Historic Preservation Program is Setback Three Decades

In the proposed fiscal year 2012-13 austerity budget for the City of Independence, the Historic Preservation Department has reached an all-time low.  In fact, we are now approaching the level of funding that City Hall put in place in the mid 1980's, during an era when the demolition of historic buildings were considered a religious sacrament and appointments to the Heritage Commission were selected to make sure historic preservation did not happen.  The current budget proposed for Historic Preservation is only $45,856 compared to the budget 10 years ago of $174,112 under the leadership of Mayor Ron Stewart and City Manager Larry Blick.  The proposed budget today is one-fifth of what it was then (accounting for 10 years of inflation).  And back then, we had a viable M/TRC Neighborhood Revitalization Program and an active city-wide not-for-profit for preservation working diligently to preserve and revitalize our historic neighborhoods.  Mayor Stewart even received an award for his leadership in turning the historic community around and making things happen.  Boy, those were the days!  Today, we seem to be struggling in both old and new areas of town.  And our struggles in the new parts of town are draining resources from Old Town, with little hope for changing priorities.  During this budget crisis, one would expect to lose a few years of progress.  But three decades?  I've always heard that a community that forgets its past is doomed for failure.  Maybe that's part of the explanation of the current state of affairs in Harry Truman's hometown.

Independence Preservation - Asleep at the Wheel

It looks like we are getting a "crash course" in how vulnerable out historic resources are here in the Truman National Historic Landmark District.  Late last week, a vehicle hit a power pole on Truman Road at 3:00 am and sent the high-voltage power line tumbling to the ground.  The drive was reported as "Asleep at the Wheel" and likely compromised by more than just sleep deprivation.  The overhead power pole could have very easily fallen onto one of the Wallace Homes at the Truman Home National Historic Site and could have resulted in irreparable damage, fire, or worse.  If that would have happened, Independence would, again, have made the national and international news in a not-so-positive way.  The Truman National Historic Landmark District is one of the few Landmarks in the country that has a 4-lane state highway running through it.  In fact, the traffic coming from the west rolls through routinely at higher speeds expecting to be stopped by only lighted traffic signals.  The residential-scale 4-way stop sign at Delaware Street is regularly missed and automobile accidents occur there all the time.  In fact, I've been involved in a hit and run accident at that very corner from a vehicle that ran through that intersection without stopping.  And heavy truck traffic and city buses can literally shake historic buildings on their foundations.  "Asleep at the Wheel" is a good description of the local revitalization and preservation efforts, which is unfortunate for one of the most historic communities in the Midwest.  At least the good folks at the National Park Service are aware of the problems and were concerned about the recent accident on Truman Road.  Thankfully we have the National Park Service here in Independence doing what they can to protect the interests of 300 million US citizens.  But it's time for locals to get back in the driver's seat and steer clear of disasters before we end up in the national and international media, again.  And for the 20,000 visitors per year who tour the Truman Home National Historic Site, please look both ways when you cross the street (don't assume the cars are going to stop), watch your step on the crumbling sidewalks, and make sure your automobile insurance is up-to-date.

It's Half-Time in the "Finial Four" Challenge

It seems we have casualties of the extreme weather which includes foul winters, dribbling April showers, and how 'bout that recent madness in March.  Mother Nature has descended on the Square with a "full courthouse press."  If you notice at the top of the clock tower of the historic courthouse, each of the four corners is supposed to be topped with urn-shaped "finials" perched on pedestals connected with balustrades in a very classic style of colonial revival architecture.  The design of the 1930's renovation of the courthouse was driven by the highest elected official of the County of Jackson, Judge Harry S Truman.  Even though the existing finials are a product of the award-winning courthouse exterior restoration from only about 10 years ago, each is in a state of severe deterioratioin, one on the southest corner had actually fallen off last year, and a second one fell off this week.  Yes, we are now 2 for 4 which makes it half-time in the contest of guessing how long it will take for the last one to drop.  If you look cl;oser, you can see at least one of those finials resting in the main roof gutter where it could also be contributing to other problems with keeping the building water-tight.  To the county's credit, they followed strict historic preservation standards in going with wood materials and even following every detail from the original blue prints dated September 2, 1932 that included Harry Truman's signature and stamp of approval.  The county's restoration was most definitely award-winning, but why do we already have failure with the finials?  A lot of experts agree that many of the products and materials that were available 80 years ago were a much higher quality than what is readily available today, especially when it comes to wood.  The worst thing that could happen to our investments is that they fail prematurely and actually contribute to deterioration to other historic elements because we were compelled to strictly follow historic preservation standards.  We have advancements in building materials that perform exceptionally very well in restoration projects.  Taking advantage of higher-performance products does not compromise historic preservation but can actually enhance historic preservation.  And giving property owners more flexibility when it comes to alternative materials will make historic preservation more agreeable and make it easier to initiate discussions on expanding the existing small local historic district, which seems to be the primary dilemma with local preservation efforts.  The City of Independence Heritage Commissioin and city staff needs to recognize this when they review projects with respect to preservation standards in the Truman Heritage District.  To emphasize this point, I suggest we have a city-wide contest for citizens to guess the exact time and date for which the last finial falls.  It's likely to go down to the buzzer.  And the winner could clain to be the champion of the "Finial Four."

