The Pilot News - West Jefferson gateway to be transformed

As soon as the Indiana Department of Economic Development announced its newly established “Shovel Ready” program in 2006, Clark says the CRC felt it had a “go” situation. Commission Vice President Chet Marshall is diligently working on the application for this state-wide program in order to be ready for submission this winter. Certain criteria must be met in order for a given property to be placed on Indiana’s list of available sites for future business growth. The state team includes the departments of Transportation, Environmental Management, Natural Resources, and others. The idea, Clark says, is to be ready for new business to move in, build, and start work immediately, with issues like environmental impact studies, transportation access, and even approvals by local planning and zoning boards already in place as much as possible. This approach can shave as much as six months off a potential development schedule making these sites more attractive than most.
“The first requirement was to have any easements that would be needed in hand and utilities available at the site,” Clark notes. She says the Dicke family – which owns the land on the south side of the street, west of the mobile home park -- was presented with all the conceptual plans for the project, which included the idea of developing the 20 acres they own for a multi-site research and development or startup business complex. “We sent them the conceptual plans to show how serious we were,” Clark explains. “It must have worked because they granted us the easement necessary to extend the sewer line, install the new lift station, and to begin the streetscaping phase out there. The CRC is currently working to finalize one last easement so the sidewalk and tree work can hopefully begin next spring.
“The property owners have been great to work with,” according to Clark. “Improving the aesthetics in that area with a beautiful street tree design and soft, antique-inspired street lighting will be nice for the residential properties in the area as will bringing the street up to town standards. Potential businesses will take note that this is an area our community is very interested in helping become a strong asset.”
To date, town sewer lines have recently been extended along the corridor; water lines were extended in this area two year ago. The town council has given permission on acceptable street width from the existing mobile home park on out to state road 17. Next, curbs and sidewalks will be installed on the south side of West Jefferson with new trees lining the street from a design by Culver’s tree commission. Landscaping will also be done around the new lift station in accordance with approved conceptual plans drawn by Lehman & Lehman Architects.
As funding allows, that stretch of roadway will be the first area in town to boast the use of recently-chosen heritage street lamps. The CRC has spent roughly $200,000 so far on the project with the bulk going to construction costs.
To be included in “Shovel Ready,” Clark explains, land owners must agree that they’re open for development or selling to someone who plans to bring in new employment opportunities. Before redevelopment funds can be spent on properties in that area, it will also be necessary for the specific property owners to sign agreements that deal with annexation, similar to what the town council has been gathering as they extend utilities along the Long Point area. Neither the state’s program nor the CRC are allowed to use funds for development of retail businesses, including restaurants and service stations. The intent of both groups (IDEM and CRC) is to encourage growth that will provide long-term employment opportunities that allow for good paying jobs and job growth, both for the employees and the town’s business environment..
“This is very much a public-private partnership,” she adds. “From the beginning, we have consulted with the Plan Commission, Second Century Committee, Town Council, the Tree Commission, and the Chamber of Commerce in Culver. Each organization that wants to partner with us during this exciting project has been offered an opportunity to do so and will continue to be updated as progress continues. At every step we’ve tried to involve those individuals who will have oversight for different project components in the future. Bob Porter, Culver’s Superintendent of Public Works has been invaluable to us as far as construction oversight goes. Council member Ed Pinder is actively involved as the council’s representative on the formal public-private Gateway Partnership established in 2005.”
On the team with Pinder are Clark, representing CRC, Chet Marshall (CRC), Rick Tompos (SCC), and Dick Riel (Medallion); former town manager Jon Gunien was also an original member of the Gateway team.
“These types of development projects take time, especially in a town our size,” Clark says. “Plymouth’s T Squared project has more working hands involved than us. While we’re not trying to compete with them as far as time frame goes, we do believe we have special things to offer businesses here in Culver that they don’t.”
CRC member Jim Weirick, Bob Porter, and Dick Riel met recently with a representative of NIPSCO about moving, or burying, the utility lines along both Jefferson and Mill Streets. This needs to be complete before moving onto tree planting, curb/sidewalk installation, or street widening can begin. The hope is that NIPSCO can do their work this fall, and this long term project can be ready to join the state’s marketing list next year. “Picture a town ribbon-cutting ceremony out there,” Clark smiles, “put on by the Chamber and attended by all of us announcing the western gateway is now ‘open for business.’”