Clarksville eyes land for new trail

Clark County

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May 11, 2012

Clarksville eyes land for new trail

Condemnation suit expected this week

By DAVID A. MANN david.mann@newsandtribune.com The News and Tribune Sun May 13, 2012, 06:10 PM EDT

CLARKSVILLE — The town of Clarksville is moving forward on a condemnation lawsuit in order to acquire a piece of land on the south end of town for an Ohio River Greenway-related project.

Earlier this month, the Clarksville Redevelopment Commission took a vote to that effect. Town Attorney Chris Sturgeon said he hopes to have a lawsuit related to the acquisition filed by the end of the week.

The nearly seven acres of land in question is referred to as the Clark’s Point property. It’s located just north of Harrison Avenue and just east of the Mill Creek bridge.

According to town officials, it’s owned by a group of attorneys, including Bob Bottorff and Alan Applegate. The attorneys were called last week but could not be reached for comment by press time. A search of property records could not confirm their ownership of the land.

Sturgeon said Clarksville made a $210,000 offer on the land last month that was met with no response. Brian Kaluzny, superintendent of the Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department, said that offer was based on two appraisals.

The land being sought has historic significance as it was part of the original town of Clarksville site, he said. It’s to tie in with a couple of major projects, including a west riverfront archaeology and historical park that’s in the planning stages.

Further, the Lewis and Clark trail, which is supposed to go through that area, ties into the Ohio River Greenway, Kaluzny said. The Greenway is a regional project aimed at connecting riverfronts in Jeffersonville, Clarksville and New Albany along a linear park.

“It’s important simply because of where it’s located — on high ground,” said Redevelopment Commission President Bob Popp, also a Clarksville councilman.

He said so much of the land in that area is in the floodplain and therefore not as attractive for the trail and historic park project.

“[Higher ground] provides some other opportunities for whatever would complement the trail, the historic park.”

Now that the Redevelopment Commission has chosen to move forward with condemnation, Sturgeon said it’s a matter of filing a lawsuit in order to acquire the property.

Sturgeon said typically the court appoints three appraisers who determine a property’s value, although those values can be challenged by the property owners.