I-69 extension design work to begin soon

Associated Press

EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- A state consultant says preliminary design work on the southernmost portion of the planned Interstate 69 extension from Evansville to Indianapolis might begin next week.


Kent Ahrenholtz, an engineer with Bernardin Lochmueller & Associates, told Evansville-area business and community leaders Tuesday that the state will release a number of major documents about the project over the next three to four months.
"In the first or second quarter next year, you'll actually see bulldozers out just north of I-64," Ahrenholtz said.
State officials have said that construction would start in the fall of 2008.
Kevin Jasinski, an engineer with American Structurepoint Inc., said bid documents to build the first of six sections of the Evansville-to-Indianapolis route will be ready late this year.
The first phase of the project will also include improvements to Indiana 57 and Indiana 68.
Ahrenholtz said the state is continuing to address the project's impact on the environment. Six consultants are working on environmental impact statements for each section of the planned interstate, he said.
The interstate has drawn criticism from several groups, but Ahrenholtz said I-69 planners are planning "to offset the impacts of this structure."
State lawmakers passed a budget this year that included $119 million to build the 70-mile portion of the interstate from Evansville to the Crane Warfare Center.

So work will start on the first section of I-69, which goes from I-64 to Oakland City, IN.

How long will it take to finish this road?

The state thinks it has enough money to build the first three sections of I-69, which will take the interstate from I-64 to U.S. 231 in Green County.

This is stupid because the most important parts of the I-69 extension are Sections 5 and 6, from Bloomington to Indianapolis.

updates?

So work will start on the first section of I-69, which goes from I-64 to Oakland City, IN.

How long will it take to finish this road?

The state thinks it has enough money to build the first three sections of I-69, which will take the interstate from I-64 to U.S. 231 in Green County.

This is stupid because the most important parts of the I-69 extension are Sections 5 and 6, from Bloomington to Indianapolis.
In the absence of SR37, there's no question sections 5 and 6 would have been built first. But since SR37 exists, it would be silly the begin I69 from the north end.

I'm not up-to-date on what these section numbers indicate. Are they planning to build 3 sections and not have it come close to the existing SR37 corridor? If that's true, then this plan really is stupid.

In the absence of SR37, there's no question sections 5 and 6 would have been built first. But since SR37 exists, it would be silly the begin I69 from the north end.

I'm not up-to-date on what these section numbers indicate. Are they planning to build 3 sections and not have it come close to the existing SR37 corridor? If that's true, then this plan really is stupid.

I've been hearing for fifteen years that construction is imminent. I heard it again this year, that survey work will begin on the southernmost section, between Oakland city and I-64, but to my knowledge nothing has started yet. Like I've said before, I'll believe it when I see it. I really don't see this highway being built, particularly without tolls.

In the absence of SR37, there's no question sections 5 and 6 would have been built first. But since SR37 exists, it would be silly the begin I69 from the north end.

I'm not up-to-date on what these section numbers indicate. Are they planning to build 3 sections and not have it come close to the existing SR37 corridor? If that's true, then this plan really is stupid.

The state allocated $700 million from Major Moves to construct the first three segments of I-69, which goes from I-64 to US 231 near Crane.

Section 4 is the portion of the roadway that connects US 231 to SR 37.

I've been hearing for fifteen years that construction is imminent. I heard it again this year, that survey work will begin on the southernmost section, between Oakland city and I-64, but to my knowledge nothing has started yet. Like I've said before, I'll believe it when I see it. I really don't see this highway being built, particularly without tolls.

As I said earlier, Major Moves allocated $700 million to construct the first three segments of I-69 from I-64 to US 231. INDOT plans to start construction on Section 1 in mid 2008.

http://www.lostindiana.net/assets/images/large/sheraton15large.jpg
More on the Gary Sheraton here: www.lostindiana.net/html/gary_sheraton.html
9/23/2007 9:55:00 AM
Development group making progress on former high-rise Gary hotel

(Merrillville) Post-Tribune
By Jon Seidel, Post-Tribune staff writer

GARY -- A group of developers promising to renovate the former Sheraton Hotel say activity around the high-rise could begin next month.

A sales trailer was expected outside the building months ago, and a revenue bond requiring City Council approval has yet to appear on an agenda.

But Joel Rodriguez, a special assistant to Mayor Rudy Clay, said the New Gary Development Group has made progress after being stalled unexpectedly on both fronts.

"They're definitely moving forward on it," Rodriguez said.

Phil Kupritz, the lead architect for the project, said the sales trailer can be expected outside the Sheraton in about two weeks.

Drawings describing environmental clean-up efforts for the Sheraton, Kupritz said, will be made available Tuesday at the city's Department of Redevelopment offices.

New Gary officials will take potential contractors on a tour of the old hotel on Oct. 2, Kupritz said, and the private development group will receive their bids Oct. 9.

"It's our collective intention to begin the environmental clean-up of the building shortly after receiving the bids," Kupritz said.

That process, Kupritz said, could take about three months.

Rodriguez said discussions about the environmental clean-up took longer than expected, but now that the city has come to an agreement with developers, New Gary Development Group should be able to move ahead.

"Once the environmental clean-up is done," Rodriguez said, "you will see more activity as far as around the building itself."

However, there is one other issue New Gary Development Group will soon need to work out.

The Gary Economic Development Commission approved a $7.5 million revenue bond for the New Gary Development Group in July. It is intended to pay for infrastructure improvements around the Sheraton.

Tax increment finance, or TIF, revenues created by the project will be used to pay for the bond, with no other obligation needed from the city, officials say.

However, that bond has not yet been approved by, nor has it been introduced to, the City Council.

"I have not seen or heard anything on when it will be coming to the City Council," Council finance chairwoman Marilyn Krusas, D-1st, said.

Kupritz said that bond has been held up while New Gary searches for a buyer.

Once that buyer is selected, Kupritz said, it will come before the City Council. Rodriguez said it will probably be introduced in October.

Finally, Kupritz said New Gary Development Group has started inspecting a group of buildings in the 600 block of Broadway targeted for demolition by the city.

Clay said last week that he wants the area to be part of the city center project, and he will give New Gary the first chance to develop it.

However, Kupritz said he is trying to figure out if there's a way the historic downtown city block can be saved.

"We'd rather keep what actually is tremendously useful, not throw it away like so many other things that are thrown away," Kupritz said.

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Hotel planned on old Gameday site
REI Investments behind new plan; Gameday looking at other locations.

JAMIE LOO
Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- The Redevelopment Commission approved a letter of intent on Friday for REI Investments Inc. to develop a hotel downtown.

The 10-story, 175- to 200-room hotel will be at the northwest corner of St. Joseph Street and Jefferson Boulevard, which was the original site planned for Gameday Southeastern LLC luxury sports hotel condominiums. Construction would begin in spring 2008 and open for business in 2009.

REI President Mike Wells said the hotel will include an enclosed parking garage on levels two through five, with 150 to 210 spaces that would be open to the public. Wells said the firm is committed to having a streetscape outside the building to beautify the area and help with traffic calming.

REI is working with White Lodging Services Corp., which is developing hotels at Eddy Street Commons. Wells said REI is analyzing the hotel market to determine which franchise would fit best for the site.

The project will cost REI $25 million, and the city is contributing $3.7 million to help pay for the parking garage. The city would have ownership of the garage and lease it back to REI.

Mayor Stephen Luecke said the city couldn't be more excited about the hotel, which adds to other recent investment downtown in the KeyBank Building and the new South Bend Community Schools Corp. headquarters. It adds a great presence to St. Joseph Street and helps the city address parking needs downtown, he said.

"It complements what we are trying to with Century Center to expand convention opportunities," Luecke said.

The redevelopment commission officially terminated its agreement with Gameday to develop the corner because the company missed two construction deadlines. City economic development planner Jennifer Laurent said the city has a good working relationship with Gameday.

"Gameday has really been an excellent company to work with," she said. "We would very much like to work with them on a future project."

Laurent said Gameday is working with REI on the possibility of having condo units in their hotel. Gameday President Brad Pager told The Tribune in August that the company is committed to the South Bend market and is hoping to work something out with REI. Luecke echoed Laurent and said the city also is working with Gameday to find alternative sites.

"We like their proposal. We like their project and hope that we can do something together that allows them to be successful as well," he said.

Staff writer Heidi Prescott contributed to this report.

Staff writer Jamie Loo:
jloo@sbtinfo.com
(574) 235-6337

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Evansville welcomes Greyhound to new station, buys old station

Evansville Courier & Press

Evansville's Redevelopment Commission will purchase the old Greyhound Station, located at Third and Sycamore Streets, and put out bids to developers interested in revitalizing the property, Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel said today.

Weinzapfel, speaking at a ribbon-cutting ceremony welcoming Greyhound to a new station shared with city buses, stipulated that any development on the old station would maintain the architectural prominence of the original building.

"That's our commitment," he said. "It's a beautiful architectural design that we want to see maintained here in Downtown Evansville."

Evansville's Redevelopment Commission will purchase the old station for $237,500 and then put out an open bid for developers, Weinzapfel said.

There has already been interest, he said, largely among groups interested in changing it into a restaurant or office space.

The city owns the entire block, which Weinzapfel said makes the space more attractive to developers. The Greyhound station is the only building still standing on it.

The new station, located at 111 NW 6th St., began receiving Greyhound buses today, a day after the last buses left the old station.

Robert Jordan, area manager for Greyhound, said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony that intermodal stations like the new facility - locations that serve as a combined hub for national and local buses and, sometimes, trains - are a growing trend. There are more than 100 such facilities across the country, he said.

Dubbed an intermodal transit facility, the new station "brings different types of transportation together and provides customers with seamless travel connections in a single location," according to a press release issued by Weinzapfel's office.


Article © © 2007 The Evansville Courier Co.

I have a question!
Is there any news of development in Crawfordsville Indiana?
I went there quiet a bit in my youth, and recently two italianate commercial buildings burned down, and now there is an empty massive lot. Compared to most Indiana towns its size, it has a fairly decent economy, and its downtown is in pretty good condition(alot of restorations).

No idea - I drove through there a few times this summer, and the buildings had been demolished, nothing in their place. You might check out this complilation of newspaper articles about business news in Indiana for more information:

http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=39#bytopic

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/in/county/vanderburgh/postcards/downtown_2.jpg
An old postcard of Central Evansville


Thursday, September 20, 2007

Evansville's Main Street a hub for business growth


Thursday, September 20, 2007

By Jimmy Nesbitt, Evansville Courier & Press

Kristy Burgdorf's new neighborhood is cluttered with machinery and sweaty contractors. A conversation on a bench outside her home is quickly drowned out by the buzz of a drill or the roar of a front-end loader digging into a pile of debris.

For a 28-year-old woman who always wanted to live Downtown and see it evolve, the noise is music to Burgdorf's ears.

"I've always thought it was a shame that Evansville didn't have more going on down here," she said Wednesday.

Burgdorf is leasing a two-story building in the 200 block of Main Street. The top floor will be her home. In two weeks, she'll open her new business, Burgdorf's Salon, on the bottom floor. Burgdorf hopes to attract customers from nearby shops such as Wired Coffee House.

She'll also gain exposure from the traffic flow on Main Street, an advantage that was unavailable for more than three decades, when the city used Main Street as a walkway for pedestrians.

This year marks the five-year anniversary of an end to that urban experiment, which prohibited traffic between King Boulevard and Riverside Drive. Since 1971, that section of Main Street had been known as the Downtown Walkway. But in 2002, Evansville Mayor Russ Lloyd Jr. reopened the thoroughfare to traffic, wanting to jump-start Downtown revitalization.

Businesses reaped the benefits of Lloyd's decision overnight, said John Stratman, owner of Stratman's Pharmacy.

"All of a sudden, you had cars finding your store who didn't know where you were at," said Stratman, who first opened a store Downtown in 1985.

Parking, which had been a problem, became plentiful. Opening Main Street to traffic added around a dozen new spaces per block, Stratman said.

"That meant there were up to 30 spaces within a block of our store, whereas before there were maybe only eight or 10," he said.

Stratman said Main Street stores are also receiving a boom in business from new residents moving into Downtown lofts. Stratman himself owns several lofts located above his store. His son, Nick Stratman, is the property manager.

"The lofts are the opposite of "The Field of Dreams" - 'If you build it they will come,'" Nick Stratman said, quoting a phrase from the popular baseball movie. "In this case it's, 'If you come, they will build it,' as far as the specialty shops ... coming into Downtown."

Since 2004, the city has awarded thousands of dollars in grants to developers looking to renovate older buildings Downtown into living quarters through Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel's incentive program for loft developers, which has expired.

Vehicle traffic on Main Street "helped pave the way" for growth, Weinzapfel said. "Having transportation access is incredibly important to retail as well as residential (units)."

Several bricks on Main Street, however, need repair because of the wear and tear from traffic flow. When the roadway opened to traffic five years ago, some worried its design would mean more maintenance and potential danger - it has a serpentine shape with no curbs.

The city will replace the damaged bricks as part of an $80,000 road improvement pro-ject that will begin within the next couple of weeks and finish in about two months, City Engineer Patrick Keepes said. The project will not include the area on Main Street between Third and Fourth streets because of construction.

The city also has plans to reverse the direction of traffic on Main Street from south to north and add an access lane for eastbound traffic from Riverside Drive. But for now, the roadway's design, which has one lane of one-way traffic and a lane for parking, will not change.

"As far as straightening the street, that will not happen for several reasons," said Audra Levy, the mayor's spokeswoman.

One, she said, it will lose the "calming effect" that the serpentine pattern has, which slows traffic and allows people to see what Downtown has to offer. Also, a redesign of the roadway will change the aesthetic, character and landscape of the street, she said.

" You'd lose things like benches, and restaurants wouldn't be able to have cafes."

And that's something that is important to people like Burgdorf, who moved Downtown from the West Side.

She said Downtown has the river, character and a growing younger crowd that breathes enthusiasm into an area that often has needed it.

"I've been wanting to do this forever, and the fact that it's really happening is really cool."

No idea - I drove through there a few times this summer, and the buildings had been demolished, nothing in their place. You might check out this complilation of newspaper articles about business news in Indiana for more information:

http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=39#bytopic

Yeah, I went there shortly after the fire.
one of the two buildings that burned down was consturected in 1893, and had a beautiful facade. The structure was just restored when it burned down, talk about bad luck.

In Bloomington, there is a new two story luxury apartment building going in on Kirkwood next to Nick's English Hut.

Also, excavation work for a new three-story apartment building is underway on South Dunn Street.

And there is all kinds of construction activity on the IU campus.

In Bloomington, there is a new two story luxury apartment building going in on Kirkwood next to Nick's English Hut.

Also, excavation work for a new three-story apartment building is underway on South Dunn Street.

And there is all kinds of construction activity on the IU campus.


I don't have access to the Herald-Times (aka: the "Horrible Terrible") online - if anyone does, can they post stories?

I have a question!
Is there any news of development in Crawfordsville Indiana?
I went there quiet a bit in my youth, and recently two italianate commercial buildings burned down, and now there is an empty massive lot. Compared to most Indiana towns its size, it has a fairly decent economy, and its downtown is in pretty good condition(alot of restorations).

nevermind

I don't have access to the Herald-Times (aka: the "Horrible Terrible") online - if anyone does, can they post stories?

The HT isn't that bad in reality.

You have to pay to get access to its stories online.

I will post updates about Bloomington development as I come across them.

The HT isn't that bad in reality.

You have to pay to get access to its stories online.

I will post updates about Bloomington development as I come across them.

The H-T is a better newspaper than most small city rags in Indiana - I just kinda like that nasty moniker.

I look forward to reading more about whats up in Bton.

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When South Shore moves downtown Michigan City tracks, they will go south

(Michigan City) News-Dispatch
Amanda Haverstick, The News-Dispatch

CHESTERTON - Should the time come for the South Shore tracks on 11th Street to move, they likely will head south.

Gerald Hanas, Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District general manager, said a goal is to reduce travel time, and getting through Michigan City quicker helps achieve that.

"One of the big elephants in the room ... is the fact that we're running on the streets of Michigan City," Hanas said. "That's a big impediment to South Shore and Michigan City traffic."

Hanas reiterated to NICTD's board Friday that he believes a substantial amount of time can be cut by rerouting the track off 11th Street.

"It's a relic of the old interurban days where we went through the streets of Gary, through the streets of East Chicago and Hammond and for that matter South Bend," NICTD spokesman John Parsons said. "This is the last remaining piece we have. It's an extremely expensive piece of railroad to maintain, probably the most expensive two miles in our system."

Parsons said the tracks, ties and ballasts are buried under the street.

"Every so often, we have to go through and rip it all out and replace it," Parsons said. "Periodically, we have to go in, even after these massive excavation projects, and do detailed work later on. It really reduces the asphalt life Michigan City experiences with their street."

NICTD and Michigan City studied north and south alternatives to reroute the track.

