Top Ten for 2018

·        The top issue in Independence was “Corruption” and best presented in the previous post. This City Hall has an uncanny attraction to convicted felons who all want a piece of us and now it is facilitated by lobbyists that we actually pay. The height of public misbehavior was during the last election when our Mayor Pro Tem was in a fist fight with a citizen/voter at a church polling station and the incident was covered on several news stations. A recall drive failed for Mr. Van Camp and it’s business as usual at City Hall.

·        The MACO Northcreek project on Jones Road is near completion. This was approved for state subsidies by the Missouri Housing Development Commission in spite of another state agency designating it as an archaeological site worthy of protection or at least an archaeological study before any dirt was moved. And it gets worse, Oregon California Trails Association (OCTA) officials, Travis Boley & Matt Mallinson, unconditionally approved the rezoning without open discussion, public comment, or a formal review. Housing plans designed for flat sites had to include the removal of 20 feet of the natural terrain (and archaeological resources) creating terraced landscapes and canyons which is out of character for the surrounding neighborhood built into the natural terrain. Why should the public subsidize this very expensive construction that’s out of character, unpopular, and negatively impacts our history? MACO appears to be part of a cartel represented also by the City’s over-priced lobbyist and supported by a Political Action Committee whose contributions were strategically distributed. This project has represented THE most dysfunctional, unprofessional, and corrupt processes I have ever witnessed. Did these observations lead to the governor’s shut down of one of the state’s tax credit programs?

·        Uptown Market was planned, designed, and constructed without input from historic preservation interests. This location is literally located on three nationally designated historic trails. The project was reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) because the city was applying for and eventually granted federal funds for the project. But the SHPO’s approval of the project was based only on 20th-century Truman history a block away. Did the City submit a fraudulent application for CDBG funds because our trails history was ignored? It appears the schedule for the grand opening just prior to the Santa-Cali-Gon Labor Day festival was more important than following the rules and investigating the site’s national trails history.

·        The Brady Green Space (public park) across the street from the Truman Library that connects three other public parks and greens spaces, a hiking/biking trail marked with National Historic Trail signs, and is a landscape element of the Truman National Historic Landmark District was put on the open market for housing redevelopment by City of Independence at the direction of Parks/Recreation/Tourism Department. The property also included a monument stone with a bronze plaque (now missing) and a swale cut into the hillside that was a part of the road bed for one of the first railroads west of the Mississippi River. The rail route connected Waynes City riverboat loading to the Independence Square making it also a route for our three National Historic Trails. After a few citizens complained, the property was eventually removed from their list of unwanted surplus properties. This example along with the Pioneer Spring Log Cabin are representative of the City’s treatment of historic properties as objectionable liabilities rather than community assets.

·        The historic Monte Parker Printing Building at 1106 West Lexington Street is prominently located across the street from the Community of Christ - United Nations Peace Park. In fact, the beautiful bronze sculpture of a girl reaching up to the heavens releasing a dove is literally facing this Parker building where ironically there has been very little peace according to neighbors. The building, also owned by the Church, has been neglected for decades and finally got 5 sheets of paper posted on its boarded-up store front indicating code violation proceeding. Vagrants have been living inside making situations precarious and, frankly speaking, “un-peaceful” for the neighbors and those standing on the street corner waiting for the bus. The fate of this property will likely be similar to Church property at 1306 W. Maple chronicled in this blog in 2010 as property neglect, a sham code enforcement process, and its eventual demolition.

·        The Pioneer Spring Log Cabin has been listed as a stop on practically all tourism literature for at least four decades. This prominent street corner was designated by City Hall as a Local Landmark under the City’s voluntary program to honor the site and the contributions of many community volunteers and private donations for this once celebrated project. But more important, the Landmark Program mandates its protection and preservation in perpetuity while creating an opportunity for the City to set an example to the rest of the community for the stewardship of historic landmark properties. But after decades of neglect, several Council members want it removed calling it “ugly” and no longer historic because, “It’s not like it is Lincoln’s boyhood cabin.” Costs for restoration were even exaggerated to justify its demolition. We will see in 2019 what the City will do with this landmark and other landmarks under the City’s stewardship.

·        Three Trails Brewery appears to be ready to open real soon on the Independence Square. It seems like a good fit in a historic district and common in other historic districts throughout the county. But this one is unique. It’s located next door to the County’s Drug Court where those with criminal substance abuse are forced to visit in order avoid jail time. So now those vulnerable souls populating the sidewalk on this block, smoking cigarettes, passing the time, and waiting for their time in court will now greet patrons for this new business. If you want to visit the new brewery, I recommend not taking a vehicle that has your company logo on it. Folks passing by will speculate whether you are there for a beer or for your day in Drug Court. In spite of everything working against the success of this new business, we wish them success that will lead to the relocation of Drug Court to a more appropriate location.

