Residents Concerned Over Speed Zone Expansion

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A large number of residents posed questions to the SRC over the latest expansion plans.

Photo by Jay Thompson

(posted Mar 18)
(revised Mar 19)

The March 25 public hearing to expand the Speed Zone not only has continued to create reverberations among affected Speedway residents, but has now seeped outside the town's boundaries.

Leonard Ashburn of Luett Avenue is concerned about the extension of Holt Road north of 16th Street. He said the Speedway Redevelopment Commission action could affect Luett Avenue residents "unbeknownst" to the SRC. He also indicated that Luett residents had no representation other than City County Councilor Marilyn Pfisterer to guard their property from the SRC's actions. At the Feb 26 meeting, the SRC hired Ice Miller to lobby for federal funds to extend Holt Road from 16th Street to 30th Street. Ashburn wanted the issue of how the SRC action will affect Luett Avenue "on the record".

Attorney Robert Lutz, representing Conkle Funeral Home, expressed concerns that earlier versions of the plans indicated nothing would happen to the funeral home, and now with the expansion, the facility could be eliminated or purchased. He did qualify that the business owners were not expressly told about ending the business at that location.

Lutz asked if 16th Street would be terminated, preventing access to Conkle.

"No", SRC Executive Scott Harris said. He explained there are no plans or proposals for Conkle. The group of parcels are on the expansion list as precautionary measures for the realignment of 16th Street that might be impacted as it comes into Main Street and the roundabout.

President Vince Noblet indicated that the funeral home is in the master plan.

Charles Bennett expressed concerned about "Conkle Funeral Home rumors" being included on the expansion list and the realignment of 16th Street because his home is located in the rear of Conkle and is only separated by an alley. His concern is if Conkle goes that he could lose access to his garage via Main Street.

Bennett, who has a passion for historic buildings, would like to see a list that identifies the historic Main Street buildings and the criteria that will be used to preserve or to demolish buildings.

SRC member Bill Jones discussed the issue of subsurface utilities in the roundabout area and the relocation costs. He also explained that all properties will be reappraised if they are affected by the realignment.

The realignment of 16th Street is not an inexpensive project. No one from the SRC indicated when they voted on a contract with American Structurepoint for the $1,662,860 for the engineering realignment of 16th Street. Harris indicated that an estimated $400,000 has been authorized to be spent.

Resident Julia Pratt of 5106 10th Street wanted to know the SRC's intention for the future use of the 10th Street residential properties included on the expansion list.

Noblet said they wanted to stabilize the area since it is an entry way to the Speed Zone, but not to change the residential use.

"No intention to do anything I don't think with residential areas," Harris said.

Noblet explained the Georgetown brochure was put together by an independent firm. He said a stock photo of electrical wires, rather than a photo of a location in Speedway, was used because the commission did not want to call out a specific individual property as blighted, but that there are similar areas in the Speed Zone. The brochure does show a picture of Main Attraction Antique Mall with a boarded window. The front window was broken as result of a burglary, not because of a vacancy.

Karen Pickens said "I see very little honesty in the brochure." She contends the proposed roundabout can't handle the 11,000 cars from Georgetown Road feeding into the circle as the need to close the road. She disagrees with the brochure showing Georgetown as a sparse road that will not have a significant traffic impact on other neighborhood roads once it is closed.

Pickens also believes aerial photos and architectural schematics exist about the future development of Georgetown once vacation occurs. Noblet said the SRC first had to bring the property into the redevelopment area before plans can be developed.

The closing Georgetown Road brochure also shows several homes missing on the north side of Baxter Drive, but Noblet said that is just a schematic that is not in the redevelopment area; however, he did indicate that it is within the SRC's scope to look at all the property in Speedway.

The SRC's website has a map that shows the extension of Lynhurst Drive north of 25th Street affecting the properties starting at 2840 Moller Road and north to the Speedway Baptist Church. This area is not in a redevelopment area. Holt Road north of 16th Street is not in the redevelopment area, but a map exists showing it extending to 30th Street.

Mark Gullion, representing 1,100 American Legion 500 Post members, said no one from the town has contacted them at all. Flynn had a concern about the lack of communication from the town. The Legion members felt blindsided to see the Legion post missing in the future development plans as seen in the Georgetown Road Brochure.

The vast project to handle two redevelopment areas may be causing some inconsistencies. Although Harris said that Gilman Street never extended through to Holt Road, this map shows that it does. Jo Ellen Dotlich of the Speedway Industrial Park explained the park does not need to be demolished to create a racing campus because the industrial park can accommodate racing teams now.

Barnes and Thornburg Attorney Jim Gutting said the agenda item of bond resolution was not discussed because the SRC is not yet ready for action.

Richard Shoeman liked the redevelopment plans and encouraged the SRC to continue.

Julie Eppen requested a meeting about the future name of the proposed linear park. She would like to see the proposed linear park named after the Eppen family.