10. MACO proposed
to construct rental duplexes on undeveloped land between Jones and Nickells
Streets right on the hiking/biking trail marked with National Park Service
(NPS) National Historic Trail signs that connects four city parks, trails
interpretive panels, and the Truman Library.
This land located in the Mill Creek Valley would have been a coveted
camping and staging area for early pioneers getting ready for their long
journey on the trails. In spite of its
obvious historical setting, the project was not reviewed by the Heritage
Commission, Parks & Recreation, NPS, the Truman Library, or even the Oregon
California Trails Association (OCTA) prior to Planning Commission review and
approval. Public Works called the plan
“objectionable” due to its impact to the trail.
The Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) was more polite in
calling its location next to the trail “not ideal.” But for some strange reason, two officials of OCTA representing the national trails interest back the high-density housing rezoning plan without revision in the
final days of Council approval leaving no time for responses or an actual historical
review process. Ironically, OCTA was publicly
advocating for the preservation green space along the national trails during
this same time period.
9. While declaring that economic development in Independence is thriving, the city ended up giving away, for free, several prime pieces of real estate to developers. One property worth noting here is the city block bounded by Main, Truman, Liberty, and White Oak Streets given to Ken McClain. This block used to host a wagon/blacksmith shop, stables, businesses that supported the pioneer trails, and had potential ties to the slavery trade. This represented one of the prime archaeological sites in this region. The property was handed over to McClain with the idea of developing townhouses through an emergency ordinance to the City Council which did not allow for open public comment. The property is flanked on two sides by the Truman National Historic Landmark District (NHLD) and by Liberty Street which is the National Historic Trail not to mention it is across the street from the NPS Visitors Center. With this said, there was no Heritage Commission review, archaeological study, NPS review nor preservation review of any kind at any level of government in spite of the fact they are pursuing Preservation Tax Credits from the state of Missouri. In fact, the architect described any archaeological resources as “rubbish” to be hauled away as unwanted waste.
8. With McClain’s redevelopment project at Main and Truman Road, the Farmer’s Market had to be relocated to the other side of the Square where there is even more blighted asphalt. Moving the Farmer’s Market, from a logistical standpoint, is actually pretty easy. All you have to do is pick up the port-a-potty and move it to the new location. The port-a-potty, which is left there year-round, is really the only public improvement on the site to support the Farmer’s Market. There is a move to commemorate the old Farmer’s Market with a historic marker at the old location. Yes, this will be the first historical marker to commemorate a port-a-potty.
7. The Thriftway neighborhood grocery store at the corner of River Boulevard and 24 Highway is planning a renovation. Unfortunately, plans call for it to concentrate on selling liquor and tobacco. This was years in the making with the adjacent influences of the vagrant camps behind them, crime, panhandling, surrounding housing dominated by government subsidies and limited buying power, and the continuing trend of blight all along the 24 Highway corridor which hosts a prestigious presidential library.
6. Work progresses on one of the NSP projects at 419 North Pleasant Street in the Truman NHLD in spite of the persistence of thieves routinely stealing building materials and tools. One afternoon they were actually caught on camera and their photos posted on social media, including this blog, resulting in their identification. The thieves were actually brothers so their crimes were part of a family outing. Workers for this non-for-profit redevelopment corporation mentioned that the projects they have worked on in Independence had suffered from the worse thief problems they’ve ever encountered in the KC area.
5. On June 24, the National Parks Serviced named Carol Dage its new Superintendent of the Harry S Truman National Historic Site (NHS). Carol is a 26-year veteran of the site and should have a wealth of knowledge and background with respect to the NHS and the Truman Neighborhood. We wish her and our federal preservation partners success.
4. Cori Day, Tourism Director, and Robert Heacock, City Manager, disappear from City Hall in early August. Both served as leaders for the Independence Events Center which currently owes more in revenue bonds today than it did when it first opened 7 years ago. The city consolidated resources with promoting the Event Center and heritage tourism while visitor counts to historic sites dropped significantly. Now the city wants to combine the Event Center and Tourism and place it under the direction of Parks & Recreation. This will even further dilute heritage tourism resources from the hotel tax that were intended to be from their very inception solely dedicated to promoting our rich national history.
3. The Jackson County Historical Society (JCHS) published an article in their Journal about the Harry S Truman National Historic Landmark District (NHLD) rehashing the 1984 local historic district reduction debacle and highlighting recent efforts by the NPS to expand the NHLD. Unfortunately they published the wrong map making the NHLD appear larger than it actually was while omitting the fact that the local district boundaries from 1984 indignity still remain. Keep in mind; this organization took a leadership role in 1996 to make a proclamation to the entire world through the National Trust for Historic Preservation and even David McCullough that the local historic district boundaries were alarmingly inadequate to protect the smaller NHLD. Two decades later, JCHS appears not only uninformed about federal boundaries but indifferent about the local district boundaries and their own history on the matter.
2. OCTA announces a 40-mile long national hiking and biking trail between Wayne’s City Landing in Sugar Creek and Gardner, Kansas. Interestingly, they choose the River Boulevard Route from the Square to the river instead the more historic and direct route on Liberty Street that has actual historic sites and tourist destinations. Those sites include the Vaile Mansion, the city premier museum, along with the Lewis-Jones House, antebellum home of wagon-maker, owner of the Nebraska House Hotel, and financial backer of merchants on the trails. One of Harry Truman’s boyhood homes is also located on North Liberty Street. The most important asset on the Liberty Street route is the Mill Creek Elementary School which could provide huge opportunities for youth involvement and public education partnerships for the national trails, always a goal of the NPS and partners. Plus the Liberty Street route goes much further to promote Independence history, tourism, education, and revitalization. Now I’m wondering if they were under the influence of wine when deciding on the River Boulevard route.