Mismanaged Public Assets Become Liabilities

The investments we make, as citizens and taxpayers of Independence, especially for those dedicated to the education of our youth, are significant.  And many of these assets are historic, some are located in struggling neighborhoods, and a few are even located in a National Historic Landmark District.  These places are not just buildings, commodities, or line items on an accounting sheet but reflect the vitality and success of our neighborhoods and our community.  They also represent significant contributions of our forefathers and, in some cases, contributions of individuals and families.  This is one of the things I like about the Independence schools.  Almost all of them are named after and honor outstanding individuals who made a difference (instead of geographic features or directions on a compass).  In some cases, the land was generously donated to be used for the education of our youth.  This heritage should not be taken lightly.  When properties become no longer necessary or viable for their intended use, it doesn't mean that we stop maintaining them or practically give them away to anyone with a plan.  It was obvious that the old Pitcher Elementary School had not been maintained for the last few decades, which can be mostly attributed to its time under the care of the Kansas City School District.  It appeared that the grass had not been cut all year.  And it was reported that vagrants had been using the building and had even been using the lights and the air conditioning.  No one was really surprised by the recent arson and some may have actually welcomed it.  Does this honor the Pitcher family?  Does this honor our community?  We should respect the valuable public assets that have been passed down to our care.  If there are surplus properties, then every effort should be made to make sure those properties are maintained, cleaned up, and protected from damage and criminal activities.  If the ownership gets transferred to a private entity, then legal provisions should be in place to take back properties where plans have not materialized and promises have been broken.  Any new plans and rezoning efforts have to involve the surrounding neighborhoods and be compatible with adjacent land and, in some cases, historic preservation guidelines.  It seems that the only tool in the tool box for surplus school buildings is to convert them into low-income housing.  If the surrounding blocks are already saturated with low-income housing, then placing a big block of even more low-income housing doesn't seem appropriate or sustainable.  If the developer promises to reserve it only for senior housing, then what happens decades from now when ownership changes and agreements expire?  We tend to look ahead only about 5 to 10 years.  There are numerous instances here in Independence where planners did not have much foresight.  Appropriate planning and community discussions need to occur early as opposed to just moth-balling these assets while waiting for anyone to come along with a bail-out plan.  The Independence School District used to have a Facilities Planning Committee made up of community-minded folks and professionals that met regularly and planned walk-throughs of district properties.  This committee has been inactive since Dr. Hinson has been superintendant.  We can and we should do a better job with our public assets.  So why don't we?

The Real Independence Events Center

Come to the "Real" Independence Events Cneter.  It's the place where fur traders did business, where pioneer trails began to open up western territories of this great country, where slaves were bought and sold, where Civil War battles were fought, where brave soldiers died, where US Presidents delivered speeches, where regional banks conducted international trade, where one of the greatest US Presidents honed his political skills, where outlaws of the Old West were jailed, and where religious leaders came to spread the Word.  It is the center where events occurred that actually changed the lives of local citizens and shaped a great nation.  If anyone asks you if you've been to the Independence Events Center, ask them if they mean the real one or the one down south for minor league games and the occasional concert and, yes of course, cage fighting.  Is it the one our forefathers built and graciously passed down to us or is it the one we borrowed over $80,000,000 so we can enjoy it today while leaving the debt to future generations?

