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Chicago Tribune
16-06-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
St. Louis was a brick ‘epicenter.' Can it keep its bricks after the tornado?
ST. LOUIS — Beyond immediate needs tied to shelter and safety, preservation experts and local officials say they've heard a common refrain in the aftermath of last month's deadly tornado that ravaged parts of St. Louis, bringing down multiple brick structures: What's going to become of all that brick from damaged buildings — and how can the city save the material that's a distinct symbol of St. Louis pride and identity from landfills and potential larceny? 'We're one of the few truly brick cities in the country,' said Alderman Michael Browning of the 9th Ward. 'It speaks to the character of the city. That's a character we want to preserve.' On May 16 an EF3 tornado cut across the city from the Central West End and into north St. Louis neighborhoods of historic red brick homes, like Fountain Park, killing five people. Homes and buildings were toppled by the storm, leaving rooms without walls or roofs, and creating mountains of brick, lumber and more. St. Louis' strong brick heritage stretches back well over a century — or even to past millennia, in a geological sense. The local abundance of clay provided the material that industrialists like the Hydraulic Press Brick Co. converted into untold volumes of brick, starting in the 1800s. From its St. Louis hub, the company grew to become the world's biggest brick producer, and created what 'came to be known as the perfect brick' with a red tinge, said Will Quam, a Chicago-based architecture expert who leads brick-related tours, and will visit St. Louis to give a talk about bricks later this month. 'When you think of this platonic ideal of a brick, you're picturing a brick made in St. Louis by the Hydraulic Press Brick Co.,' he said. 'St. Louis was the real epicenter of brick fashion in the late 19th century.' Bricks can take on different hues and characteristics, based on local geology where their clay is harvested. For example, bricks from Chicago and Milwaukee are distinctly lighter in color than those made here. Today, the glory and grit of St. Louis brick has made the material a target that can fetch premium prices, and is coveted by salvagers, brickyards, brazen thieves and, eventually, builders even out of state. 'People love the look of an old brick and they will pay good money for it,' Quam said. 'They want the look of a brick that has weathered for 100 years as opposed to a modern brick that is maybe too perfect.' He said that around Chicago, reclaimed St. Louis bricks are selling for $1.51 each, or $800 for a pallet of 530 bricks. That's almost 20% more than reclaimed 'Chicago Common' bricks, which he said go for $1.25 apiece. That appeal of St. Louis brick is raising fears that the tornado could accelerate the long-established trend of St. Louis' salvaged brick leaving town, often for destinations across the southern U.S., where it can commonly be sliced up and used as cladding. 'You have people who will lose their homes and will then lose their brick to some multimillion-dollar development in the South,' said Quam. In the weeks since the tornado, St. Louis residents, volunteers and workers have begun sifting through jumbled piles of rubble from the damaged buildings that may be condemned and empty or collapsed, sometimes setting aside tidy stacks of bricks. Residents said they and their neighbors intend to reuse those intact, salvaged bricks to rebuild and repair their homes. 'I haven't heard anyone say anything about selling their bricks,' said Richard Ellis, a Fountain Park resident who was helping with work at a nearby home on Thursday night. 'That has not even been a discussion.' Tornado victims ponder reuse of fallen bricks Bricks from the family home of Gale Davis on Labadie Avenue sit neatly in a pile on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, as a family member carries lumber inside for repairs. Davis and her family plan to repair their damaged facade with the bricks they've salvaged from the May 16 tornado that left the house without a roof. St. Louis brick is a valued piece of local history, geology and architectural flavor. Even before the tornado struck, city officials were talking about how to protect it. 'People aren't stupid — they do value it,' said Michael Allen, a history professor at West Virginia University who, until last year, was a lecturer on architectural history at Washington University. 'They just might not value the building it comes from as much as the commodity it generates when it's demolished.' But not all St. Louis brick has the same appeal. Salvagers are generally looking for bricks made in a 'sweet spot' from about 1900 to the 1930s, said Kyle Lansing, a local salvager and preservation specialist. Before that, he said, bricks were often hand-pressed. 'This summer's gonna be full, just in north city,' said Lansing. 