Jasper Council wants action on eyesore
Update September 20:
The mayor informed the council on September 19 he had met with the owner and further communication would continue about the process, but at this time he did not have much information to pass along.
He did inform the council that $40,000 of the appropriations passed during the meeting were to review the current plan for the development of downtown Jasper and to request proposals for creating a master plan for the area. The $40,000 is funded through the EDIT and COIT funds the State of Indiana did not distribute properly in 2011. The city received approximately $800,000 from the state’s mistake.
“We tore down a mill and rebuilt it and we tore down the train station and then rebuilt it,” Mayor Seitz said. “Do we want to immediately take down that building (Jasper Cabinet)? It is a good time to look beyond what ROJAC (Redevelop Old Jasper Action Coalition) has planned for that area and make good decisions.”
The mayor stated he is interested in seeing how the Schnitzelbank and other area attractions can be incorporated in the downtown plan. Seitz feels this is a good time for planning this because of the city moving forward with the Third Ave., repaving project.
Original Story: During the Jasper Common Council meeting on Wednesday, Council Pro Tempore Tom Schmidt opened discussion on possible actions to be taken on the dilapidated Jasper Cabinet building. The building is located behind the Jasper Train Depot and is falling apart.
Schmidt opened by stating he was receiving phone calls and people were stopping him in the street to find out what the city was doing about the building.
“Now we are expanding the plaza down by the Train Depot and we’ve got that terrible looking building there. He’s (owner Jerry Fuhs) made a lot of empty promises,” Schmidt said. “We as a city have to do something.”
Jasper Cabinet closed down in 2002 after declaring bankruptcy. The problems were blamed on employee relations and leadership issues.
Mayor Seitz stated he had recently been in touch with the building owner Jerry Fuhs but he was out of the area. He requested a meeting when Fuhs is back in the area.
The mayor also told the council there may be issues on whether the building is in a flood plain or flood way. These issues affect the decision on what to do with the building. “We were told by one professional, prior to DNR coming in, if any or all of the parts of that building are tore down, nothing can be rebuilt”, Mayor Seitz said.
The mayor stated DNR officials told them they could re-permit for any new building but this had to be considered within the constraints of the flood area.
The mayor also said he had approached the Redevelop Old Jasper Action Coalition about what could be done with the area if the building was demolished.
Schmitt and several council members agreed it should be tore down. “Its a dangerous building,” he said. “We have people coming in for the train and they see that and say, ‘What is that, this isn’t Jasper’.”
The Mayor told the council if they want to take any action, they were certainly welcome to do so.
Councilman Dave Prechtel asked about grants that were available for razing the building. Lisa Gehlhausen with Region 15 was on hand and explained if the city wanted to apply for the available grant, they would have to have an option to buy or actually own the land first. The grant is for up to $500,000 with a 10% match by the city.
Additional considerations in the approval process in tearing the building down include whether it could be considered historical. This could further hold up its demolition.
Director of Building/Planning/Zoning Darla Blazey stated they could take steps to declare the building as unsafe.
No decision was made on the issue but Blazey was told to keep the council up to date and the Mayor stated ROJAC would be contacted about possible solutions or ideas for the property.
“I would like to see it removed,” Schmidt said.
Councilmen Randy Buchta, Dave Prechtel and Earl Schmidt agreed with Tom Schmidt. “If there are portions of it that are stable there may be something that can be done with it.” Buchta said. “Shops or restaurants would be nice right there by the depot.”
Prechtel said it was probably time to tear it down.
The city should not pay for the demolition!! The owner who alowed it to become so run down should be responsible for demolition.
Yes, that's what needs to happen. Over here in Huntingburg the city has taken it upon themselves. All it's doing is depleting money that the city will never get back. Taxpayer money shouldn't be used to clean up other people's neglect.
A vision for that whole entire area is required from my perspective. That building is just one part of a bigger issue. We want kids to return, and that is a good thing, but some of the main complaints are not being discussed seriously enough. Two big issues are…
1. Not enough jobs and/or deversity of jobs.
2. The social life and choices of Jasper does not fit the newer generations.
Back to that area, it is just ana example of the general problem Jasper seems to have… no growth. I offer this idea; why develop the whole Newton, 3rd Ave and river triangle (targeted with a TIF, to raise funds) and attract a developer to buy as much land as possible and do something new and cool. Something as a magnet for families to shop and hang out at? It is time for the council to be a force of idea development or at least find people to do it for them. I offer this as an idea, and I bet the community has a lot more.
Let's keep in mind there are two sides to every story. If the public would be aware of all the proceeding happenings on this building (buying it to help the city of Jasper save it) the opinion may be different. It has certainly not been allowed to sit idol with no consideration by the owner. Those who understand how difficult it is to begin multi million dollar projects understand the difficulty of receiving permits, etc.
"what is that? this isn't Jasper." roflmao! Board members in Jasper get so melodramatic when they want to get something done.
It is time to do something with this property. If the owner has a plan, permits for development filed for or what ever is on the drawing board, they need to be made public or available to the city. If it was purchased as a flip property, so be it. Since the city is starting the "blight" conversation the owner probably needs to make a decision and put that plan in action or face the prospect of eminant domain and have the city steal it.
Let's face it, the buildings look bad from the North side and RW side. I don't think it would take much to have a crew go in for a few days and clean out the junk. If your neighbor's house/property was this delapidated you would probably call the city and complain, this is no different.
I think the building would be great for some studio apts. overlooking the RW or business office space, just my opinion though. I hope the city and owner can come to an agreement to get something done by the end of '13.
And four years later still nothing done about this problem.