Huntingburg taking steps to develop Maple Park property

The City Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to obtain appraisals of the Maple Park property, setting the stage for a comprehensive development process.

The resolution allows the city to seek two to three appraisals for the property before issuing a request for proposals in the coming months. The property includes a full city block that has remained vacant for several years after the remaining portion of the former elementary school was razed in 2023. The gym was demolished in 2015.

“We will never have a full city block available ever again, probably,” said Mayor Neil Elkins during the council meeting on Tuesday. “Whatever we do here–it’s been vacant for a number of years already–let’s be deliberate about what we do coming forward.”

The property presents unique challenges and opportunities for development. Approximately one-third of the land contains stormwater infrastructure, according to the city.

“We need to prevent any construction occurring on top of that because that would collapse that brick and we’d all be in trouble,” Elkins explained. “It’s also used somewhat as a storage area for water until it’s able to be released later on. It holds a lot of water.”

The city plans to survey the property and establish right-of-way access to protect the underground infrastructure from potential damage during any future construction.

A special committee comprising five members has been evaluating potential uses for the property. The committee includes three residents from the precinct area and two council members. The group has been meeting regularly to discuss development criteria and scoring standards for future proposals.

Several organizations have expressed interest in the property, including three or four nonprofit organizations and one church. All potential uses under consideration align with items outlined in the city’s comprehensive plan.

Housing development remains a possibility, though the committee emphasizes that any residential construction must complement the existing neighborhood character. The council expressed concerns about certain types of housing that might not fit the area’s aesthetic.

“Putting a lot of apartments may not be the best use for that,” noted Mayor Elkins.

Recent real estate activity in the area supports the potential for housing development. Three houses have sold in the past year, including two on Second Street, and none remained on the market for extended periods.

The property’s strategic location adds to its development value. Situated near the police station, fire station, and existing housing, the site experiences heavy traffic from residents accessing the park, ball games, and stadium events.

“It’s an important piece of property, and whatever we put there needs to be of the highest quality,” Elkins noted.

Child care services have been mentioned as one potential use, along with various nonprofit ventures. One proposal involves two nonprofit organizations partnering to purchase and share the property, potentially including park space.

The committee plans to evaluate applicants based on their financial capacity and readiness to proceed with development quickly. The goal is to prevent the property from sitting undeveloped for years after sale.

“We want to make sure that the people have the means and the desire to move quickly on development of land, that it doesn’t sit there for a number of years,” a committee member explained. “We would have to evaluate the financial means that those people have and their readiness to proceed with development.”

The appraisal process will consider multiple scenarios, including whether the property should be sold as one large lot or subdivided into smaller parcels. Appraisers will receive information about the stormwater restrictions and other limitations affecting the land.

“We are just trying to figure out the price of the property to start from somewhere,” Councilman Tim Wehr said.

He is serving on the property’s advisory committee.

The development timeline extends several months into 2026. After obtaining appraisals, the city will issue a request for proposals, review submissions, and make recommendations to the full council. Any final decision requires a public hearing and council approval.

“I don’t see us probably moving on this over the next maybe six months total,” Elkins said. “The longer the process takes, I think as long as it’s not more than six months, the better decision we can make because we’ll have more opportunities for interest.”