'There's so much stuff up there that should be saved that I hope to be a part of.' Another challenge comes from the limited capacity of salvage workers compared to the scale of regional storm damage, and the slower pace of reclamation work, which is done by hand. 'A lot of those buildings are still going to be standing in six to eight months,' said Allen. 'I think there's time to do something at scale. It doesn't have to be done all at once.' Some of the homes, church buildings and businesses the tornado fully or partially toppled have been in families or congregations for decades. Others are city-owned, leading some aldermen in hard-hit wards to question the typical practice of hiring local demolition contractors who work at a discounted price, in exchange for the right to resell bricks or other salvageable materials. The officials wonder if it could be a better deal for the city to pay more for demolition work, while getting to keep the brick, instead — especially when the material could be used in rebuilding efforts. 'What is the greater cost?' asked Alderwoman Laura Keys of the city's 11th Ward, who said she discussed the matter with the mayor's office on May 13, three days before the tornado. 'Would it be better for us as a city in the long run to go ahead and pay them outright … and take custody of those bricks?' Alderwoman Sharon Tyus of the 12th Ward agreed that a change should be explored to prevent further exports of the city's bricks, especially with salvage work set to unfold 'at such a large scale,' she said. 'I would love to see that stop happening and that we would save them and keep them in the neighborhood,' Tyus said. 'I would love to see the brick taken back and kept in St. Louis.' Demolition and salvaging isn't the only way valuable bricks leave neighborhoods — theft has long been a concern, especially from vacant buildings. Tyus, for instance, said that several years ago, she watched a 'whole garage be stolen, brick by brick,' in her neighborhood. Brick generally represents the most valuable material that can be salvaged from a demolished home, experts said. 'In the midst of recovery, thieves can often blend in and look like contractors,' said Allen, the professor. 'Who's going to second guess, in the moment?' Rumors of recent brick thefts in tornado-damaged areas have been circulating, city officials and residents say, but St. Louis police spokesman Mitch McCoy said Saturday the department isn't aware of any reports being filed. To help retain and protect more of the city's brick, Keys, Tyus and others hope to see the material funneled toward a 'brick bank' repository that local residents could draw from during future construction or restoration efforts. Residents and the city could store their bricks at a secure location, saving them to use on their own rebuilds, or share with others. And although brick banking is a relatively untested concept, St. Louis could be as good a place as any for it to take root, Allen said. 'St. Louis, being kind of a hallmark brick city, might be a place to start,' he said. 'It's a great chance to test the viability of that idea.' If nothing is done, he said, current trends suggest that the material will likely end up in places like Florida or the Southwest. 'You'll see it in Phoenix, Arizona, or the suburbs of Orlando,' he said. 'It's sad for St. Louis.'
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Bond set at $2M for man accused of shooting 5 in French Quarter
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A judge has set a $2 million dollar bond for the man who allegedly shot and wounded five people after French Quarter Fest, Sunday night. In court on Thursday, the district attorney's office argued that Christopher Parker shot into the crowd along Decatur Street with no concern for anyone's safety. Parker's lawyer argued that he fired in self-defense, but only one gun was found at the scene. Man hospitalized following 9th Ward shooting 'No matter how mad he might have been, no matter how justified he might have felt for his actions, the fact that when he started firing that firearm, he had nothing but innocent people who were trying to enjoy French Quarter Fest. He's got a right to a defense. I, we look forward to trying the case across the street. But at the end of the day, you cannot shoot into a crowd,' said District Attorney Jason Williams. At last report all five shooting victims are citizen held by ICE despite judge seeing birth certificate Gen Z leading political shift toward Republicans: Poll Trump says Carter died 'happy' because he 'wasn't the worst president' Bossier Parish School Board approves largest permanent pay raise FSU lecturer finds broken doors in building after 2-hour shooting lockdown Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Aldermen confirm Mayor Brandon Johnson's ally to the City Council
