HUNTINGBURG — A new economic development area has been established along Main Street in Huntingburg.
The Huntingburg Redevelopment Commission passed a resolution confirming the area after no one commented at Tuesday evening’s public hearing for the resolution.
The area runs along Main Street, which is U.S. 231 from First Street to near 22nd Street. City officials hope that having the established economic development area will increase interest in the land in that district for future development.
Now that the economic development area has been established, those interested in developing land in the area could apply for development incentives like tax abatements, tax-increment financing districts, grants and other development financing.
Planning Director Paul Lake said that establishing the district does not automatically create a TIF district.
“If you wanted to do a TIF area, you would have to do this process again with more specific language for a district,” he said.
Creating an economic development area along Main Street has been under discussion for awhile. Huntingburg is working on several projects as part of its state-recognized, Stellar Communities designation. But officials wanted to consider what could be done beyond Stellar, after those designated projects are completed.
In late January, the city listened as constituents shared ideas about how Main Street could be developed.
Lots of ideas were thrown out during the hourlong brainstorming session. Some of those ideas were adding sidewalks and bike trails, creating an artisan center and entertainment options for the youth, applying a new coat of asphalt on the street, adding more businesses, moving the Huntingburg Museum to a more visible location, having more public restrooms and having more diverse entertainment and social engagement activities that include the entire community.
The Huntingburg Common Council approved a resolution last month from the Huntingburg Redevelopment Commission for redevelopment plans of the area, after hearing from the Huntingburg Plan Commission that the plans fall in line with the city’s comprehensive plan.