I would disagree with your assessment of what happened (is happening) in
Central. I would also point out that it's Project for Pride in Living, the
brain child of one Joe Selvaggio, famous in song and story, particularly in the
Tribune. PPL has been in business for 20 years or better. From the point of
view of the city, county, etc. PPL gives good service for the dollars spent.
The city, at least, though they may not like him, appears to like the work that
Sabri does. On that score I will weigh in.
For 20 years 301, 315 and 345 Lake St. East were, first, a whore house and a
dirty book, and "theater" and a pron empire holding. After Ferris Alexander
was put away in Stillwater (?), the buildings stood empty another ten years
while we attempted, without overwhelming success, to find someone who would
rehab them and make them useful. Urban Ventures said they would do it, but
after awhile we realized their time-table and ours were not compatible. Enter
(downstage left) one Basim Sabri, small developer. He bought 301E Lake and in
less than six months, we got a building that looks nice, is full of microbuses
(which was the stated goal through our NRP Plan), working well, fully
tenanted. Sabri gets 315E Lake and in 90 or 120 days it's working, it's tied
to 301 with a nice patio (with a fountain to claim it as a Sabri Property).
Fully tenanted. Then we look at the mess we made trying to be our own
developer of the 4th and Lake building--and the $1.2 million we, in essence,
wasted or bungled big time in a major mental peanut moment.
Now, the 4th and Lake building is in nice shape. It has tenants and not one of
them is selling dope, peddling porn or working in prostitution (it had been a
place for prostitutes since the late 50s if not before). By report, the ladies
of the evening lived upstairs and threw down junk jewelry to little girls
coming home from Clinton School.
I would like to point out something about how we cope with different cultures
coming here to live. Basim Sabri is a Palestinian and he's probably in his
mid- to late thirties. This means he survived bombs, shots fired and not always
missing someone, and poverty and loss of life in his extended family, if not
his immediate family. Born and bred to it. He works his way to America where
he goes to school, works for himself and begins to become a wealthy man. At
some very deep levels he is a survivor. How, then, are you going to frame any
statement to him about "that's not how you behave to survive here" when he
survived to GET here and prosper?
I have no doubt in my own mind that any lawyer could make the case that Sabri
walks the razor's edge between the licit and the illicit. However, any lawyer
could make the same case about Ryan company, Sherman-Boosalis (if they're still
in business), or you name one or a dozen.
Basim Sabri was one among many who performed a palace coup--and not the first
such to happen--at Central Neighborhood Improvement Association. I was another
one. In fact, I had the most votes in the house that night. (I left the board
one month after the election.)
In terms of the work he does, Sabri has added value to my neighborhood. Every
project he has done to date fit perfectly into our NRP Plan. Like any
developer, he likes to have it all his way. As "the neighborhood", it's our
job to hold him in check. We have been largely unsuccessful at that because we
have piddled around in a rumor mill of crapola, all of which has been beside
the point. (Example: Sabri will burn your house down if you don't sell to him
or Sabri's in league with Brian Herron, he must "have something on Herron.")
Puuuuuulllllllleeeezzzzzeeeee! Tell me that ain't racism, classism, and
zenophobia all wrapped up with a bow. Lord love a duck!
Sorry for the length.
WizardMarks, Central
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> There was a very boisterous Ventura Village Meeting where the people from
> People For Pride In Living and Basim Sabri and his fellow henchmen tried
> to unsuccessfully pack the meeting and push forth their own agenda and
> attempt a coupe of the Ventura Village Neighborhood organization, much
> like they did in the Central Neighborhood. V V, was very organized,
> however, and thwarted the takeover. Has anyone else had this similar
> experience. I understand Basim was a part of the take over of The Central
> Neighborhood. Are they just so hungry with greed that they will do anything
> to get theri way?
>
> Rob - Ventura Village (North Phillips)
>
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