Mayor Brandon Johnson's choice to fill his first City Council vacancy got a final stamp of approval on Monday, ensuring the seat left by a top aldermanic ally will be occupied by another loyal progressive. In a 32-11 vote, City Council members voted to approve Cook County Commissioner Anthony Quezada as alderman of the 35th Ward after his predecessor, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, resigned last month to lead the Chicago Park District. Quezada's confirmation marks Johnson's first mayoral appointment to the council. Johnson's appointment was briefly challenged by aldermen who opposed Quezada because of his decade-old social media post using a racial slur. Most Black aldermen speaking ahead of the confirmation vote signaled their willingness to forgive Quezada after he apologized. However, mayoral critic Ald. David Moore, 17th, used a colorful analogy to argue Quezada's first apology saying 'I regret having written it' was insincere. 'If I was to have an opportunity to have an affair with Beyonce, and Jay-Z catch me and shoot me in my behind,' Moore said, there's a difference between him saying, 'I regret being in that hotel room with Beyonce,' versus 'I'm sorry for sleeping for Beyonce.' Before the full vote, the Rules Committee meeting began with little pushback as members advanced Quezada's appointment to represent Logan Square and other Northwest Side neighborhoods. The vote is typically a formality where council members rubber stamp the mayor's selection, announced last week. Quezada delivered an opening statement promising a collaborative 'cool temper' amid the 'vitriol that we're seeing across all different spectrums and levels of government.' Then the meeting went off the rails, as Johnson opponents challenged Quezada's committee assignments that mirrored Ramirez-Rosa's and said it's unfair for a new alderman to benefit from the same privileges of seniority his predecessor got. Those assignments include the powerful Zoning, Budget, Finance and Housing committees. Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly kicked off the protestations. Rules chair Ald. Michelle Harris, 8th, swatted them away by noting she was also an appointee — by Mayor Richard M. Daley in 2006 — and inherited the plum committee assignments enjoyed by her predecessor, Todd Stroger. Then 9th Ward Ald. Anthony Beale demanded a roll call for himself to be added to the Budget Committee. In a sign the mayor's allies did not have the votes to block that motion, Harris instead added Beale's request to the ordinance containing Quezada's assignments. Beale told reporters his demand was only fair given he is the second-most senior member of City Council. The move to add Beale to Budget must still receive a full floor vote. 'That is not how it is supposed to be done,' Beale said, lamenting that a proposed council reorganization a group of aldermen attempted before Johnson took office did not succeed. 'We wouldn't be sitting there having this problem today if this council would finally stand up and do the job that we were elected to do.' Quezada has said he will seek a full term in 2027, when he will join the rest of the council on the ballot. He will benefit from an incumbency advantage, to the chagrin of other 35th Ward hopefuls who have said the selection committee's process was 'anti-democratic,' though recent aldermanic appointees have found ties to unpopular mayors troublesome come election time. The son of a father who immigrated to the U.S. without legal permission, Quezada is familiar with ward politics: his first experience in elected office came in 2015 as an intern for former 1st Ward Ald. Proco 'Joe' Moreno. He quit the gig over what he said was Moreno's too-cozy relationship with real estate developers, he previously told the Tribune. After meeting Ramirez-Rosa during U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 campaign, Quezada went on to work in the 35th Ward office on constituent services from the summer of 2016 until 2022. That year, Quezada won a seat on the Cook County Board, becoming the county's first openly gay Latino commissioner, defeating incumbent Democrat Luis Arroyo Jr. in a five-way 2022 primary to represent the county's 8th District, which stretches across the city's Northwest Side. Quezada won 54% of the 35th Ward vote in that election and went on to become a Johnson ally during their brief overlap on the County Board. While there, he helped pass the county's paid leave ordinance and worked to ensure the county public defender could provide legal representation to undocumented people in immigration court. Quezada's successor on the County Board will be chosen by Democratic committeepeople that span his district. Ramirez-Rosa, whose ward makes up the biggest portion of the district, will carry the largest weighted vote and chair the selection committee. Ald. Ruth Cruz, the committeeperson for the 30th Ward, carries the next largest chunk, followed by Ald. Jesse Fuentes in the 26th Ward. The entire County Board is up for reelection in 