Ott-Chrisman

Independence, Missouri, was once a stop for pioneers on the Oregon Trail, and the city’s Ott-Chrisman neighborhood preserves many nods to the past. “Independence is one of the first cities in Missouri, so there’s lots of very old construction and well-established neighborhoods,” says Jim Godwin, a Realtor with Executive Asset Realty with 19 years of experience selling real estate in the Kansas City metro area. “It’s one of those areas that’s pretty nostalgic with an old-school Midwestern feel.”

Ott-Chrisman is filled with single-family midcentury bungalows and ranch-style homes that offer plenty of space for the price. Three- and four-bedroom residences with small front and back lawns starting at $150,000 and up to about $250,000. “Even in a down-trending market, it is still very popular because it’s affordable to live there,” Godwin says. Most Ott-Chrisman streets have sidewalks shaded by full-grown oak and maple trees and are wide enough for residents to walk their dogs or push strollers. The Ride KC Bus system offers daily transportation throughout Independence, but Godwin says most residents prefer to drive. The neighborhood is next to major highways like U.S. Route 24, Interstate 435 and Missouri Route 291, offering drivers easy access to neighboring Kansas City and the rest of Missouri.

Ott-Chrisman’s young residents often attend school through the Independence School District. Students can start out at Christian Ott or Mill Creek elementary schools, which Niche rates a B-minus. Older students may move on to Bingham or Bridger middle schools, and then to William Chrisman High School, which also gets a B-minus score on Niche. Students who need additional help in and out of the classroom may enroll at Independence Academy, offering alternative and bridge programs for all grade levels.

When dinnertime rolls around, you can grab a bite at A Little Barbeque Joint, a family-owned restaurant off Route 24 that locals praise for its ribs or Café Verona for classic Italian fare for brunch or a special night out. For a sweet treat after your meal, just walk down the street and sit at the marble bar of Clinton’s Soda Fountain for sundaes, shakes and old-fashioned sodas. If you would rather eat at home, chain stores like Cash Saver, Price Chopper, Hy-Vee and Walmart have multiple nearby locations for all your grocery and everyday shopping.

There’s no shortage of local parks to enjoy in this area. The 45-acre Mill Creek Park on River Boulevard was once part of the route traveled by settlers heading to Oregon and California in the 19th century. Today’s residents love it for its hiking trails, baseball fields and tennis courts. Dickinson Park is only 2 miles away from Mill Creek Park and offers green space to walk your dog, playgrounds for kids and a large fishing pond for anglers.

History is never far behind in Ott-Chrisman, especially for neighbors of the opulent Vaile Mansion, built on Liberty Street in 1881. Locals and tourists can tour the landmark’s 31 rooms year-round and enjoy seasonal events, like the popular spring Strawberry Festival or the Macabre Night Tours in the fall. The Harry S. Truman Library offers more chances to dig into history and is less than a mile from Vaile Mansion. The library is home to hundreds of documents, photographs and maps that belonged to the 33rd U.S. President and Independence native. It also hosts rotating exhibitions exploring local and national history.

When you’re craving new sights, you’ll never be far from Missouri’s largest city. Kansas City is only 10 miles away via Routes 235 and 70, so you can catch a Chiefs game or easily visit many museums any time. In Ott-Chrisman, you can get in touch with the past while never straying too far from the modern excitement of the nearby city.

Written By

Delaney Murray

Photography Contributed By

John Collins

Video By

Tyler Belile