Full Frontal Disclosure

This entry is to give equal billing and to provide full disclosure of tax-exempt properties posting signs to persuade citizens to vote on tax-related issues (see blog entry from 10-27-10 "Would Jesus Vote Yes on Amendment 3?"). In the recent election last Tuesday, several frontal areas of the front yards on Delaware Street were displaying "Vote Yes for a Safer City" here in the Truman Neighborhood. At least 2 of those homes had been granted tax abatement through the Midtown / Truman Road Corridor (M/TRC) Neighborhood Revitalization Program. And one of those homes is the residence of a familar face on City 7 (the taxpayer-supported public access information channel which is accessible through Comcast Cable, Facebook, YouTube, Vineo, & the City's website and had been broadcasting "Vote Yes" messages for many weeks from the City Council chambers). It's certainly noteworthy that homeowners who do not pay any property tax are willing to post a sign and actively campaign for higher taxes for the rest of the community. It was just a few weeks ago that the Kansas City Star Editorial Board published a column in the newspaper commenting about the campaign and City Hall using expressions like "damage their creditability" and "neither honest or transparent" and "should not be trying to mislead residents." As most citizens are aware, the "No's" won that election last Tuesday (by almost a 3 to 1 margin, the highest margin I recall in any election over the last few decades). Frankly speaking, I don't believe anyone came out a winner on this issue. I recall a few years ago when we had a spike in neighborhood crime and a few citizens complained about it to their public officials. City Hall soon after that removed most of the annual crime statistics from their website and accused those annoying complainers as being alarmists and spouting harangue. Those same officials would end up doing a complete 180 and use the same tactics they criticized to convince voters that the crime wave is upon us. As folks try to put a spin on the election results, we are starting to hear that it was all about our poor citizens who couldn't afford the extra tax. But from what we heard in the community, not to mention the KC Star, it seemed to be about creditability, honesty, transparency, and leadership. In hindsight, our "Vote Yes" efforts to fight crime and improve public safety here in Harry Truman's hometown might have been more successful if the City Council had not campaigned at all or had actually come out against the tax!

St. Mary's Launches Hail Mary Pass to Lee's Summit

As local preservation and revitalization efforts on the grid iron grind to a halt, Old Town Independence ends up with another Trojan Horse. The Kansas City - St. Joseph Diocese announced recently their game-winning touchdown pass while scoring on some valuable real estate in Lee's Summit. The Diocese officialy announce in late January that it plans to merge St. Mary's and O'Hara High Schools and build a new high school in the booming area of Lee's Summit. To state in the Examiner article that St. Mary's is a "longtime facility" appears to be the understatement of the year. The school, as reported, dates back to 1853 making it even older than the Independence Public Schools. I believe that makes St. Mary's the oldest (or one of the oldest) high school in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River. The presence fo the Catholic Church here in Independence predates manyof the Protestant denominations and the arrival of Joseph Smith. The long and rich history of the Catholic Church on this property in Old Town is something to be celebrated and should be a source of pride. The local comminity should extend gratitude to the Catholic Church for their historic commitment to Old Town. Several years back I recall some encouragement that the high school was interested in staying when they demolished a Victorian home on the northwest corner of Main & College Streets for, what was stated in a public meeting, the construction of a library facility. Obviously, the library was never built and we are left with yet another empty lot. St. Mary's decision to move actually makes sense. A modern institution of learning combined with a successful athletic program requires much more space than they have on Main Street. And for this kind of investment to be financially viable, it has to be in a growing area. And to quote the St. Mary's official; this part of town is "not growing" (which could be interpreted as a polite way of saying the current area of town is in decline). I've alway believed that the true character of an institution should be judged not just on what direction they are headed but also for what they leave behind. Every time an institution leaves the Truman Neighborhood and Old Town (and we've had numerous), huge voids are left. Community-based efforts and planning are necessary to not only determine how to fill voids and empty spaces that sustain and build up our community (without the dependency of expensive public subsidies), but also how to retain outstanding institutions, businesses, and young families in the city's historic core. This is the challenge that no one seems to be interested in. The biggest concerns at City Hall appear to be focused on filling voids in the retail development in the Little Blue Valley, a development type that has traditionally had a life-span of maybe 1 or 2 generations at best. Old Town Independence has been around for 8 generations and continues to have the potential to play even a larger role in the educational, economic, and spiritual development of the city and the nation. When we put all our eggs in one valley, don't be surprised when the creek rises and washes them away.