2026. Ramirez-Rosa, a three-term alderman with an outsized influence among his fellow progressives, left his council seat after Johnson tapped him to lead the Park District following a public vow to reset his administration with friendlier faces midway through his term. Shortly after, the superintendent-in-waiting all but endorsed his former ward office staffer to replace him on the City Council. Monday's mini-rebellion came a week after another dispute over committee assignments blew up between the Johnson administration and three members of the Progressive Caucus. Aldermen Maria Hadden, Andre Vasquez and Matt Martin sent two letters warning the Johnson administration against what they claimed were plans to strip each of them of their council committee chairmanships. On Monday, Hadden said Johnson deputy Kennedy Bartley has since reassured her those plans are not on the table. Hadden said as of Monday morning the mayor had still not reached out about the snafu before she took a swipe: 'There's a lot of stuff that Chicagoans are counting on us to do, and we're not necessarily seeing the mayor do it. That means we're as a co-equal branch of government going to have to step up and do some things City Council may not have traditionally done. For her part, Bartley told reporters Monday that 'many of those items that are on the mayor's platform are also in alignment with those three alderpeople' but declined to elaborate on the 'interpersonal rumors and drama' last week. 'What got back to them was a rumor. I don't care to drag out a rumor any further,' Bartley said. 'I look forward to working alongside them to make sure that we are passing bold, progressive, frankly life-saving initiatives.'
Chicago Tribune
04-03-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Waukegan revises deal for renovation of downtown buildings; ‘We're not giving a blank check'
Within a month of the Waukegan City Council initiating an agreement with the Waukegan Community Development Partnership for the renovation of two downtown buildings, the terms of the transaction changed with one council member concerned the city was taking too much of a risk. Planning to renovate the two vacant downtown buildings into mixed-use projects with commercial space on the ground floor and apartments on the upper stories, the partnership asked the city for financial incentives based on future value. When the council approved $1.725 million in incentives for the partnership on Feb.3, the money was to come back to the city through a downtown Tax Increment Financing District (TIF). Now, it is seeking the initial $900,000 from money generated by a different municipal fund. Ald. Thomas Hayes, 9th Ward, is concerned the changes to the deal will create a situation where the city would be responsible for a shortfall of potentially $100,000 from the TIF, while Ald. Victor Felix, 4th Ward, believes the designated TIF or a different one will be sufficient. The City Council voted 6-3 Monday at City Hall to modify the initial deal satisfying the partnership's request after its financial analyst determined the designated TIF may not be able to reimburse the entire amount. Spending just over $3.7 million to refurbish the former YMCA at the northwest corner of County and Clayton streets, the building will have apartments on the upper floors and 6,700 square feet of commercial space. About two blocks away, the partnership is starting to spend more than $1.6 million renovating 38 North Genesee St., which once housed a restaurant, into a multiuse structure with six residences on the top floors and 3,000 square feet at the ground level for retail or office use. Lowell Jaffe, the lead developer with the partnership, said after the meeting the group needs financial assistance from the city to help it strengthen the downtown real estate market so the entire area can improve. The incentives represent 32.5% of the project's cost. 'The only way to make this work is to build the population of downtown and increase economic activity,' Jaffe said. 'Unless the city is willing to improve downtown, you won't see meaningful growth.' When the deal was first approved in February, the city agreed to give the partnership an incentive of $900,000 to start, and another $825,000 as the buildings generated rent and added tax revenue from the TIF. Stewart Weiss, an attorney with corporation counsel Elrod Friedman, said at the meeting though the TIF has the $900,000, the partnership's financial consultant is concerned there will not be enough generated in the TIF during its remaining 14-year life to cover the full $1.725 million. 'What they asked for is if there is any amount of the $825,000 that has not been paid for that the city would make good on that amount,' Weiss said. 