2. We are beginning the fourth calendar year on the Market Square Townhouses project, a project that was started back in 2015 on an accelerated construction schedule and tight deadlines in order to fulfill the City Council’s prerequisites for free public land. Now it appears the housing units are requiring substantial renovation for the entire exterior facades and more. I dare anyone reading this post to ask building officials at City Hall how many times they had inspected this work.
3. Loss of green space is not just adjacent to the Truman Library but also on one of the earliest historic and natural corridors in the county, Blue Ridge Boulevard which is also part of the National Historic Trails and hosts historic cemeteries. The city approved the rezoning May 15, against the judgments of the Planning Commission and over 4000 petitioners/voters, for an uncontrolled demolition debris landfill on residential property on Blue Ridge Boulevard. This corridor was described in a county planning document prepared by a young politician, County Judge Harry Truman, as one of the most picturesque in the county. Harry likely took this route during his frequent travels between his family farm in Grandview and his home on Delaware Street. Very sad!
4. In September, we lost the historic home and studio of renowned local artist Sidney Moore located on 24 Highway and Lynn Street to bulldozers. This demolition bypassed the open/public processes and responsibilities of the citizen’s-based Heritage Commission while city officials proclaimed the action was to fulfill the City’s Strategic Plan, “Independence for All.” The owner of property had available all the resources of the city to assist him with his demolition-by-neglect plan. He also owns the adjacent properties that included unattractive used cars sales and a payday loan establishment. Social media posts suggesting citizens come see these properties before they were lost only accelerated the demolition process. Ironically, Sidney Moore’s favorite subjects and inspiration for his art were the historic buildings and landscapes of Independence. We need creative and artistic talents, like Sidney and folks he inspired, to have an appreciation for our historic natural and built environments so we can inspire future generations. So if this new city plan benefits those who contribute to blight, sell used cars, support payday loan businesses, or all of the above, it seems we need to rethink our planning processes.
5. Thank God for The Pitch investigative reporting that goes even further than the KC Star. They presented a story (Aug. 2, 2017) exposing former ISD Superintendent Dr. Jim Hinson’s special relationship with ISD Board Member, Matt Mallinson, who was also Sugar Creek Mayor and OCTA Board Member, while facilitating the sale of Mallinson family real estate to the ISD at 6.5 times it’s appraised valuable. The land required even further ISD and tax payer’s investments to make the site suitable for building on. Inflated budgets from mismanagement and nepotism takes resources directly away from classrooms and our community’s youth.
6. News continues with Dr. Hinson, under the leadership of the ISD Board, and the mismanagement of one of the earliest sites of public education in Jackson County in the very heart of the Truman NHLD, the Palmer School. This represents the site where both Harry and Bess attended public school. ISD decisions led directly to mold and environmental contamination of the Palmer Building. The mistakes made at least followed the civic motto, “...in the Name of Progress.” These mistakes were hidden from the public while situations were explained by Dr. Hinson in what we now call “Fake News.” ISD facilitated local legal counsel to hide and actually cash in on those mistakes through questionable insurance claims. And since the ISD is all about education, let’s see what we’ve learned from this experience. For those few at the top, you don’t have to be accountable for your mistakes.
7. To align with judgments and designations of the Truman National Historic Landmark District (NHLD) as being “Endangered & Threatened” in 1984 by the NPS, 1996 by the National Trust, and 2008 by Missouri Preservation, Missouri Preservation again listed the Truman NHLD as a Missouri “Place in Peril” (Aug. 25, 2017) due to pretty much everything that has been reported on in this blog. At least, this time, City Hall acknowledged the judgement but ended up creating a whole new civic motto, “We Make Mistakes in the Name of Progress.” At least we are consistent. After 35 years and new generations of city leadership, there still is no planning to update preservation zoning and expansion of the local Truman Heritage District. Very very sad!
8. MACO finally broke ground in August disturbing one of the last undeveloped landscapes between the Square and the riverboat port on the Missouri River. This once public land aligned with green space on the earliest (1850’s) community planning maps accredited to William Gilpin, circa-1968 city planning documents, and even the latest planning documents. The site includes a hiking/biking trail marked with NPS “National Historic Trail” signs connecting the Truman Library, the Truman NHLD, 4 city parks, and NPS National Trails interpretive signs. Almost 1000 citizens/voters signatures on a petition couldn’t stop the projects. Knowing how unpopular the project was, 4 City Council Members and State Legislators Kidd, Rizzo, & Lasater sent official and secret letters of unconditional support to the Missouri Housing Development Commission. Even OCTA, under Matt Mallinson’s leadership, decided to get into the “political dirt” with OCTA’s early support with no regard to archaeology. OCTA routinely advocates archaeology in all communities along the national trails except here in Independence. Notes from citizens to Jeff City questioning the state’s selection processes culminated in the Governor shutting down the entire low-income housing tax credit program. But MACO’s Northcreek project is continuing forward with funding from Missouri coffers, using out-of-state contractors, and no archaeological oversight despite evidence of pioneer trails-era burials and artifacts from pioneers and Native Americans.
9. In November, representatives of the owner of the Ott House at 710 West Maple applied for a Certificate of Appropriateness for demolition. Bess Truman’s brother, Frank, married into the Ott Family, thus, connecting the Ott’s through family, social, and geographic ties in the heart of the Truman National Historic Landmark District (NHLD). The property has been listed in the NPS Management Plan for the National Historic Site and NHLD since 1986 as a “Truman Related Property” and a part of the Truman story. But in a rare stance on preservation neutrally, both city and NPS staff refused to make recommendations on the issue or even provide historical context except to cite current parking difficulties that could be alleviated from the hole in the block left from the demolition. The Heritage Commission took their responsibilities seriously and voted against the demolition. This is the first time in decades that the lack of parking has been discussed as a concern in the NHLD in spite of the fact that tourism head counts are just a fraction of what they used to be. This case alone demonstrates how vulnerable the Truman NHLD is under current stewardship in Independence.
10. After Bass Pro and the Event Center, the latest “Build it and They Will Come” capital venture (with no capital) by City Hall is in the works. It’s the Farmers Market on the south of Truman Road between Liberty and Osage Streets. As usual, the project aligns with no published city planning document and included no history/preservation stakeholder in spite of its impact to the Truman NHLD. And just like the MACO Northcreek and the Market Square Townhouses, no one has discussed an archaeological component to the project site where past development goes back almost 190 years to our pioneer trails days. Yes, OCTA is even silent. One would think there would be lessons learned from the townhouse project; you have to be smart and know exactly what you are building on to control risks. But since City Hall is taking public utility funds to finance the project, I guess, city leaders feel there are no risks. Maybe these public utilities funds should be returned to the folks who actually own them through more affordable utility rates or use these funds to upgrade our utility infrastructure (read our City Charter).
We are now writing new chapters about local history and the
history of a community worthy of being designated as a “World Heritage
Site.” Independence should “Think Big” and utilize it’s greatest asset
for community revitalization, economic development, education, and self promotion.
We can’t accomplish this through “Pot Luck” city planning and through
maintaining the “Three-Ring Circus” in the heart of the Square and the Truman
National Historic Landmark District. And a City Hall that goes against
the wishes of over 5000 voters, who sign petitions to protect green spaces and
their quality of life in favor of politically connected and out-of-town
developers, this has to change.
