JEFFERSONVILLE — There is another chance that a historic property in the path of the Big Four Bridge’s landing will be saved.

Despite being denied a request of $25,000 to move the Fisher House from the path of the proposed Big Four Station at the Jeffersonville City Council meeting last week, there is still support to pay for the home to be relocated.

Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore announced in a press release he would like to see the Jeffersonville Redevelopment Commission pay to relocate the Fisher House — which is also being called the Reuben Wells House — from the corner of Chestnut and Mulberry streets to a new location in Jeffersonville.

“I truly believe we should save this house,” he said in the release. “It’s a historical structure that adds so much architectural integrity to our downtown. Unfortunately, the house doesn’t fit into our plans at the foot of the Big Four Bridge project. But those plans don’t mean the Fisher House should be a casualty.

“Tearing it down should be the last resort. The redevelopment commission can save it.”



Redevelopment’s previous vote

The redevelopment commission tried once before to approve the full amount needed to move the house, but the vote failed.

A motion was made at the redevelopment commission meeting Aug. 1 by Councilman Dennis Julius, who has since resigned his seat on the commission, to pay the full amount, but it failed for lack of a second.

The motion that did pass dedicated $25,000 for the relocation of the home through the redevelopment commission and sought the remainder to be paid by the city council.

That proposal was offered by City Councilman Matt Owen.

He explained that there were six properties in the path of the Big Four Station set to be destroyed, but the only home with significant historical importance was the Fisher House. And instead of offering $10,000 toward the relocation of each home — a plan offered by Moore — Owen asked if he would dedicate more funding to the Fisher House if the council agreed to pay a portion of the costs.

“I thought it was a good compromise between the city council and the redevelopment commission in splitting the cost,” Moore said, referring to Owen’s plan. “It’s all city dollars whether it comes from one entity or two.”

Owen added that the plan was offered because the city council has funds that have not been dedicated and the move could save the redevelopment commission some money.

“I knew the council had money that [wasn’t] tax dollars,” he said. “When it came down to it, the other council members were not in favor. The idea was to save money and to save the house. If we can still save it, I think that’s a win.”

However, the council balked at dedicating the funding — it was one vote shy of the five vote majority of being approved — because several council members felt the money should come solely from the redevelopment commission.

Even those who voted in favor of dedicating the funding from the council lamented the decision.

Councilman Mike Smith — who offered the motion to pay $25,000 that ultimately failed at the council meeting — said the money should have come out of the Falls Landing Tax Increment Finance fund.



Redevelopment OK with footing the bill?

Now Moore is putting his support behind having the redevelopment commission cover the costs.

“This matter has been lingering too long,” he said in the release. “I hope the redevelopment commission agrees with me that this is a worthy project that deserves its support. We can save an historical home and move forward with the Big Four project.”

As a result, he requested that the redevelopment commission appropriate up to $50,000 to move the house.

Redevelopment Commission President R. Monty Snelling said he would be in favor of paying the remaining $25,000.

“I would just like to have it get approved,” he said. “I’m 100 percent behind it. Anything we can do to save something historic we should do it and stop the squabbling.”

Snelling added it might be a little different if it were a developer offering to move the home, but said there is added incentive since a Jeffersonville resident has offered to purchase the house.

“You have a lot more pride in your property,” he said.

Mary Jo and Walter Carrico have offered to buy the house, which would be moved about one city block and become their private residence.

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. Without the city’s funding dedication he said he would not move the house.

Moore asked the redevelopment commission to hold a special meeting to approve the additional funds. Its next regularly scheduled meeting is set for Aug. 29.