Civic leaders have plenty of suggestions what North Vernon could do with the unused $3 million in Stellar Communities money. And they have ideas for a name for the Short Street pedestrian plaza.
The Stellar Committee, which is overseeing the $18 million in projects being funded in large part by the state, said recently it welcomes suggestions on how to use the Stellar money, what to name the plaza and other ideas.
"I could think of tons of things that would help the city," said Marie Shepherd, Jennings County Chamber of Commerce director. "A main need I think is upgrading storefronts. There are so many downtown that need it."
Realtor Jerry Lamb, a former mayor and city councilor, suggested that Stellar should revisit the idea to raze the old Arvin Industries complex downtown, among other possibilities.
"I would like to see the Arvin building demolished," he said.
That was on the original Stellar schedule but never came to fruition because the Arvin property's owner, Marvin Marksberry, rejected the city's $320,000 offer for the land last year. Marksberry has himself started work in demolishing at least part of the complex.
In similar fashion, another idea heard on the street is to purchase the old Napa Building next to the Carnegie Government Center even if the asking price is above market value, than level it and perhaps move the city's police station there. This also was considered earlier but shelved because the property owner, Carroll Snider of Columbus, and the city could not agree on a selling price.
Tom Taylor, WJCP Radio owner and personality who owns several downtown buildings, said he would welcome a program whereby downtown property owners get "real, practical advice on how to preserve buildings." One of his ideas is to hire the Ball State University Architectural Preservation program to inspect buildings within a designated area without putting huge requirements on property owners.
"The reality is, paint covers many flaws and using money on paint does not address what might be some very real issues," he said. "I would want such a study to offer simple, quick fixes, where possible, not one that recommends I write some grant and hire some high-priced folks."
Other suggestions include making improvements on East Walnut Street, including adding more benches for pedestrians, decorative trash receptacles and flower beds along that stretch, along with the installation of pedestrian signals at the State and Walnut streets intersection.
"I'm thinking of how downtown Madison is pedestrian friendly and looks so nice," Shepherd said. "We could do that in North Vernon, too. And our downtown could really use new Christmas decorations."
Lamb offered other improvements he would like to see from what he called his "wish list," many not in the areas now designated for Stellar developments.
"I would like to see Franklin Street opened up to North Madison Avenue, more sidewalks in the Child's Addition where there are none and all the vacant buildings and houses in town cleaned up or torn down," he said.
Among Taylor's ideas are making downtown parking lots more pleasing to the eye.
"Existing parking lots - next to the police station, next to Players Bar and Grill, behind the Solid Rock Café - could be 'greened'," he said. "There are new schemes that would allow for a type of paving that also allows for grass. Clean up these eyesores."
Through the Stellar money, the city could investigate developing senior housing downtown and form a holding company allowing the city to acquire property to be redeveloped and sold, Taylor added.
"This might sound crazy, but help underwrite the costs of businesses putting up new neon signs," he continued. "All downtown development schemes are similar. You want to create something that would make us stand out? New neon signage."
Another step, that Taylor admits might be self-serving, is lowering the pavement on Jefferson Street between Miller's Tavern and, a property Taylor owns, the Guthrie Building. "The street is higher than the sidewalks and has caused substantial flooding of those buildings over the years. Fix it," he said.
Taylor also offered an idea that many will consider radical: return the unused Stellar money to the state.
"That we should be figuring out a way to spend $3 million in tax money during a time when the national focus is on out-of-control spending is interesting in itself," he said. "I believe our community could get favorable national publicity by returning the money as not needed. I know there are those who say, 'If we don't spend it, someone else will. So why not ourselves?' That sort of thinking is exactly why we have the national problem."
Of course, Taylor has been highly critical of several aspects of Stellar, particularly the upcoming closing of Short Street in order to create a pedestrian plaza. He contends he is not alone.
"The Stellar program has not brought our community together," Taylor said. "Those who have raised questions, fairly or unfairly, feel they have been marginalized, including a number of good people who are proven long-term investors."
Taylor believes the city could spend some Stellar money to improve those relationships.
"Something like what the school corporation did with a five-day workshop involving 30 local residents to come up with a long-term plan and force united behind it would be good," he said. "It would be wonderful to bring together city officials, agencies, business people investors, county services and others, a real cross section."
Pedestrian plaza names
Regarding the Short Street area to be developed as a pedestrian place, several names were suggested.
One idea is to name it Railroad Park or Railroad Park Plaza as a nod to history. The strip between Short Street and Madison Avenue was known as Railroad Park for much of the 20th century before a bank constructed a drive-through facility and erected a time-and-temperature display there in the 1960s.
"I think it would be great if the caboose now next to the police station could be moved there and incorporated as part of the plaza," Shepherd said. "Of course, that might depend on whether or not the bank agrees to give up the drive-thru bank."
Taylor likes the Railroad Park name, too, even if he does find it ironic.
"Brick the old Pennsylvania Railroad loading platform and develop a community time line with statues and history boards saluting the railroads, local businesses, local industry, 'scooping the loop' and the bank's old 'zero contest'," Taylor opined. "This should celebrate our community, not be a generic green space similar to those being developed in other communities."
Lamb thinks one name that should be considered is Community Plaza.
"I like 'Community Plaza' because it is for the entire community to use," he said.
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