'We believe it would not be more than $100,000, but we don't know that for sure.' Removing the $900,000 from funds coming from the TIF, Weiss said it needed to be paid from a different city fund. On Feb. 3, some council members suggested it come from monies generated from gaming and cannabis sales and taxes. Felix suggested on Monday. Hayes said creating a situation where the city might be required to pay the partnership because revenue from the development was insufficient was a risk he was unwilling to take. He is comfortable taking the $900,000 from money generated from gaming and cannabis. 'If their development doesn't go as well as they hope, as well as they're promising it's going to go, then we have to go find the money elsewhere and pay it to them,' Hayes said. 'Therefore, we're on the hook for that money. That sounds like a bad deal.' Felix said if there is insufficient money in the TIF to satisfy the $825,000 due the developers over the next 14 years, money can come from neighboring TIF districts — two exist — so there is no risk to the city. He accused Hayes of trying to sabotage the transaction. 'That's not true,' Felix said referring to Hayes' concerns. 'It's all going to be there in (the TIF), we're there. We're not giving a blank check. It has to be paid back and we have contiguous TIFs we can use so they can get the funding they need. You're trying to shut the deal down.' Before the discussion, Sam Yingling, another member of the partnership, said the $900,000 will be placed in a construction escrow and will not be disbursed until the contracted work is complete. Shortly after the Feb. 3 meeting, Jaffe said the buildings on County and Genesee were the initial part of the first phase of a $315 million project, with 700 residences, 70,000 square feet of commercial space and a park. Yingling said the $1.725 million request is part of $52 million sought from the city.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hornell elections: These offices are up for voters to decide in 2025. Races, dates to know
There is none of the excitement of a U.S. presidential race and New Yorkers won't elect their next governor until 2026, but the election world keeps spinning even in off years like 2025. This year brings mostly local races at the city, town, village and county levels. And it's an important election year in Hornell, with the mayor's office and all ten seats on the Common Council on the ballot. Here are some races to keep an eye on in 2025, along with the dates for village elections, primaries and the general election. John Buckley formally announced that he is running for a third, four-year term as mayor in the City of Hornell this year. "We've accomplished a lot, but there is still so much to do," Buckley, a Republican, told a large crowd of supporters at a chilly campaign kickoff rally in Union Square Park on Jan. 25. 'It's important to keep investing in our community. Parks and outdoor recreation is a big focus of mine, just unlocking opportunities, creating opportunities for people of all ages to get out and explore and do things.' Buckley, who was previously a 9th Ward alderman and deputy mayor, was first elected mayor in 2017, succeeding the city's longest tenured mayor, Shawn Hogan. Buckley defeated independent John Lewis in 2017 before taking office in January 2018. Buckley bested Democrat Rich Argentieri in 2021 to capture a second term. Buckley is currently the only declared candidate for Hornell mayor. More: Hornell mayor John Buckley launches campaign for third term in Union Square Park All ten seats on Hornell City Council will be on the ballot in November, with alderman candidates vying for two-year terms. Republicans currently hold a 9-1 majority on the council. Here are the incumbent members of the common council: 1st Ward: Republican David Sutfin 2nd Ward: Republican Christina Hancock 3rd Ward: Republican Joseph McKay 4th Ward: Republican Steve Peck 5th Ward: Republican Daniel Warriner 6th Ward: Republican Lita Brown 7th Ward: Republican Kevin Valentine 8th Ward: Republican James M. Bassage Sr. 9th Ward: Republican Shannon Davis 10th Ward: Democrat John Carbone The General Election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. Voting is 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. Early voting for the General Election is Oct. 25-Nov. 2. More: January nights are long, but the month is full. Historic happenings this month in Steuben Villages hold 2025 elections for mayor, trustee and various other positions on March 18. Polls are open noon to 9 p.m. Party nominating caucuses took place Jan. 21-28. North Hornell, Arkport, Canisteo, Dansville and Alfred are some of the area villages with elections this year. The primary election in New York state is scheduled for June 24. Polls open 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Early voting for primaries is June 14-22. Visit the New York State Board of Elections or your county's board of elections for online voter registration or for more information. Email Neal Simon at nsimon@ To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Hornell races are focus of 2025 political calendar. When to vote