"The north alternative we looked at was getting on the old Nickel Plate (railroad), which is owned by the SouthShore Freight," Parsons said.

A swing bridge along the route that crosses Trail Creek presents a fatal flaw in trying to use the northern route. One of the big issues, he said, is that the South Shore's maintenance and storage facilities are to the east of the swing bridge.

"If there's any problem with that swing bridge," Parsons said, "we don't have a rush hour in the morning."

Another proposal, he said, has been to build a bridge over Trail Creek.

"Because the freight service will be with us and will require a 2 percent grade, we will have to start our bridge ... going over U.S. 12. We'd probably be going through (downtown) Michigan City at 30 feet in the air, coming down probably at Lincoln Yard," Parsons said. "That was discounted early on in favor of a southern (route)."

Parsons said a southerly alignment would take the South Shore along the CSX Corp. tracks and NIPSCO utility corridor.

"We would join the South Shore at the cinder block company on U.S. 12 near the county line," he said.

NICTD and CSX would segregate operations with the South Shore running north of the CSX tracks.

New station facilities, Parsons said, will be located by Franklin Street near Ames Field.

"It would give us the opportunity to develop a pretty attractive station," Parsons said. "We have very limited parking in downtown Michigan City. At 11th Street, there are only 30 spaces and around 200 spaces at Carroll Avenue."

Parsons said a new station could offer 400 spaces.

The move south, Parsons said, would improve operating time and reduce the number of grade crossings from 32 to 17. The cost of such a project would range between $60 and $80 million.

Article © Copyright © 2007 The News-Dispatch

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DeFur Voran law firm goes high-profile with new $3M office building
By KEITH ROYSDON
kroysdon@muncie.gannett.com

MUNCIE -- A 100-year-old Muncie law firm will soon occupy one of the downtown's newest and most high-profile office buildings.

By the end of the year, DeFur Voran's staff of 30 -- including 13 attorneys as well as paralegals, assistants and clerical workers -- will move from their longtime offices in the Delaware Building to Munseetown Square, a $3-million-plus structure at Charles and Walnut streets.

As attorney Steve Murphy showed the still-under-construction building to a reporter, he said the new offices would provide a good showcase for the firm.

"We have been invisible," Murphy said. "It's more fun to be visible."

The firm's offices in the new, three-story building will be more than visible. They'll help anchor the south side of the city's downtown and, for staff, clients and visitors, supply plush surroundings and a commanding view.

From a round library room on the building's third floor, the view of downtown is impressive.

"It's got a great view down Walnut," Murphy acknow-ledged.

The building is about more than just a nice view for the firm's staff, however. The new building is symbolic of what civic leaders are hoping to accomplish.

"It's not just the economic impact, but it's the psychological impact," said Dan Allen, president of the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. "It's the first major new construction we've had downtown in 30 years. It reinforces that people do realize that downtown has turned around and will grow."

Fireplaces, round rooms

Downtown merchants and business offices have come and gone over the years, but for the most part, they have moved into long-established downtown buildings. For a period in the 1960s and 1970s, more downtown buildings were demolished than were built.

More recently, the Walnut Street building that now houses Chase bank was built in the late 1970s. Star Financial Bank built its facility on the downtown's north side, opening in 1989. The Ball Foundation building on Mulberry Street was built on the site of the former Rivoli theater.

Munseetown Square, announced last year by owners Frank Petty and partners from DeFur Voran, was itself built on land that was made vacant by demolition. The former Ball Stores building was razed in 1989 after the closing of the department store.

The new building -- with 6,500 square feet of office space on the each of the second and third floors and room for a still-to-be-announced commercial tenant on the first floor -- will feature an exterior of brick and Indiana limestone.

Murphy noted the design was intended to match neighbors including the Root Building and Murray Building.

Inside, three fireplaces will punctuate conference rooms. Besides attorney offices and common space, mediation rooms line hallways.

The round rooms overlooking the corner of Charles and Walnut streets -- to be used as a conference room on the second floor and a library on the third floor -- will be among the most noticeable features.

Positive sign of investment

"They were very conscious of the architecture around them," Mayor Dan Canan said. "The bricks and limestone blend well with the buildings surrounding them.

"By the end of the year, that will dramatically change that end of downtown," Canan said. "And it's a positive sign of investment in our community."

Across Walnut Street, Cassella's Kitchen has been the scene of many conversations about the new building, owner Alison Metzger said.

"Everybody that comes into the store comments about it," Metzger said. "They want to know who's going into it, when they'll be there, when it's going to be finished and they talk about what a beautiful building it is."

Metzger echoed comments some merchants on the south end of downtown made when the building was announced.

"I think it will be fantastic," she said. "I think it will bring a lot of traffic to our side of downtown."

Contact business editor Keith Roysdon at 213-5828.

These smaller cities like Muncie, Gary and Terre Haute--they really need to get their acts together if they want to be seen as halfway decent places to live. Some of the things they can do are fairly obvious, like if Muncie took advantage of Ball State more, and if Terre Haute took care of the stench (easier said than done, I know).

These smaller cities like Muncie, Gary and Terre Haute--they really need to get their acts together if they want to be seen as halfway decent places to live. Some of the things they can do are fairly obvious, like if Muncie took advantage of Ball State more, and if Terre Haute took care of the stench (easier said than done, I know).

I dont know much about Muncie, but I think Terre Haute is definitely moving in the right direction. It has invested heavily in a pedestrian trail system and in its downtown over the last 5 years - with the current crop of trails, the city will have the most miles per capita of any indiana city within 2 or so years. The city has also invested in many infrastructure upgrades within the city, but much needs to be done with the "new" downtown at US41 and I-70 - it is a very successful area, but is in desperate need of landscaping and better lighting to pull it all together. THis wouldnt take much money, and would go FAR to improve how visitors and residents alike view the city. Many other parts of the city are remarkably beautiful - the east/south east side in particular. Some infill in the Twelve Points area would also help. All that said, Terre Haute still has a long way to go...but watch out Anderson! :))

Roberts Stadium is not downtown, but there has been discussion in the River City about replacing it with a central city stadium...stay tuned...

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/in/county/vanderburgh/postcards/roberts.jpg

Evansville wallows -- again -- through the debate on Roberts Stadium fate

Sunday, September 30, 2007

By Jimmy Nesbitt, Evansville Courier & Press

Roberts Stadium has had its skeptics from the beginning.

In a few weeks, the arena will celebrate its 51st birthday. It's a milestone that many living in Evansville in 1951 never thought would come.

That year, a Republican named Henry O. "Hank" Roberts won the mayor's race. One of the things he pledged to do: Build an events facility to put Evansville at the forefront of college athletics and entertainment.

The city was rife with high school basketball fans, who would pack gyms on Friday nights for games between crosstown rivals. But doubt lingered whether those same fans would fill a 7,400-seat stadium for college basketball. The Armory, then home to the University of Evansville's basketball team, seated only 2,500.

The arena was a financial risk, too. The state owned the 57 acres of land the stadium occupies today, and it agreed to sell the land to the city for a nominal cost. The construction, however, wouldn't be cheap. The city issued $1.5 million in bonds, a huge investment in an era when a new Chevrolet Impala cost less than $2,000.

By the time Roberts left office in 1955, the largest sports facility in the history of the city was three-fourths complete. Roberts was defeated in the Republican primary. Some said it was because of the project.

Naysayers predicted the stadium would be a white elephant. One commentator dubbed it 'the house that Hank built' and the sports editor of the city's evening newspaper questioned it, calling it 'Hank's tank.'

On Dec. 1, 1956, the night the facility was dedicated, the Aces played Purdue University. Although they lost to the Boilermakers 62-60, the stadium was a smashing success. An estimated 10,000 people attended the game. Big-time basketball had arrived in Evansville.

The next year brought many more packed houses, and Roberts Stadium earned $101,823 in revenue. The city made a $7,000 profit. Seeing an opportunity, local high school teams began to book the stadium for highly anticipated games. Playing at Roberts Stadium was the "epitome of playing basketball," said Ron Wannemuehler, 69, of Newburgh who coached men's basketball at Memorial High School from 1961 to 1982.

The floor had plenty of room, Wanne-muehler said. When Memorial played Central High School, fans of both schools filled the stadium, creating an electric atmosphere that players from those teams still remember today, Wannemuehler said.

"You had to be a part of it to know what it was like," he said. "I'm glad I was a part of it."

More than 10 million people passed through the stadium's turnstiles in its first 25 years. And they weren't just coming for basketball.

The Shrine Circus moved to the stadium from the old Coliseum in November 1956. The show's acts drew more than 45,000 people. The relationship between the two continues today, and the circus is the oldest annual event at the stadium.

Elvis Presley played to a sold-out crowd in October 1976. A few of those fans returned to the stadium 10 months later, this time for a tribute concert to the King after his sudden death.

In 1983, March Madness came to Evansville. The first- and second-round games of the NCAA Mideast Regional were played at Roberts Stadium, bringing teams such as Indiana, Louisville and Tennessee. That proved to be a record year for the stadium, which drew 527,509 people. Concerts included Loverboy, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, ZZ Top and many other big-name acts. The revenue was $443,677, $70,000 more than the previous year.

Larry Aiken promoted events at the stadium from 1963 to 1999.

"I was paying more rent than any other leasee, including the University of Evansville, Shrine (circus)," Aiken said. "We did about 200 shows there over that 35 years."

In its early years, the stadium was comparable to facilities in cities of similar size, Aiken said, and its capacity was adequate. But by the mid-1980s, the infrastructure had experienced significant wear and tear. And it lacked the amenities of newer facilities, such as air conditioning.

When Aiken left the business, the shows were more complicated and required more equipment. For example, Aiken said the Dick Clark Caravan of Stars Show, which consisted of six to eight of the top rock acts in the 1960s, could fit the entire sound system into the luggage area of a tour bus. Today, many of the current top acts use 12 to 14 semitrailers to haul their equipment.

In 1986, then-Evansville Mayor Michael Vandeveer said the city should consider replacing Roberts Stadium with a new downtown arena. It was one of four options Vandeveer presented, the others being to do nothing, renovation or add a new athletic facility next to it. The cost of a riverfront project was estimated at $21 million.

The ultimate decision fell to Frank McDonald II, who took the reins of city government after Vandeveer abruptly resigned mid-term in 1987.

The city eventually settled a $16.2 million renovation, to add side concourses, air conditioning and 1,080 retractable seats. The stadium's wooden bleachers were replaced with chair back seats, and the floor was lowered.

McDonald said several factors played into his decision, most importantly the cost of renovating versus the cost of building new and the difficulty of finding a new site to build on. "The costs that were going to be involved with building something new were astronomical in comparison to the cost of the renovation," McDonald said. "The renovation has served the community well for the last (17) years."

But, McDonald added, "that was then."

In 2005, SMG, the company that manages Roberts Stadium and other city and county venues, suggested 20-year improvements that would have cost $32 million. Instead, the city formed an advisory board to evaluate the future of Roberts Stadium and later hired a consultant.

Inside Gate 1, a silver plaque on the wall displays the names of performers who have visited the stadium: Presley, the king of rock 'n' roll ; country legend Johnny Cash; the king of late night television, Johnny Carson and Indiana's own John Mellencamp.

How much longer that tradition will continue at Roberts Stadium - no one knows. And, once again, it will be up to another mayor to decide what to do about the stadium. A consultant's report on the stadium is due after the November city election.

There are skeptics, but that's part of the facility's history.




9/30/2007 2:35:00 PM
Costs complicate Evansville stadium decision

Evansville Courier & Press

By Jimmy Nesbitt, Evansville Courier & Press

More than 20 years after it started, the debate over the future of Roberts Stadium is back at the forefront of city government.

The options are essentially the same as they were then: renovate, do nothing or build new. The latest debate was spawned in 2005, when Strategic Management Group, the company that manages Roberts Stadium and other city and county venues, suggested 20-year improvements.

The city penciled in $32 million as a working projection for the 2009 capital improvement plan to upgrade Roberts Stadium. But after weighing the costs of renovation against building a new facility, Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel formed an advisory board to determine which choice would make the most sense.

The city has also hired a Cleveland-based consulting firm to study the stadium and make a recommendation, which is expected as soon as November.

Renovating, as outlined by Tom Chema of Cleveland-based Gateway Consultants Inc., would be a tall and expensive order. To be competitive with other venues its size, Roberts Stadium needs substantial improvements, Chema has said.

Todd Denk, SMG general manager, said several big name acts such as Metallica have passed on Evansville because the stadium roof cannot support their lighting and stereo equipment.

"The weights have changed, doubled or tripled in some cases," said Scott Moore, an engineer for SMG. "So the structure just can't hold that weight anymore."

The floor is also too small for professional hockey or skating events that require an Olympic-sized rink. "The width is OK," Moore said. "The length just kills us."

The floor is 146 feet long. Many acts require a floor that is 250 feet long. To renovate and extend the floor, some of the seating would have to be removed, Moore said.

The stadium also isn't compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. "For events, there's really no access to the floor," Denk said. "That creates a concern to us."

Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel and the City Council insist no decisions will be made until Chema returns with a recommendation. Regardless of the outcome, many questions remain.

If the city chooses to renovate, will the improvements be enough to keep Roberts Stadium competitive 10, 20 or 30 years into the future? If the city does nothing, how much longer will the stadium stay competitive? And if the city builds a new facility, how will it pay for it and where will it be located?

While city officials consider what to do, leaders in Owensboro, Ky., are considering a $400 million development to include a 6,000-seat arena.

The Owensboro threat, like the renovate or build new debate, is one dating back to the 1950s. It was the 5,000-seat Owensboro Sportscenter, which opened in 1949, that had some Evansville residents looking east along the Ohio River and asking: Why can't we do that here?

Owensboro City Manager Bob Whitmer has called the numbers associated with the project "a first-step estimate" provided by developer Gulf Stream Enterprises LLC. "We've agreed to pursue this, but there's several more steps in the process," Whitmer said.

Chema says the Owensboro arena would have a significant advantage over Roberts Stadium because it would have joists in the roof that could suspend the 30 to 40 tons of speakers and other equipment that most concert acts bring with them.

Roberts Stadium can't suspend close to that amount of tonnage from its ceiling, a liability Chema says is serious enough to cost the stadium concert opportunities.

Courier & Press staff writer Thomas Langhorne contributed to this report.

10/2/2007 4:02:00 PM
New Albany downtown plan: Hotel, conventions

New Albany Tribune


http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/SiteImages/Article/36903a.jpg
An architect’s rendering shows a five-story hotel and a convention center that would sit atop a parking garage at Pearl and Main streets. Image courtesy of The Estopinal Group

By ERIC SCOTT CAMPBELL, New Albany Tribune

Eric.Campbell@newsandtribune.com

A five-story hotel and adjacent convention center would sit atop a parking garage at Pearl and Main streets in New Albany in an area developer's $20 million to $25 million plan for the second phase of Scribner Place.

The project rests, too, on the city government's willingness to chip in by paying in full for the garage construction. That amount has been predicted by a consultant to be at least $6 million.

Sellersburg-based Isenberg Properties LLC has been negotiating with "mid-tier" hotel chains, said owner Tommie Isenberg and Vice President Angela Smith. They conducted an exclusive interview with The Tribune hours before a City Council meeting Monday night.

"I love hospitality, I love entertaining people," said Isenberg, who has built, bought, sold and rented homes and businesses in the area for decades through Isenberg Concrete Walls and JTPL Properties.

The Scribner Place project would be by far the biggest for her and Smith, though. It would also sit a few blocks from a Holiday Inn Express and a Hampton Inn, both on West Spring Street.

"We wanted to basically be the biggest in Southern Indiana," Smith said of a convention center, which would aim to draw business conferences and entertainment events to New Albany.

The pair hired The Estopinal Group of Jeffersonville to design the hotel, convention center and parking garage; Estopinal also designed Scribner Place's first phase, a YMCA and aquatic center under construction next door to the site Isenberg covets.

Earlier this year, Isenberg investigated locating in Clarksville or suburban New Albany, but an expensive feasibility study suggested building in a downtown similar to New Albany's, she said.

Because the land's zoning already permits a hotel and convention center, necessary government approvals will largely relate to finances. Two funds related to commerce - one accessible exclusively within specific districts, the other available citywide - could be applied in tandem to pay for bonds on the garage construction. The City Council and Redevelopment Commission hold the purse strings to those funds.

For that reason, Isenberg and Smith presented the project to the council last night, just to gauge interest.

"We just want to know: Are you interested, or do we need to take this somewhere else?" asked Smith.

Beverly Crump was interested.

"I personally think it's a beautiful facility," said Crump, who regularly attends police-auxiliary conventions throughout the country. She suggested the hotel include more than 95 rooms, and Isenberg and Smith indicated there is room to expand the plans.

Dan Coffey said he wouldn't consider spending a dime on the garage without at least seeing a financial-impact study, for which he suggested the Redevelopment Commission pay.

"There has to be some return on this money," Coffey said. "We've got plenty of places we can use our money."