·        The National Park Service (NPS) Visitors Center located in the historic Fire Station No. on Main Street will eventually be forced to leave and find another location. The Fire Station was owned by the City of Independence but will be given to a group representing our firefighting history. It appears an entity representing a small slice of local history is pushing out a federal agency that represents a national and international story. And if that dichotomy is not enough, the Square Merchants who have insisted they be exempt from following historic preservation standards are demanding that the Visitors Center that houses the nation’s historic preservation agency remain on the Square. It seems a negotiated consensus would be in order between the merchants and the NPS. If there is actual support for the preservation mission of the NPS, then the NPS would agree to support the merchants. Yes, but we forgot that win-win situations do not work in Independence.

·        The idea of moving things is catching on. The City moved their Visitors Welcome Center to the headquarters for the Santa-Cali-Gon Festival which also allows the Independence Chamber of Commerce to have offices there. Maybe this will end up being a good thing to educate Chamber folks that the name of their signature event is actually related to our rich national trails history. We’ll see if the tourism planning by trial and error works.

·        We learned in December that Mayor Eileen Weir was appointed to the National League of Cities - Community and Economic Development Federal Advocacy Committee. This committee’s responsibilities include developing federal policy positions on issues involving housing, community and economic development, land use, recreation and parks, and historic preservation. Maybe this is a move to take mistakes and lessons learned from Independence, many listed above, to the national level. Remember what the mayor said after the Truman National Historic Landmark District was placed in the Top Ten of Places in Peril in the State of Missouri, “We make mistakes ... in the name of progress.”

We are in our 10th year documenting historic preservation in Independence. The entire point of this activity is to explore why we struggle and what we can do to assure success in the treatment and protection of our rich history. If you have noticed negative trends over the years, you are not alone. In fact, situations now as bad as we have witnessed. We will see what 2019 has in store for Independence but, unfortunately, with current trends and leadership, all signs point to the continued slump.

Money Merry-Go-Round

The presence of the “Circus of Corruption” is the biggest story over the past few years affecting all aspects of local governments including our public utilities and negative impacts to our historic resources.  Governments empowered by corruption and dirty money rely less on the will of the people, citizen-based advisory boards and commissions, and professional standards for city planning and fiscal responsibility.  From a historic preservation standpoint, the “poster child” of local corruption is the old circa 1910 City Hall at 200 South Main located in Truman National Historic Landmark District.  A 50-year lease of this county-owned landmark was facilitated by County Executive Mike Sanders and granted to who would eventually became his employer.   Sanders is now a convicted felon serving prison time.  The county and the leaseholder continue to neglect the landmark while the current County Executive, Frank White, received assistance from the leaseholder for personal financial hardships.  The city remains quiet over situations and ignores these blatant violations of property maintenance codes.  Both city and county continue to use the leaseholder’s law firm for legal services continuing the prejudicial relationships between county, city, developer, and legal consultants.  Even the suggestion of expanding the local historic district to protect the expanded National Historic Landmark District is unacceptable and represents a loss of control to the those riding the merry-go-round.  So to express a geometrical assessment of the Old Town Independence, “The Circle continues on the Square.”

The Brady Bunch of Green Space

In May of this year, the City of Independence Parks & Recreation Department produced a list of unwanted surplus properties with the intent to sell those properties for development of housing. One of those properties was the “Brady Green Space” which is on the southwest corner of 24 Highway and Delaware Street and located within the Truman National Historic Landmark District. The setting of this property is on the prominent Delaware Street corridor in the heart of the Truman Heritage District, next to McCoy Park, on the hiking/biking trail marked with National Park Service National Historic Trail signs, within view of the front steps of the Truman Library & Museum, and part of a cluster of parks and green spaces that compliment the setting of this nationally and internationally important presidential library. But its most important attribute is the presence of a swale that is the remnant of one of the first railroad routes west of the Mississippi. Because this route represented national and international commerce on the national trails, this geography has national importance. But for a local government that knows very little nor cares about it’s own history while routinely and deliberately leaving out community stakeholders in decision making processes, our national history was and continues to be in peril. Our civic motto as quoted by leadership at the very top continues to be “We make mistakes ..... in the name of progress.” It’s too bad we can’t learn from those mistakes so they are not repeated. Isn’t that what history lessons are all about?

Uptown Market goes Underwater

Thanks to reserve funds from the City of Independence Water Department that are intended to be spent on our aging utility infrastructure, we get a $3.5 million Farmers Market. Parts of the Truman National Historic Landmark District are still serviced with water mains older than Harry Truman. These water mains are at least questionable to support modern fire hydrants that also protect an 11-story HUD low-income senior housing complex (with limited ladder truck access and no sprinkler system). The city commandeered federal funds for the project but only presented the project’s impact to Truman history to authorities ignoring the city’s rich national trails history. This in spite of the fact that the new project was placed right on three nationally designated trails and the archaeological remains of businesses connected to the trails. The city’s environmental assessment report only covered a fraction of the impacted property. Also, there were no Storm Water Permits necessary to fulfill state regulations. So the city took all these shortcuts in planning, designer selection, evaluating impacts to our national histories, and implementing an accelerated construction schedule so the facility could be opened in time for Santa-Cali-Gon. Yes, we ignored the impacts of our trails history so we can celebrate our trails history.

