ELKHART — A proposed slate of $8.01 million in projects to gussy up downtown Elkhart has received a preliminary vote of support.
The Elkhart Redevelopment Commission on Tuesday, Feb. 17, unanimously backed a motion deeming the nine projects acceptable uses of funds from a planned $6 million bond issue.
But the support hardly settles the matter. The Elkhart City Council has yet to review the projects, and the commission and council still have to OK resolutions approving issuance of the bonds, which would be backed by money generated in the Downtown Tax Increment Finance district.
“This is not the end,” said Elkhart Director of Community Development Crystal Welsh, who helped coordinate plan details. “This is just kind of the beginning of the conversation.”
The nine projects are meant to augment the drawing power of the area around Elkhart’s center and spur yet more development. The city council last year expanded the Downtown TIF, a preliminary step to the bond issue and completion of the projects, all located within the TIF’s boundaries.
The projects include $3.7 million in improvements to the sidewalks and aesthetics along Main Street north and south of the downtown area and $900,000 to purchase of plot of land off East Jackson Boulevard along the St. Joseph River and prep it for redevelopment. Another $1 million would be used for a sculpture garden outside the Elkhart railroad depot, and more would be used to upgrade the Civic Plaza off Main Street in downtown Elkhart and other improvements.