1. Independence continues to struggle with no preservation not-for-profit group, a city-run preservation commission that routinely cancels meetings because there is nothing to talk about, and city officials content with a struggling heritage tourism program. At least in 1984, when the city’s preservation program was slashed by 2/3’s, there was public outrage. Outrage is better than indifference.
9. While declaring that economic development in Independence is thriving, the city ended up giving away, for free, several prime pieces of real estate to developers. One property worth noting here is the city block bounded by Main, Truman, Liberty, and White Oak Streets given to Ken McClain. This block used to host a wagon/blacksmith shop, stables, businesses that supported the pioneer trails, and had potential ties to the slavery trade. This represented one of the prime archaeological sites in this region. The property was handed over to McClain with the idea of developing townhouses through an emergency ordinance to the City Council which did not allow for open public comment. The property is flanked on two sides by the Truman National Historic Landmark District (NHLD) and by Liberty Street which is the National Historic Trail not to mention it is across the street from the NPS Visitors Center. With this said, there was no Heritage Commission review, archaeological study, NPS review nor preservation review of any kind at any level of government in spite of the fact they are pursuing Preservation Tax Credits from the state of Missouri. In fact, the architect described any archaeological resources as “rubbish” to be hauled away as unwanted waste.
8. With McClain’s redevelopment project at Main and Truman Road, the Farmer’s Market had to be relocated to the other side of the Square where there is even more blighted asphalt. Moving the Farmer’s Market, from a logistical standpoint, is actually pretty easy. All you have to do is pick up the port-a-potty and move it to the new location. The port-a-potty, which is left there year-round, is really the only public improvement on the site to support the Farmer’s Market. There is a move to commemorate the old Farmer’s Market with a historic marker at the old location. Yes, this will be the first historical marker to commemorate a port-a-potty.
7. The Thriftway neighborhood grocery store at the corner of River Boulevard and 24 Highway is planning a renovation. Unfortunately, plans call for it to concentrate on selling liquor and tobacco. This was years in the making with the adjacent influences of the vagrant camps behind them, crime, panhandling, surrounding housing dominated by government subsidies and limited buying power, and the continuing trend of blight all along the 24 Highway corridor which hosts a prestigious presidential library.
6. Work progresses on one of the NSP projects at 419 North Pleasant Street in the Truman NHLD in spite of the persistence of thieves routinely stealing building materials and tools. One afternoon they were actually caught on camera and their photos posted on social media, including this blog, resulting in their identification. The thieves were actually brothers so their crimes were part of a family outing. Workers for this non-for-profit redevelopment corporation mentioned that the projects they have worked on in Independence had suffered from the worse thief problems they’ve ever encountered in the KC area.
5. On June 24, the National Parks Serviced named Carol Dage its new Superintendent of the Harry S Truman National Historic Site (NHS). Carol is a 26-year veteran of the site and should have a wealth of knowledge and background with respect to the NHS and the Truman Neighborhood. We wish her and our federal preservation partners success.
4. Cori Day, Tourism Director, and Robert Heacock, City Manager, disappear from City Hall in early August. Both served as leaders for the Independence Events Center which currently owes more in revenue bonds today than it did when it first opened 7 years ago. The city consolidated resources with promoting the Event Center and heritage tourism while visitor counts to historic sites dropped significantly. Now the city wants to combine the Event Center and Tourism and place it under the direction of Parks & Recreation. This will even further dilute heritage tourism resources from the hotel tax that were intended to be from their very inception solely dedicated to promoting our rich national history.
3. The Jackson County Historical Society (JCHS) published an article in their Journal about the Harry S Truman National Historic Landmark District (NHLD) rehashing the 1984 local historic district reduction debacle and highlighting recent efforts by the NPS to expand the NHLD. Unfortunately they published the wrong map making the NHLD appear larger than it actually was while omitting the fact that the local district boundaries from 1984 indignity still remain. Keep in mind; this organization took a leadership role in 1996 to make a proclamation to the entire world through the National Trust for Historic Preservation and even David McCullough that the local historic district boundaries were alarmingly inadequate to protect the smaller NHLD. Two decades later, JCHS appears not only uninformed about federal boundaries but indifferent about the local district boundaries and their own history on the matter.
2. OCTA announces a 40-mile long national hiking and biking trail between Wayne’s City Landing in Sugar Creek and Gardner, Kansas. Interestingly, they choose the River Boulevard Route from the Square to the river instead the more historic and direct route on Liberty Street that has actual historic sites and tourist destinations. Those sites include the Vaile Mansion, the city premier museum, along with the Lewis-Jones House, antebellum home of wagon-maker, owner of the Nebraska House Hotel, and financial backer of merchants on the trails. One of Harry Truman’s boyhood homes is also located on North Liberty Street. The most important asset on the Liberty Street route is the Mill Creek Elementary School which could provide huge opportunities for youth involvement and public education partnerships for the national trails, always a goal of the NPS and partners. Plus the Liberty Street route goes much further to promote Independence history, tourism, education, and revitalization. Now I’m wondering if they were under the influence of wine when deciding on the River Boulevard route.
1. Independence continues to struggle with no preservation not-for-profit group, a city-run preservation commission that routinely cancels meetings because there is nothing to talk about, and city officials content with a struggling heritage tourism program. At least in 1984, when the city’s preservation program was slashed by 2/3’s, there was public outrage. Outrage is better than indifference.
