Development News From Southwest Indiana

The City of Evansville is moving forward with plans to transform 140-acres of blighted area near downtown into the Center City Industrial Park.

The city says the park will create sites for commercial and industrial development and will spur job growth in the southwest Indiana region.
Source: Inside INdiana Business, 8/19/05

Press Release

(EVANSVILLE, IN) – Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel today announced the decision to proceed with plans for the Center City Industrial Park, which is designed to help rejuvenate a blighted area, create jobs and increase the assessed value in near-downtown Evansville.

“The Center City Industrial Park is an important step in attracting new industry, creating jobs and growing the tax base in Pigeon Township,” said Mayor Weinzapfel. “This project will also help retain existing Evansville businesses and provide them with the opportunity to expand.”

Following three public meetings in April, the City mailed over 550 surveys to the property owners in the adjacent and proposed development area. Based on the survey feedback, the boundary area has changed from the original proposal. In the revised Center City Industrial Park area, approximately 222 of the 286 surveys were returned, demonstrating a 78% response rate. Of the 222 surveys returned, 145 or 65% expressed support for the project, while only 12% were opposed. Supporters of the park represent 81% of the land mass within the revised Center City Industrial Park boundaries.

“The vast majority of the area is occupied by industrial uses and those property owners have expressed support of the project both verbally and in response to the survey,” said W. Gregg LaMar, Executive Director of the Department of Metropolitan Development. “Nevertheless, there are some who oppose the project. However, inclusion in the area does not necessarily mean that the City will seek to acquire that property.”

The Redevelopment Commission will consider an initial appropriation of $500,000 from the Capital Development Fund for preliminary engineering, legal and financial work, as well as for purchase of land within the Center City Industrial Park. The City will be hiring legal and engineering assistance to move forward.
“The first step in the process will be to designate this area as a redevelopment area,” said Mayor Weinzapfel. “This is a legal process that will involve formal notification of property owners and public hearings.

“Creating the industrial park will take some time,” continued Weinzapfel. “But it is desperately needed to help replace lost jobs and help increase both our employment base and assessed value within Pigeon Township and downtown Evansville.”

of Vision-e, said, “Vision-e applauds the City for moving forward with the Center City Industrial Park. This will help to create additional sites for commercial and industrial development and help to spur additional economic development opportunities within the City.”

Concept, History and Public Input

In March 2005 the City of Evansville announced a proposal to develop a 140-acre Center City Industrial Park along the railroad corridor situated midway between the Lloyd Expressway and Diamond Avenue, between Pigeon Creek and Fulton Avenue. The area was highly industrialized in the late 1800’s, but today has numerous vacant industrial and residential properties. Pockets of residential properties exist among the industrial uses and many residential properties have substandard housing units creating major concerns for both residents and industries.

Coinciding with the announcement, a fiscal year 2006 federal appropriations request for $3 million was presented for acquisition, demolition, environmental assessments, necessary environmental abatement/remediation and site preparation for industrial development.

In April 2005, three public meetings were held to propose the idea of a center city industrial park in Pigeon Township and get feedback and public input. A total of nearly 200 people attended the public meetings. During and after the meetings, many neighboring property owners and residents expressed interest in the project. Therefore, information packets were mailed to property owners both inside the proposed boundaries of the park and one block north and south of the proposed park. The packets included 1) a zoning and use map of the area, 2) statistics of the area and 3) a bullet point summary outlining the area, goals and objectives of the park and advantages of the site.

Next, on May 16, 2005, a survey was mailed to owners of property within the proposed boundaries of the park to measure support for the idea. Adjacent property owners were sent surveys on June 7, 2005.

The Park will spur economic development and job growth in the City, Southwestern Indiana and the State of Indiana. The Park will convert brownfield properties into usable industrial park space. A brownfield is an industrial or commercial property that is abandoned, inactive or underutilized, on which expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated due to actual or perceived environmental contamination. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties reduces development pressures on undeveloped greenfields and improves and protects the environment.

Goals and Objectives of the Park

· Create jobs and replace lost manufacturing jobs
· Retain and expand existing industry
· Attract new industry and private investment
· Increase the tax base
· Provide end-users with clear, ready to go sites for industrial development
· Provide an alternative to greenspace development, encourage industry to locate in urban areas and enhance smart growth opportunities
· Allow for the redevelopment and reuse of numerous brownfields
· Assist in the revitalization of a blighted neighborhood

Advantages of the Site for a Center City Industrial Park

· Access to railroad corridor
· Improvements to Fulton Avenue, the main north-south thoroughfare through the site
· Proximity to the Lloyd Expressway – approximately 3/4 mile south
· Fulton/Lloyd interchange to undergo major improvement in the near future
· Proximity to Diamond Avenue (3/4 mile north), which is currently undergoing major improvements
· Proposed extension of the Pigeon Creek Greenway to run along the western border of the park along Pigeon Creek
· Ability to meet the demand for industrial sites within the City limits
· Majority of the site is located within the Enterprise Zone

Action Plan

In an effort to proactively prepare for needs and demands of the community and revitalize a blighted area, the City of Evansville plans to take the following actions:

· By and through its Redevelopment Commission, designate the area as a Redevelopment Area and adopt a Redevelopment Plan for the area pursuant to Indiana Code 36-7-14
· Acquire, clear and conduct environmental assessment and remediation/abatement of sites
· Assemble and offer sites for development
· Provide appropriate zoning for an industrial park
· Establish a TIF area to pay for infrastructure improvements
· Market the Park and support economic development and job creation activities by working closely with Vision-e, EUEA and other regional economic development organizations

Conclusion

The Center City Industrial Park will have an immediate impact on the economic well being of the Southwestern Indiana region. The assemblage, remediation and clearance of industrial sites will encourage private capital investment in the Park, strengthening the economic future of the region.

The results of the survey of property owners in and around the proposed industrial park support proceeding with the development of a center city industrial park.

Source: City of Evansville