ABOVE: Old Carle Buildingn at 311 West Fairchild (Jennifer Bailey/The News-Gazette)
In addition to the new Danville budget and tax levy being passed at the Tuesday night (Dec 16th) City Council meeting, two developments forwarded by the Public Works Committee last week were passed unanimously. One calls for the tearing down of the old Red Lobster on North Vermilion, clearing the way for a new restaurant complex. The other calls for turning the old Carle building at 311 West Fairchild into a family play and recreation center, including a trampoline park and a new restaurant.
Speaking for the 311 West Fairchild LLC division of developer Zindars Property Management, Eva Rodgers says she can’t wait to get started.
AUDIO: I’d like to make it happen, like tomorrow. But this is a long project, and we are super excited about it.
Attitudes were exactly the same from both Danville Community Development Administrator Logan Cronk and Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr.
AUDIO: We think that they’re a good utilization of taxpayer dollars, but also a good business move. We believe that the fund being allocated will be repaid back to the City of Danville, to be hopefully reallocated for hopefully more future redevelopment projects.
Eva Rodgers addresses Danville City Council about proposed family play and recreation center at 311 West Fairchild.
AUDIO: Folks have said, you know, well before I ever became mayor; that we needed more recreational opportunities and more dining opportunities. And so, both of these projects will provide that to our people.
As far as what happened last week, with Hyster-Yale announcing a future move out of Danville and turning down an opportunity from the city northwest of Bowman and West Newell; both Cronk and Mayor Williams say prep work on that corner continues, and both city and developers intend to find an interested tenant.
AUDIO: The city had allocated resources and time towards extending infrastructure, and allowing for incentives to be utilized at that location. And we see no reason to stop; and intend to market the site just as aggressive as we were before.
AUDIO: As you heard this evening; we’re still going to be constructing the sewer extension, so that those properties are ready for development. We still went ahead with the increase of the enterprise zone; so that we have, again, more land that’s ready to be developed.
Hyster-Yale had announced plans to move their current Danville distribution operation completely to Avon, IN by the end of 2026.
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