2) Work is beginning on the Palmer Senior Housing project at the old Palmer Junior High School building that was abandon by the Independence School District because of toxic mold contamination. Superintendent Dr. Jim Hinson considered the contamination so bad that it could never be cleaned to point where he would allow school district personnel to occupy the space. But somehow it has been judged to be okay for our senior citizens who will be occupying the space 24/7. Planning and design of the facility occurred without discussions or input from the surrounding neighbors and churches whose parking facilities will be impacted by the project.
3) The redevelopment of Heritage House Apartments started in a similar manner. Public votes of support occurred without opportunities for public comment. Neighborhood meetings were actually promised, then that promise was broken. Even a HUD official admits that the property was poorly designed from the very beginning with respect to traffic flow (especially heavy trucks) and emergency access.
4) St. Mary’s Catholic Church puts up “For Sale” signs on the entire block that make up their church and school facilities. The church’s presence here in the neighborhood endured the Great Depression and even the Civil War. Apparently, that endurance reached its limits in 2013. And speaking of war, another church within view of the Truman Home National Historic Site and who actually wants to maintain a presence here in the neighborhood feels compelled to place razor wire near their main entrance.
5) Two national pioneer trails interpretive sites are targets of vandalism. A valuable bronze sculpture of a pioneer woman at the National Frontier Trails Museum (NFTM) was stolen and chopped up into pieces for scape metal and an interpretive panel was vandalized at the newly-installed national historic trails interpretive panels at a pavilion in McCoy Park. The vandalized panel that was ripped from its base and tossed aside was one that had a map of other trails sites, including the NFTM. Ironically, as pieces of our trails history are damaged and disappear, the city actually has plans for a $13 million expansion of the NFTM.
6) Three National Stabilization Program (NSP) homes, all near the corner Farmer and Pleasant Streets in the heart of the Truman National Historic Landmark District, still remain vacant. One of them has been vacant for about four years under the city’s leadership and control. But there appears to be a glimmer of hope. The city’s developer-of-choice is actually starting to work on two of them. We are looking forward to all three of them completed during this calendar year and turned into owner-occupied properties as promised by city officials.
7) While local businesses promote themselves individually proclaiming that they’re of part of Harry Truman’s hometown, the City of Independence promotes the entire city by proclaiming that we have “Real People - Real Progress.” On the special “Shout Out” evening celebrations on the Square, a neighborhood block adjacent to us was on “Lock Down” because of an apparent criminal on the loose who was considered dangerous. The fireworks on the Square actually startled police personnel in flak jackets because it sounded like gunfire. Not a good way to begin a publically-financed PR campaign. Interestingly, the city is actually investing in yet another PR effort called, “Re-think Independence” and, when combined with the previous campaign, will likely result in the expression: “Real People Re-think Real Progress.”
8) The Jackson County Courthouse, the centerpiece of the historic commercial district on the Square, has been successfully restored by the County government. Hooray! In a way, the restoration has become a “living history” project by not just restoring the building but restoring actual county government functions inside the building. Great Job!!!
9) Community Development Department Director, Jennifer Clark, leaves City Hall for a position in Fresno, California. Interestingly, Fresno was recently judged to be the “Dirtiest City in America” by Forbes Magazine and has been described as “planning gone wrong and development gone wild” by a local journalist, not to mention a city with its own set of problems with crime, unemployment, corruption, and budget shortfalls. For some reason, her 5-year experience here in Independence somehow makes her uniquely qualified to be Fresno’s new Community Development Director. “Good Luck Jennifer!”
10) Shortly after Jennifer Clark’s departure, Heather Carpini, the City of Independence Historic Preservation Manager, disappears from City Hall one afternoon in mid-August. Heather was here a bit longer than a year. We welcomed her youthful, enthusiastic, and professional approach to furthering the cause for historic preservation and neighborhood revitalization here in Old Town Independence and she will be missed. It is not surprising to see that kind of approach in conflict with city leaders. We wish Heather “Good Luck” while we continue to mourn the losses, year after year after year, from the local preservation program which appears to be an annual ritual.
As we reflect on a year where we took one step forward and two steps back, we hope and pray 2014 will be year where promises can be kept and where our rich heritage will be considered an asset that can drive revitalization, economic development, and tourism.
