By DAVID A. MANN
David.Mann@newsandtribune.com
July 24, 2008 12:05 pm
—
The city of Jeffersonville should consider using a mix of public and private dollars to construct an approximately $100 million hotel and convention center complex, a new study recommends.
A 125,000-square-foot convention center, along with a 275-room hotel and a 1000-vehicle parking garage, are included in the recommendation. All of that would ideally be built on a site of at least 6.7 acres and no more than three blocks from the city’s central business district along Spring Street.
Hunden Strategic Partners, of Chicago, and Pinkowski & Co., of Memphis, Tenn., conducted the 195-page study. The Jeffersonville Redevelopment Commission, the Jeffersonville Urban Enterprise Association and the Clark-Floyd Convention & Tourism Bureau each contributed $25,000 to help finance the study.
“This is a first step,” Jeffersonville Mayor Tom Galligan said in a press release.
“This kind of project is expensive, but it could provide a huge boost to our downtown.”
The next step will be a closer look at finances in order to find out what can or cannot be done, he said.
“I can tell you that private investment in this project will be a big key as to whether or not it is feasible for Jeffersonville,” Galligan said.
Councilman Mike Smith, whose district includes the downtown area, said in the release it would be a good project as long as a sensible financial package and a functional site are a part of the deal.
The study reviewed five sites in Jeffersonville and Clarksville. Jeffersonville sites included six acres at the intersection of Spring and Market streets, including the Wilcox building and former Gorsuch Foundry property; 10 acres at the intersection of Maple and Mulberry streets where Colston Park sits; and an unspecified site in the vicinity of Interstate 65 and Veterans Parkway. Clarksville sites included eight acres at the south end of Water Tower Square and the former Colgate-Palmolive Co. plant.
“When we checked references, we found that there are communities out there who have conducted similar studies that were ultimately told, ‘No, this type of project is not a good fit and would likely fail,’” Jeffersonville Redevelopment Director Gayle Robinson said in the release.
“We had some ideas about what might work in Jeffersonville, but did not want to move forward without knowing whether or not we were on the right track.”
The idea of a convention center in Southern Indiana has been discussed for the last 20 years, said Jim Keith, executive director of the tourism bureau.
“Our community, Clark and Floyd County, we definitely need a convention center to go to the next level,” he said.
“We’re limited to just a few hundred people right now — more than that and we don’t have the facilities.”
The possibility of a convention center in downtown New Albany also has been discussed.
Studies done by officials in Clarksville have been favorable as well, said Rick Dickman, the town’s redevelopment director. Those studies looked not only at Colgate and the Water Tower Square site, but also the old Dillard’s building at River Falls Mall.
“It’s what’s good for Clark County. Whether it’s in Jeffersonville or Clarksville, we need one.”
However, Dickman stressed the importance of what surrounds any potential convention center construction.
“You have to have a destination,” he said. “In light of Veterans Parkway, there’s a lot to do here.”
Dickman noted that the Clarksville side of Veterans Parkway has restaurants, shopping, movie theaters and a nearby 18-hole golf course. On the other hand, he said, Jeffersonville has numerous eateries and a major hotel in its downtown, as well.
The issue for either community would be finding the investors, a point that was made by Dickman and Galligan.
“Whether we move forward with this project will be based on the answers to a couple of questions,” said Galligan. “Can we agree on a location that will draw people downtown so that we enhance our existing businesses and grow new ones? Can we find private-sector partners to invest in this project to the point that the city’s involvement is affordable?”
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