Coffey has pushed for the city to rely less on designated areas that capture tax revenue for their own infrastructure purposes. Monday night, he slowed a bill related to that cause, calling for a second ballot but not a third and final ballot. Still, it narrowly passed, 5-4, as other members questioned the wisdom of making things difficult for a potential investor.

Isenberg herself wore her emotion on the surface as she presented "her dream" to the council.

"You've got to have dreams," Isenberg said. "If you don't, you die."

Mayor James Garner said the project - estimated to take 20 months from groundbreaking - would aid other downtown businesses. Isenberg confirmed that she omitted a full-service restaurant from the hotel plans in the hopes that guests would frequent nearby restaurants.

Another group's proposal to build a hotel and convention center near IU Southeast at Interstate 265 has been slow to materialize. Planning Director John Rosenbarger said it is unlikely that both projects could go forward.



Article © News Examiner Copyright © 2007

Thanks for keeping us updated on the rest of the state! Indiana has many great urban areas that are slowly recovering from blight.

I know this may seem like a silly question but... How is Indiana 6 million people? Considering Indy in itself is only 2 million metro. Which means it comprises of only 1/3 of the ENTIRE state! So what gives? :nuts:

I know this may seem like a silly question but... How is Indiana 6 million people? Considering Indy in itself is only 2 million metro. Which means it comprises of only 1/3 of the ENTIRE state! So what gives? :nuts:
These are metropolitan area populations in Indiana (rounded to the closest 50k to make the numbers easy):

700k Gary (technically Gary metro division, as Gary is in the Chicago metro)
500k Ft. Wayne
350k Evansville
300k South Bend
200k Lafayette
150k Terre Haute

Plus

250k Louisville suburbs in Indiana
----
2.45M

So, 6M total - 2M in Indy - 2.5M in other metros = about 1.5M in areas like Bloomington, the Cincinnati suburbs and other rural towns and villages.

I know this may seem like a silly question but... How is Indiana 6 million people? Considering Indy in itself is only 2 million metro. Which means it comprises of only 1/3 of the ENTIRE state! So what gives? :nuts:

Are you surprised that it isn't more than 6 million?

Are you surprised that it isn't more than 6 million?

six million seems like a decent number.

Anyone know much about Marion? It has been hit hard in recent years by factory closings, from what I've heard.

Business owner plans to upgrade downtown
Bedding store, coffee/bookshop among additions
BY MARIBETH HOLTZ
mholtz@marion.gannett.com

Half a block of downtown Marion will be revitalized as plans of bringing six more storefronts to the area are under way.

Sherry French, owner of Comforts of Home, 508-510 S. Washington St., presented her plan for a building at 124 E. Fifth St., just west of Adams Street and east of the former Priscilla and Perry's building.

French and her husband, Jerry, own the property. They plan on calling the series of stores Hometown.

French said first, they hope to open a store called "Seasons," which would contain seasonal decorations that could fill the void of Hobby Lobby's closure.

That store could open in the spring, she said. The second store is likely to be a linen and bedding shop.

Other stores to follow are a coffee/bookshop, a framing and art store and a furniture store. The final storefront will still be renovated, though French is not sure what it could be used for yet. It might be used to expand the coffee shop if it's successful.

French's son, Adam Yeakle, will act as project manager. Attorney Phil Stephenson said the family plans on putting $200,000 into the buildings for renovations. The stores would also employ 15 full- and part-time employees, he said, which is in addition to the 10 that Comforts of Home already employs.

French said she's not sure when all of the stores would open, but plans on slowly adding them as the market picks up.

The Marion City Council was enthusiastic about the announcement. They unanimously passed an ordinance declaring the property an economic development target area. They also passed the first reading of a resolution that could bring a 10-year tax abatement to the building.

Councilman Steve Wright said the building's current taxes would still be collected, but further taxes for the next 10 years that would come because of the renovations will be abated if the abatement is completely approved.

The resolution for an abatement will go through a second reading and public hearing at the next city council meeting and would have to pass a final reading.

Councilman Alan Miller said it sometimes seems like the Frenches are determined to renovate downtown Marion themselves.

"We admire you," he said.

Ann Secttor agreed.

"I thank you for doing this," she said. "I think it's fantastic. I admire you, and I hope you can build on this and make the future of this community so much better."

Council President Dave Homer said this investment in the community is critical and that he hopes it will spur more development in the future.

French said the plans for the stores have been in her mind for so long that she's excited this step is being taken care of and the council is pleased with it.

She said she has a vision that people from across the region will drive to Marion to shop.

"We feel like we know how to market downtown Marion locally and regionally," she said.

French will use a Shipshewana, Ind., model to the stores, she said, in that shopping will be an experience and people will have a place to relax when they visit the area.

"I think we have a good story to tell," she said. "I think it's a wonderful building."

Also at the meeting:

# The council approved a six-year tax abatement for the new Marion Pediatrics and Obstetrics Gynecology Inc. The facility will be at 1411-1419 W. Bella Drive, south of 35th Street and west of Western Avenue.

The 18,000-square-foot building will include offices and a common foyer area and will be designed with an Italian village theme.

# The council unanimously denied an ordinance that would have changed the zoning at 1430 Factory Ave. from residential to general business.

Property owner Sandra Prancik had said previously that she would like the property, which now holds a house, to be used for a restaurant that would create jobs in Marion.

The council two weeks ago passed a first reading, which sent the issue to the plan commission. Aletha Dunston, advisory plan director, said the plan commission gave an unfavorable recommendation on the change of zoning. She said the space is only 33 feet wide, which would not have very much use other than for a single-family house.

Based on the unfavorable recommendation from the commission, the council voted to deny the ordinance.

Staff writer AJ Colley contributed to this report.

Originally published October 3, 2007

10/3/2007 2:22:00 PM
Evansville's River House lands a Tin Fish

Evansville Courier & Press

By Carol Wersich, Evansville Courier & Press

Joseph Melluso has a reputation in the restaurant industry nationwide for succeeding in locations where other restaurants have failed.

He revealed plans Tuesday to bring a restaurant, The Tin Fish Downtown, to the top floor of the River House, at 20 Walnut St. The site overlooks Evansville's riverfront.

The 7,200-square-feet of restaurant space most recently was occupied by Tommie's Place. A number of other restaurants in the location over the past few years also failed.

Melluso and his business partner, Roberta Hepburn, will be the co-licensers of the new restaurant. They also have Tin Fish Newburgh and seven other Tin Fishes nationwide.

Melluso founded the Tin Fish chain in 1998 in San Diego, and recently moved the headquarters to Evansville.

He had planned to open a restaurant at 2231 W. Franklin St., but decided on the Downtown location instead, according to Jasone Parsons, who will own The Tin Fish Downtown.

Melluso said he first learned the River House space may become available about five months ago.

"I thought it was a world-class landmark location that needed to become a Tin Fish," he said.

The restaurant is expected to open Nov. 1, offering lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday, and brunch on Sunday.

Article © © 2007 The Evansville Courier Co.

Natural foods company to create 1,000 jobs
Wed. October 03 - 2007
IBJ Staff
A New York company specializing in natural and organic foods will build a national production and distribution site in Cambridge City in east-central Indiana.

Really Cool Foods will spend $100 million to build the location and hire 1,000 permanent employees over the scope of the project, according to the Indiana Economic Development Corp.

The location will be Really Cool Foods’ primary national manufacturing and distribution center to supply North American customers. The company’s products are distributed by Whole Foods and Kroger among other outlets.

An initial facility will have 77,000 square feet, with modules of 50,000 to 70,000 square feet to follow.

The company received $3.5 million in incentives, plus a donation from Wayne County of 50 acres. The project will locate in Indiana Gateway Industrial Park.

Nice to see rural Indiana get some "progressive" jobs like this! :cheers2:

Anyone know much about Marion? It has been hit hard in recent years by factory closings, from what I've heard.

Business owner plans to upgrade downtown
Bedding store, coffee/bookshop among additions
BY MARIBETH HOLTZ
mholtz@marion.gannett.com

Half a block of downtown Marion will be revitalized as plans of bringing six more storefronts to the area are under way.

Sherry French, owner of Comforts of Home, 508-510 S. Washington St., presented her plan for a building at 124 E. Fifth St., just west of Adams Street and east of the former Priscilla and Perry's building.

French and her husband, Jerry, own the property. They plan on calling the series of stores Hometown.

French said first, they hope to open a store called "Seasons," which would contain seasonal decorations that could fill the void of Hobby Lobby's closure.

That store could open in the spring, she said. The second store is likely to be a linen and bedding shop.

Other stores to follow are a coffee/bookshop, a framing and art store and a furniture store. The final storefront will still be renovated, though French is not sure what it could be used for yet. It might be used to expand the coffee shop if it's successful.

French's son, Adam Yeakle, will act as project manager. Attorney Phil Stephenson said the family plans on putting $200,000 into the buildings for renovations. The stores would also employ 15 full- and part-time employees, he said, which is in addition to the 10 that Comforts of Home already employs.

French said she's not sure when all of the stores would open, but plans on slowly adding them as the market picks up.

The Marion City Council was enthusiastic about the announcement. They unanimously passed an ordinance declaring the property an economic development target area. They also passed the first reading of a resolution that could bring a 10-year tax abatement to the building.

Councilman Steve Wright said the building's current taxes would still be collected, but further taxes for the next 10 years that would come because of the renovations will be abated if the abatement is completely approved.

The resolution for an abatement will go through a second reading and public hearing at the next city council meeting and would have to pass a final reading.

Councilman Alan Miller said it sometimes seems like the Frenches are determined to renovate downtown Marion themselves.

"We admire you," he said.

Ann Secttor agreed.

"I thank you for doing this," she said. "I think it's fantastic. I admire you, and I hope you can build on this and make the future of this community so much better."

Council President Dave Homer said this investment in the community is critical and that he hopes it will spur more development in the future.

French said the plans for the stores have been in her mind for so long that she's excited this step is being taken care of and the council is pleased with it.

She said she has a vision that people from across the region will drive to Marion to shop.

"We feel like we know how to market downtown Marion locally and regionally," she said.

French will use a Shipshewana, Ind., model to the stores, she said, in that shopping will be an experience and people will have a place to relax when they visit the area.

"I think we have a good story to tell," she said. "I think it's a wonderful building."

Also at the meeting:

# The council approved a six-year tax abatement for the new Marion Pediatrics and Obstetrics Gynecology Inc. The facility will be at 1411-1419 W. Bella Drive, south of 35th Street and west of Western Avenue.

The 18,000-square-foot building will include offices and a common foyer area and will be designed with an Italian village theme.

# The council unanimously denied an ordinance that would have changed the zoning at 1430 Factory Ave. from residential to general business.

Property owner Sandra Prancik had said previously that she would like the property, which now holds a house, to be used for a restaurant that would create jobs in Marion.

The council two weeks ago passed a first reading, which sent the issue to the plan commission. Aletha Dunston, advisory plan director, said the plan commission gave an unfavorable recommendation on the change of zoning. She said the space is only 33 feet wide, which would not have very much use other than for a single-family house.

Based on the unfavorable recommendation from the commission, the council voted to deny the ordinance.

Staff writer AJ Colley contributed to this report.

Originally published October 3, 2007

Perhaps this will give Marion a chance to reconstruct its economy around its downtown?

State approves funds for Fort Wayne development

The Associated Press

A $120 million development project in downtown Fort Wayne to be built around a new baseball stadium has cleared a major financing hurdle.

The Indiana Department of Local Government Finance approved a $45.9 million bond for the Harrison Square project Wednesday, city officials said.
The approval allows the city to back the bond with property taxes, which city officials say should help the city get a reduced interest rate on the debt.

Deputy Mayor Mark Becker said to win state approval, the city had to prove it would not use general property taxes on the project. Becker said the project instead would rely on revenue from other sources, including economic development income taxes.

The downtown development includes a new hotel with parking garage, a combined condominium/retail building and a $30 million city-owned baseball stadium.

The city plans for the Fort Wayne Wizards to play in the new downtown stadium on opening day of 2009.

The city already has taken out an $18 short-term loan so construction could begin before the bond issue is completed, though groundbreaking has yet to be scheduled.

I dont know if this would be considered development, but I was driving back home from LaFayette last night, and we decided to stop down in Crawfordsville to see some old friends.
I parked on Washington street, and met with a friend of mine. She quickly pointed out two restorations(or peotential ones). A brick structure by the alley(once connected to the recently burned out structures) had the aluminum storefront cladding removed to reveal a victorian storefront intact beyond belief, the upstairs seemed to be getting some work aswell. Just across the street the "Johny provolone pizza place" was having the sort of plaster stuff removed from the storefront, which was nicely revealing yet again, a victorian storefront, while upstairs the windows were being resized to the original, and work was being done inside. Crawfordsville is a pretty good model for a town with a population between 10'000 and 20'000.

Rezoning sought for 'green' homes in Columbus

(Columbus) The Republic
http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=135&ArticleID=37149

By Paul Minnis, The Republic

pminnis@therepublic.com

Energy-efficient townhouses would be built downtown under a plan developers believe will get people to "think green" in Columbus

Developer Michael Greven, a Columbus resident and environmental activist, said he and his partners with Casa Verde LLC want to build 45 homes on three acres at 11th and Jackson streets.

Fourteen would be built in the first of three phases, with construction to begin in late winter or early spring and for first-phase completion by the end of 2008.

A document states a 2,500-square-foot-or-more luxury flat would cost $455,000, while a 950-to 2,500-square-foot urban town home would cost $175,000, both base prices.

During a meeting Tuesday, Columbus City Council members will look at a request to rezone the property from a community business district to a central business district, a preliminary step needed to make the project a reality.

Jeff Bergman, executive director of Columbus Planning Department, said the suggested zoning would allow structures to be built taller and nearer the road. It also allows homes to be built on top of businesses, such as the loft apartments already downtown.

A final reading will be required, and project designs also must be approved.

Plan Commission members voted unanimously in a recent meeting to recommend to the city council that it grant the rezoning.

According to U.S. Green Building Council, building with "green" materials and designs leave a smaller environmental footprint, use dramatically less energy and water, produce less solid waste and cost less to run than others.

An estimated 2 percent in additional, up-front expense is recouped within two years due to efficiency.

Greven said the houses here would adhere to USGBC specifications and be certified under USGBC's Green Building Rating System.

When the first home is complete, area residents will see something that might surprise them, such as a green, vegetative roof that insulates naturally.

"A big part of this is education," Greven said. "With this, you help the environment, but you're also making a financial investment."

Greven and his partners chose to build in Columbus because it is close to Indianapolis, it is a great community and it is known nationally for its architecture.

The houses will be of different layouts. Greven said four or five will have street-front retail or office space on the ground floor with living quarters above.

"It makes for a livelier street," he said. "The goal in Columbus is to create a lively downtown.

"We don't want to lose sight of that."


Article © 2007 The Republic

Munster could be hub for South Shore expansion

(Munster) Times of Northwest Indiana
BY CAROLYN THOMPSON, Times of Northwest Indiana
cthompson@nwitimes.com

MUNSTER | Janine Rothschild believes the South Shore expansion could fast track her life.

Rothschild, co-president of the Jewish Foundation of Northwest Indiana, has family, doctors and business in Chicago.

"It would be good for people who are flying in to the airports to use the South Shore and we wouldn't have to fight the traffic to get them out here," she said. "We go there a lot to pick them up, and we have people who fly in all the time."

Rothschild, a 32-year Munster resident, joins countless others who embrace a proposed overall $1 billion rail plan that would extend the South Shore's routes from Chicago to Munster, plus a route from Munster to Valparaiso and Munster to Lowell.

But a key element to qualify the project for the $500 million in federal money is the local balance of $350 million, said John Parsons, director of marketing and planning for the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District.

"There is no definitive way to fund the $350 million local match," said Town Manager Tom DeGiulio. "It is likely going to come from a multi-county wheel tax, and it's got to be something that will generate a significant amount of dollars."

Councilman Dave Nellans said the rails could open up the job market for Munster residents and get people off the expressways.

Greg Bales, of Munster, said the commuter route extension is a positive project for the region.

"This is good for the environment, this is good for creating access to good jobs in Chicago, and this is good for promoting development around the new train lines and stations," said Bales, who is co-director of Citizens for the Extension of the South Shore Line.

Town Council President Rob Mangus said, "History has long shown that being close to a commuter line raises property values. The move is back to transit-oriented design and mixed used with both residential and commercial together."

The town has plans to do redevelopment and upgrade housing stock in neighborhoods, including an overpass/underpass construction over the existing railroad tracks at 45th and Calumet avenues, he said.

Dawn Radich-Kotz, of Munster, said she and friends don't find the South Shore expansion to be feasible. But as a taxpayer, she would financially back the project.

"We are all doing driving just because the South Shore in Hammond is unpredictable with unscheduled delays," said Radich-Kotz, who works in downtown Chicago. "It is faster for me to drive than take the train."