Digging up More Dirt, Corruption, & History

While MACO’s Northcreek housing project on Jones Street is using state subsidies to remove up to 20 feet of dirt at a documented state archaeological site marked with National Park Service National Historic Trails signs, the City Council approved a state government lobbying contract with former Speaker of the Missouri House, Steve Tilley.  Mr. Tilley was able to cash in from his former position as one of the state's most powerful elected officials. His lobbying efforts and Political Action Committee (PAC) is associated with MACO, Gardner Capital, Environmental Operations and organizations led by convicted felons. This “Cartel” was described by the St. Louis Post Dispatch as “big players in buying and selling tax credits” and “who’s who of campaign donors involved in public subsidies.”  Tilley’s PAC returns loyalty by padding the campaigns of local politicians including our Mayor and City Council.  So when the City Council votes in favor of MACO’s state subsidized housing projects, public land giveaways, the money-losing solar farms, or the high-bid demolition of IPL’s Missouri City Power Plant, the “Circus of Corruption” forms a “Circus Ring” where the cash comes full circle into the pockets of politicians.  Local politicians should be dressed as “Circus Clowns” with painted smiles while they overcharge citizens and public utility customers who attend the 3-Ring Circus and cheer as the circus animals trample over our civic sense of fairness and fiscal responsibility.  So now we are paying twice the price for lobbying access. No, it’s not for access to Jeff City.  It’s access for the greedy Cartel to citizen’s wallets and the public resources of our historic community.  Their influence even extended into the national leadership of OCTA, a trails and green space preservation not-for-profit, persuading OCTA to publicly support, in writing, MACO’s rezoning for the Northcreek subsidized housing project changing our historic landscape for generations to come.

Independence Rises to New Heights

"New Heights" was meant to be literal.  On one of the highest  elevations on the most picturesque ridge along Blue Ridge Boulevard overlooking the Blue River Valley to the west and Rock Creek Valley to the east, there are large piles of demolition waste that tower up an additional 40 feet in the air.  Due to this vantage point and elevation on Blue Ridge Boulevard just north of 23rd Street, the piles can be seen from miles away.  If you recall, the City Council rezoned this property in May 2017, against the wishes of over 4,000 citizens/voters and neighbors and the City's Planning & Zoning Commission for a company ironically called "Blue Ridge Mountain," LLC, owned by Lance & Janet Houston.  The heavy equipment used on the uncontrolled land fill reverberates noises to decibels never heard in this once quiet residential neighborhood adjacent to this landfill.  There is even dumping going on as late as 2:00 am.  In a 1932 community planning document prepared under the direction of Jackson County Judge Harry Truman,  Blue Ridge Boulevard was referred to as "Kansas City's main sight-seeing  suburban road."  The document called "The Results of County Planning" highlights plans for greenways and recreation features that align with natural geographic and picturesque settings such as ridges and waterways.  It makes no mention of retail, high density housing, and, of course, landfills of waste.  Does the City Council and the Mayor really believe these 4,000 voters do not matter?  Do the visionary plans of our forefathers that wanted to highlight the natural beauty of our community matter?

More “DIrt” in Local Politics

Several professional archaeologists felt it was important to volunteer their time and expertise in the “Dirt” to walk the site at the MACO Northcreek publicaly-subsidized housing project on Jones Street just east of River Boulevard.  They found enough evidence and artifacts from the trails-era occupation and Native Americans to register the site with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources - State Historic Preservation Office as a Missouri Archaeological Site but it comes too late to make a difference.  An archaeological investigation was first suggested by citizens and neighbors over two years ago.  This suggestion was due to its location with respect to the National Trails as a likely camp ground and staging area for pioneers preparing for the westward journey, not to mention evidence of trails-era burials.  City Planning officials, City Preservation Manager, and the Missouri Housing Development Commission disagreed primarily because officials with the Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA) unconditionally supported MACO and their housing development while stating archaeology was not appropriate for this site.  It’s sad to see city and OCTA officials place politics before professionalism in supporting yet another politically connected developer.

Top Ten for 2017

1.   Circus of corruption on Square, which this blog has been posting about for several years, has finally made it to the front page of the KC Star which has been reporting alleged FBI investigations.  The “Three-Ring Circus” includes  (1) politicians taking money from developers or campaign funds for their personal use, (2) politically-connected developers, who play by their own rules and are not held accountable for promises made, aiding and abetting those politicians, and (3) nepotism and patronage resulting in the mismanagement of public resources, including real estate, utility funds, and threats and negative impacts to national historic resources for which our nation has trusted us with.  This Circus is a part of most of the Top Ten below:
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.

