By DAVID A. MANN
David.Mann@newsandtribune.com
JEFFERSONVILLE — Properties along Tenth Street — including Gateway Plaza and nearby abandoned buildings formerly occupied by Long John Silvers, Schwinn and Shell — are among those being considered as potential investments for Jeffersonville’s Redevelopment Commission.
During a Wednesday night meeting, the commission discussed priorities, with members admitting that sometimes its big, long-term plans don’t come to fruition.
“There’s a lot of little opportunities that any of us can bring to the table,” said commission member Ed Zastawny, also a Jeffersonville City Councilman. “I would like for us to consider a couple quick- hitters.”
Commission member Charlie Reisert highlighted the need to focus on keystones — places where thecity can invest in and raise the value of one property, leading to increased values around it.
The idea is the city would purchase such properties, demolish or clean up the blighted buildings on them and then sell the land back to developers — sometimes for a profit.
The board doesn’t have to wait for the mayor or a redevelopment director to bring them a big project, Zastawny said.
“We can go out and find projects,” he said.
Reisert said the commission wouldn’t be competing with the private sector, but rather doing things that it couldn’t.
Commission members walked out of the meeting with a homework assignment: Identify two properties that need redevelopment by next month’s meeting. Zastawny said he wanted to consider projects that could be finished with in a year or two.
Wednesday’s discussion took place as the Redevelopment Commission is without a leader. Former Planning Director Jim Urban had been handling redevelopment matters during the last six months until he abruptly resigned earlier this year.
Members have said since a dedicated redevelopment director — not one split between different duties like economic development and planning — is best suited for the job.
The city has received about 20 resumes since advertisements were placed announcing the open positions. The commission expects to have a new director hired within the next month or so.
“I think it’s important, when the new director comes in, to have some good marching orders,” said Jamie Lake, commission member.
Reisert said he wanted to further discuss property acquisition in a closed-door meeting — in order to discuss purchasing strategy. However, it was unclear at press time exactly how the state’s open door laws apply to such discussion.
The commission’s attorney said he’d further examine the law and how it applies to real property purchases. The Evening News will do the same.
In other business:
• Rick Lovan, the city’s growth coordinator, said city officials were close to sending out requests for qualifications for developers interested in developing a hotel and convention center. The convention center has been proposed along Mulberry Street as a means of economic development in the downtown area.
• Mayor Tom Galligan noted the city has offered the old Frank’s Steakhouse property, off Seventh Street, as a possible location for a new farmers market. The Clark County Farmers Market has been searching for a new space as the city has regraded its old spot, Preservation Park, because of drainage problems.
The city bought the old building and plans to demolish to make way for a storm water retention basin. He was perplexed that the farmer’s market board hadn’t accepted the offer yet, noting there was plenty of parking, visibility and a tent was offered for shade.
“If it doesn’t fit, I don’t know where they’re going to go and I can’t help them. I thought they liked the place,” he said. “I don’t care where they go, they can go in a tree. I’m just trying to help them. We were going to put a tent up for them because we didn’t want to overcook the tomatoes.”
Galligan also told the commission he wanted to float a $10 million bond in order to start purchasing property related to the proposed downtown canal. The new waterway is being billed as a way to solve frequent flooding issues and become a catalyst for redevelopment.
Numerous properties would have to be purchased in order to make way for the canal. Galligan said he’d want to purchase them all at once — and soon — because people are wondering whether they’re among those potentially being bought out.
The properties are being appraised. If the city did want to pursue such a bond both the redevelopment commission and the Jeffersonville City Council would have to approve.