Article © Copyright © 1996-2007 nwitimes.com.

Developers unveil new condominiums in downtown Jeffersonville

(Jeffersonville) Evening News

By LARRY THOMAS, Evening News
Larry.Thomas@newsandtribune.com

Nearly 10 months after beginning work at the former River Falls Motel and Lounge, the Gregory Group unveiled The Oaks at Riverpointe on Thursday in downtown Jeffersonville.

"From what it was to what it is now it's a big, big improvement," said developer Tom English.

"What a wonderful project," said Mayor Rob Waiz. "You don't need before-and-after pictures, just go down (to City Hall) and check out the police reports."

The Gregory Group, which is based in Peewee Valley, Ky., transformed the old motel and lounge in to 16 one- to three-bedroom condominiums that range in price from $94,500 to $130,000. Three of the units have already sold, English said.

Waiz and all seven member of the City Council - Nathan Samuel has since replaced Phil McCauley on the panel - agreed to purchase the River Falls Motel and Lounge for $417,000 during a June 2005 bankruptcy auction. The purchase price was less than what the former owner owed in bankruptcy and the sale was finalized after several weeks of post-auction negotiations.

Several private-sector bidders were involved in the auction, but their bids were less than what the auctioneer had the authority to accept.

At the time the city bought the property, Waiz and City Council members admitted that the city would likely lose money on the property, but that they had deemed removing the motel and having control over the site's future more important than the financial loss.

The Gregory Group bought the old motel from the Redevelopment Commission for $275,000, then proceeded to strip the building to its studs before rebuilding it.

"A great transformation," said English.

Samuel, who also chairs the Redevelopment Commission, said: "We're very excited this project has finally come to fruition. We didn't want to rush anything and I think we selected one of the best projects we could."



Article © Copyright The Evening News/The Tribune. All rights reserved.

Software Developer Plans to Create High-Tech Jobs

"INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 28, 2007) – Executives from software developer LHP Inc. joined Governor Mitch Daniels here today to announce the company’s plans to grow its Columbus operations, creating more than 320 new high-tech jobs by 2011.

The international developer of software and hardware solutions for the military, automotive and medical industries will invest more than $1 million to expand its southeast Indiana headquarters and development center, making room for new research and development equipment and new computer hardware.

"LHP is increasing its commitment to Indiana by making a bigger investment in its headquarters and creating more new high-tech jobs for Hoosiers. The Columbus area continues to be a major contributor to economic development in Indiana," said Daniels.

The company, which currently employs 130 professionals in Columbus, will begin hiring information technology specialists, engineers and administrative personnel in 2008."
http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?id=27080&ts=true

Great news for Columbus. There is also rumors that a company will soon announce plans to build a new headquarters in downtown Columbus. Downtown Columbus is starting to see some significant development that includes: the redevelopment of the Commons Mall (Sears is staying), two new hotels going in (one is an Indigo-almost done) and plans for two new parking garages (one is under construction). Nice little building boom.

State: New Job Creation Record is Set

"INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 28, 2007) – More than 150 companies from across the state, the country and around the world committed to create more than 22,600 new jobs in the Hoosier state this year, breaking the state’s previous job commitment record set just a year ago.

Since Governor Mitch Daniels established the Indiana Economic Development Corporation early in 2005, the state has set and then exceeded all previous marks for competitive job creation and average wage associated with the new jobs in each year. In all, nearly 500 companies have committed to create more than 60,000 jobs in Indiana and to invest more than $14.57 billion in their Indiana operations since January 2005."
http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=27081

Cummins Will Add 500 Workers
InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report

"Columbus-based Cummins Engine Co. announced today it will add approximately 500 employees over the next two years. The company will lease a four-story, 100,000 square foot building, which will be part of the Commons Mall redevelopment project. Hiring is already underway."
http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?id=27465&ts=true

This is a huge piece of the new mixed use development going on in downtown Columbus. 2 new hotels, more retail, convention space, and two new parking garages. Not bad for a small city of 40,000.

Link with pic: http://www.therepublic.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=111&ArticleID=116644&TM=61304.54

Sunday, January 06, 2008

Columbus area makes room for hotel boom (http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=125&ArticleID=38552)

Sunday, January 06, 2008

By Paul Minnis

pminnis@therepublic.com

Hotels are popping up in and around Columbus like ocean waves stirred by a breeze of tourism.

Hotel Indigo is slated to open this month in downtown Columbus. Candlewood Suites, also downtown, will open in April 2009. Hilton Garden Inn near Edinburgh Premium Outlets will open in early spring.
Add that to a sizable expansion of Charwood Corporate Suites, a remodeling of the Holiday Inn and Conference Center and Wednesday's announcement of the new Columbus Residence Inn, and you wonder if the breeze is turning into a tornado.
A study released this week by Indiana
Office of Tourism Development, a division of Indiana government, shows a record 62.8 million travelers visited Indiana in 2006.
Lynn Lucas, executive director of Columbus Area Visitors Center, said the Columbus area is leading the way with tourist-boosting plans that already have affected local communities.......con't - click link above.

A lofty vision for downtown Marion (http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=125&ArticleID=38614)

(Marion) Chronicle-Tribune

BY BRETT WALLACE, Chronicle-Tribune
bwallace@chronicle-tribune.com

Maple Homes LLC has purchased the vacant downtown Marion building formerly occupied by Crisis Pregnancy Center.

The sale was complete Dec. 28. Renovations are now under way to transform the property at 314 S. Washington St. into a multi-use building featuring residential, commercial and office space.

Shuang "Monica" Liang, owner of Maple Homes, said the building's first floor will be divided into office space and a storefront, where she hopes to attract a restaurant, coffee shop or other business.

The second and third floors of the 26,000-square-foot building will be transformed into customized luxury lofts.

Liang said she plans to build between four and seven lofts, including her personal residence, on the third floor of the building. Lofts will range in size from 1,500 to 4,000 square feet. Each loft will be totally customized to owner specifications, and costs will start at about $100 per square foot.

STORY CONTINUES - Click link above.

Evansville Couple may turn Hilliard building into commercial condos (http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=125&ArticleID=38627)

Evansville Courier & Press

By Carol Wersich, Evansville Courier & Press

Jim and LaQuinta Schum, an Evansville entrepreneurial couple, may bring a commerical office condominum complex to Downtown Evansville.

Last November, the Schums purchased the former Hilliard Lyons Building -- Evansville's first highrise building -- at Fourth and Main streets. Now, they are studying several options for making use of the old landmark structure, including turning it into commercial condos, Jim Schum said Thursday.

The building is now nearly empty.

If it became a commercial office condo, a business or service company, such as a law firm or pharmaceutical outfit, could purchase an entire floor or a smaller amount of space in the building for its use, explained Schum, who is 50 and an associate of Enova Premier, a Princeton supplier of tires and wheels for the automotive industry.

Commercial office condos and commercial industrial condos are currently growing in popularity in some larger cities in the nation.

Schum said: "We think the residential condo market Downtown is pretty much saturated. But, we think commercial condos might possibly go over well," he said.

Story continues (http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=125&ArticleID=38627).

Columbus commits to $6 million for Commons (http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=125&ArticleID=38744)

(Columbus) The Republic

By Chrissy Alspaugh, The Republic

calspaugh@therepublic.com

Columbus City Council informally committed Wednesday night to $6 million for reconstruction of The Commons.

The project, estimated to cost $18 million, will replace the public space at the front of the building on Washington Street between Third and Fourth streets. That building also contains the privately owned Commons Mall.

"This is our town square, and we need to be on board," said member Joe Richardson.

No vote was taken on the city's financial commitment, but all City Council members indicated their support.

Officials said that while the city has $12.74 million in bonding capacity, some should remain for emergencies.

Mayor Fred Armstrong said it is unclear how the city will fund the $6 million, but general obligation bonds could be used.

Story continues. (http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=125&ArticleID=38744)..

Business follows residents to downtown Evansville (http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=89&ArticleID=38396)

Evansville Courier & Press

By Dan Shaw, Evansville Courier & Press

About a dozen new store have opened their doors in downtown Evansville in the past three months, following a steady return of residents to the area.

One of them is the Tin Fish Downtown, a restaurant that began serving food out of the top floor of the River House at 20 Walnut Street on Nov. 1. Joseph Melluso, inventor of the Tin Fish franchise, said he and the owners had such a faith that the business would succeed that they obtained a 25-year lease on the property.

"Why sign a short-time lease and then renegotiate five years later when we have made an impact on the property and in the city?" Melluso said.

Mick Conati, vice president of downtown development with the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville, said he believes many businesses are moving to downtown because more and more people are living there. He attributes the increase in new residents to a loft incentive program, begun by Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel in June 2004.

In the program, builders got either grants or loans to help them construct condominiums and apartments in downtown Evansville.

"There is a lot of nice things about downtown," Conati said. "The daytime population is over 22,000 Monday through Friday. These businesses have a captive audience with about 200 loft units and condo units once all the construction is finished."

Conati said many cities across the United States are, like Evansville, trying to improve their downtowns.

"Cities are understanding the downtown is the heart of the community," he said. "A thriving downtown really represents a strong community."

While some businesses have recently been opened in the downtown, others are being expanded. Doug Rennie recently decided to buy the building next door to the catering business he owns at 100 S. E. Fourth St. and open a bakery there. Rennie said the business has already begun to make cookies and ship them.

Customers will eventually be able to walk in and buy various baked goods over the counter, Rennie said.

"I think we needed (the expansion) because our company has grown over the years," he said. "With us opening for retail, I see the influence of the great condos and new apartments downtown."

Other businesses that have come to downtown in recent months include:

• Subway, at the corner of Main and Third streets, the first national chain restaurant there.

• Piece of Cake, at 210 Main St. It sells specialty cakes.

• Earth's Comforts, at 14 N. W. Third St. It sells herbs, oils, teas, candles and other specialty items.

• Molly's on Main, at the corner of Second and Main streets. It sells children's and women's clothing, accessories, home decorations, local art and craft items.

• The Rug Merchant, corner of Fourth and Main streets. It sell antique oriental rugs.

• Burgdorf's Salon, at 209 Main St.

• V Bar, at 14 S. E. Third St. It is a barber shop.

• The Bower-Suhrheinrich Foundation Gallery, opened by the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana in Innovation Pointe, at 318 N. Main St.

In Bloomington, there are several projects either underway or planned.

First, a new 3-story apartment complex is U/C on Dunn Street next to a recently completed apartment building.

A 3-story luxury condo project is U/C on Kirkwood Avenue right next to the famous Nick's English Hut.

IU is undergoing a nice building boom at the moment as well:

A new, beautifully designed, parking garage has recently opened on Henderson Street between Third and Atwater.

A new building for the Hutton Honors College is U/C at the corner of 7th and Woodlawn.

A $52 million multi-disciplinary science building is U/C near 10th Street behind the Psychology Building.

The cyber security building (tornado proof!) is U/C at the site of the old University School to the east of SR 46.

The site of the new basketball practice facility has been fenced off just to the SE of Assembly Hall

The North Endzone project is proceeding at Memorial Stadium.

Also, IU recently announced plans to sell some of its property north of the Bloomington City Hall with the expectation that the land will see new development, perhaps as part of the city's technology park.

The first phase of the B-line trail is expected to start this year. It takes the route of an old CSX rail spur that cut just west of DT Bloomington.

Another positive economic story was in the 02/06/08 Indy Star talking about the likely expansion plans of the Honda plant in Greensburg (scheduled to begin manufacturing its first Hondas later this Summer). Besides building Civics there, it looks like they will be expanding and adding lines for the Honda Fit and the Honda Accord by 2010. The article mentioned that several communities in eastern Indiana have been contacted by supplier firms, asking about land - indicating they are looking for locations to build new plants. Besides the additional employees at the Honda plant coming in with the likely expansion, there will also be more employees hired for the new companies locating here to serve as suppliers to Honda.

Evansville mayor weighs stadium options (http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=125&ArticleID=39003)


Friday, January 25, 2008

By Jimmy Nesbitt, Evansville Courier & Press

Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel said that either a renovation of Roberts Stadium or construction of an arena is possible based on cost and revenue estimates released at Wednesday's stadium advisory board meeting.

"In reality, we can do any of these options," Weinzapfel said Thursday.

Tom Chema of The Gateway Group presented four options to a Roberts Stadium Advisory Board on Wednesday evening: One for a renovation of the stadium and three for a new stadium.

They vary in cost from $40.4 million for a modest renovation to $166.9 million for a new 14,000-seat arena.

Chema said a new stadium Downtown could generate the most revenue, potentially up to $111.25 million, compared to $35.75 million for a renovation or a new facility built on the Roberts Stadium property.

Building Downtown would make the city eligible for federal transportation, Tax Increment Financing, New Market Tax Credit, and Food and Beverage tax funds, Chema said.

Weinzapfel said city officials are trying to determine whether the Roberts Stadium property is located in a low income census track, which would make new development there also eligible for a New Market Tax Credit.

The city could still push for a countywide property tax increase to pay for a new stadium if the public supported it, Weinzapfel said.

"Now it seems to me that's what we want to avoid," he said. "We want to look at existing revenue streams and look at financing the project."

The final Roberts Stadium Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for March 5. A public hearing in which citizens can comment on the future of the stadium will be held in April.

Weinzapfel said Chema will likely make a recommendation to the advisory board later that month. The city will then review the recommendation and - if a decision to renovate or build new is made - engage local corporations for interest in naming rights.

Chema estimated that naming rights for a new stadium could fetch up to $14 million if the stadium is built Downtown.

Advisory board President Wayne Henning called Wednesday's presentation "an eye opener."

Henning said he wasn't aware of all the funding options for a new stadium such as a New Market Tax Credit.

"Basically, it takes that big burden off the taxpayer's back when you build a new one Downtown versus anything else," Henning said.

Board member Steve Bagbey, a former Democratic City Councilman, has said that the city should build a new arena or get out of the business.

Board member Harold Calloway agrees that the city should build a new arena, preferably Downtown. Calloway said he believes a new arena would trigger further development and create a sense of pride "that you really can't put your hands on."

But if a new arena is built, Calloway said, "What are we going to do with Roberts Stadium?"

Kelley Coures, who attended the meeting, supports a renovation of the stadium but not a new arena.

A Republican activist, Coures said he had several issues with Chema's presentation, such as the plan and proposed profit from parking, the figures used for revenue sources and the lack of a plan for Roberts Stadium if a new arena is constructed, "which would have to be considered in building a new arena."

Coures said he was disappointed in the lack of questions from the board. Previous meetings have typically taken up the entire two hours allotted for them. After roughly one hour and 40 minutes and seeing no more questions from the board, Henning chose to open the floor to the public for comment, breaking away from the format of previous meetings.

Several board members, including Andy Goebel, say public interest for a new stadium is increasing.

"That was before (Wednesday) evening when we had those numbers," Goebel said. "It's a more compelling story after last evening."



Downtown Evansville arena less taxing? (http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=125&ArticleID=39003)

Evansville Courier & Press

By Jimmy Nesbitt, Evansville Courier & Press

Of the four options under consideration for upgrading or replacing Evansville's aging Roberts Stadium - refurbishing the present building, building an arena at the current site or building a 10,000- or 14,000-seat venue Downtown - all but one likely would require a property tax increase.

That option is construction of the 10,000-seat facility Downtown. Because of the combination of tax credits that might be available for Downtown construction and revenue that could be generated from things such as naming opportunities, constructing it might be accomplished without a tax hike, Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel said earlier this week.

The price tags discussed for the three new stadium options have been $86 million for a 10,000-seat facility at the current site; $93 million for a 10,000-seat arena at another location; and a $166.9 million, 14,000-seat arena also at another location.

Weinzapfel said earlier this week that those options, including a renovation of Roberts Stadium, estimated to cost between $40.4 million and $91.9 million, are all possible if local residents are willing to accept a property tax increase. Preliminary numbers indicate a renovation of Roberts Stadium, building a stadium on the current site or building a 14,000-seat stadium Downtown all might require a property tax hike.

But an arena to replace Roberts Stadium would cost more than any of the comparable arenas used in a marketing company's analysis. Convention Sports & Leisure studied nine arenas built since 2000 in U.S. cities ranging in population from 36,122 to 285,267.

The most costly arena in that group was the 11,000-seat Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H. Opening in 2001, it cost $66.1 million. The average cost of all nine arenas is $42.9 million.

"The longer you wait to do a project increases the cost," said board member Steve Bagbey, a former city councilman who would like to see a stadium built Downtown. "I'm not too alarmed by what I heard" at Wednesday's meeting.

Joe Kiefer, a former city councilman and the director of sales and leasing for Regency Properties who also serves on the board, said he's personally seen construction costs increase in recent years.

Board member Harold Calloway has said he supports a stadium Downtown. Fellow board member Andy Goebel said if he had to make a decision after Wednesday's meeting, he would also choose Downtown for a stadium.