Our "Run-Of-The-Mill” Tourism Program

The historic exterior facade of the Victorian-era Mill Office of the original Waggoner-Gates Mill was beautifully restored in 2000. This ambitious project, which had NO funding from any level of government, included reconstructing the original Mansard-style roof with dormer windows, millwork, windows, and custom built-in eave gutters/downspouts. The entire roof had literally blown off its supporting walls from a massive explosion of the adjacent mill operation in 1967. 33 years later, a group of preservation-minded citizens volunteered their time and talents and a very proud and honorable gentleman from Lee’s Summit, Jim Noel, descendant of one of the original pioneer families in Jackson County, donated his Victorian family home on Pleasant Street to the cause. This also initiated the beautiful restoration of the Noel House in the heart of the Truman National Historic Landmark District, blocked further parking lot expansion by a politically-connected church, and generated around $60K for the Mill Office restoration project. The Noel House was listed by the National Park Service as a “Truman Property” with personal connections to the Truman family. Jim Noel, God rest is soul, passed away June 14th of last year at the age of 98. In the last 17 years under the city’s stewardship, they’ve done practically nothing but to allow deterioration, vandalism, and criminal trespassing into the structure. Now the city is complaining that it will take $300,000 of public money to reverse this neglect and poor stewardship. It seems ironic that the city plans to solicit substantial donations of private money for the expansion of the National FrontierTrails Museum property after it wasted past private donations and investments in the property. This neglect also created blight at the very entrance of the city’s premier museum. It’s no wonder that tourism head counts are just a fraction of what they used to be. And as we learn of the mismanagement of Event Center funds from the Missouri State Auditor, citizens should also be asking how is the City’s $1.4 million Heritage Tourism budget spent.

The Circus Around The Independence Square

“There is a circus around politics.  But if you think its a game, then you forget what the purpose of politics actually is” (quote by Johann Lamont, former Scottish Labor Party leader).  Calls for more integrity and an end to the circus are coming except that we have an entirely alternative meaning for the word, “integrity.”  A campaign fund labeled “Integrity in Law Enforcement” was allegedly used as Mike Sanders’ own personal piggy bank, as reported by the KC Star, and used to write checks to his political cohorts including those at the very top in Independence City Hall.  The irony and hypocrisy over the use of the word “integrity" is typical Independence politics.  Sanders also had ties to several law firms including Humphrey Farrington McClain (HFM) who actually hired Mike after he abandon his elected post after only a single year into his term as the highest elected official in Jackson County government.  Mike also served as leader of the Missouri Democratic Party which as been loosing ground in Jefferson City.  As an employee of HFM, Mike was seen on TV news programs pushing the Farmer’s Market project and redevelopment on the Square which, of course, benefitted the personal investments of his employer.  The Second District Councilman who was enlisted to lead the Downtown Redevelopment Coordinating Committee also allegedly received contributions from “Integrity in Law Enforcement.”  His hand-picked committee follows the current trend of excluding history and preservation stakeholders in spite of the fact that the Square is a National Historic Landmark District, a designation of highest importance to the nation and it’s 325 million citizens.  As for all of Mike’s accomplices and enablers, they are still out there.  Keep in mind that here in Independence, you can actually serve time in the federal penitentiary and still have a life practicing law.  Yes, there is a future for Mike at HFM.  In his absence, I'll close with a quote from one of my favorite philosophers and comedians, George Carlin, “Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn’t mean the circus has left town.”  And so the circus continues and we all have ring-side seats.  And you thought Santa-Cali-Gon was the only carnival on the Square!

 

Silverstein Eye Center Arena Lacks Vision

It took 10 years to final get the financing and operations of the Silverstein Eye Center Arena, formerly known as the Independence Events Center, audited.  No, it wasn’t an internal audit.  The independent review came from Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway.  It appears the city has been pulling the proverbial “Zamboni” on local taxpayers not unlike the “Pain in the Crackerneck” we got from the Bass Pro development upstream in the Little Blue Valley.  Findings indicate some of the obvious such as conflicts of interest by the Community Improvement District (CID) Board represented by mostly city employees and an executive from a local bank with ties to City Hall leadership.  The CID Board is supposed to make judgements on how much to tax and how much to give City Hall for administering the CID.  It appears the CID Board gave away its responsibilities back to the city who controlled all aspects of the planning, design, construction, financing, and operations of the Events Center.  This presented unique opportunities for City Hall to raise taxes without a public vote and to fill voids in a city budget that’s on “thin ice” using funds dedicated to the CID and the Events Center.  The City took advantage of the situation inflating their fees 10 times the market rate for administering the CID, according the audit.  With the current system, there is no incentive to be efficient and successful.  When you come up short, just raise taxes.  With Bass Pro, the Event Center, and, coming to a Square near you, the $3 million Farmer’s Market, all founded on the old sports cliché, “Build it & they will come” (I thought the public servant motto was “Protect & Serve”), this completes the “Hat Trick” to the taxpayers of Independence.  Next project, a “Penalty Box” for City Hall. 

