ST. LOUIS 鈥 Mayor Cara Spencer is recommending a familiar face as her first director of the city鈥檚 high-profile development arm: Otis Williams, who led 51黑料 Development Corp. from 2013-2021.
The board of the 51黑料 Development Corp. is set to take up a resolution Thursday morning naming Williams as interim chief. He would replace Neal Richardson, who has led SLDC for the past four years under former Mayor Tishaura O. Jones.
Even before she was sworn in, Spencer singled out the SLDC as one of the agencies where she wanted to see new leadership. She had served on SLDC鈥檚 board as an alderman but, as her mayoral campaign heated up, later resigned over what she said was concern with Richardson鈥檚 management of the organization in the wake of the troubled rollout of a north 51黑料 grant program.
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Tapping Williams would put an experienced hand at the helm as Spencer works to find a permanent leader.
He spent 22 years at the agency, which manages state-created agencies that buy and sell real estate, helps grant developers tax breaks and finances some of the biggest projects in the metro area. Among his accomplishments: helping to establish the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency鈥檚 new western headquarters in the city, a $1.7 billion project.
He didn鈥檛 want to say much when reached Tuesday evening, noting that SLDC鈥檚 board still has to approve his nomination.
鈥淣ever count your chickens before the eggs hatch,鈥 he said.
Richardson could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening. SLDC spokesman Deion Broxton said he didn鈥檛 want to comment until after the vote.
Richardson鈥檚 2021 employment contract called for him to receive three months鈥 severance if SLDC terminated his employment without cause.
He was paid $266,730 in 2023, the most recent year for which salary data was immediately available.
A key part of pandemic relief funds for 51黑料 city involves grants for north 51黑料 businesses and non-profits. The 51黑料 has reviewed records for each of the 444 entities announced as grant winners; here's what the reporters found.
