Say this for Paul McKee. The man is not going away.

A day after appearing in Appeals Court to hear oral arguments on the lawsuit that's stymieing his huge plan to re-make St. Louis' near north side, McKee spent an hour Thursday morning pitching his project at the University of Missouri - St. Louis.

McKee headlined the monthly "Breakfast and Business" event at UMSL, sharing the latest version of his "NorthSide Regeneration" plans with about 100 businesspeople, university folks, and members of the public. 

It was the 113th public meeting McKee said he's held since unveiling the big idea nearly three years ago, and it followed a script familiar to anyone who's sat through a few of them. Establish his modest north county roots. Talk about the troubles that have beset north St. Louis for decades. Lay out his ideas. And call the crowd to action.

"How could we as a community stand by for 70 years and let the north side deteriorate?" he said. "Who do we hold responsible? Who's responsible for changing it? You? Me?"

All of us, was McKee's message. Which makes sense considering he's seeking $390 million in tax increment financing to help kickstart the project. At this point, that's up to Appeals Court judges, though McKee continues to push forward on smaller pieces of his project.

On these, specifics were few.

He said he's talking for about a year with "a trade school" about locating in the long-empty Clemens House Mansion on Cass Ave., and that a credit union was also interested in the site. He said he's heard "major interest from major people" about a site on N. Jefferson Ave. And he confirmed that his deal to buy a share of the Bottle District site from developers Clayco and Larry Chapman closed in December, and suggested it might play a role in the Edward Jones Dome plans.

"We're so pleased with the potential there," he said. "And with all the talk about the stadium, we're willing to do whatever we can to support that."

Mostly, though, it was a chance for McKee to make his pitch, take a few swipes at the critics who continue to dog him, and talk about his vision for north St. Louis.

And to make one thing clear. He's not going away.