Redevelopment Area Two Plans Discussed

(posted Nov 5)

American Structurepoint received only nine public comments concerning the schematics showing the future look of redevelopment area two. "It is pretty low," said Shane Burkhardt, American Structurepoint Project Manager. The low turnout will make it difficult for ASP to draw conclusions.

"They'll complain later," Betsy Combs, steering committee member, said.

"Welcome to public policy," Burkhardt said.

Burkhardt said ASP drew its data from the Charette / focus groups and the consumer preference survey that looked at the community as a whole.

Speedway Redevelopment Commission Executive Director Scott Harris said he was at the library one day and said people looked at the two schematics but did not write any comments. "Most of them kind of liked it."

Burkhardt said most people don't respond unless it is a "hot button" issue.

Combs said that people from the Charette / focus group wanted to know if they can continue to participate. Only four steering committee members attended the November 3 meeting. Harris said he did not have a problem with more people attending as long as "Structurepoint is able to accomplish what they need to accomplish."

The steering committee discussed architectural styles, so Speedway can be Speedway and not Carmel or Brownsburg.

Combs said the people participating in the Charette / focus groups elaborated about retaining Speedway's small industrial heritage. "I am wondering if there are two different visions," she said, because during the Charette she heard conversations from people wanting to be like Carmel and Brownsburg. She felt like the vision to be like Carmel or Brownsburg was being driven from the top down and not from coming from the grassroots.

Regina Tirinnanzi of ASP said that public feedback was based on housing products they have already seen. The public comments were not actually to be Carmel, but that the new products in Carmel have an appeal. Carmel just happened to be the location that offered the new products.

Tirinnanzi said the area east of 465 and west of High School Road is recommended for office complex and large box retail space.

Committee member Roger Williams said large box retail lights will not be fair to residents along High School Road. "I think it is something to consider," Williams said.

Tirinnanzi said there are ways to "site the boxes" to make it more desirable.

Combs said she liked the cluster shopping center design, but Burkhardt noted that the group is getting too detailed and that ASP would flesh out ideas to develop detailed plans. He reminded the group that redevelopment requires a private-public partnership and they would not have that kind of control over the developers.

"There are tested and tried prototypes that work and don't work." Burkhardt didn't expect Speedway to be the test market to try new prototypes.

Burkhardt wanted the steering committee to convey to him what they wanted in an overall look for the area.

Committee member Nancy Lawrence noted that nice apartments were on list. "I think we would all be strung up if we brought any more apartments in." Committee member John Dizney said there are 11 apartments complexes in four square miles. Lawrence commented that there are more apartments in Speedway than homes.

Harris said there is a significant demand for housing in Speedway because of three factors; the proximity to downtown, good schools and location to the interstate.

Burkhardt said the current financial situation will drive a higher demand for rental properties. He emphasized that Speedway's problem is a lack of variety in its housing stock.

Harris made a point for the demand for upscale multi-family housing. He said that he met Praxair's customers during the 500 Mile race weekend, and discovered some employees and customers are in need of temporary housing and would probably locate in Speedway if the market offered upscale apartments and condos to fit their demand. He also said there is a demand for housing race teams.

"I think there is a market for upper scale apartments," Burkhardt said, adding that the current apartment stock is not conducive to convert to condos.

Burkhardt expects to have some refined concepts to show the group at the Dec 2 meeting, which will include a discussion of Crawfordsville Road traffic. Harris indicated he would bring the schematics that were shown to the shopping center to the meeting.