Four months have passed since neighborhood pressure helped defeat a second proposal to develop 70 acres at the north end of
Crown Hill Cemetery.
A partnership of environmental groups including Indy Parks, Central Indiana
Land Trust and Indiana Department of Natural Resources want to buy the mostly wooded land. But so far, their efforts to put
it under contract have been rebuffed. Property Lines has learned some of the details of their offer: The group would pay the
cemetery the same amount called for in the developer's contract, $5.6 million, provided the price is supported by an appraisal.
And the cemetery would have to allow 18 months for fundraising before the deal closes. The groups don't want to begin raising
money until they have some comfort they could actually deliver the property, while the cemetery doesn't want to pull the land
off the market without a financial commitment. "We're looking for some strong indication there is the financial support,"
said Crown Hill CEO Keith Norwalk. Jay Peacock, chairman of the cemetery's Board of Managers, said discussion of the land's
future is "back to square one."
A partnership of environmental groups including Indy Parks, Central Indiana
Land Trust and Indiana Department of Natural Resources want to buy the mostly wooded land. But so far, their efforts to put
it under contract have been rebuffed. Property Lines has learned some of the details of their offer: The group would pay the
cemetery the same amount called for in the developer's contract, $5.6 million, provided the price is supported by an appraisal.
And the cemetery would have to allow 18 months for fundraising before the deal closes. The groups don't want to begin raising
money until they have some comfort they could actually deliver the property, while the cemetery doesn't want to pull the land
off the market without a financial commitment. "We're looking for some strong indication there is the financial support,"
said Crown Hill CEO Keith Norwalk. Jay Peacock, chairman of the cemetery's Board of Managers, said discussion of the land's
future is "back to square one."
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Well, maybe not since they got their property tax bills...
Indy Parks / DNR want to purchase the land which will keep it untaxed. They want to purchase with donations, but what happens about the upkeep and police patrol? End result will be increased taxes.
However, there are enough knowledgeable posters here to wonder whether an appraisal can be obtained for $80,000/ acre.
I love seeing new life in old neighborhoods!
While a residential/commercial development would expand the tax base and thus eventually provide some tax relief for the homeowners in the area, you might want to do a bare amount of estimating to realize it would be a very small change. The tax base in the area is gigantic and another 100 homes and a strip mall won't budge the needle. You might save $5.
Real property tax reflief must come from decrased spending, especially in the schools and township offices, not from Bart's $75M borrowing gimmick, or the idea of putting everyone on a payment plan for the amount of the increase. These are temporary fixes. Glad to see Mitch order a compelte reassessment, espcially business property. It's nuts to adjust all the homeowners to market value and leave commercial porperty as is.
Go ahead, call me a mercenary Philistine. But I'll bet you think your own property taxes are too high, too.
There is abundant open and green space in that immediate vicinity between Butler, CTS, IMA, Woodstock, the rest of Crown Hill and the Canal Trail. Creating or preserving park space there doesn't serve people who live in far more densely-populated parts of Indianapolis.
Have you ever heard of sprawl? Since homes and business won't be developed in the city, they will continue to sprawl out to the surrounding areas. You might want to consider all the longer car trips, more car trip, etc. in your air pollution and global warming rant. Beside the natural beauty of someone elses property,which could be gone tomorrow with every tree cut down for use of graves, the current condition of the fenced property is only enjoy as people speed past in the cars. Yes cars, polluting the air as they speed past the area.
The idea of an ecology research institute as suggested as a rumor from Butler Grad is a great idea, but have you heard of the Marian College Eco Lab? It is more than 40 acres of wetland, floodplain, and forest area that serves as an outdoor biology labratory. Sounds like a ecology research institute to me, plus if you have ever seen the EcoLab you would know it is much better than the Crown Hill land. Plus there is the new IMA art and nature park. I haven't been there yet, but I am sure it's great.
I would have to agree with the majority of posters and say the land should be developed, not only to increase a much needed tax base, but also help with the decline in the neighborhood. After all a poster did say it should stay as it is mentioned there are a lot of homes for sale and failing or empty business corners in the area. Sounds like a neighborhood in decline.
A good example is Fall Creek Proper. New homes, new neighbors, lots of new life is needed in the neighborhood in decline.
I love seeing new life in old neighborhoods!
Sorry, but I see a lot of passionate, but uninformed posts here.
You are mistaken if you think development of that area will decrease property values. Perhaps a few construction workers is just what the area needs to chase away the robbers who have been preying on nearby retired folks.
The comparison to 25th and Delaware is excellent and demonstrates how these urban spaces are ripe for development.
Environmentalists, considering all the of the other options in the vicinity, I have to say, your arguments simply don't hold water.