Jay County Commissioners OK $1.3 million for housing infrasturcture on county-owned 68 acres; issue moves to council next

A commitment has been made toward development of housing infrastructure on county-owned land.

Jay County Redevelopment Commission agreed to commit up to $1.5 million Thursday toward developing the county’s 68-acre property on the western edge of Portland.

Redevelopment commission members heard a presentation Thursday from Rundell, Ernstberger and Associates partner and landscape architect Cecil Penland. It was substantively the same as the information the company shared with Jay County Council during a meeting in March that laid out a plan for development of the 68 acres on the west side of Portland that would involve mixed-use properties — commercial on the first floor with apartments above — along Votaw Street (Indiana 67) and then various types of housing extending to the north. (If fully completed, the project would create 76 single-family homes, eight duplexes and 154 multi-family units.) Penland and consultant Ed Curtin made the same presentation to Jay County Development Corporation board members during an informational meeting an hour before the redevelopment commission meeting.

The only difference from that March presentation, Penland said, was the further breakdown of the public investment costs into additional phases. The overall public investment cost for installing utilities, building streets and developing a park space is estimated at $25.5 million. Originally planned in 10 phases, some of the early steps have been split again starting with an estimated $4.5 million for Phase 1A that would involve construction of the main road beginning from Votaw Street on the west side of the property and angling northeast toward Industrial Park Drive and primary utilities to the first planned cross road. Completion of that road and utilities would follow in Phase 1B for $2.28 million.

Future phases would involve a road on the east edge of the property, a connecting road between the two main roads and then building out additional infrastructure to the north. 

The project would require an easement with the east adjoining property, noted Penland, in order to connect to the city’s sewer system. Homan Properties owns that piece of land.

Redevelopment commission member and Jay County Commissioner Brian McGalliard noted the final application for projects requesting some of East Central Indiana’s allocation of funds through READI 2.0 — the state initiative offers funding for capital projects such as new construction, rehabilitation, equipment purchases, strategic land acquisition for redevelopment and infrastructure, educational attainment, housing development, childcare capacity and innovation activities — is due Aug. 2. (The region, which includes Jay, Randolph, Blackford, Delaware, Grant, Henry, Wayne and Fayette counties, was awarded $35 million through READI 2.0.) He suggested moving forward with plans for the 68 acres Thursday.

Redevelopment commission member Chuck Huffman asked what steps are next for the project. Penland pointed to seeking grant dollars and support from other governmental entities. Curtin’s consulting firm, CWC Latitudes, and Rundell, Ernstberger and Associates are also working on a request for proposals that can go out to potential developers. Answering a question during the JCDC meeting, Curtin said he feels one of the keys to accomplishing such a development is attracting developers to visit the community and develop a vision of the impact that can be made.

Huffman questioned why the county is investing a majority of the funding for a project based in Portland.

“To me, the city should be doing it with us as a partner,” he said. “I see where we have a place at the table with money we put into it, but the vast benefit would go to the city.”

Redevelopment commission members also asked why Thursday was the first time they had been given the information and discussed whether to commit funding without knowing where Portland stands on the matter. McGalliard pointed to a quick turnaround with the regional application. Huffman noted that the county has been working on the project for more than a year and redevelopment commission chair Carl Walker questioned what incentive the city or others would have to invest in the project if the county is fronting funds to cover the majority of infrastructure costs.

Redevelopment commission member Ted Champ asked if funds could be committed and pulled back later if issues arise. Curtin said the dollars could be approved contingent upon receiving funding from READI 2.0.

Redevelopment commission member Faron Parr, who also sits on Jay County Council, made a motion to approve up to $1.5 million for the project. The vote passed, with Parr, McGalliard and Champ in favor and Huffman dissenting.

Portland Redevelopment Commission is set to hear the same presentation from Penland and Curtin regarding the project at its 8 a.m. Aug. 9 meeting. Plans are also in the works, according to Curtin, to make similar presentations to the city’s housing task force and Portland City Council.

“We’re anticipating we’re going to have a number of meetings like this where we’re going to be presenting this information,” said Curtin during the JCDC meeting. “It’s really important for everybody to understand what the vision is, what the goals are. Because this really has the potential to be a game-changer for the county.”

Jay County contributed more than $1.5 million last year toward the project, including purchasing the land for $1.15 million and hiring Rundell, Ernstberger and Associates to begin planning its development for $395,000. With Thursday’s commitment, the county could receive upward of $3 million in READI 2.0 dollars toward the project, noted Curtin.

McGalliard and Parr emphasized working together with Portland to make the project a reality.

“It’s going to take everybody to be on the same page if we want something like this to happen,” said Parr, noting the project could be a long-term endeavor over the next 40 to 50 years.