What is the best tif success story in Independence?

Revenues don't effect a TIF, because TIF's are structured to function in regard to property values.
However, there is an animal in Missouri called a Super TIF, and that kicks state sales taxes back into a TIF. The failed Lakeside TIF on Noland Road has Super TIF status. If state revenues are down, they are less likely to approve new Super TIFs.
 
TIF do effect revenues though. Vacant buildings in a TIF cause the property values to decrease. Unbuilt areas of a TIF, such as the Bass Pro SHops project, don't generate any increase in property value for the TIF. That often means there ins't enough revenue generated by the TIF, and if the city fronted the bonds for the project (which is usuallly the case in Independence) the city is still liable for those bond payments. So they have to take money out of the general fund to cover the liability.
 
Basically, the way a TIF works is that a property generates a certain amount of taxes before it is developed or improved. A developer builds a brand new shiny building on the property and the property value goes up, generating more taxes. The property owner continues to pay the full amount of the property taxes on that improved property. What a TIF does though, is take the newly generated taxes from the improvements (or the increment) and allow the developer to then use that money to build roads, sewers, electric lines and other infrastructure that a project needs, or any other use they can get the city to approve. Usually a city issues bonds right away though, so the developer doesn't have to wait for the money to accumulate throught tax collection, and can then get started on the project right away. Then the city takes the increment to pay off the bonds.
 

Just because a property was not generating much tax without a TIF does not mean it would never be developed.  And with the excess of vacant land it doesn't mean that particular development could not go somewhere else and pay the full taxes.  It also doesn't mean "new revenue" because the store could be siphoning off sales from an existing business that pays taxes.  These are all questions that are almost impossible to quantify, hence the fallacy of TIFs. 

PensivePete,
What strategic moves should happen at this point?  I take it you are the average citizen of Independence? What would you like to see happen where you live?

 Thanks, I forgot about Sam's Club.

To answer the relocation question - Office Depot moved from 39th and Noland, and Best Buy moved from 40 and Noland. JC Penny moved from KCMO into Independence, though the Blue Ridge store was closed for a couple of years before that really happened.

With Bolger Square, I think the only store of the development that closed was Garden Ridge, but it has since been replaced by the aformentioned JC Penny.

The Commons is on track to being a success as well. Even though two of the major tenants failed, they've since been replaced by Best Buy Office Max and is constantly busy on both the Movie Theater and Kohl's ends.

Hartman Heritage Center (Jackson Drive, between 39th St and Little Blue Parkway) had it's ups and downs. Ultimate Electronics was the first to fail, but was replaced by a K&G clothing store. The former Linens and Things and the former Stein Mart both sit empty currently, but both have the advantage of a good location (I-70 visibility) so with the upswing in the economy that has began, they may be leased within the next 3 years.

Eastland Center (located between 40 Highway and I-70, and between Little Blue Parkway and 291 Highway) is probably the worst case scenario of all the TIF projects in that area. There's the CompUSA that sits vacant after several years, a number of offices and retail space that sit vacant after being newly constructed, and still undeveloped (but planned) space within it's area. While it does have Lowes, CarMax, Cosco, and the Arena going for it (though others would beg to differ on the Arena), there are things going against it at this point.

The Falls (Bass Pro) is one that the concept was good enough - a Bass Pro Shop to rival the one down in Springfield - but the timing on execution is what's hurting it right now. While I do see it succeeding (have you ever driven by Bass Pro and not seen it overly busy on a weekend yet?) I do think it's going to take a little longer for everything to go in than originally planned.

Home Depot was a TIF Project as well. A Schnucks was supposed to go in next to it. While the Home Depot and Cracker Barrel are positives there, the fact that the grocery store never went in is it's failing. Not to say it's going to fail, as Home Depot is doing well enough on it's own.

Perhaps the epic fail of all TIF projects is the one that you don't notice. Several years ago, there was a push for the Lakeside Shopping Center on Noland Road. This was to go in where Chuck's Trux and Winsteads, along with several other thriving businesses, were located. The demolition went fine. In fact, the only building I think was slated to be knocked down and wasn't, was the old Taco Bell that is now a chinese place (if it's still open). Luckily for the city, the developer is playing off the TIF himself even though he's not required to. But yeah, Lakeside shows what happens when TIFs fall through due not having all your ducks in a row.