Hearing To Reopen Praxair Today at 1pm
Lafayette Square has been a “hot” neighborhood since I moved to St. Louis in 1990. And why not; beautiful homes, convenient location and a magnificent urban park.
But in June of this year it got a little hotter than the residents could stand. Rather than exploding home sales you got exploding storage tanks at Praxair on Chouteau.
During the crisis, which lasted for weeks, Praxair company officials talked of relocating and the city made strong statements about making sure they moved away from such a heavy residential area. It all seemed like it would resolve itself.
Now one side is backing away from their original words and thankfully it is not the City. Praxair has requested a permit to renovate and reopen their facility but the city refused. Praxair has appealed. Today is a hearing on Praxair’s appeal. Not surprising, residents are actively opposing Praxair complete with signs, a letter writing campaign and a new website called, appropriately enough, PraxairWatch.com
From the site you can link to local sources for pictures and video of the explosion, fire and aftermath. Sensational images!
I’ve gone back and forth on this issue to a degree. At various times I’ve wondered if the residents were just pampered NIMBY types (not in my back yard). After all, industry has been around the edge of Lafayette Square longer than any of them have lived there.
But, in the end, I’ve separated in my mind “regular” industry from hazardous and explosive materials. That is where I, and clearly the residents, have drawn the line. Lafayette Square has a number of other businesses at the edge such as an overhead door distributor, a truck repair center and small manufacturers and distributors. These types of businesses have co-existed with the residences for decades and it is a nice mix. St. Louis’ is still very much an industrial city. But explosive gasses?
No resident, regardless of affluence or influence, should be subjected to the risk of such explosions. The mere fact the fire department had to keep water on the scene to cool the contents for what seemed like weeks is proof enough this doesn’t belong anywhere but a highly industrial area where the risk to home and life is minimized. Praxair needs to move to another location.
Today’s meeting is at 1pm in room 208 of City Hall.
– Steve
No doubt that Praxair should probably move, but I think the city should alo be focusing on helping them find a location in the city for their operation, instead of just denying them a permit. We shouldn’t be running them off to the suburbs because of their explosion. I can think of many areas along the river, among other areas, that would provide good sites for them.
They will face NIMBY anywhere they go. Unless they leave the area entirely.
But we can afford to kick businesses and employers out of the area can’t we?
An update on the Praxair hearing. The hearing lasted from 1pm yesterday until after 5pm. A decision by the board is expected in the coming days.
Praxair, represented by the law firm of Bryan Cave, made their presentation to the board starting at 1pm yesterday, laying out their case for why the company should be granted a permit to repair their facility.
The city and neighborhood then presented its case, led by the ad-hoc neighborhood task force. The task force, through a grass roots campaign, was able to mobilize a significant number of residents to speak about various issues such as chemical safety, historic preservation, property damage and personal safety. In addition to the testimony, a large number of residents attended the hearing in support of the opposition. The board also received 49 letters of opposition from neighborhood residents and business owners prior to the hearing.
Thanks for your coverage of the Praxair issue. I thought it was insightful and fair.
April Breeden, LCSW
Chair-Praxair Neighborhood Task Force
http://www.praxairwatch.com