Tom Chema of Gateway Consultants Inc. said a stadium Downtown could generate the most revenue, potentially up to $111.25 million, compared to $35.75 million for a renovation or a facility built on the Roberts Stadium property. Building Downtown would make the city eligible for federal transportation, Tax Increment Financing, New Market Tax Credit and Food and Beverage tax funds.

2/9/2008 8:13:00 AM
Your room is ready in downtown Columbus (http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=125&ArticleID=39276)

(Columbus) The Republic

By Brittany Hart, The Republic

bhart@therepublic.com

Hotel Indigo is open with a boldly modern, open-concept theme that features midcentury modern furniture and contemporary art.
A grand opening for the downtown hotel at 400 Brown St. is set for March or April, but the first guests were greeted Tuesday.

From hotel developer Tim Dora of Carmel, the building is the first official Hotel Indigo built from the ground up for the Dora Hotel Co. and InterContinental Hotels Group.

The project began construction in August with Dimensions Architect Firm of Kokomo.

"(Hotel Indigos) have generally been in bigger cities. This is the first to be built in a smaller town," said Cindy Waddle, hotel manager.

Others reside in large cities including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and Dallas.

The Vision 20/20 plan for downtown rejuvenation heavily influenced the hotel company's decision to build here, Waddle said.

About 60 to 70 more Hotel Indigos are in the pipeline for smaller towns, she added.

Tom Vujovich, president of Columbus Redevelopment Commission, is excited about the hotel's opening.

"It's a welcome addition to downtown," he said. "The impact is already visible because of the momentum it created to help get the other (Vision 20/20) projects going."

Vujovich believes the recent announcement of 500 Cummins jobs further indicates the hotel's positive impact on downtown Columbus.

Modern flare

Midcentury modern furniture sits on maple wooden floors in the open-concept lobby of the hotel.

Splashes of red and teal cover sections of wall by the café and front desk.

Suspended modern lamps and recessed lighting give dimension over contemporary framed artwork and sculpture.

"We also have (womb) chairs by (Eero) Saarinen," Waddle said. "I'm so happy with all the accents. (They are) very Columbus ... unexpected and unforgettable."

Hotel Indigo's trademarks are present throughout the structure. Leonardo da Vinci script wraps around pillars in the lobby and Fibonacci numbers are displayed by art pieces and furniture groupings of two and three.

Another trademark, the use of Japanese poetry, is represented with haikus throughout the lobby and guest rooms.

Board games and books for adults and children make for a family-friendly atmosphere, Waddle said.

"We want people to be in the public space and really enjoy themselves," she said.

Large windows on the vaulted ceilings allow natural light to brighten the lobby and café.

A variety of seating, including stools and couches, furnish the café, along with art deco accents and a 52-inch flat screen television.

"The menu reflects the whimsical atmosphere," said Dianna Stoffer, food and beverage manager.

The café offers breakfast, lunch and dinner options from steak entrees to light salads, paninis and grab-and-go breakfast sandwiches.

"We have added healthier items based on guest feedback," Stoffer said.

The café also carries Starbucks products.

Guests can dine in the patio seating area in the spring, summer and fall.

"We will possibly have some music artists play out there during the warmer months," Waddle said.

A wall of the café designated for local art will feature pieces from area artists in 6-to 8-week stints and coordinate with downtown's weekly art walks from March to October.

Standard rooms to king suites feature modern furniture and lamps in solid red, lime green and teal, or black and white geometric patterns.

Rooms also include dark wood floors and 32-inch flat screen televisions. Wireless connection is available in each room.

A tranquil CD developed by the hotel company is available for background music in each room.

"We want to make it relaxing and peaceful, to get away from the rush of the corporate world," Waddle said.

A black and white mural covers one wall of each room, and an angled red wall divides the entry way from the bedroom and sitting area.

The bathroom includes a shower with spa products and a teak spa bench.

"It gives it a sauna feel," Waddle said.

Nine rooms have balconies.

For exercising and taking a dip, a fitness room, is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., and a pool and hot tub reside across the hall.

A business center in the lobby provides guests with office and mailing supplies and two computers with Internet access and word processing programs.

Two board rooms can be rented for meetings. They are named for the first two Columbus hotels, St. Dennis ($150 rental) and Belvedere ($300).

Two 55-foot murals at the Brown and Lindsey street entrances display outdoor scenes from photos taken by Paul Miller and Todd Maze, both of Columbus. Two smaller exterior murals also decorate the front of the building.

The exterior and guest room murals will change every four years, Waddle said.

Many of the hotel's other accents, including small murals and photos wallpapering the front desk and café counter, will be changed seasonally.

Finishing touches are still being made such as illuminating the arched canopy that welcomes guests at the hotel's main entrance. More furniture also will arrive, including a large meeting table for the café.

Elaine Seitz and her son, Derek Gumm, have kept a close eye on the hotel's construction for more than a year.

They toured the building and enjoyed a meal in the café Thursday.

"It's just beautiful," Seitz said. "We looked at a room and decided to rent one for next weekend."



Welcome to 'new' downtown Columbus (http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=125&ArticleID=39145)

(Columbus) The Republic
A rebuilt Commons is the center of developments envisioned for downtown Columbus. Artist's rendering

By Paul Minnis, The Republic

pminnis@therepublic.com

If downtown Columbus was a footprint, a worn-out old shoe is about to be replaced with a shiny new Oxford. The tread is being created bit by bit, with the first feature completed in the form of Hotel Indigo, scheduled to open soon along Brown Street.

There will be two new parking garages, a new Commons, an extended-stay hotel and an indoor sports complex, to name a few.

"It's been going way faster than we ever could have expected," said Columbus Redevelopment Commission President Tom Vujovich. He said the commission, which heads the Vision 20/20 plan for downtown redevelopment, was fortunate that it had partners who owned land and controlled significant financial resources.

Private land deals may have taken months to reach, delaying plans under the Vision 20/20 model.

Also, the Columbus government made the symbolic step of helping pay for a new parking garage off Jackson Street, bordered by Fourth and Fifth streets.

Potential investors saw the city's commitment and realized the changes they read about in the newspaper actually would happen.

Tim Dora's decision to build Candlewood Suites as part of a new Commons kick-started the entire building's construction, Vujovich said.

"Originally, we were looking at five to eight years out," he said. "Things snowballed from there."

Plans call for The Commons block to be demolished starting Feb. 15 and for new construction to begin with Candlewood a month later.

Ed Curtin, Redevelopment Commission's executive director, talked about the new developments:

# The parking garage along Jackson Street has been under construction and is expected to open in May.


It will have more than 400 spaces, of which up to 300 will be leased. The rest will be free to the public on an hourly basis.

# Rebuilding The Commons will begin in late summer and finish by the end of 2009. It will have a playground, larger performance space, street-front retail, a conference center and a Cummins office complex with 500 employees.


# Sears, SIHO and YES Cinema, which will remain open throughout Commons construction, will be split from the rest of The Commons when Jackson Street is extended from Third Street to Fourth Street.


The street extension should be finished by the end of this year.

# Candlewood Suites, which will make up The Commons' northwest side at Fourth and Jackson, will begin construction in mid-March and open a year later.


# Cummins' office complex, which will occupy The Commons' southwest corner, will start construction March 1 and open in February or March of 2009.


# A second parking garage, just west of the courthouse,
will be built to accommodate 500 Cummins employees.

It will be built starting in August and finished before the office complex opens across the street.

# An indoor sports complex is a strong possibility at Second and Lafayette streets, just east of the expanded Bartholomew County Jail.


A Chicago company would build the complex with its own funds. Under the ideal timeline, construction would begin in the spring and end about a year later.

# Discussions have continued about relocating Columbus Post Office and building housing and retail in its place off Jackson Street.


Plans have stalled because other downtown developments have taken priority.

Even if all details were in place today, building completion still would take at least two years.

"We'd still have to acquire the property," Curtin said. "It's a big job."

Non-20/20

Some development has nothing to do with the Redevelopment Commission and Vision 20/20.

Construction of a traffic loop at the Indianapolis Road interchange downtown should begin the first of spring and finish by November, City Engineer Steve Ruble said.

A part of Eighth Street that splits from Indianapolis Road and channels traffic southeast into downtown will be torn out, redirecting traffic to the roundabout.

The end of that section of Eight Street will clear the way for Mill Race Center, which will be built on the northeast edge of an expanded Mill Race Park.

Plans call for groundbreaking by year's end, with completion in 2010, said Bob Pitman, executive director of Senior Center Services of Bartholomew County.

Article © 2008 The Republic



Fund drive begins in Columbus for new Commons (http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=125&ArticleID=39144)

(Columbus) The Republic

By Harry McCawley, The Republic

harry@therepublic.com

A commitment of $9 million by the three largest foundations of Bartholomew County has launched a community fund drive to rebuild the public portion of The Commons.

Armed with an additional commitment of $6 million by Mayor Fred Armstrong and the Columbus City Council, organizers of the fund drive hope to raise $3 million from the public in a campaign led by Jim Henderson, a retired chairman of Cummins Inc. and community activist.

The $18 million project is one part of an ambitious plan for the downtown outlined by Vision 20/20, a group of community leaders intent on revitalizing the area.

"Through these foundation grants, every dollar given by an individual, business of organization will be worth $4," said Sherry Stark, president of the Heritage Fund, the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County.

The Heritage Fund, the Cummins Foundation and the Irwin-Sweeney-Miller Foundation each committed $3 million to the undertaking.

The Heritage Fund also has agreed to lead the community campaign, to be named "A Cause in Common."

Henderson, a former member of the Heritage Fund Board of Directors, noted the connection between plans for the new facility and its beginnings.

"The concept of the new Commons rose out of the original gift to the people of Columbus by Mr. and Mrs. J. Irwin Miller and Clementine Tangeman.

"The Commons stands as an outstanding example of the public-private partnership that has made this community so distinctive. Now we all have the opportunity to step up and help make the new Commons a reality," Henderson said.

"I look forward to helping the community meet the challenge set forth by Heritage Fund, Irwin-Sweeney-Miller Foundation, and The Cummins Foundation through their $3 million grants.

"I know I speak for all of us in thanking the City Council and the mayor for their leadership in this important community initiative. We also thank the 3,000 people who - took part in the decision to proceed with the new Commons."

The foundation gifts are among the largest provided in this community.

Stark said that the $3 million from the Heritage Fund represents the largest grant it has made in its 31-year history.

Assisting Henderson will be the Heritage Fund's Development Committee, chaired by Mickey Kim, which will lead the community campaign.

Organizers plan to conduct the campaign through the remainder of 2008. Donors can choose to space their gifts over a three years.

Contributions will be taxdeductible and can be made through the Heritage Fund. Gifts can be mailed to: A Cause in Common, The Heritage Fund, Box 1547, Columbus, IN 47202-1547.

Help sought

Organizers also are asking residents to volunteer to help in the campaign and to offer ideas. Anyone interested can call the Heritage Fund at 376-7772.

This is the latest in many instances in which the major community foundations have combined in support of a community project.

Lynne Maguire, chairwoman of the Irwin-Sweeney-Miller Foundation said, "The Irwin-Sweeney-Miller Foundation is pleased to be a part of such an exciting project for the downtown and our community."

"We are delighted about the opportunity to partner with Heritage Fund and The Cummins Foundation to offer a challenge to the community where every dollar contributed will result in $4 toward a newly renovated public Commons. It truly is a Common Cause."

Those thoughts were echoed by Tracy Souza, president of The Cummins Foundation.

"The Columbus community has an exciting opportunity to be part of bringing The Commons back to life as the cornerstone of a new downtown," she said.

"The Cummins Foundation, in partnership with the Irwin-Sweeney-Miller Foundation, Heritage Fund, and the City of Columbus, offers individuals and organizations the opportunity to make each contribution count ... four times. Working together we can create a common space downtown that will serve residents of this community for decades to come."

Speaking on behalf of the Heritage Fund, Chairman Jeff Brown said:

"Now it is time for us to step up and rebuild The Commons, which has touched the lives of so many people and was essentially a free gift to the community 35 years ago. And true to form, the community is continuing its record of extraordinary generosity from individuals and foundations alike.

"Heritage Fund is honored to be a part of this critical project, to build a new Commons and a vibrant downtown for future generations to enjoy."


Article © 2008 The Republic



Another downtown Columbus parking garage in works (http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=125&ArticleID=38920)

(Columbus) The Republic

By Harry McCawley, The Republic

harry@therepublic.com

Cummins Inc.'s selection of downtown Columbus as the site for an office complex to house 500 workers was contingent on a four-deck parking

garage to be funded by the state, city and a southeastern Indiana foundation. "Quite simply, we would not have chosen this location had the parking garage not been part of the deal," said Cummins Inc. President Joe Loughrey.

The 500-car facility will be in the parking lot directly west of the courthouse and bounded by Second, Third, Jackson and Brown streets. It will be across Third Street from the proposed site of the office building in what is now The Commons.

Construction soon

The garage will be the second to be built in the downtown area within the year. A garage at Fourth and Jackson streets, north of the Commons, is under construction and will be opened later in the year. City officials hope to begin construction on the second garage within months.

Columbus Mayor Fred Armstrong estimated the cost of the proposed garage at $8 million to $8.5 million.

Armstrong said that, pending City Council approval, the city would commit a maximum of $4 million to the project. The remainder would be provided by state grants and a donation from Lawrenceburg Regional Economic Development Fund.

The Lawrenceburg Fund was created and is maintained by revenue from Argosy Casino. In 2007, the fund provided $2 million to Columbus for infrastructure projects relating to the expansion of Cummins Inc.'s Plant 1. That project will increase the local work force by about 600.

Armstrong said city officials are studying a variety of funding mechanisms for its portion of the garage, including some form of bonding.

City bonding

Members of Columbus City Council informally have indicated they would approve a bond in the amount of $6 million for the renovation of the public portion of The Commons. The city has a bonding capacity of about $12.7 million, but Armstrong said it is possible that the city's Parks and Recreation Department - which has its own bonding capacity - could assume some of the Commons costs, especially that portion related to the public playground.

Help with maintenance

Cummins officials indicated the company would provide about $100,000 a year that could be applied to the garage's maintenance costs.

The structure would be owned and managed by Columbus Redevelopment Commission. Use of the garage will be limited to Cummins workers during work periods Monday through Friday, but it should be available to the public during after hours and on the weekends.

Redevelopment Commission President Tom Vujovich said that unlike the garage to the north of The Commons, the proposed facility would not have space for retail outlets.


Article © 2008 The Republic

Commercial, residential development planned in Vincennes (http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=74&ArticleID=39190)

Vincennes Sun-Commercial
GAYLE R. ROBBINS, Vincennes Sun-Commerical managing editor

Former residents Dexter and Patty McCormick have announced plans to add a multi-million dollar development along the northwest corner of Bierhaus Boulevard, a project that would include both retail shops and upscale condominiums.

"It will be called Cypress Pointe/Cypress Commons, and we hope to break ground this spring," Dexter McCormick said. "We're really excited about this project and this opportunity."

Mayor Al Baldwin was also excited about the project.

"I think it's a perfect project for that area," he said. "It's balanced development between residential and commercial, and it's being done by people with strong local ties to our community, and that's a real plus."

A formal unveiling will take place at an open house Wednesday at Franklin Heights Christian Church, 1509 Franklin Drive.

McCormick, CEO of InSource Inc., an Indianapolis insurance company, said ever since he and Patty purchased the 35 or so acres a decade ago they had discussed just how to develop it.

"But, really, our thinking stopped at there not being a road connecting Ind. 61 and Hart Street Road," he said. "It just didn't make sense to do anything without that connector road, but now it's there and Kohl's is there on the south end, and we're ready to take the next step with our project."

Marc McNeece, president of the Knox County Chamber of Commerce, said the news proved the point made by supporters of the Bierhaus Boulevard project - that if you built it, development will come.

"This is what we said all along, that with the road we'd see new investment in our community," he said. "This is pretty exciting news."

Andy Myszak of Myszak & Partners Inc., 903 Broadway St., is designing the project.

"This will be the first planned urban development - PUD - in the city," he said. "There will be condominiums on both the north and south sides, with a retail/commercial district in the center, and there will be walking trails connecting the condominiums and the retail district."

The retail/commercial section is being patterned on Clay Terrace in Carmel, while the condominiums will range in size from 1,500 to 1,800 square feet and be similar to those at Franklin Commons on the city's east side.

Myszak said outdoor amenities will also be built into the development, including an open-air amphitheater, plus opportunities for bird watching.

Ray McCormick, a well-known local conservationist and Dexter's brother, plans to use the water run-off retention ponds as wetlands.

"That's another really unique aspect of this project," Myszak said. "It's a creative use of something that will be needed, and will really make pleasant places to go for walks."

Myszak said there are already local businesses which have shown an interest in the project, and expects interest to only grow after Wednesday's open house, which will run from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

The property is currently zoned for agricultural use, and the first thing the McCormicks have to do is get that changed. Myszak said it will be before the city council at the Feb. 11 meeting.

