Resident urges new approach to long-running Independence Square master plan

Becky Hague of 10516 East 20 Sixth Terrace addressed the council during public comment, urging officials to reconsider the Independence Square master plan and longtime financing approaches. Hague recounted the area’s history of special taxing districts and redevelopment efforts and said those measures have not produced the desired improvement on the ground.

Hague told the council the Independence Square Special Business District was created by ordinance in 1983 and she referenced subsequent studies and plans, including a blight study in 1984, a redevelopment plan designated as Independence Square 353, and later revitalization and streetscape plans adopted in 2005 and 2007. She said the special tax rate originally designated to improve the square was 85 cents per $100 of assessed value and that tax increment financing (TIF) and a special improvement district (SID) have been used at various times.

Hague said ownership patterns in the district include roughly 40 properties owned by government agencies and about 45 properties held by a single owner under LLCs. She said the district brings in revenue — citing more than $1.5 million from unspecified sources as of a 2023 report — but that many visible blight problems remain. "After 42 years, it is time to look maybe it's time to look at another way to do do this other than just throwing millions of dollars at it, which has not worked," she said.

Hague suggested the council consider organic, resident-driven improvements rather than large-scale development such as building apartments, and urged the city to ask what Independence residents want. Her remarks were part of the public comment period; no action was taken by the council on the subject during the meeting.

Discussion vs. decision: This was a public comment; council did not vote or take action on the Independence Square master plan during this meeting. The comments were recorded in the public record.