In the Halloween spirit of “Dead Stuff” threatening our
senior citizens (also see post from October 18, 2013), work has begun on one of the
most unpopular projects that the city has approved and railroaded through. It’s the Northcreek project by MACO in the
Mill Creek Valley for senior housing rental duplexes. The property includes a public hiking/biking recreational trail
marked with "National Park Service - National Historic Trail" signs
that was once public land, much of it undeveloped and natural green space. It connects 4 city parks,
connects historical interpretive panels for education, connects the Harry S
Truman Library and Museum, and connects the Truman National Historic Landmark
District (recently determined by Missouri Preservation as endangered and
threatened). The bulldozers and heavy
earth moving equipment have been busy over the last few weeks. Mature trees that could have been incorporated
into the development plan as natural features and screening have already been
removed. The idea that this development
was not only across the street from a large cemetery but that residential
properties contiguous with Northcreek had archaeological evidence of human
remains buried as far back as the 1850’s, did not spook the developer nor the
city nor MHDC. Archaeology would have just gotten in the
way of, you know, progress. You remember our new civic slogan, "We Make Mistakes in the Name of Progress!" So the spoils of
history go to the scavengers who reportedly found pieces of engraved stones
(tombstones?) and other historical artifacts left behind from the bulldozers. History is again lost as are the opportunities
to add artifacts to the National Frontier Trails Museum, which hasn’t really
changed its displays in over 20 years. And any remains of our pioneer heritage will be below the nondescript landscape of cul-de-sacs and cookie-cutter architecture. It doesn't sound presidential. Will
our politicians, such as Mayor Weir, Councilmembers Doughterty/Roberson/Van
Camp/Whiting, not to mention State Legislators Rizzo and Kidd, who demonstrated
unconditional public support for this project, also be haunted during the next
election? In the spirit of Jackson County politics, will the dead show up at the polls and vote? Happy Halloween!
