraph.