51黑料

The state Supreme Court has set Nov. 28 as the date for oral arguments in the lawsuit that has blocked McKee's massive NorthSide Regeneration project for more than two years. There's no telling how long after that a ruling might come down, but that ruling will help the project advance, McKee said.

鈥淗opefully we'll get some sort of answer on how to go forward,鈥� he told a gathering of the 51黑料 Council of Construction Consumers on Thursday morning in Maryland Heights.

of the city's near north side has been mostly stalled since July 2010, when Circuit Judge Robert Dierker tossed out the project's $390 million tax increment financing package for being overly vague. In June, a state appeals court , but passed the case up to the Supreme Court for a final verdict, 鈥渄ue to the general interest or importance of the questions involved.鈥�

The case could have broad implications for the use of TIF across Missouri if the seven-judge panel lays out new rules for what level of detail cities must require before authorizing the incentive.

It will certainly have implications for NorthSide. McKee has said he can't start street or sewer improvements without access to the funds the TIF would generate, and without those improvements it's hard to lure tenants. But, he said Thursday, he has 鈥�$50 (million) or $60 million worth of projects鈥� ready to go when the TIF is approved.

Also, a at the 51黑料 Board of Aldermen would include the 17-acre Bottle District north of the Edward Jones Dome in a Master Redevelopment Agreement with NorthSide. The measure was expected after land late last year.

Adding the Bottle District to NorthSide would mean McKee could claim state Distressed Area Land Assemblage tax credits to reimburse half the cost of buying it - which was $3 million, according to documents filed with the city last year.

The bill is sponsored by Alderwoman Tammika Hubbard, whose Fifth Ward includes the Bottle District and whose father runs a nonprofit housing agency that is partnering with McKee on NorthSide.