"That's the first step, to get a favorable recommendation from the council," he explained. "Then it will go to the Area Plan Commission and then back to the city council - if all goes well."

If that all can happen in the next month or so, McCormick said he is ready to break ground on the retail/commercial section in April or early May, and begin construction on the first phase of condominiums (the north side) in the fall.

In all 84 housing units will be included.

I wish more restorations would happen in downtown Vincennes, so much potential. :ohno:
Especially for Indiana's oldest city.

Downtown Columbus is really on the move. Very impressive.

I was in Marion a couple of weeks ago, we drove up I-69 and took SR18 into the city. I guess Marion is 4-5 miles off of the interstate and I have to say the thing that struck me was the density of forestation in this area. The city has definately seen better days but it has a good stock of older and larger buildings. I aslo thought it was a large downtown core for a city its size however the city once had around 45,000 ppl compared to @ 30,000 today. It has some nice well kept, wooded neighborhoods and I bet the prices are a steal. To me the area of town that I saw that was horrendous was the commecial strip along 37. It is pretty ugly I'd compare it to some of the retail areas along Madison and Keystone Ave. here in Indy. One of the areas I'd leave out of my Chamber of Commerce brochures. Overall, I'd say its not a bad town and actualy has a great deal of potential.

There will be a Hotel Indigo opening in DT Bloomington in 2009.

Recently, the Bloomington city planning commission approved three different 4-5 story apartment projects across the DT area.

DT Bloomington is really booming.

Hows that new Fort Wayne stadium comin along? I posted in the FW thread but no one has replied.Looks like a beautiful ball park from what i remember on concept drawings.

http://www.valpo.edu/news/index.php?action=display&newsid=3609

"The Christopher Center – which has had its state-of-the-art design discussed in stories in the Wall Street Journal, Chronicle of Higher Education and other publications since its opening in 2004 – has been honored by the American Institute of Architects California Council.

A jury of professional architects and architectural scholars from across the country reviewed more than 300 projects for this year’s AIACC Design Awards, and the Christopher Center was one of eight projects selected for a Merit Award for Architecture."

Hows that new Fort Wayne stadium comin along? I posted in the FW thread but no one has replied.Looks like a beautiful ball park from what i remember on concept drawings.

Quite a lot of construction moving along on the ballpark. I haven't seen much action on the hotel, parking garage or condos yet; the housing market bust has thrown a wrench in the works because prospective buyers aren't finding it easy to sell their existing homes, according to some accounts. The developers insist it's still going to happen.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081008/BUSINESS/810080322

"An Italian wind turbine manufacturer is expected to announce today that it will bring 450 jobs to the Muncie area.

Government officials confirmed that Brevini, an Italian company with U.S. headquarters near Chicago, is scheduled to make the announcement at a business park at I-69 and Ind. 332, where it will locate its new plant."

Thought this was an interesting fit for Muncie. Could manufacturing of green products be a good replacement fo lost manufacturing in Indiana? It seems to fit well in the Muncie community with Ball State's increasing focus on sustainability.

Muncie needs some kind of industry. Other than the university, it's a ghost town with very little job opportunities.

Architect eyes 3 sites for arena (http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/nov/19/architect-eyes-3-sites-for-arena/)
By Jimmy Nesbitt, Courier-Press, November 19, 2008

The thought of a huge arena occupying the lot where Erin O'Daniel's family has sold cars since 1934 puts the Evansville businessman at a difficult crossroads.

O'Daniel, the general manager of D-Patrick Ford, has strong personal ties to the 500 Walnut St. property. His grandfather, Joe O'Daniel, bought the lot and helped build a successful business there, one that Erin O'Daniel said still is going strong today, tough economy and all.

But with an architectural firm eyeing the property as a potential spot for a Downtown arena, O'Daniel said he also feels the need "to be a good corporate citizen."

Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel said Wednesday that HOK is "keying on" three sites — one that would include the D-Patrick Ford parking lot and possibly the Executive Inn, the Civic Center parking lot and a site around the Old Greyhound Bus station on Sycamore Street.

HOK is one of three companies the city hired to end the arena debate. Weinzapfel said the companies will give a presentation to the Roberts Stadium Advisory Board in a public meeting in two to three weeks.

Soon after that, Weinzapfel and other city leaders are expected to make a decision on whether to replace the aging Roberts Stadium with a Downtown arena.

The sites were narrowed from a list of 11 locations suggested by Gateway Consultants, one of the original consultants in the arena debate.

"Those are the ones that made the most sense from the perspective of community development, traffic flow" and developable space, Weinzapfel said.

O'Daniel said he has not been contacted by HOK or the city about selling his property. But if an offer comes, he'll listen.

"We always want to be supportive of the city," he said.

Here's a breakdown of the sites, starting with the D-Patrick Ford parking lot:

n This site involves two possibilities. The first is a combination of Executive Inn and D-Patrick Ford. The site is bordered by Locust Street, King Boulevard, Walnut Street and Fifth Street. The 4.6-acre site is assessed at $5.3 million. That figure doesn't include the cost of demolishing the Executive Inn, which would need to be cleared to make room for an arena.

"A significant advantage of this site is the fact that it already has a bridge system in place from a garage and into the convention center," according to Gateway's site analysis. "Of particular importance is the bridge into the convention center. Connecting the two facilities would allow for a cross marketing of convention and conference space with arena-based activity."

The second possibility is the 6.9-acre D-Patrick parking lot, bordered by Walnut Street, King Boulevard, Chestnut Street and Fourth Street. This site has an assessed value of $3.8 million.

n The Civic Center parking lot is an attractive site because the space already is owned by the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Building Authority. With more than 12 acres of space, there's also plenty of room for a 10,000-seat arena, the size that Gateway recommended.

The added space provides "the building operator with options for accommodating specific parking needs for the building," according to the analysis. "A new arena at this location could have a strong urban presence at the corner of Walnut and Ninth streets."

n Two possibilities have been proposed at the Old Greyhound Bus station. The first is 4.75 acres. It is bordered by Sycamore, Fourth, Vine and Second streets. The city owns 17 of the 30 parcels in the area, which have a combined assessed value of $1.9 million.

The Greyhound site is only a few blocks from Casino Aztar and is close to Main Street, which has seen a resurgence of residential growth over the last several years.

The second Greyhound site is 4.9 acres. It is bordered by Sycamore, Third, Court and Second streets. This site has 30 separate parcels and, like the first one, the city owns 17 of them. The total assessed value is $2.8 million.

"The Greyhound site, in this version, is architecturally more interesting, because the current bus station could be configured into the arena as an iconic architectural feature," according to the analysis. The station could be converted into a ticket office, retail store, gift shop, dining area or serve as an "iconic entry" into the arena.

The cost of a 10,000-seat arena has been estimated at about $92 million. In addition to recommending a location, the consultants also will present a proposal of how to fund an arena.

A date has not been set for the Advisory Board meeting, but board President Wayne Henning said the consultants originally had a Dec. 15 deadline to present a report.

Henning said he's eager to finish the stadium debate.

"It is complicated," he said of the more than yearlong process of board meetings, 100-plus page reports and presentations. "It was complicated 55 years ago for H.O. Roberts, and it's complicated today."

Henry O. "Hank" Roberts was the mayor in 1951 who began pushing the idea of building an events facility in Evansville that would put the city at the forefront of college athletics and entertainment. And for a period of time, it certainly did.

But by Dec. 1, 1956, the day Roberts Stadium was dedicated, Roberts was no longer in office. He was defeated a year earlier in the Republican primary for mayor, a loss some attribute to the building that to this day bears his name.

Auctioneer to take bids on 1850s hotel (http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/dec/01/auctioneerto-take-bidson-1850s-hotel/)
Ex-Washington House sale set Dec. 30
By Carol Wersich, Courier-Press, December 1, 2008

Imagine a multistory hotel on the corner of Third and Main streets in Downtown Evansville that is within earshot of docked steamboats on the river, dropping off or picking up hotel guests.

A watch is kept for the steamboats at all hours, day and night.

Passengers arriving by the night train can procure supper at the Washington House.

Horse-drawn carriage service also is provided by the hotel.

Though this may read like a romantic movie script from yesteryear, the setting was real in Downtown Evansville in the 1850s. But now the old hotel building will be the object of an auction on Dec. 30.

The building, which was built in 1854, sat amid other buildings on what then was considered the town square, said Dennis Au, the city's preservation officer.

Evansville founder Hugh McGary platted the square just 40 years earlier in 1814.

Across the street, on the northwest corner of Third and Main, a courthouse also was constructed in 1854. Although the courthouse is long gone, the 1854 Washington House building still stands proudly today.

Many area residents best remember it for housing the old Farmer's Daughter restaurant and WROZ radio studios in former years. Evansville businessman Andy Guagenti operated his restaurant there from 1962 to 1982.

According to Au, the building is the oldest existing commercial building in the general Downtown area.

On Dec. 30, the property will be auctioned by Curran Miller Auction/Realty Inc. at the request of owner Matt Johnson of Johnson Properties LLC.

The 24,000-square-foot building has four loft apartments, Turley Jeweler and Earth's Comforts, a shop that sells teas, candles and organic items.

Much of the building is vacant, but the Miller auction firm believes it is ripe for additional tenants as Downtown continues to be revitalized.

"The area will see the emergence of new restaurants, businesses, more loft and condominium development and a proposed new Downtown multi-use stadium," according to the Miller firm.

Au noted the fourth floor of the old hotel building still includes an orchestra-pitlike area and a balcony.

"It's turn-of-the-century looking," he said.

The building was renovated extensively in recent years, and now looks much like it did originally.

The late federal-styled Washington House, designed by Evansville architect Levi Clarke, was considered the largest and "most pleasantly situated" by 1858 of the city's 11 hotels, according to Au's records. Washington House closed in 1867.

Tobacco merchant J.G. Sauer then opened a cigar store on the main floor and in the cellar.

Part of the building was rented to Thomas and George Sanders as a "sales room" for their "Crockery and Queensware."

In 1870, H.R. Schroeder's cigar and tobacco store replaced Sauer's business.

That same year, the Evansville Commercial College occupied the building's second and third floors. The college remained in the building for at least 25 years.

Over the years, other tenants have included shoe and hat retailers.

"Sheridan's downtown soon will undergo a slight face-lift it's been seeking for some time.

A state grant of $12,500, announced last month, will let the town restore a mural, improve facades and create a pocket park for pedestrians. The town is one of nine in the state to be approved for funds from the state's Downtown Enhancement Grant program. The Office of Community and Rural Affairs administers the program."

http://www.indystar.com/article/20081209/LOCAL01/812090368/1304/LOCAL

It seems to me that supercharging this grant program would be a start in helping communities outside the reach of Indianapolis's economic influence to recover by becoming more desirable places to live and work. I know it is a pipe dream, but it would be nice.

Arena debate nearing end (http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/dec/06/arena-debate-nearing-end-stadium-advisory-board/)
Stadium advisory board to present cost, site and payment study
By Jimmy Nesbitt, Courier Press, December 6, 2008

A new arena in Evansville could be successful if it's part of a larger plan to revitalize Downtown, according to a sports marketing professor at the University of Indianapolis.

"It's a tremendous opportunity," said Larry DeGaris, who has more than 10 years of experience consulting sports sponsors and professional teams and leagues.

"An arena encourages development, but it can't develop anything. ... (It) provides an anchor. If you're looking at a more comprehensive Downtown development, it's one piece.

"It needs to be one piece in a more comprehensive plan. If it's a stand-alone, and that's all you do, then it probably won't be economically successful."

Whether a new arena will spur additional economic development has been a topic of discussion in the debate over the future of Roberts Stadium. That debate is nearing an end. On Tuesday, the stadium advisory board will hear a presentation from consultants who performed a feasibility study for a Downtown arena. Their presentation is expected to include the cost of an arena, a plan to pay for it and a site, said Audra Levy, spokeswoman for Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel.

The advisory board will meet Dec. 16 to make a recommendation to the city based on the results of the feasibility study. At that point, it will be up to Weinzapfel and the City Council to make a decision whether to continue what would be one of the largest capital projects in Evansville's history.

Arenas are both public works projects and economic development investments, DeGaris said. "They cross boundaries," he said. "And I think that's why they stir up emotions in both directions. ..."

The arena debate hasn't produced any strong organized opposition. Perhaps the most notable effort was created by Andrew Smith, a Republican who ran for an at-large City Council seat in 2007. Smith centered his campaign around a "Sewers Before Stadium" slogan. Less than a year removed from severe flooding on the Southeast Side that destroyed or heavily damaged 60 homes, the slogan gained momentum in those areas, and "Sewers Before Stadium" yard signs became popular fixtures on streets such as Washington and Weinbach avenues.

After Smith lost, the slogan slowly faded away. Arena skeptics recently have questioned the timing of the project, given the financial crisis and the ability to float municipal bonds. Weinzapfel has said he is optimistic the market will look different next year, when — if the project moves forward — the city would issue bonds. And, given the state of the automobile industry, housing and banking sectors, municipal bonds may be one of the safest investments, DeGaris said.

Financial impact

DeGaris analyzed an economic feasibility study that estimated the financial impact a new arena would have on Evansville. The study, conducted by Convention Sports & Leisure, a Wayzata, Minn., sports consulting company, was presented to the advisory board Aug. 19. It concluded that a new arena would increase direct spending by $5.6 million, with the new arena creating an additional 230 jobs with an additional $3 million in personal earnings. Those numbers hinge on Evansville attracting a minor league hockey team, one that would have 38 home dates with an average attendance of 3,500 per game. The president of the International Hockey League, Paul Pickard, has said he would strongly consider starting a franchise in Evansville if the city had an arena with an ice floor.

The financial projections are "absolutely" realistic, DeGaris said. Finding quality ownership would be critical to a franchise's long-term success, he said. "There are some minor league ice hockey teams in markets similar to Evansville that do tremendously well," DeGaris said. "And there are others that are in better markets with better facilities that struggle. It comes down to the organization."

One area that wasn't well-addressed in the study was the potential to generate revenue from out-of-town corporations. Arena management probably could count on local corporate sponsors such as Toyota, American General Finance and Mead Johnson to buy advertising. But drawing sponsorship from companies in cities such as Louisville, Ky., will be key to long-term success, DeGaris said. "That's outside money," he said.

Regional attraction

The arena also will need to become a regional attraction, he said. Because ticket prices for comparable events likely will be cheaper here than in larger cities, Evansville will have an opportunity to draw from cities such as St. Louis, Chicago and Nashville, DeGaris said.

Competition for outside spending will be intense, so to be competitive, "you need a state-of-the-art facility that's going rate," DeGaris said.

The cost of a 10,000-seat arena has been estimated at around $92 million. Gateway, one the consulting firms the city hired, suggested a 10,000-seat arena would be ideal for Evansville.

The advisory board has not settled on a specific number of seats, choosing instead a range between 9,000 and 11,000. Some board members have said they would like the arena to have more than 11,000 seats. The larger the arena, the more expensive the project will be. Arenas also tend to incur cost overruns, and DeGaris said to expect the final price tag to be higher than initial estimates.

That's not to say the investment isn't worthwhile, he said. Evansville is a well-positioned city in the Midwest with a large stock of healthy corporations, he said. Gov. Mitch Daniels has said that one of his priorities is stopping the state's brain drain — the loss of the brightest college graduates who relocate out of state. An arena, packaged with the lure of good-paying jobs, could help reverse that, DeGaris said.

Building a new arena certainly is a risk, but it's one that could make Evansville a destination city rather than an aging part of the Rust Belt, DeGaris said.

"Arenas fail because they're not leveraged," he said. "Arenas fail when people get the idea that once it's built, the job is done."

Panel urges Evansville to build 11,000-seat downtown arena (http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20081218/NEWS02/812180419/1025/NEWS02)
Courier Journal, December 18, 2008

EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- An advisory board has recommended construction of an 11,000-seat downtown arena to replace the city's 52-year-old Roberts Stadium.

Work on the project, estimated to cost between $117 million and $127 million, could begin by next summer and be completed by the summer of 2011, said Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel, who said it still needs final approval from the City Council.

With backing from business and labor leaders, the Roberts Stadium Advisory Board endorsed the plan Tuesday.

"It's been a steady process, step by step, from looking at Roberts Stadium to getting where we are tonight," Ed Hafer, president of the Evansville Regional Business Committee, told advisory board members at their meeting. "It's been a public process and I think that's very important. You've listened to people and you've incorporated their ideas."

The new arena would be on the site of a Ford auto dealership that the city wants to buy. According to the Vanderburgh County assessor's office, the property is valued at $2.7 million.

The city began considering a new arena after former City Council member Steve Bagbey, an advisory board member, questioned spending an estimated $32 million to renovate Roberts Stadium, the home of the University of Evansville basketball teams.

Bagbey said a new stadium would also benefit surrounding counties.

The funding plan would use tax money and casino revenue and "is really very simple, conservative and doable," Hafer said.