Gov. Greitens Cuts MHDC Program

This was actually not a big surprise to the neighbors of the MACO Northcreek project currently under construction in the Mill Creek Valley.  After witnessing poor planning, corruption, and lack of transparency for a project that negatively impacted a National Historic Trail hiking/biking trail and a presidential library, not to mention the Missouri Housing Development Commission’s (MHDC) plush Class A commercial space with great 14th floor view of downtown KC, several neighbors sent letters to both the Governor Greitens and the State Auditor Nicole Galloway early in the year asking for them to carefully review this program that appears to be blatantly broken.  The Governor would eventually echo those concerns calling the MHDC low-income housing tax credit program a “failing program.”   Examples were cited where, for every dollar spent, “only 35 cents made its way directly to the development of housing.”   The remaining 65 cents on that dollar gets divvied up between MHDC and developers who invest further into the campaigns of city council members and state legislators who send MHDC their secret letters of support away from the TV cameras on City 7.  This is how you get projects like Northcreek that are literally impossible to stop, even with thousands of signatures of dismayed neighbors and voters who don’t matter.  Our local politicians are more beholden to these developers rather than the voters who put them in office.  This parallels what has been happening at the federal level with HUD and exposed on a recent PBS Frontline series entitled “Poverty, Politics and Profit” showing developers getting rich off the backs of the taxpayers and the poor.  And here in Independence, we have taken this even further down into the mud when we approve projects that negatively impact historic resources, recreational facilities, green spaces, balance of housing diversity, and even placing housing projects within FEMA flooding areas.  For Heritage House Apartments, we even wave what are supposed to be minimum standards for fire and public safety.  Our low-income citizens, seniors, and taxpayers deserve better responsibility and accountability.

Will the Past Haunt Northcreek?

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!

Major Restoration Project on The Square, and It's a Gamble

One of the largest restoration projects is occurring right now on the Square.  No, unfortunately, it's not an investment in the abandon circa-1910 City Hall building in the Truman NHLD.  It’s Ken McClain’s brand-new Market Square Townhouses that were designed by architect Jim Gamble who was also the Project and Construction Manager.  Keep in mind Gamble had oversight of every aspect of this project.  It appears now that the entire facades on the buildings are failing before the units have even been sold.  Maybe it is good that the units have not sold after a year of marketing them.  Empty units are much easier to fix.  In spite of the fact that public assistance has gone into the project, there have been no public statements explaining the problems.  We still get the “Real People – Real Progress” spin and accolades for the development on social media.  It appears at street level that the culprit is excessive moisture intrusion after witnessing the darkened wood sheathing boards behind the building wrap.  These types of problems, if they occur, usually appear after 5 to 10 years of building occupation.  To have them occur this soon and even prior to occupation at least hints that this is very serious.  The project was plagued from the very beginning by excluding public hearings and stakeholder participation, environmental assessments typical of urban sites absent, suggestions for archaeological investigations deemed unnecessary burdens, and the mystery of missing local and state permits.  Demolition debris from the site that dated to Urban Renewal land clearance was dumped in a ravine in eastern Jackson County.  The building site had an abundance of ground water at times resulting in utility crews playing multiple scenes of the Keystone Kops.  Construction quality control issues were visible from the street with other less-visual incidences posted on social media by disgruntled workers, whatever that is worth.  All of this combined with City Hall taking a “hands off” approach, common with politically connected developers, resulted in a finished product that has already required substantial renovation.  And the question that city leaders refuse to answer, did McClain fulfill his obligation to meet schedules and receive tax credits, a prerequisite for the receiving free land with no public hearing?  We wish the McClain’s good luck in remediating the issues and hope that continued problems do not exist (as in the previous blog post).  If problems do continue, we can always follow the current trend: turn it into low-income senior housing.  And yes, with Architect Jim, what can we say?   I’m not going to take the bait with a witty pun.  Use your own imagination this time!

ISD Didn't Get Their Ducts in a Row

As one of the most blogged stories, the Palmer School debacle as received the most print.  The award-winning historic preservation project was a clear success at the time of the ceremonial ribbon-cutting because it came from a partnership between the school district and a committee of citizens that represented many aspects of the community, i.e., historic preservation, building construction, engineering, education, etc.  It was a unique process set up by Superintendent Dr. Rock to provide stakeholder involvement at every step along the way from assessment, planning, design, and financing.  The project itself was a unique adaptive reuse of a historic property in the Truman National Historic Landmark District that moved professional administrators/educators to the historic Square area within walking distance to restaurants, shops, banking, churches, and governmental offices.  Other community partners such as adjacent churches and City Parks & Rec were brought into the project for cooperative and coordinated parking arrangements that worked very well.  The ISD and the community partners appeared to have all their “ducks in a row.”  Then along came Dr. Jim Hinson.  During construction, Hinson approved a change order removing all the return air ducts on the project to cheapen the HVAC system.  Unfortunately, this led to the HVAC system pulling return air from not just ceiling plenums but also from historic pipe chases that were allegedly connected to mold in the basement/cellar and bat feces in the attic.  After operating the system for 5 years, it eventually made a lot of district employees sick including Dr. Hinson who was actually hospitalized.  But rather than admit to any mistakes made, ISD hired Ken McClain’s HFM Law Firm to threaten legal action against their own insurance company for a problem they created.  Instead of taking any settlement money and using it to clean a prominent property dedicated to our community’s youth for 150 years in the heart of the Truman National Landmark District, the contaminated building is sold for subsidized senior housing, a building Dr. Hinson claimed could never be cleaned enough for ISD employees.  Even the developer who purchased the property refused to discuss environmental clean-up or to even acknowledge environmental issues associated with the property, thus, maintaining Dr. Hinson’s secrecy/coverup over the matter, and reinforcing our assessment that no one really knows what they are doing.  Keep in mind, if senior residents complain about respiratory health, it can be written off as a symptom of, well, just getting old.  The residential facility was planned without the involvement of community stakeholders and even excluded adjacent churches with over a 200-year history in the community.  In the Pitch article (08-02-2017), referenced in the previous post, it quotes Shawnee Mission School patron and librarian, Jan Bombeck’s take on Dr. Hinson, “Something’s wrong with this man.”  And as we think hard to attempt to explain that statement, we realize it may have something to do with his time occupying space at the Palmer Building.  As you know, there may be something to the old expression, “Bat Sh*t Crazy!”

