JEFFERSONVILLE — The relocation of a historic home near the proposed Big Four Station got a boost at Jeffersonville’s Redevelopment Commission Meeting on Wednesday.

The Jeffersonville Redevelopment Commission agreed to grant Mary Jo and Walter Carrico the additional $25,000 they had previously requested to help them relocate the historic Reuben Wells home about a block away from its current location at the corner of Chestnut and Mulberry streets.

The property sits near the Big Four Station project, which is a plan for a greenspace including a farmers market and playground with the potential for mixed-use development surrounding the ramp of the Big Four pedestrian bridge.

The Carricos had been seeking $50,000 to move the home and through a previous request to the redevelopment commission, they were awarded $25,000. They were then directed to the Jeffersonville City Council to receive the additional funding. A vote to grant the funding from the city council came up one vote short and the request was sent back to the redevelopment commission.

Walter Carrico said even with the money dedicated from the city he would be using $100,000 to $150,000 of his own funds to pay for the relocation and the couple would not move forward with the relocation of the property unless they received $50,000.

“We have already been awarded the house and have the moving money,” Mary Jo Carrico said at Wednesday’s meeting.

Following virtually no discussion, the commission approved the remaining funding requested 3-2, with Commission Members Kevin LaGrange and Jack Vissing voting against.

The Carricos said they hope to move the structure before the end of October.

“It’s going to take several weeks to stage the house [for the move],” Mary Jo Carrico said.

Walter Carrico thanked the city council, mayor and redevelopment commission.

“We appreciate all the help we’ve gotten,” he said. “We couldn’t ask for more than this.”



More historic properties

Greg Sekula, director of Indiana Landmarks’ Southern Regional Office, asked the city to halt the demolition of six homes in the Big Four Station project area and re-initiate Section 106 consultation.

“Indiana Landmarks has been concerned over the last several months as this project has continued to evolve over the fate of six historic properties that are located on the block, or in the vicinity of the Big Four Bridge ramp project,” he said.

Because federal funding was used for the Big Four Bridge ramp, Sekula said that Section 106 review of the National Historic Preservation Act would apply to the Big Four Station project, a development that would not be occurring without the pedestrian bridge’s completion.

He said it is necessary for the city to review the potential adverse impacts on historic homes within the area of Big Four Station.

The properties in question are along Pearl, Market and Chestnut streets. While none of the homes are individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Sekula said they are part of a neighborhood that is listed as a historic district and were constructed between 1880 and 1920.

However, city officials disagreed that the section 106 review applies.

“The homes that you’re discussing, [they’re] outside the project area,” said Jeffersonville Redevelopment Director Rob Waiz. “There’s no federal dollars spent, whatsoever, on those homes.”

City Attorney Les Merkley agreed and said, “I don’t believe section 106 applies. We’re not using federal funding. It’s outside the Big Four ramp project that is subject to the MOA [memorandum of agreement].”

City officials also asked Sekula why the objections were brought forward now and not when the plan was for a canal project that would displace the homes.

“We raised these concerns with the [Tom] Galligan administration from the get-go when acquisitions were occurring,” Sekula said.

He added that he sent a letter offering the concern regarding the properties in November before Mayor Mike Moore took office when he was still mayor-elect.

“To say that these issues have not been on the table before is incorrect,” Sekula said.

The most recent effort was initiated when the intent to demolish signs, which would allow the city to move forward with tearing down the homes after Sept. 16, were posted, he said.

Sekula said the city has not put forth a formal effort to let the public know the properties are for sale or that $10,000 is available to assist in relocating the homes.

Moore offered to have the city pay $10,000 to help relocate the properties in question.

Waiz added the city has not received any help from Indiana Landmarks to find potential buyers for the homes.

“A mere $10,000 offer to assist is peanuts considering what is involved,” Sekula said. “I don’t believe there’s a reason why those houses can’t remain where they’re at and why the city can’t then work to find buyers for those buildings to rehabilitate them for uses that would be complimentary to the Big Four bridge ramp project.”

Waiz said he has been in discussions with developers interested in buying the homes and should have an answer about whether or not the company — which was withheld — will move forward in about two weeks.



New developments

A plan to rehabilitate the Jeffersonville riverfront from Spring Street to Jeffboat was presented and partially approved by the commission Wednesday.

Jorge Lanz, president of Jacobi, Toombs and Lanz, Inc. presented the $2.2 million plan to reconstruct docks along that portion of the Ohio River bank, construct a shoreline wall, add a pedestrian walkway along the shoreline, which includes a jetty for public use, lighting and landscaping.

Waiz said the city will seek grants to help pay for a portion of the project.

The commission agreed to fund the engineering and architectural plan designs — from the Estopinal Group, LLC — totaling $154,350, but held off on funding the full project.

Lanz also requested $4 million worth of funding be earmarked for the construction to extend a road south at the Jeffersonville Town Center and Jeffersonville Market Place, which will allow access to complete the development on the south side of Veterans Parkway.

Again, the commission approved moving forward on the planning portion of the project along with the cost to install a box culvert at $50,000 due to the completion of a store near the drainage.

Lanz said the culvert would be installed in the next couple of weeks, design would be completed over the next six months and construction is expected to start in 2013.

The total cost for the design work is $196,762, which was unanimously approved along with the cost to install the culvert.