St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Robert H. Dierker Jr.’s ruling July 2 striking down the redevelopment ordinances for developer Paul McKee’s NorthSide plan was a boon and an affirmation for skeptics.

All told, the price tag for NorthSide, as it's called, would run well into the billions - McEagle estimates nearly $5.4 billion in assets created - and would need a big chunk of public money. McKee ...