School Superintendent, Not So Super!

An interesting article appeared in the Pitch last month, August 2, 2017 (http://www.pitch.com/news/article/20971273/jim-hinson-shawnee-missions-swaggering-superintendent-vanished-after-parents-spoke-up-what-happened) outlining the misadventures of Dr. Jim Hinson as superintendent of the Shawnee Mission School District and the highest paid public school official in the state of Kansas.  Here in Independence, we know him, too, and the article was most interesting concerning his time in the Independence School District, especially regarding his special relationship with board member, Matt Mallinson.  We get some revealing information about Matt who is also a board member of the Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA).  Some might recall him as representing the “National Trails” interest in what Mayor Weir presented at a public meeting as an official endorsement of the MACO Northcreek rental duplex project also supported by the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC).  Yes, most folks don’t realize this but OCTA, under Mallinson's leadership, has expanded its mission to provide design review and endorsements of publicly-subsidized housing projects.  You might also recall Mr. Mallinson as promoting the less historic trace of the old national trails on River Boulevard that grants him economic advantages in promoting his business at Gilpintown, a faux history site.  The tax payers of Independence and Sugar Creek were forced to purchase Mallinson family-owned real estate at over 6 times the county’s assessed value while Hinson gave away naming rights for the school to the Mallinson family, a tradition usually reserved for those who give to youth education, not take away.  Then we were forced to invest further in this property moving dirt and leveling the site just to make it suitable for a building.  The photo above highlights one of the most significant investments on the property as viewed from the school’s entrance near Forest & Mallinson Streets: the fill dirt.  Yes, politics has its perks.  And I almost hesitate to say that the "dirt" in local politics is literal and figurative.  During Dr. Hinson’s time in Independence and his “autocratic style,” he disposed of almost all the district’s inventory of historic buildings without consulting the district’s community-based Facilities Planning Committee.  It’s no wonder the Pitch article refers to the real estate transaction as “incestuous” while suggesting that Independence patrons and leaders are unengaged.  We elect school board members to represent all the tax payers and account for the limited resources we have for investments in our community’s youth.  We don’t elect them to represent their own financial interests or that of their family members.  Yes, it is good that Dr. Hinson has moved on, but we still end up with a management structure modeled by Hinson and a school board that’s not really interested in leading.  “Is it good for the children?”

Mistakes Made - "All in the name of Progress"

On Friday, August 25, 2017, Missouri Preservation announced its MISSOURI’S 2017 HISTORIC “PLACES IN PERIL” which included another sequel appearance of the Harry S Truman National Historic Landmark District.  It’s like the sequel for a National Lampoon’s version of “Independence Day” and “Ground Hog’s Day.”  At least this time the Mayor acknowledged the announcement and stated that “there have been mistakes made” but then followed by “all in the name of progress.”  Maybe that is why they also needed to keep reminding themselves with all those billboards proclaiming “REAL PROGRESS” so we would have visual aides to actually point to something real, a billboard (?).  So, yes, the City Council and the Mayor are successful with billboards.  The application to Missouri Preservation cites the demo of two homes near the Truman Home (blog entry 8-21-09),  Landmark District gerrymandering and confusion (blog entry 9-29-10), the neglect and abandonment of the circa 1910 City Hall (blog entries 6-17-10 and 6-20-10), poor planning processes for the brand new Market Square Townhouses (which have already suffered from poor construction and façade failures), the neglect and abandonment of the circa-1895 First Baptist Church, the mismanagement of the Palmer School by district officials (blog entries 8-10-09, 10-11-09, 5-25-11, and 11-27-13), poor planning in placing duplexes that impact the Truman District and the National Trail, poor planning and ineffective traffic control for the redevelopment of Heritage House, the continued institutional exodus from the Landmark District and Square area including the Truman Library Institute, and just the basics of lack of leadership, lack of stakeholder participation, unaccountability of developers, and dysfunctional natural nature of city government.  “Mistakes were made” seems to be the understatement of the year.  The Examiner article, which presented more questions than answers, goes on to quote the Mayor who states that solutions are already “embedded in our strategic plan and our comprehensive plan” which no one has seen yet.  So if you believe the Mayor, you can point to those billboards again and say, “That’s real progress!”  Yes, those billboards come in handy!

