Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Blight Update at 1306 N. Maple

The update is that there is no update or changes. In fact, what appears to be a secure building from the street is an allusion. All the windows on the east side are completely broken out. Both doorway openings on the back side are unsecure. In the garage, which is also apparently tagged dangerous, is loaded with piles of garbage (see above photo) with the front doors open. It has to be attracting rodents (or worse) to the neighborhood. Drug activity was already mentioned in a previous blog concerning this property. And county records indicate that this property has been owned by a church-based educational institution (guess which one). I find it hard to believe that city officials have actually inspected this property. And if they have, then it is crystal clear who has influences over City Hall. If we were to manage property in this manner, City Hall would demand and strictly enforce clean up in 30 days. This property has looked bad for a year or more. Will this end up being yet another case where criminal arson will do more to remove blight than church, government, and M/TRC combined? Wake Up, Independence! Elections are coming up. If you’re happy with the status quo and the level of respect bestowed on our heritage here in Old Town, then there are clear choices for you at the polls. Actually, this would be a great time to take out the garbage!


One Block East

PrudentPreservation makes a great point. It needs to be noted that the 300-400 block of North Pleasant Street is “One Block East” of the Truman Home and within view of the Truman Home National Historic Site. There is a hint (or stench) of hypocrisy to charge off to clean up blight in the “12 Blocks West” while contributing to blight in one block east. It also needs to be mentioned, again, that this block of Pleasant Street has been a part of the M/TRC Neighborhood Revitalization Program. Locals obviously have varying opinions about the state of neighborhood. Have you wondered what folks outside our community think? In May of 2008, the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation (state-wide not-for-profit group based in Columbia MO) listed the Truman National Historic Landmark District on its “Top 10 Most Endangered Historic Places” in the state because of conditions on Pleasant Street and because “institutional property owners in the area have been moving out.” In the 1990’s, we were high on the list of endangered landmarks for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In the 1980’s, it was the US Department of the Interior. Have situations really improved in the last three decades? The Truman Library Institute’s fund-raiser, “Wild about Harry”, is next week and it attracts support from all across the country. It would be great for the local community to demonstrate that they are also “Wild about Harry” by supporting the preservation of his neighborhood and the historic setting his home. The Truman Neighborhood is essentially a living history district with the emphasis on “living.” It is important to have living/breathing human beings and families occupying the surrounding properties. And it is important to take advantage of the resources and tools available at the federal level to accomplish this goal. So what are we waiting for?

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

NSP Bucks Should Stop on Pleasant Street


The problem with foreclosures and vacant properties hit the 300-400 block of North Pleasant Street, in the heart of the Harry S Truman National Historic Landmark District, long before the crisis hit the community and the nation. The photo above is 419 N. Pleasant taken almost 2 years ago and shows overgrown weeds and boarded up windows. Conditions today are worst. The property looked this way during Candidate Barack Obama’s pivotal campaign speech about “Patriotism” at the Memorial Building (only a block away) while the national press descended on our neighborhood. And we lost one empty building over three years ago from arson (subject of 11-27-09 Blog Post). Today there are actually 5 empty buildings on this block which include an empty historic church sanctuary with plywood covering stained glass windows and, yes, an empty school building (Palmer). But there is actually hope. The federal government has what they call the National Stabilization Program (NSP) where they provide money to local communities to purchase foreclosed properties for rehabilitation and resale. City Historic Preservation staff is currently proposing to use NSP funds for 419 N. Pleasant. This has actually been one of the best ideas to come from City Hall in a long time. No other property in town would give you more bang for your buck than this one. Millions of dollars are available and have been for a while. Other communities have been spending this money. What is the hold up in Independence? If this were a problem associated with the Event Center, it would be treated as an emergency and the city would go into debt to address it immediately. In this case, money is not short but leadership is. Someone needs to take the lead this spring to get the NSP funds invested in our historic neighborhoods. We cannot depend on the First Baptist Church, the School District, or the banking community for leadership on Pleasant Street. City Hall has to step up to the plate and treat issues in Old Town with the same urgency as their beloved projects in the Little Blue Valley.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Deficits on Streets lead to Potholes in Revenue

We’ve mentioned the cost of maintaining open space and parking lots, but what is the impact on city revenue when homes are removed from neighborhood streets? The City of Independence has budgeted over $52 million in revenue from property taxes, franchise fees from city-owned utilities, taxes from city-owned utilities, franchise fees & taxes from natural gas services, franchise fees & taxes & 911 fees from phone use, franchise fees & taxes from cable services, cigarette taxes, gasoline taxes, motor vehicle license fees, and general sales tax. This revenue represents an average of $1120 per household (this assumes households are supporting our local businesses). Every household represents a revenue stream. When these households disappear, so does the revenue. For example, if an entire block of say 26 homes disappear, that could represent a $350,000 loss in annual revenue from the city’s budget or the equivalent of the starting base salaries of 9 entry-level police officers. Obviously, poorly maintained and managed houses can put on strain on city resources but so do empty lots. It is important to maintain our housing stock for a sustainable city government and appropriate staffing levels of police and firefighters. It also supports local public schools, libraries, county government, etc. We need to get behind “12 Blocks West” and any other neighborhood revitalization/conservation efforts to maintain clean and safe housing for our citizens. Otherwise, we will have no choice but to put professional hockey players on our streets to maintain law & order.