Bob Swintz, a financial consultant, said there were "no plans in place" to use property taxes to pay for the arena. If one of the revenue sources comes up short, other sources such as the innkeepers tax could be tapped to pay the debt.

Swintz has said that 75 percent of the project cost will be funded through long-term debt and 25 percent will be funded through cash on hand.

"For every $1 of debt service, we've identified $1.50 of revenue," Swintz said.

The county's food and beverage tax is being used to pay off bonds that were sold to renovate the city's convention center.

Those bonds expire in 2018, and state legislators would have to approve using the food and beverage tax for an arena. Weinzapfel said he has talked to state officials about making that change.

the city council approved the new arena for evansville... below are the renderings provided to the city by hok venue. if you want the entire proposal you can download it too.

http://www.evansvillegov.org/download/Events%20Center.pdf
(41.4 mb pdf document)

http://media.courierpress.com/media/img/photos/2008/12/10/11210_met_stadium1.jpg

http://media.courierpress.com/media/img/photos/2008/12/10/1210_met_stadium2.jpg

KICK ASS!!!:banana:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3076/3150592470_2e4fd21564_b.jpg
PHILIPPINES

The Damm Theatre re-opened recently in my home town of Osgood, IN (population 2,000). During my last visit to visit family, i was able to get a tour and it is truly a first-class theatre.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/roadtripmemories/2995320057/

http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=135&ArticleID=45120

Damm Theatre makes grand debut again in Ripley County

Osgood Journal
Wanda English Burnett, Osgood Journal Editor

Lights. Camera. Action. The stage is set at the Damm Theatre in Osgood for some spectacular entertainment the whole family can enjoy.

According to Steve Gloyd, executive director of the Gilmore and Golda Reynolds Foundation, owner of the theatre, the future holds many options for the theatre.

An open house held Sunday, December 28 was the kick off to the completely renovated building. A free movie, The Polar Express, was shown Monday evening and the regular movie schedule begins this Friday, January 2, 3, and 4 with Four Christmases (rated PG13) showing. Admission prices will be $4.00 for children 12 and under and seniors 60 and older. Others will be charged $6.00.

Along with showing movies, there are plans to bring in a variety of live stage entertainment including comedy, musicals, a magician and more. The Jac-Cen-Del Drama Club is already planning a live production in the spring.

"We'll try everything once and repeat what works," Gloyd told the Osgood Journal. Those in charge of the foundation say they'll find out what the community wants and go with it just as they did in restoring the theatre. When they polled the community a few years ago, the highest percentage of people responding said they would like to see the theatre restored.

A steady flow of people came through the doors of the Damm Theatre on Sunday for the first glimpse of the newly renovated historic building. Shirley Dunbar, owner of the Card and Gift Gallery next door to the theatre was first through the doors with a beautiful floral arrangement to commemorate the occasion and welcome her new neighbor.

Some visitors were seeing the theatre for the first time ever, others were remembering the old one and marveling at the state-of-the-art completed project. "People started coming at 11:30 and it's been steady all day," noted Ann Black and Karen Black, who greeted guests at the front door.
"It's really something," Bob Damm said as he came through the front door into the spacious entry way on Sunday. He is the last of the Damm family to own the theatre that dates back to 1914 when his grandfather, Louis, built the first theatre in Osgood. "Grandma would love this," Bob's wife, Judy, shared of his mother, Viola Damm, who "kept the theatre going even when she wasn't making any money." She passed away in 1989 and the movies were truly silent.

"I'm glad to see the theatre be a cause to bring people into town," Bob told the Osgood Journal. Both things mean so much to him - the theatre and the town of Osgood. Then with a twinkle in his eye, proving he still has a sense of humor, he said, "I was going to restore this (theatre) myself, but I ran out of petty cash!" The Damms are grateful to the foundation for making the theatre a wonderful place for the community to enjoy.

The theatre was purchased from the Damm family for $60,000 in January of 2005. The project of restoration was awarded to a local contractor, the Poole Group of Dillsboro in December of 2006. By January of 2007 the initial work was begun to transform the facility from a non-usable one to the 9,469 square feet movie goers now see.

With none of the original theatre in salvageable condition, Gloyd said everything inside is new. The building was completely gutted and the massive undertaking begun. Almost two years later the final product was well worth the wait. Oh, there is one thing original in the building. A portion of an east brick wall on the upper level in an office remains in tact.

The décor is second to none with a visitor who has been involved in theatre in California and New York commenting on the exquisite beauty of the facility. She told one of the greeters it was actually nicer than some she had worked in.

The rich gold colors on the walls of the lobby are complimented with red trim and tin-stamped ceilings. The spacious entrance boasts concessions to the right and large restrooms to the left. Taking the left or right you will come into the grand theatre room which seats 400. The carpeted aisles and comfortable seats are surrounded by deep navy walls accented with red and gold.

There is seating on three levels, something different from the original building. Matter of fact, the second floor used to be a dance hall and place to roller skate. That level was opened and the roof raised, creating a lofty space.

The stage is complete with a backstage area designed for set building. There are two dressing rooms. The lighting boasts the latest technology with 86 stage lights and a moveable spotlight. The 24-speaker system has Dolby digital surround sound.

The projection/control room is the heartbeat of the facility. Housed there is the 35 millimeter projector and platter system. Spencer Huffmeyer, grandson of Doug Thayer, treasurer for the foundation, has been very involved with the theatre. He explained that the free movie, The Polar Express, came on five reels which were spliced together and put on the platter, which threaded through the projector. Spencer says he's hoping to be involved more with the live productions planned by Jac-Cen-Del, where he is a freshman.

The movie screen will electronically drop down when movies are played and will be rolled up for the live productions.


Article © Copyright 2008 Ripley Publishing Co.. Inc

the evansville courier reported that a mixed-use lifestyle center planned for evansville's east side is still a go... an extension of cross pointe boulevard has been completed and the developers plan to move forward as soon as the economic climate improves. the 228-acre development called 'the promenade' is bounded by interstate 164 and burkhardt road. it will be the first development of its kind in the city. the development will include:

- high end retail shops and restaurants
- major hotel and convention center
- entertainment venues
- a variety of residential units
- several parking garages


http://media.courierpress.com/media/img/photos/2008/02/16/20080216-225602-pic-258163178.jpg

http://media.courierpress.com/media/img/photos/2008/02/16/20080216-225602-pic-566049380.jpg

http://media.courierpress.com/media/img/photos/2008/02/16/20080216-225602-pic-683253427.jpg

Nice lifestyle Center!

It reminds me kind of like a smaller version of the Downtown Disney complex in Orlando. It does feel a little theme-parkish. Never-the-less, I hope it does well and is good for Evansville.

will be interesting to see this development as it moves forward. this is the first time the city will see a large scale development with a focus on architecture and landscaping. definitely a pleasant departure from standard malls and suburban developments!

http://www.ibj.com/html/detail_page_Full.asp?content=31359

Ball State University plans to drill 3,750 wells, each 400 feet deep, to tap the earth's nearly constant temperature for campus heating and cooling.

The $66 million geothermal conversion project will eliminate the university's coal-fired boilers, which currently produce 85,000 tons of carbon dioxide a year, said Tom Kinghorn, Ball State treasurer and vice president of business affairs.

He said the geothermal wells would also reduce operating costs, promote a cleaner environment and create an estimated 870 jobs.

The university plans to start drilling on May 9, one day after spring commencement.

The project was approved by the university's board of trustees on Friday. Ball State plans to ask the Indiana legislature for $40 million, which was originally approved to replace the boilers.

Kinghorn said he hopes the school can benefit from part of the proposed federal stimulus package intended to support renewable energy projects.

"We think we are positioned to take advantage of economic stimulus money," he said. If that happens, the project could be completed in five years. Without federal aid, completion could take 10 to 12 years."

Trustee Frank Hancock expects federal support for the project, because "we are going to be leaders in something recognized nationally."

"It's the right climate, the right time to do this," he said. "It's great to be seen as somebody leading [the way]."

The ground in central Indiana maintains a nearly constant temperature of about 55 degrees, which is warmer than the air above it in the winter and cooler than the air in summer.

Geothermal heat pumps take advantage of this resource to heat and cool buildings, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Ball State's geothermal system will include bore holes or well fields in open places like soccer fields, band practice fields and residence hall yards, three energy centers, water pipes and heat pump chillers.

Water will be circulated into the earth in a closed-loop piping system before being returned to the surface and distributed through the energy centers, which will act as central heat exchangers.


Good to see my alma mater leading the way in renewable energy!

http://www.carbonmotors.com/blog/19/10000-New-American-Jobs-Announced-in-the-State-of

I got an email from my mother today who lives in Connersville. Those of you familiar with the town know that the Visteon (previously Ford owned) plant closed there recently leaving them wondering what is next.

The article I was forwarded mentioned Connersville so, could be exciting.

Regardless, 10,000 jobs is huge should it come to pass

the university of southern indiana awarded contracts for the construction of the expanded university center and released the latest renderings. the central element of the project is a 97-foot tall conical tower. not sure what i think about the tower... it's designed by holzman moss in new york. anyone know their work or want to chime in on the design? anyway, here is the university release along with the renderings:

http://www.usi.edu/newsinfo/release/press_detail.asp?num=3032

http://media.courierpress.com/media/img/photos/2009/03/05/uc_aerial.jpg

http://media.courierpress.com/media/img/photos/2009/03/05/tower.jpg

:nuts:that tower looks....um..... unique.

Regarding the article someone posted earlier about a new arena for Evansville:


The arena also will need to become a regional attraction, he said. Because ticket prices for comparable events likely will be cheaper here than in larger cities, Evansville will have an opportunity to draw from cities such as St. Louis, Chicago and Nashville, DeGaris said.


I love the ambition and aspirations of small cities, but, can anyone please explain to me how a 10,000 seat arena (no matter how "new" it is) in Evansville is going to attract ANYONE from "St. Louis, Chicago, and Nashville?"

The article points to a minor league hockey team and maybe they have a convention or two in mind--but let's be realistic here.

I love the ambition and aspirations of small cities, but, can anyone please explain to me how a 10,000 seat arena (no matter how "new" it is) in Evansville is going to attract ANYONE from "St. Louis, Chicago, and Nashville?"

The article points to a minor league hockey team and maybe they have a convention or two in mind--but let's be realistic here.

agreed ttam... but that person was quoted as a 'sports marketing professor' at the university of indianapolis. as far as i know, he has no affiliation with the city or the new arena. the actual events center proposal stated that the primary and secondary markets are within 25 and 50 miles. it goes on to say there are no competing facilities for approximately 100 miles, so i really have no idea what he means about competing with larger cities.

Gov. vetoes bill intended to make buildings more energy-efficient

Indianapolis - Gov. Mitch Daniels has vetoed a bill aimed at cutting power usage by making Indiana's new commercial buildings more energy-efficient.

The bill would have required the state's fire prevention and building safety commission to adopt one of two energy conservation codes for new commercial buildings by July 2010.

Daniels says he vetoed the bill because the commission is already working to update the code.

But the leader of Indiana's largest environmental group says the law would have led to energy-efficient building codes being adopted faster than leaving the issue to the traditional rule-making process.

Hoosier Environmental Council executive director Jesse Kharbanda says Indiana is moving at a "glacial pace" to adopt a new building code to encourage businesses to install energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, windows and other systems.

For all his economic development savvy, Gov. Daniels shows close to zero concern, or awareness even, of environmental conservation. I'm only grateful that his proposal for a second beltway around Indianapolis appears dead in the water.

the second beltway would be great for my area which is in a southern johnson/brown county tourism community. Not only that, but so many of these communities south of Indy are almost completely cut off from Indy. this would be a direct connection. I am right in its path and would be all for it. The toll roads are what has kept our state out of the hole. I would love a fancy train that connects indy to greenwood, to franklin, to columbus, to nashville, to bloomington, to martinsville, to mooresville, and back to indy. That would be great for the environment, but would never make sense financially. The only thing that will work with the current population is a beltway. There just isnt enough money for transit/transportation of any kind (road or train) without federal assistance.
We can barely keep county roads and schools afloat.

You're a healthcare professional that can't spell sense correctly? Lord help us.

what is with the overall snideness of you people when someone disagrees with you? There are only a few people on here that can respectfully disagree with me. It's fine if you want Canadian healthcare. Look at the high court cases they have where people are suing to opt out of their government system because of poor care and/or no care at all as of yet. Signatures are like bumper stickers. If you dont agree, let them roll off your back. I am a healthcare professional because I enjoyed math and science and care about people, not because I care about spelling.

Other professional people on this forum make spelling mistakes and its no big deal because you agree with them. :soapbox:

That's funny you say that, since I never once mentioned nationalized health care being a good or a bad thing. Besides, I was always under the impression that you were some 12 year old kid. Sorry.

Guess you shouldnt judge.

what is with the overall snideness of you people when someone disagrees with you? There are only a few people on here that can respectfully disagree with me. It's fine if you want Canadian healthcare. Look at the high court cases they have where people are suing to opt out of their government system because of poor care and/or no care at all as of yet. Signatures are like bumper stickers. If you dont agree, let them roll off your back. I am a healthcare professional because I enjoyed math and science and care about people, not because I care about spelling.

Let's see, Canadians live longer and spend FAR less on healthcare than Americans, and this is a BAD system that should be avoided?:ohno:

But you know what, you are right. Let's keep the current system and keep those useless, blood sucking for profit health insurers around. Let's continue to have medical bills be the #1 cause of personal bankruptcy in the country. Let's continue to see our premiums skyrocket year after year. After all, we can't have the CEOs miss out on their million dollar bonuses can we?

Besides, I was always under the impression that you were some 12 year old kid. Sorry.

He/she has the emotional and mental development of one that's for sure.

He/she has the emotional and mental development of one that's for sure.

You are such a hypocrite. Yes, but the Canadian Healthcare system still sucks. People are rejected treatment, rejected doctors, pregnant women can get a doctor within 12 months....a little after the fact. The coverage sucks and the people are overtaxed for it

The United Kingdom is another example of failed healthcare. Certain cancer drugs for breast and skin cancers are rationed. The overwhelming majority of healthcare workers are against a nationalized system, but people like you (who are not experts) and politicians (who aren't experts) think they should make all of the decisions when it comes to healthcare. If you study to be a lawyer, stick to being a lawyer.......Luckily most Americans arent naive and are unhappy with all of this "change" and realize that "governtment option" means "healthcare ration." If it is such a good idea, then why do the president and members of congress say they wont cover their families with government coverage?

Health care is rationed just as much in the United States-only it is done by one's ability to pay, not by how sick you are or how urgent one's need for treatment is.

The tax burden is higher in Canada and the U.K., but health care costs are much lower, so people end up with more money in their pocket.

The NHS in the UK is immensely popular, and if any party advocated dismantling it, they would never get elected.

Thanks for all of the interesting news about development in Indiana. (or not) Anyone got any news that's on topic? Here's one: Do you think the Carbon Motors police car factory in Connorsville will happen? It would be nice to see 1500 good paying jobs go to that part of the state to go along with the 2500 or so jobs at Honda in Greensburg.

Thanks for all of the interesting news about development in Indiana. (or not) Anyone got any news that's on topic? Here's one: Do you think the Carbon Motors police car factory in Connorsville will happen? It would be nice to see 1500 good paying jobs go to that part of the state to go along with the 2500 or so jobs at Honda in Greensburg.

Something about the Carbon Motors promoter seems a little John DeLorean-ish.

Did anyone see this in the IBJ today? Apparently it also made USA Today. Mildly provocative.

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>

Bloomington looking at downtown chain store ban
Posted 9/29/2009 8:15 AM ET E-mail | Save | Print
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — A committee will research a proposal from Bloomington's mayor to ban new chain or "formula" businesses from parts of the city's downtown.

Mayor Mark Kruzan wants to limit such businesses from locating around the courthouse square and along Kirkwood Avenue near the Indiana University campus.

Kruzan told the 10 members of the Formula Business Ordinance Group on Monday that he hoped for a balanced proposal he could present to the city planning commission.

City planning director Tom Micuda said he would seek details on similar ordinances around the country and that the committee would likely meet again in a few months.

___

Did anyone see this in the IBJ today? Apparently it also made USA Today. Mildly provocative.

>
>

Bloomington looking at downtown chain store ban
Posted 9/29/2009 8:15 AM ET E-mail | Save | Print
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — A committee will research a proposal from Bloomington's mayor to ban new chain or "formula" businesses from parts of the city's downtown.

Mayor Mark Kruzan wants to limit such businesses from locating around the courthouse square and along Kirkwood Avenue near the Indiana University campus.

Kruzan told the 10 members of the Formula Business Ordinance Group on Monday that he hoped for a balanced proposal he could present to the city planning commission.

City planning director Tom Micuda said he would seek details on similar ordinances around the country and that the committee would likely meet again in a few months.

