by Jeff Quibell
2. October 2008 01:30
Progress is sometimes harder to see when it happens right around you. It is interesting to talk to someone who has been away from Blue Spring for a few years. They are more likely to see the progress that has occurred in town than those of us who are here every day.
Work continues on the Adams Dairy Landing shopping center. With the opening of R.D. Mize road on the south side of the project, Coronado Drive was closed to allow it to be rebuilt to handle the traffic that will frequent the shopping center when it opens. This project is breathing new life into the long stagnant Adams Dairy Parkway. It is exciting to see what other opportunities will be encouraged by the revitalization of the neighborhood that once occupied this site.
On Highway Seven south of Forty Highway there are a number of projects underway. A new shopping center near the north-east edge of Stone Creek subdivision continues to show progress. The new Mirror Image Car Wash recently opened at the Mall at Fall Creek. This once nearly vacant shopping center continues to move towards filling its empty buildings.
Sadly the Coffee House and La Tea Da Tea Room recently closed in downtown Blue Springs. I talked with several of their regular customers who have expressed disappointment at its closing, it will be missed. Last year the City Council approved an incentive program to encourage businesses to locate in our downtown. We now wait on the Council to take action to continue the progress called for in the downtown plan.
Jimmy John’s, a new sandwich shop, recently opened next to Rent-A-Center on Highway Seven. Construction of the new BR Carpet on Jefferson Street is underway and the hotels near the Woods Chapel and I-70 Interchange are being refurbished with the western most building slated for demolition in the coming months. Improvements to the west bound onramp at Woods Chapel and I-70 are in progress and the bridge will soon be restriped to allow two lanes of traffic to turn onto the new ramp.
As citizens we often allow progress to go unnoticed. Our elected officials need encouragement and feedback from us to better lead our City. I would encourage you to contact your Mayor and Councilmen to thank them for their hard work and to let them know your thoughts about progress in our city. Full contact information is available at www.AboutBlueSprings.com. Just click on the “City Council Contact Info” link for more information. Jeff Quibell is a former City Councilman and local business owner. You can contact him at jeffq@cprosinc.com.