"Glory Days" Well They'll Pass You By

“Glory Days in the wink of a young girl’s eye” then it’s gone.  Old Glory disappeared Tuesday evening in wink of an eye from an apparent thief on the solemn and respectful grounds of the Truman Presidential Library.  In the recent week, American Flags have also come up missing on several homes in President Truman’s neighborhood.  To put this in perceptive, the last time prominent US flags disappeared in these numbers was in August 11, 1862 when Independence was raided by a group of rebels representing the Confederacy.  This time, Independence is under the siege of criminals and vagrants.  And with an understaffed police force and a community stewardship program that falls short, it is literally open season.  The above photo was posted on social media taken from an employee at the Truman Library.  The disrespect we’ve witnessed in the last few years here in Harry Truman’s hometown is tremendous.  When city leaders try to hide these incidences, pretend they don't happen, and do absolutely nothing, that’s a bigger crime.

"This Place Matters"

In celebration of National Preservation Month, we are reminded of the very heart of the national campaign led by the National Trust for Historic Preservation that encourages people to celebrate the places that are meaningful to them and to their communities.  Preservation Month is the perfect time to share it with the world so it compels me communicate that message here.  That campaign which is simply put, “This Place Matters”, is more than just brick and mortar.  It’s about people and institutions with their own visions, values, and stories to tell and pass down to the next generation.  Here in Independence, our stories go beyond our locality to the entire nation and to the world.  The geographic location of those institutions becomes the very setting of their important mission and an extension of their values while facilitating the physical connections necessary for successful community partnerships.  High institutional standards radiate to the adjacent environs and extend to the corridors resulting in community assets that anchor successful city/regional planning for land use, education, economic development, tourism, and preservation.  These places that matter end up attracting other organizations, people, and investment.  So does this describe what is going on in Independence?  Tuesday, we learned that, in order to better fulfill their mission, the Truman Library Institute is leaving the Truman Library, leaving the Truman National Historic Landmark District, and leaving the City of Independence to space in Midtown Kansas City.  And so we should ask these questions.  In its current location, does the adjacent alternative school building that serves young students who aspire to achieve their GED contribute to the mission of the Institute?  Does the adjacent green space with a hiking/biking trail marked as a National Historic Trail which will soon host rows of low-income rental duplexes represent a setting for high institutional standards?  Did the exit of the Midwest Genealogical Center from across the street on 24 Highway open the door for more strategic exits of institutions and investments?  Does the 24 Highway Corridor provide a conduit that encourages high standards of community investments while welcoming visitors to these internationally-recognized institutional properties?  From the historic context of this geography and the local landscape along the Mill Creek Valley, does the “Place” of the Truman Library and its supporting organizations “Matter?”  The front cover and title of Dr. Jon Taylor’s book, “Harry Truman's Independence: The Center of the World,” says it all.

Happy National Historic Preservation Month!
“Place Matters,” but does it really here in Independence?

Top 10 for 2016

10.  In February, heavy digging equipment was noticed at our historic Woodlawn Cemetery.  It took calls to TV news stations and investigative reporters to get the real story of what was going on.  Apparently a storm sewer had failed that traversed through cemetery.  Turns out, the city had actually sold burial plots directly above this sewer line.  The city ended up replacing this storm sewer line with a new line that also ran through the cemetery without the support from an archaeologist instead of rerouting around the cemetery.  To minimize the controversy, the City removed historical information about the cemetery from their website.  So much for "Rest in Peace."

9.  The MACO Northcreek Housing project, a development to bring low-income rental duplexes on property that included a prominent hiking/biking trail marked with “National Historic Trails” signs that connects four city parks and a presidential library, was finally approved for public subsidies from the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) in their second attempt of applications for 2016.  During private meetings in the final hours for the public approval processes for rezoning in 2015, the community was blind-sided by support from two officials from a trails preservation group, OCTA, a group that ironically advocates for the preservation of green space adjacent to our National Trails.  The befuddlement continued in 2016 when the Independence City Council actually pulled a Resolution of Support for the project scheduled for their vote on August 1.  Supporting projects with these resolutions has been routine.  The Mayor and most of the Council instead sent their support for the project in a less visible and quieter manner away from the TV cameras directly to MHDC with form letters.  More to report about this to come in 2017.

8.  After breaking multiple commitments made to the Church, their own tenants, neighbors, several city commissions, the City Council, and even the Independence Public Schools, work to dump more public money into Heritage House, an Urban Renewal era albatross, begins.  Even federal officials from HUD judged the project as a negative impact to adjacent nationally designated historic resources, i.e., the Owen-McCoy House and the Truman National Historic Landmark District, due to the heavy and uncontrolled traffic on the short 180-foot-long dead end street, Ridgeway Avenue.  The city befuddled traffic issues by erecting NO TRUCK signs, then refusing to enforce them.  A new north entrance to the 11-story tall apartment building to relieve neighborhood traffic while improving site access for emergency vehicles, adding ladder truck access to the north side where there is none, and improving delivery truck access, a win-win solution first suggested to the city four years ago, was considered too costly for out-of-town investors in spite of receiving financial subsidies from every level of government.  The project will still not meet current life safety codes after renovation and will be supported by a single fire hydrant connected to a circa-1884 and undersized water main.  Sounds like a project that is preordained to either receive an outstanding achievement award from the locals or end up on the evening news.