___

Interesting. I was in Bloomington yesterday and noticed that there has been some growth in the number of chain restaurants, but it still seems that there is a good mix. Most of the recent growth has been of the sort of Dunkin Donuts, Noodles Inc., Qdoba, and so on. On the other hand, longtime local favorite Buffalouies is now in the old Gables building, and most of the old classics, including Kilroy's, Nicks, Upstairs Pub, Uptown Cafe, Cafe Pizzeria, and the various smaller ethnic restaurants remain. Such a statute would be interesting in terms of its definitions. For instance, Kilroy's on Kirkwood is the original location and has been around for something like 35 years, but there also is Kilroy's Sports on N. Walnut and a soon-to-open Indianapolis location. Chain or non-chain? How about Scotty's Brewhouse, an Indiana-based business with a handful of locations, but which originated in Muncie, not in Bloomington?

^^Those are questions that need to be answered for sure, which is why the Mayor is having a long, drawn out, and deliberative process for studying and eliciting responses about the proposal.

the second beltway would be great for my area which is in a southern johnson/brown county tourism community. Not only that, but so many of these communities south of Indy are almost completely cut off from Indy. this would be a direct connection. I am right in its path and would be all for it. The toll roads are what has kept our state out of the hole. I would love a fancy train that connects indy to greenwood, to franklin, to columbus, to nashville, to bloomington, to martinsville, to mooresville, and back to indy. That would be great for the environment, but would never make sense financially. The only thing that will work with the current population is a beltway. There just isnt enough money for transit/transportation of any kind (road or train) without federal assistance.
We can barely keep county roads and schools afloat.

The Beltway doesn't make sense at all. There is not enough traffic to warrant it. Upgrading SRs 44, 9, 32, and 39 make much more sense and are much more cost effective.

First off, INDOT already studied the supposed effects it would have on I-465 and determined it would be negligible in reducing traffic. Second, the state had no way of paying for it so the idea was to have a private company build and operate the road. Hoosiers were rightly opposed to the idea of using eminent domain to seize private property to build a for profit road.

http://www.forbidden-places.net/explos/53/5.jpg
Forbidden Places- Gary Indiana (http://www.forbidden-places.net/urban-exploration-gary-indiana-ghost-town)

There are some pretty cool galleries. I hope that someday Gary will get redeveloped. It could be a good off shoot from Chi...

Indiana Opens it's section of "Fort to Port" US 24

Woodburn - Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland are set to open another section of the U.S. 24 Fort to Port highway.

The two will participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday morning at the spot where the highway crosses the state line in northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio.

The new section covers the westernmost part of the highway from Defiance, Ohio, to the state line and its first few miles into Indiana. The four-lane highway eventually will connect Fort Wayne, Ind., with Toledo, Ohio, and replace a heavily traveled, curving, two-lane road.

(Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

http://www.in.gov/indot/div/projects/us24/image/images/home1_03.jpg

Fort-to-Port (Ohio/Indiana)
[edit] Indiana
Major upgrades have taken place throughout much of Indiana where US 24 comprises most of a High Priority Corridor and has been recently upgraded from a two-lane highway to a four-lane at-grade expressway from Logansport to Fort Wayne. Further upgrades are planned for this corridor: US 24 from Fort Wayne to Toledo, Ohio and Indiana 25 from Logansport, Indiana to Lafayette, Indiana will be upgraded to similar standards. The grass roots effort to improve the section from New Haven, Indiana (Fort Wayne) to Toledo started from a meeting organized by Indiana State Representative Mitch Harper in 1989 at Woodburn, Indiana. It was at this meeting that the project name 'Fort to Port' was born. There are no plans to upgrade the entire corridor to Interstate standards at this time, but maps from the 2005 Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) show that Indiana will build its portion as a freeway with no at-grade intersections. The most complex and expensive portion of the Indiana segment is reconstructing the interchange with Interstate 469 east of Fort Wayne. The existing parclo interchange will be reconfigured with flyover ramps to allow high-speed movement of traffic through the interchange.[5]

In November 2007, Indiana announced they would change their segment as an expressway with at-grade intersections at Bruick Road, Webster Road, and SR 101, instead of a freeway section with interchanges and overpasses. The only overpasses would be two narrow (12' wide) overpasses for non-motorized traffic (Amish buggies) to cross US 24. Also, the interchange of I-469 and US 24 would remain as-is with traffic signals at the US 24 ramp terminals. The cost savings without interchanges would be approximately $75–$80 million. Right of way would be purchased for future interchanges. This change has been unpopular due to safety concerns with the heavy truck traffic on the corridor. INDOT claims that the current traffic on US 24 does not justify interchanges, even though the 2005 Final EIS states that it does.


(December 2008) Completed section of US-24 Fort-to-Port Freeway in eastern Indiana. This segment is scheduled to open in 2009 following the completion of the SR-101 interchange and the adjoining section in Ohio.Responding to widespread public outcry over the scaled-back design, Governor Mitch Daniels announced on December 12, 2007, that US-24 would have been built as a freeway initially from Bruick Road to the Ohio state line, with interchanges at SR-101 and Webster Road. [6] The entire 13.5-mile (21.7 km) segment is slated for completion in 2012. The intersection with Bruick Road was to have initially been an at-grade crossing, but INDOT announced in August 2009 that a grade-separated interchange will be built here as well. [7] As a result, Indiana's portion of US-24 will be built as an Interstate-quality freeway, except for the at-grade interchange with I-469. INDOT plans to eventually upgrade the I-469/US-24 interchange by adding flyover ramps to allow high-speed movements between the two highways. Depending on funding, this work may begin in 2013.

Upon completion, ownership of the existing US-24 will be transferred to Allen County, and become a frontage road east of Bruick Road, providing access to the B.F. Goodrich tire plant and adjacent homes and farmland. Indiana is financing construction through the Major Moves program, and will be reimbursed when federal highway funds become available.


Governor Daniels and INDOT held the groundbreaking ceremony for the Indiana section on April 30, 2008. By December 2008, crews had completed construction on two miles (3 km) of the freeway from the Ohio state line to just east of the Indiana SR-101 interchange. This section is scheduled to open in late 2009 when work on the SR-101 interchange and the adjacent section in Ohio is finished.

the fulton and lloyd interchange in evansville is moving along nicely... they are scheduled to have it finished sometime in 2010 and it will serve as the main gateway to the downtown area.

full story: http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/nov/16/lloyd-access-just-got-tricki

http://media.courierpress.com/media/img/photos/2009/11/16/20091116-233146-pic-930428034_t607.jpg

the new university center at usi had a topping out cermony... here is a link to the usi release as well as a slideshow.

news release:
http://www.usi.edu/newsinfo/release/press_detail.asp?num=3354

slideshow:
http://www.usi.edu/photography/multimedia.asp
(click usi topping off events)

usi is going to build a new teachers theater in evansville... it's by holzman moss, the same architect that did the expansion for university center. construction is slated for later this year with completion in 2012. here is the rendering:

http://media.courierpress.com/media/img/photos/2010/05/09/20100509-000101-pic-528000630_t607.jpg

here are some pictures from the courier and press of the nearly finished university center at usi. i wasn't sure what to make of this building from the initial renderings, but i like the use of stone and glass and the interior design is really great.

http://media.courierpress.com/media/img/photos/2011/02/14/20110214-181447-pic-449847495_t607.jpg

http://media.courierpress.com/media/img/photos/2011/02/14/20110214-181447-pic-787109356_t607.jpg

http://media.courierpress.com/media/img/photos/2011/02/14/20110214-181447-pic-108905327_t300.jpg

YOWZA! Wow -- that's a pretty wild looking building. That tee-pee part kind of threw me, I have to admit. I like the lower part - but the pointy part sticking up above the glass seems like it takes things a little out of balance (and maybe that's not a bad thing). The lighting in the third picture is pretty unique too. They definitely weren't too conservative, particularly with the interior of this one. I'm glad its not boring. I don't have any architectural training -- so its hard for me to clearly define what I think of it. Its not my favorite, but I appreciate that somebody was pretty bold with their design ideas for this buildling and made it seem pretty fun.

btw --- what kind of space is that in the third picture? It looks like Eva Peron's balcony or something. Is there seating in front of it? That would be quite a place from which to give a speech or teach a class!

YOWZA! Wow -- that's a pretty wild looking building. That tee-pee part kind of threw me, I have to admit. I like the lower part - but the pointy part sticking up above the glass seems like it takes things a little out of balance (and maybe that's not a bad thing). The lighting in the third picture is pretty unique too. They definitely weren't too conservative, particularly with the interior of this one. I'm glad its not boring. I don't have any architectural training -- so its hard for me to clearly define what I think of it. Its not my favorite, but I appreciate that somebody was pretty bold with their design ideas for this buildling and made it seem pretty fun.

btw --- what kind of space is that in the third picture? It looks like Eva Peron's balcony or something. Is there seating in front of it? That would be quite a place from which to give a speech or teach a class!

here is another photo i found on flicker (credit to hallock35) of the tower portion... the first photo i posted is from the back of the building. the tower is the main entrance area that faces the quadrangle. not sure what that balcony area is for in that third photo i posted, but it does look like it would be a great space to have speeches or other student events.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4753554892_8dc5641934.jpg

Greencastle and North Vernon will receive $31 million in state assistance with local development plans over the next three years.

Indiana Lt. Governor Becky Skillman says the cities have been chosen as pilot sites for a new program involving the Department of Transportation, the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, the Housing and Community Development Agency, and the State Revolving Fund to help fund their strategic plans.

The cities will invest an additional $9 million in local and private funds.

North Vernon, the only city between Muscatatuck Urban Training Center and Interstate 65, plans to build a new event center, a pedestrian plaza and other improvements as it strives to become a defense industry hub.

Greencastle hopes to revitalize its downtown and forge closer links with DePauw University.


From Indianapolis Business Journal

Honda will hire 1,000 in Greensburg

Honda will double the number of workers at its Greensburg assembly plant by the end of the year -- adding 1,000 jobs -- as part of a dramatic increase in auto production, a person familiar with the company said Monday.

The new workers -- part of a new second shift at the Greensburg plant -- will be necessary for Honda to reach its new goal of producing 200,000 cars a year, said the source, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the development. Honda currently produces about 100,000 cars per year in Greensburg.

Word of the increase was delivered to employees Thursday. Honda Greensburg officials could not be reached Monday for comment.

The Greensburg plant, which opened in 2008, currently employs about 1,000 workers involved in the production of the Honda Civic sedan and the Honda Civic GX sedan natural gas vehicle.

Honda was looking to add a second shift after it began production. But then the recession hit and those plans were put on hold. That wait now appears to be over.

http://www.indystar.com/article/20110531/BUSINESS/105310321/Honda-will-hire-1-000-Greensburg?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|IndyStar.com|p

600 jobs in Columbus with new Cummins headquarters expansion:

Cummins Inc. announced Friday that it will add 600 employees to work in an $18 million office building the diesel engine maker will construct in downtown Columbus, where it is headquartered.

The development is the third expansion in southern Indiana announced by Cummins in the past year. Once the new building is filled, in 2013, Cummins will employ nearly 3,000 workers in a two-block area of downtown Columbus, three times its local presence in 2008.

Cummins executives credited international growth for its expansion at home. In addition to engine sales, Cummins officials said overseas sales and service of power generators and engine components such as filters and turbochargers have been strong.

Full Story:

http://www.ibj.com/cummins-plans-expansion-600-jobs-for-columbus/PARAMS/article/27695

Hey, I've started a new blog focusing specifically on downtown Fort Wayne Development check it out http://downtownfw.wordpress.com/ Please feel free to leave comments :)))

These undoubtedly aren't the highest paying jobs -- but with this announcement - Amazon will have its fifth distribution hub in Indiana and will have created around 5,000 new jobs.

Amazon plans another Indiana warehouse, 1,000 jobs

Amazon.com Inc. announced on Tuesday morning that it will open a new distribution center in southern Indiana and create up to 1,050 jobs by 2015 as part of a $150 million expansion.

The new location in Jeffersonville will be the company’s fifth warehouse in Indiana and first outside the Indianapolis area. Amazon has two existing facilities in Plainfield, one in Indianapolis and one in Whitestown. It will occupy more than 4 million square feet of space in Indiana once the Jeffersonville warehouse is operating.

The Seattle-based company expects to open the new facility in the fall.

“Indiana is home to thousands of Amazon employees, and we look forward to bringing additional jobs to the state this fall,” said Dave Clark, Amazon’s vice president of global customer fulfillment. “We're grateful to state officials for their business-friendly approach, which supports our continued expansion in Indiana.”

http://www.ibj.com/amazon-plans-another-indiana-warehouse--1-000-jobs/PARAMS/article/33476

15,000 new jobs in Indiana in April

http://www.indystar.com/article/20120518/BUSINESS/120518026/Economist-State-s-job-growth-amazing-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|IndyStar.com

The addition of 15,400 new jobs to Indiana’s economy in April is “absolutely amazing,” a University of Indianapolis economist said today. “In my position, you hate to exaggerate something too much,” said Matthew Will, an associate professor in the university’s MBA program. “But that is impressive.”

The increase, in fact, was the fourth-largest one-month increase in private sector jobs over the past 22 years, according to an Indiana Department of Workforce Development report. From January through March, the state gained 24,000 workers.

“Last year, Indiana added 40,000 jobs for all of 2011,” Will noted. “And that was second highest in the country behind Texas.” Indiana’s 0.6 percent increase in jobs was six times the national 0.1 percent average and made up about 12 percent of the overall increase of jobs nationwide. Indiana has been trending with gains of about double the national average for the past year. The unemployment rate of 7.9 percent was a 0.3 percent drop and remains below the national rate of 8.1 percent. Indiana’s unemployment rate has dropped for five consecutive months.

Stopped down to Brown County yesterday to visit some friends and they were talking about this development.

http://indianapublicmedia.org/news/files/2012/05/SVV_Master_Plan_Overall-small-940x626.jpg

Architect Burt Perdue’s vision for the 180 acre Schooner Valley Village is a stark contrast from the abandoned ski resort that now sits along highway 46 between Nashville and Bloomington.

Perdue’s plans include more than 300 residential units consisting of houses, apartments, and condos. He says there will be more than 60,000 square feet of commercial retail space, a resort-style hotel, an indoor water park, an assisted living center, and; paying homage to the land’s previous use; a ski slope.

Full Article from May (http://indianapublicmedia.org/news/180-acre-new-urbanist-community-planned-brown-county-30649/)

One of my friends (a landscape architect) has attended several meetings where it has been discussed recently. Haven't found any news articles about it since the end of May. Sounds like the county is taking it pretty seriously even though it doesn't have financing yet.

^^ The northern half looks OK, but the southern half of the plan doesn't look new urbanist at all. Look at all that sprawl.

New Urbanism is sprawl in general. They find green sites and cut in new subdivisions with less attention to connections and location and more attention to house colors and styles. Check out Seaside, FL. It is nowhere near anything.

This development is anything but sustainable or urban. It includes relatively low density and cul-de-sacs, REALLY?!?!

I've been to the site. I remember skiing there many years ago -- I believe it was called "Nashville Alps" or something like that. I agree the development as a whole is not particularly sustainable. The only special thing about it is that it is probably a lot higher density than what would normally have developed on a site like that. Its hard to tell from the image -- but the piece of property is very hilly. They're putting the higher density residential down in the lower, flatter area -- and then the other less dense residential is being built as you go further up the hills. It'll probably do pretty well because there are plenty of people that would like to live half way between Bloomington and Nashville. It'll probably be a lot of IU alumni / retirees.

That doesnt make sense. Build a completely automobile oriented development for retirees??

;-)

Well -- you're absolutely right. I can't read all of the detail on the map -- so there may be a few commercial businesses on site as well -- a few restaurants, shops, etc -- but you're right. Almost any needs outside of a few small local trips would likely have to be met by traveling by car.

I'm glad to see that this will replace the eyesore that used to be there. This will include a grocery store on the first floor and possibly some other retail. Driving through town recently it looked like there were a few new projects underway and recently completed, which is always good to see. WL especially needs to work on streetscape beautification in the dense commercial and residential areas around campus.



Final plans approved for 720 Northwestern in West Lafayette (http://www.wlfi.com/dpp/news/local/final-plans-approved-for-720-northwestern)
Published on WLFI.com | Dan Klein | 01/02/2013
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Construction can soon begin on the controversial 720 Northwestern project in West Lafayette.
...
The APC and the West Lafayette Council approved the planned development this summer across from Mackey Arena. Plans call for 230 units, 490 bedrooms, almost 42,000 feet of retail space and a 405 space parking garage with three levels.
...
More (http://www.wlfi.com/dpp/news/local/final-plans-approved-for-720-northwestern)
Older Article (http://www.wlfi.com/dpp/news/local/latest-720-nw-proposal-includes-grocery)
http://media2.wlfi.com//photo/2012/06/12/720_nw_proposal_includf0fb6fb2-25af-4cab-b864-b91a9bf70beb0000_20120612001935_640_480.JPG