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Area Two Acquisition List Approved
(modified April 4)
(posted Mar 16)
No one voiced opposition to being placed on the Area Two acquisition list
at the March 16 public hearing. The Speedway Redevelopment Commission refused
to remove four parcels from the list as requested by Steve Falender. Falender,
who made his request by email, owns the land, but the buildings are owned
by other parties. The properties are Hardee's, Union Jack and the vacant
lot to the east. (The Navigator originally reported Falender also owned
the former BW-3s, based on a statement Executive Director Scott Harris
made during the public hearing. The Navigator corrected our error on April
3 after contacting Mr. Falender.)
Commissioner Ron Fisher urged the parcels remain on the list and gave a
number of reasons to support his request. He stated that the vacant lot
is conducive to allow semi parking. Fisher contends that nobody will ever
buy the property because Falender is not willing to allow others to subordinate
a mortgage on his land. "He owns the land and lets you put up the
building, so it gets into two mortgages. It is a nice scheme to play in
California, bad deal in Indiana." Fisher also expressed concerns with
Falender not spending much time in Indiana. "Steve is never here,
he is either in San Francisco or Aspen. I guess I am jealous, but on the
other hand I'm in Speedway."
Resident Rick Hostetler said he favors responsible redevelopment, but was
bothered by some of the commission's actions. He asked why Vince Noblet's
name was listed on the sales disclosure as the buyer of the former Electric
Steel Castings plant at 10th and Main.
Noblet said "it is in my name since I am president of the commission."
Resident Susan Luebbert said she and SPEED are not against redevelopment,
and the Institute for Justice and Castle Coalition were not brought in,
but chose to attend the March 4 SPEED meeting to help affected property
owners. She asked that Town Manager Barbara Lawrence not use Speedway's
public access channel to express her opinionated views unless every one
has equal opportunity.
During her weekly news show on the town's cable channel, Lawrence said
"a Washington DC law firm was brought in," by citizens opposed
to redevelopment.
Wayne Wilcox referred to some areas in the redevelopment plan as "deconstruction",
especially eliminating Georgetown Road and Mobile Home Park to create a
park. Wilcox said he favors redevelopment, but not deconstruction.
SRC Executive Director Scott Harris said the commission would not be making
offers on property until they know their source of funding. He said if
federal money is issued it requires a different appraisal process than
the state's.
Noblet said he was "disheartened" that SPEED submitted a petition
to not give the town stimulus money. The petition opposed stimulus money
to be used for 16th Street's realignment, the linear park, and Holt Road
extension because the plan dislocates residents and businesses.
Commissioner Benny Grove refuted comments that the SRC is taking property.
He said no properties have been taken and they will purchase property through
legal means.
Dotlich said "If a person is not willing to sell, then it is not a
purchase. It is a taking."
Grove also said that Attorney Scott Treadway's positive comments about
the redevelopment at last month's meeting did not make the news. Treadway's
comments appeared on page S-5 in the printed version of The Speedway Navigator's
February 2009 issue.
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