Artist's conception of Seminary Square street view
Seminary Square continues to be a topic of discussion for Greencastle boards and commissions as the ambitious DePauw University project makes its way from drawing board toward reality.
First came Tech Review, then the Zoning Board and the City Plan Commission. And at its February meeting, the City Council got its chance, adopting a pair of ordinances that will cement the footprint of the multi-use development that will begin construction this fall and ultimately yield 120 living units, a parking garage, spirit store and more.
Heck, Seminary Square is so prevalent in discussion these days, Jason Chew, the project director and community liaison for the Growing Green and Gold Together Initiative, is becoming as familiar at City Hall as Mayor Lynda Dunbar and City Attorney Laurie Hardwick.
Moving the project a step closer to reality at its February session, the City Council adopted on second and final reading Ordinances 2025-17, approving partial vacation of Vine Street between Poplar and Seminary streets, and 2025-18, vacating the alleyway from College Avenue to Vine Street (south of Marvin’s).
Both vacations are effective Nov. 1.
The vacation of that portion of South Vine Street, in effect deeds it over to DePauw as it bisects the Seminary Square property.
The vacation doesn’t mean the street will be closed forever. The one-block section of Vine Street is expected to see the pavement raised to facilitate its inclusion into the Seminary Square layout and give DePauw the option of closing it temporarily with barricades for future events without having to seek city approval.
In prior discussions, city officials agreed that section of Vine Street is no longer well traveled since there are no businesses located between Poplar and Seminary streets. All sides of the location are DePauw property.
Meanwhile, at the recent February Zoning Board meeting, six petitions relative to the project were unanimously approved. They are:
• A special exception to allow multi-family use on the combined ground floor and upper floors in the Central Business District.
• A development standards variance to allow 425-square-foot units (presumably those indicated as studio apartments) when the minimum is 500 square feet.
• A development standards variance for lot size to exceed the maximum lot size of 20,000 square feet.
• A development standards variance to allow for two primary structures on a single lot.
• A development standards variance to allow for parking stall dimensions of 9 X 18 feet, below the minimum zoning ordinance standards of 9 X 20 or 10 X 18.
• A development standards variance to allow a two-way garage drive of 22 feet, less than the standard of 24 feet.
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