Operating Engineers Local 513 bannering Jefferson Arms project

DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS – Operating Engineers Local 513 is bannering the long-delayed and troubled Jefferson Arms redevelopment project at 415 Tucker Blvd. Local 513 members (from left) Milton Valentine and Ken Carter manned the banner at the Locust and 12^th streets construction entrance on  Wednesday, Oct. 4, with a greedy Fat Cat inflatable informing drivers and passersby that the developer, Dallas-based Alterra Worldwide, is using contractors that pay below area standard wages and benefits. Alterra has received $20 million in tax incentives for the project from the city of St. Louis, including $17.4 million in tax-increment financing (TIF) and $2.6 million in special sales tax districts to turn the 500,000-square-foot, historic Jefferson Arms into a hotel and apartments. – Labor Tribune photo