SPEED Continues to Assess Redevelopment

(posted June 12)

"The small town image is gone when people turn against each other," Deb Wilcox said at the June 11 SPEED (Speedway Population Encouraging Equal Development) meeting. Wilcox blames the redevelopment plan for dividing the town's citizens because the plan inevitably displaces the residents in the mobile home parks and also will cause a demise to businesses that do not fit the redevelopment criteria.

Judy Perfetto said if the redevelopment commission truly had the interest of the town they would work on Area Two where the higher crime is located. She said "race fans won't come if they don't feel safe. Tony George can't build enough parking garages to make the people feel safe."

She questioned the necessity of the redevelopment need for Speed Zone. "Don't put us in debt for the (race fans) people that don't live here."
"I am not against redevelopment," she said. Perfetto has problems with the way redevelopment commission carries out the plan.

Jo Ellen Dotlich said "the redevelopment needs to be done for the people of Speedway, not for the race fans." She does not deny the town has deteriorated and the housing market is shifting more towards income rental property.

Jackie DeKemper, running for District 92 State Representative, said she came to the meeting because she realized the people's voices are not being heard. She said that her parents lost their home through the eminent domain process, so she could empathize with their fears of being on an acquisition list.

She said the issue is bigger than redevelopment and that consolidation effort is not over. She sees the redevelopment as a threat to Speedway's lifestyle of having neighborhood schools that allow children to walk. Her observation to the proposed closing of Georgetown Road is the start of consolidation. If the impact study rules the children are not safe to walk to school because of more traffic on Lynhurst Drive, then buses will be needed. She said transportation costs will drive the consolidation issue to move Speedway students to either IPS or Wayne Township.

Robynn Alexander attended the meeting because she too lost her home to eminent domain in the former community she resided in.

Merri Anderson of the Greater Garden City Civic Association said that she has concerns about the closing of Grande Avenue. Anderson encouraged the SPEED members to attend all meetings. SPEED members need to send a message to the redevelopment commission that "I am not going away," she said.

Dotlich announced that SPEED has created a  website, speedwaycitizens.com. She invited people to submit their stories about Speedway.