7.  Speaking of the Owens-McCoy House, Ridgeway Avenue, and awards, a project to document deterioration and differential movements of the clay brick and lime mortar walls adjacent to Ridgeway Avenue using the latest in 3D laser scanning technology received an annual award for “Innovation in Preservation” in March.  No, it wasn’t from the City of Independence.  It was from Historic Kansas City Foundation.  The project made the lead story on the front page of the Kansas City Star on October 8, 2015, the same day the KC Royals began their storied World Series run in postseason play.  Engineering and information technology students from UMKC and Notre Dame were involved while turning the project into college credit.  The effort concluded that deterioration and wall displacements are three time worse on the walls facing Ridgeway Avenue, the same walls exposed to heavy truck traffic, than the other exterior walls.  So the lessons learned for these young students involved processing data, engineering, and city planning.

6.  We are entering our third calendar year for the construction of the Market Square Townhomes under the guidance of seasoned architect, Jim Gamble, and developer Ken McClain.  In its completion, it will bring an entirely new architectural style, “Enigmatic Neo-Eclectic”, to the Historic Square, thus, adding further to the diversity (and confusion) in styles and housing types for the Truman National Historic Landmark District and its setting.  The extended construction schedule adds perplexity to the entire project since the project team asked for an expedited approval process because of a deadline for a tax credit (?).  That emergency ordinance was passed by the City Council, of course, resulting in public land, an entire city block, gifted to McClain without an open public hearing or design standards to follow.  So was the construction actually expedited and was the deadline achieved?  Now the history of his property that included early 19^th-century businesses supporting the pioneer trails has another chapter.

5.  There was a sighting of Randy Lande, the child sex offender, who raped an 8-year-old neighborhood girl.  No, he didn't break out of prison, but his mug shot appeared again on every TV set in every corner of the state.  He was living in an unsupervised group home in the Truman NHLD because of Cass County Prosecutor, Teresa Hensley, who was running for Missouri Attorney General on a record ironically of protecting children.  Her Republican opponent brought up the Lande case in televised political campaign ads.  The voters responded appropriately.  This is the first time anyone has been held accountable for creating this situation.  But group homes such as these continue to put children in harm’s way in Independence.

4.  Jeffery Wahl, the other sex offender who ended up firing 11 bullets into the flesh of two of his neighbors was finally put away in 2016.  No, he was not put in prison.  He was placed in a mental institution where, after treatment, could eventually be released to, yes, a group home.   There are several within view of the actual location of this horrific crime with mental patients and, yes of course, no supervision.  The cycle continues.

3.  The Beauty Rest Motel, a historic motel complex made up of small cottages near 24 Highway & Salisbury, was demolished in September.  I use the term historic because professionals conducting a historic survey listed and documented the property in a study funded by HUD almost 4 decades ago.  The celebrated project resulted in a book entitled "Independence" and published in 1978 with a photo of this property.  Due to decades of owner neglect and our issues with vagrancy, this property became blighted and a source for crime so all the buildings were removed.  But this failure was turned into a victory party with photo-ops for politicians, TV cameras, and newspaper articles.  Even the children were involved in swinging hammers at those "bad" buildings as we raise a new generation of citizens responsible for our community stewardship. 

2.  Each year the historic community within and associated with City Hall takes a loss.  2016 was no exception in the loss of Christina Leakey from Neighborhood Services who got her start working with Historic Preservation. Christina has been a strong advocate for Historic Preservation and Neighborhood Revitalization while introducing programs and resources outside our community to assist historic neighborhoods.  Her strong work ethic allowed her to take on extra responsibilities at City Hall while the department downsized to meet budget restraints (that’s a whole other issue).  When your professional contributions make a positive impact not only in your local community but also in a National Historic Landmark District, that is truly something to be proud of.  Thank you, Christina Leakey.

1.  After decades and decades of holiday seasons on the Independence Square, this season City Hall decides to stop that traditions and blames it on budget short falls.  But don’t be a Scrooge!  The citizens and taxpayer do have a public building that not only had a large Christmas tree with seasonal decorations scattered throughout, and even had a live Santa Clause.  It’s called Bass Pro.  Taxpayers paid for a significant part of the development including the building that houses Bass Pro.  And, I understand, we are still making debt payments on that development that are leading to budget shortfalls.  Wait a minute, I get it now!  The cycle continues.

So 2016 was a banner year for drama, deception, hypocrisy, questionable politics, conflicts of interest, low standards for redevelopment, lessons not learned, and the disrespect of our rich heritage.  Sound like a plot for a movie or mini-series or the recent presidential campaign.  And as with previous years, we continue to be content with a large National Historic Landmark District with only minimal protection and an underperforming Heritage Tourism program.  The sad saga continues on and on and, unfortunately, we have a front row seat.