National Preservation Month – Encore Event!

As the curtain is drawn on the series of events to mark the end of “National Preservation Month,” we get a curtain call to witness an important part of our local preservation history. No, it’s not theater or drama or special effects or reenactments. It’s reality programming. After years of neglect and its contribution to blight in this neighborhood, we are finally closing the chapter on 1306 W. Maple. On Wednesday, May 26, the walls came tumbling down. History is all about understanding our past and learning from our mistakes in order to move forward in a positive direction. This was the point of Dr. Jon Taylor’s book, “Competing Histories.” But have we really learned from our past mistakes? I’ve always wondered what it would be like growing up as a young child on a block like this where homes are treated in this manner. You would think one would grow up with a distorted perspective on community stewardship. I believe the best thing our community leaders can do is put themselves in the shoes of individuals and families who live adjacent to institutional properties. It’s obvious the land adjacent to this property is being cleared for a purpose. Hopefully, the eventual purpose of this neighborhood block will be greater than its most recent negative influences on the neighborhood. From local history, we have learned that this has not always been the case. And as for the 100-year old home at 1306 W. Maple, “It’s History.”

“If You Can’t Stand the Heat ………”

The Examiner recently reported a house fire in the 300 block of South Fuller (5-12-10). Their brief report indicated an “unknown” cause of the fire that completely gutted the home. This incendiary event at 308 South Fuller happened to be only a few blocks from 1306 W. Maple, the other abandon home discussed in this Blog. And, yes, both are in the award-winning multi-million-dollar M/TRC Neighborhood Revitalization area and the proposed 12 Blocks West area. The real story of 308 S. Fuller is easily assessable on the city’s official website indicating its extensive code enforcement history. In the last 6 years, this property has been cited for code violations 24 times (this may be a city record) with a recent action noting unsanitary conditions resulting in an “Unsafe to Occupy” posting. And the utilities have been turned off since last year. The rest of this story is that the nicely renovated and well-kept home next door experienced damage from the fire also (see photo above). The vinyl siding shriveled up from the heat, at least one window was broken from falling debris, and there was likely even smoke damage. By the way, the IFD did a great job in putting out the fire and minimizing the damage to the adjacent property. This story begins like many other stories in town where property is owned by a person or an organization that doesn’t live in this neighborhood and who obviously doesn’t care about the families who live on this block. So if the home was vacant and the utilities were turned off, then was the cause spontaneous combustion? The collateral damage from problem properties goes beyond the heat generated from an arson fire. The problems in Old Town are clear but are city leaders getting the whole story? I guess we will see if the folks igniting the 12 Blocks West program can “take the heat” and accomplish what M/TRC and City Hall has failed to do.

Contrary Kingdom

This is a make-believe fairy tale of a land not so far away for which nothing is what you would expect. In fact, things happen just the opposite way it would in the other normal surrounding kingdoms. It’s “Contrary Kingdom.” Where the land considered the most sacred is treated with the most disrespect. The Ministry of Health is located in the area where the youngest and healthiest villagers are and furthest away from the older villages who need these services most. Upon the flood plain of the Big Red River, economic activity is much more prominent than it is on higher ground where there is protection from the monsoons and where it is closer to the castle. The Ministry of Agriculture sponsors an annual festival to celebrate the harvest of the once abundant melon crop which the kingdom had been historically known for. Unfortunately, all the celebrations are conducted in the melon patch and they end up destroying most of their harvest each year. The Kingdom is actually becoming less known for the harvest of melons and more so for the huge festival that ends up driving the good farmers out to other more thriving kingdoms. The king and his court routinely issue proclamations stating that “All is well in the Land of the Melon” while melon production continues to fall. And the villagers lived despondently ever after. Good thing Contrary Kingdom is just a fairy tale!

McClain’s Square Roots of Success

As we recognize the success of the Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street Inc. (DLSMS), it becomes clear what can be accomplished when the entire community gets behind a project and a vision. As for “The Square” in downtown Independence, the McClains have had to work against the grain without the support of state and federal tax credit programs through historic district designations, overcoming negative economic and social ills, and lackluster business development and tourism programs in order to achieve their successes. On Sunday, The KC Star Magazine did a great cover story on the McClains highlighting the 16 businesses they started on The Square. Given the obstacles they’ve had to overcome, their accomplishments should be considered even greater than the award-winning DLSMS. Unfortunately, the McClains are less likely to be recognized from groups like the National Trust since The Square has never been officially designated as a national historic district. Attempts were started 10 years ago to expand the existing National Historic Landmark District to include The Square, but regrettably, those efforts have fizzled out. We could establish a local historic district to demonstrate our support of the national designation but no one seems to be talking about that either. In the mean time, we need to honor those who have chosen not to wait for the community to catch up with the rest of the world and who are actually doing things and solving problems on their own to revitalize our historic community. Congratulations and “Thank You” to the McClains for their positive contributions to and their continued support of the “Historic” Independence Square. And congratulations also to the County of Jackson for their successful completion of the restoration of the grounds and landscaping that frame one of the most important courthouses in the United States.

Local Suburb Reaches Summit in Historic Preservation

The City of Lee’s Summit, Missouri recently received one of only five national honors for the “2010 Great American Main Street Awards” from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This award recognized Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street Inc. for their work and accomplishments in revitalizing the heart of their community. Their success was a result of strong political support, appropriate professional planning, a progressive business community, and, more importantly, an active historic preservation program that promoted attractive tax credit programs offered at the state and federal level. Lee’s Summit currently hosts five historic districts (with a sixth one on the way) while viewing its historic built environment as community assets and using historic preservation as an economic development tool. This is what can happen when a community is running on all cylinders. They have been able to balance the success of booming growth and economic development combined with protecting their important historical resources. Yes, they know how to walk and chew gum at the same time. Congratulations to our neighbor, the City of Lee’s Summit, Missouri.