Main Street Owners Object to Acquisition List


(posted June 17)



Despite Main Street business owners vocalizing their opposition and citing erroneous parcel listings at the June 11 public hearing, the Speedway Redevelopment Commission adopted the resolution to include the 32 parcels on its third parcel acquisition list.

The SRC members and Barnes & Thornburg Attorney James Gutting could not assuage some of the business owners into believing that eminent domain would not be used or being listed meant that they would be forced to sell to the SRC.

Some property owners were not aware that the SRC was planning a bigger acquisition scope until they received notice in the mail. That is how Charles Hunt was able to confirm notice after the Navigator called him earlier for comments. That lack of the SRC's personal consideration to talk to property owners individually bothered Charles Hunt of American Family Insurance

Hunt has been doing business on Main Street for over 20 years. It would cost him more than the estimated value of $200,000 they were suggesting to find another location and rebuild his business. Most of his clients come to Main Street to do business and a significant moving distance could mean losing their business.

Hunt was curious as to why the SRC decided to have this public hearing before the June 19 unveiling of the master plan. Others were also curious about the SRC's future master plan and how their property related to the plan.

All of the commissioners remained tight lipped about the plan, but indicated the list would make sense after they see the master plan. They encouraged the public to come to the high school auditorium for the 6 p.m. unveiling on June 19.

William Norton of the Main Attraction Antique Mall said his letter of opposition that he dropped off at the town hall earlier was not read into the minutes. Mr. & Mrs. Norton do not want to lose their business.

Residents thought it was interesting as to why the SRC had to have a huge parcel list when SRC President Scott Harris admitted that no outside investors were interested in buying at this point. Another concern residents had was the effect of potential property tax increases to offset the loss of tax revenues from the properties owned by the SRC.

Speedway High School Superintendent Andrew Wagoner was not aware the acquisition list was so lengthy and said  that such a parcel list eliminated from tax rolls could affect the School District's budget over a period of time. Wagoner is not opposed to the redevelopment unless it starts taking an aggressive bite out of school funding.

The SRC has about $550,000 remaining of the estimated $2.5 million Bond Anticipation Note that could be used to buy properties. The SRC is not funded by property taxes. Harris is relying on the fact that Allison's tax abatement is scheduled to roll off by the end of the year and that should bring extra revenue into the redevelopment area.

The acquisition list also created confusion for residential owners when Arlene Hershberger's parcel numbers were transposed. This error placed 1635 Allison Avenue and 1616 Winton Avenue on the list instead of Hershberger's J & J Pet Grooming and Leo's Barber Shop buildings.

The error were not just limited to Hershberger. Helen Kellam's former parcels 9002966 and 9003030 were listed again. The SRC purchased 1556 and 1552 Main Street in April.

"We are not buying them again," Harris said. However, it is still not clear whether Kellam's other properties at 1534 and 1538 Main Street were really meant to be on the list. Kellam told the commission she did not receive notice and has no intentions of selling.

"I have nothing to worry about since I don't want to sell and they are not going to use eminent domain," she quipped after the meeting. She is still uncertain about the fate of the parcels whether they might be included in the list or if she would be receiving notice. Kellam did give the SRC members a glowing recommendation for their professionalism during the negotiations of her first properties.

Robert Russ was bothered by the erroneous parcel numbers listed and that the SRC could not identify the correct parcels.

Frank Van Overmeiren requested his property 1520 Main Street be removed from the list by amending the resolution. Based on Overmeiren's research of an EPA Brownfield Assessment Study, he believes the northwest corner of Main Street will be used for a town hall. The SRC had no comment to his request.

Herman Meury, owner of the Accounting Store, could not understand why the SRC had to buy properties as means to control the redevelopment area, especially the Electric Steel Castings building. He did not want that property to be removed from the tax rolls. Meury was doubtful that the SRC could market the property better than Gallivan's real estate business.

Harris told Meury that this $1.729 million option to buy Norm Gallivan's property would make sense once he saw the unveiling of the master plan June 19. Harris explained that the option runs for 18 months so the SRC can find a developer. He noted that the SRC has no overlay zoning or programs in place to control development, so an acquisition list is needed to be able to buy property to control the redevelopment. The SRC is also purchasing 1330 and 1340 Main Street for $130,000 and $70,000.

SRC member Ron Fisher explained it is a necessity to look at Main Street because it is over 100 years old with many vacant buildings.

Not all businesses were included on the list. Dawson's on Main Street and Charlie Brown's Pancake and Steak House were about the only two businesses that slid under the SRC's acquisition radar scope.