Making Changes
September 8, 2026
by Donna Hemann
Hello Neighbors,
Hope you're enjoying the beauty of the Ozarks in these remaining days of summer. Good to "talk" with you here, after our UHNA summer break. The past few months have been a whirlwind for me, splitting time between Missouri and New York, hosting great parties such as our Fourth of July Celebration, and making changes as I grow into a new chapter of life following the passing of my mother last October. Everything seems to be about change, in fact.
As we gradually transition into fall, there are many things for us as residents of University Heights to consider. Fall brings shedding leaves and dead limbs that need trimming. Nothings says "I'm a good neighbor" more than keeping up with both of these tasks. If doing the work is a challenge for you and you would like some assistance, please reach out to UHNA; many of us are happy to help! Fall also means decking out your house for our UHNA Halloween decorating contest. It's always fun to drive through the 'hood and look at all the spookiness during October. Then there's preparations for cold temperatures, such as closing pools and managing outdoor water features. Our neighborhood is home to diverse wildlife, including deer, fox, skunks, and hawks. If you have a pond with circulating water or a similar water feature with a pump, consider running it during winter for wildlife. This can only be done if you use no chemicals in the water, of course. I clean the algae out of my pond/waterfall by hand a few times a week and use liquid barely grass at least once a week also. (I order it on Amazon.) Works great, and I know my cat (whom I can't stop from drinking out of it despite her having clean water available) and other animals are safe to drink from it. When the water freezes, I use an inexpensive ice melter designed for water features that I plug in using an outdoor extension cord and let it sit in the water. I have to break up the ice on a few days of the year, but that's about it. Clean water can be life saving for critters in the cold temperatures. We also put out a couple of shelters for homeless cats. If you're trying this for the first time I suggest googling the best way to create a shelter or where to buy ones pre-made.
An on-going point of change for UH residents is the land still owned by BK&M that sits on National, Sunshine and E. University. UHNA held focus groups at our regular meetings and has been polling residents asking: Do you have a preference for what you would like to see on the BK&M land? What features in the neighborhood would you like to see remain? What changes would you like to see? What are your ideas for growth? Polling continues but we have some data already in.
What neighbors want to preserve: Green Border/Corridor, Historic Homes on perimeter of original neighborhood, Walkability.
What neighbors want to change: Increase participation in green programs and activities, Create art installations in neighborhood, Create safe crossings from our neighborhood perimeters to across National and Sunshine, and safe pedestrian and bike features.
What ideas neighbors have for growth: If zoning does not change at the BK&M properties: Retain current salvageable houses to residential market, add park/art, join in things such as Sculpture Walk and the Art Museum's rotating art installations, join in featuring placemaking pieces in empty lots, welcome improvements in turn lanes at the corner of Sunshine/National. If zoning changes at the corner of National/Sunshine: Business park on BK&M properties (featuring things such as an Investment Firm, Dental Office-things with low traffic and daytime hours), preferably excluding homes on E. University to protect neighborhood from erosion and undue traffic; business park would match an architectural style of UH and resemble that on the corner of Battlefield and Lone Pine that looks like English country estates. Another option mentioned is Low volume Town homes surrounding a green park that would serve residents of townhomes and University Heights,
At our last meeting all participants who had not previously participated in our focus group meetings unanimously expressed interest in having green space and an art tie-in with the art museum. Presented with the idea the City may not favor such an option, a concept for a residential-looking housing situation for families of medical clients with beautiful surrounding gardens was generated. That housing would also be in keeping architecturally with the neighborhood.
While there is diversity in opinion about what is preferred for the land in question, most residents tell us they value the peace, quiet, historic feel, and no-commercial nature of the original platted University Heights. These conditions anchor and balance the intense commercial development to the west past Kimbrough and Jefferson. The questions is, how do we adapt to this strange condition of a developer buying so many residential properties, mostly consisting of high value, good condition homes, including two homes inside the neighborhood, not on the perimeter? A difficult situation to be sure. There may be no good solution. There may be the lesser of evils, in my opinion.
So, what options do we have in communicating with stakeholders? As individual property owners it is our right to talk with BK&M owner/s, with Josh Manning of Valiant Group who is considering buying the land, with elected City officials and staff, and join with UHNA leadership to express views in a group context with each other and with stakeholders. Every tax paying citizen has the right to advance ideas they believe is in their best interest.
In theory, it is possible Mr. Duda of BK&M might return one or two properties to the residential market (an offer he made to me when I was President). City Council and Planning and Zoning also made public statements about drawing the line on development to exclude properties on E. University. Mr. Manning says he's interested in extremely high volume town home development. We have yet to hear good reception of high volume from our residents.
In discussion with City Council representatives, the following public/private partnerships have been discussed that could potentially allow UH residents to influence land use and mitigate neighborhood changes or harms.
1. Transportation Development Districts (TDDs)
The City of Springfield actively utilizes them. [1]
What they do: These are separate political subdivisions created by petition to fund localized transportation-related improvements like roads, intersections, bridges, or parking lots. [1]
How they fund projects: They typically levy an extra local sales tax (often 0.5% or 1%) or property tax within the designated district boundaries to cover project costs. [1]
2. Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts
Tax Increment Financing district (sometimes colloquially called a Tax Increment District), is used in Springfield frequently. [1]
What they do: Springfield uses TIFs to encourage redevelopment in blighted or underutilized areas by redirecting the incremental increase in property and sales taxes back into the project's infrastructure.
Active examples: Well-known local TIF plans include the Commercial Street TIF, the Springfield Plaza TIF, and the Brody Corners TIF. [1, 2, 3, 4]
3. Community Improvement Districts (CIDs)
Springfield allows and extensively uses CIDs. [1]
What they do: Similar to TDDs, a CID is a specialized district where property owners vote to pay an extra tax or assessment to fund public improvements, beautification, marketing, and safety services.
Active examples: The Downtown Springfield CID is a prime example of this tool in action. [1, 2, 3]
In the final analysis, each of us must determine what time, energy and creativity we want to devote to the BK&M property issue. It's complicated, but any effort we put in can make a difference in some way, maybe even a big way now, or in the future.
Change is the only certainty in life, as they say. The more accepting and flexible we can be in the midst of change, without sacrificing our integrity, the less painful the process will be.
Here's to welcoming changes with courage.
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For help with your property or questions, you may contact me at: donnafarr@gmail.com or contact the Association at: uhnasgf@gmail.com.
