Looking For Insight About Independence

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by kcmo

Schools are great, you have any price point you can think of for housing, lots of new retail centers, great parks and lakes and really very little crime. I do not feel any less safe in the area around Independence Center than Merrian Town Center, Mission or Oak Park Mall.

The parcel where Mission Mall used to be is still empty, and is currently a field. I visited family in KC recently, and was shocked at how many businesses have become vacant or failed in NE JoCo since my last visit.

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

The parcel where Mission Mall used to be is still empty, and is currently a field. I visited family in KC recently, and was shocked at how many businesses have become vacant or failed in NE JoCo since my last visit.

I meant mission in general as in Johnson Drive etc. I know the mall is a dirt patch now.

I love the new Circuit City, days from opening a brand new store and Circuit City pulls out of the KC market.

If there is one thing worse than big box blight, it's building a brand new big box for a specific tenant with tif money and it never opens and is basically replacing blight with possibly worse blight as that shopping center will deteriorate before it is ever completed.

[john gunn]

I spent a few days in Independence on a research trip and I found it a charming town with a real sense of community where even the Mayor would take time to speak to tourists.

In contrast, having taken the bus from Independence into KC, I was shocked at the state of the KC suburbs - and to be honest even the commercial centre was nothing to write home about.

Of course, I could have got a misleading view from my trip (I stayed in Truman's childhood home), but the description of Independence as a crime ridden town is at odds with my (admittedly short) experience of the place.

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by john gunn

I spent a few days in Independence on a research trip and I found it a charming town with a real sense of community where even the Mayor would take time to speak to tourists.

In contrast, having taken the bus from Independence into KC, I was shocked at the state of the KC suburbs - and to be honest even the commercial centre was nothing to write home about.

Of course, I could have got a misleading view from my trip (I stayed in Truman's childhood home), but the description of Independence as a crime ridden town is at odds with my (admittedly short) experience of the place.

Yes, you did get a very misleading view of KC and its suburbs from your trip if all you did was see the area between downtown Independence and downtown KCMO.

That is probably one of the worst and run down corridors in all of KC. There is nothing "suburban" about it. Downtown KC approached from the east is also a horrible impression and Downtown KCMO is much larger than the central business district. If you head south out of downtown, you would see how much more there is to the urban core of KCMO.

Don’t get me wrong, the downtown area of Independence is quite charming and has a ton of history and attractions, but Independence doesn’t really get nice till you reach the square area and then proceeds to stay nice or get nicer as you had to the east and southeast.

The suburbs of KCMO are mostly up north, out in Johnson County and further east, southeast and south of Independence.

So try to give the area a second chance, You saw downtown Independence, but probably didn’t see much else.

[northbound74]

Originally Posted by john gunn

Of course, I could have got a misleading view from my trip (I stayed in Truman's childhood home), but the description of Independence as a crime ridden town is at odds with my (admittedly short) experience of the place.

The crime rate is a little above the national average for towns of most sizes, but for a city as large as Independence, it's far from being the worst. It may not stack up well against other suburbs, but when compared to other cities it's size, especially stand-alone towns, it does quite well. For some reason, a few people look down on it anyway. Maybe it's because not every square inch of it is meticulous and pristine.

Like KCMO said, that bus trip (which I think only showed you western Independence and eastern KC) is one of the least impressive parts of the city. Most areas away from there are really nice.

[IndyJohnathan]

Well I'll step out on a limb and say crime wise the area I lived in Springfield was worse then Independence. It's my mission to inform people Springfield is not Mayberry. I live just east of Sterling and have never had a single problem. Sure beats the mutiple time my car was broken into in a "great part of town" in a "god fearing town". Stepping off soap box....Bannister Mall like Indy Center? YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!!

[beth0301]

I lived in Independence for years and never had any problems. It's like any other city, sure things happen but I personally think Independence gets a worse rap than it deserves.

My daughter, 23, lives in an apartment complex near the center (mall) and feels quite safe. She uses normal precautions like any young woman living alone. I used to shop at that mall with my kids all the time and never had a problem.

My sister lives in the old part (west) and hasn't had any problems. It's not new and not as nice but if you follow common sense it's not bad. Personally I wouldn't want kids there because the schools aren't as nice but for adults it would be ok.