Community leaders in Northwest Independence have been working for the better part of a year in earnest (some discussions happened prior to onset of the COVID-19 pandemic) to establish a Community Improvement District (CID) along US 24 Highway. Some of the opportunities driving this forward are: the blighted condition of the area, the planned Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Complete Streets investment, and the chance to attract and retain new businesses.
The general proposed boundaries of the CID are Huttig Avenue on the west, Forest Avenue on the east, the Independence city limits on the north, and the CID extends south on Northern Boulevard to include the properties through 801 South Northern Boulevard. The CID boundaries look like a T from an aerial map.
Coupling estimates from city staff and looking at average chain retail sales, CID proponents expect the CID to generate $150,000/year in annual revenue from a 1% sales tax within the proposed boundaries. It is important to note that a CID cannot exist in multiple jurisdictions, so most of the north side of US 24 Highway is not in the CID as it is located within the Sugar Creek city limits.
The following individuals have agreed to serve on the CID board of directors, once founded: Matt McNamara, business representative for Cornell Roofing & Sheet Metal; Josko Wrabec, property owner in CID, Jennifer Manuleleua, business representative for Community Services League’s BlendWell Community Cafe; Cyril Wrabec, property owner in CID; Marciela Gomez-Yanez, disinterested director (owns a food truck outside of the CID).
The proposed CID has identified the following activities that could be supported by CID revenue: beautification, landscaping, district signage, trash/clean-up services, façade grants to property and business owners, signage grants to property and business owners, district marketing, economic development activities, security, district legal, tax, and operating expenses, and other allowable expenses under State law. The CID is in the process of securing a blight analysis that would allow grants to property and business owners.
The CID has received signed and notarized petitions from the property owners of the following addresses: 11201 E US 24 Hwy, 10725 E US 24 Hwy, 10713 E US 24 Hwy, 10609 E US 24 Hwy, 10601 E US 24 Hwy, 10313 E US 24 Hwy, 10317 E US 24 Hwy, 605 S Ash St, 10221 E US 24 Hwy, 10201 E US 24 Hwy, 733 S Northern Blvd, 901 S Northern Blvd.
The City-which owns the property located at 600 South Sterling Avenue-has been requested to sign the petition as part of the process for seeking formation of the CID. The City has signed similar petitions where they own property within a proposed district. Recent examples include the Independence Square CID and the Englewood CID. The community leaders working on this project are seeking City Council approval for authorizing the City Manager to sign the petition for the City of Independence to join the CID with its property at 600 South Sterling. Having this property in the CID shows the City’s support in strengthening Northwest Independence and gives the CID some frontage along Sterling Avenue for potential district signage and other improvements.
Approval of this resolution does not constitute final approval of the proposed Community Improvement District, nor does it present any fiscal impact to the City of Independence.