Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Cappuccino yaps at NSP's heels as fire house breathes its last.

I haven't the time to research the specifics, but in my recollection, the firehouse on Green Valley Road dates to around 1990. If memory serves, the design was applauded at the time for being more than just gray socialist utilitarian, but somewhat nicely executed, as reflective of New Albany's architectural heritage -- assuming that the word "heritage" in this context refers to buildings still standing, as opposed to those (Post Office, Court House) torn down to enable asphalt parking lots.

Twenty-three years later, this fire house building is fully expendable and will be demolished so that a non-local corporation can further its profitable aims, but what the hell; there was never any real chance that we might build a new firehouse on Daisy Lane AND turn the old one into a local-only indie green grocer, because THAT would not be in keeping with the garish, chain-choked Wesley Commons a block away, which should induce an unshakable urge to vomit upon sight of the Starbucks and Bob Evans signage.

Those with anything approximating principles hurl, the oblivious sheep keep grazing, and someone is having an orgasm over at One Southern Indiana HQ ... and it's probably Kerry Stemler.

Oh yes, and diligent redevelopment rep Dan Coffey wanna aw-dit ... not of the Bicentennial Commission, because the political protection racket now embraces Bob Caesar, but of the NSP project, and that's all well and good; maybe something will turn up about the 108K solution. Let's aw-dit everyone, except the one's under Cappuccino's friendly umbrella. When Cee-Saw's bill comes due, it's going to be a funny day, indeed.

Commission approves firehouse deal; Coffey calls for audit of NSP project, by Daniel Suddeath (N and T)

... Though the money Kroger will pay to purchase the Green Valley Road station won’t cover a new fire house, an appraiser said Tuesday during the meeting that the actual fire building is pretty much worthless to Kroger.

He said the property was appraised at $350,000, but that the station would likely have to be razed to make way for the expansion.

4 comments:

Iamhoosier said...

You know anyone willing to pay $1.5 million for that property to put in an " local-only indie green grocer?" Or anything else, for that matter.

Jeff Gillenwater said...

Has the Bicentennial Commission paid back the book loan it received from redevelopment? We still don't have anything resembling an accurate sales or profit and loss count, even though the book was initially publicly funded and pitched, like so many other non-disclosed BiC expenditures, as a fund-raiser for later, non-disclosed events and activities.

Strikes me as something a redevelopment commission member might want to consider and/or report as a steward of their money.

We're going to need those funds (and/or boxes of unsold books) to fill that expensive, dumb hole at Rent Boy Park.

The New Albanian said...

Mark: No. It just reminds me of the extent to which the playing field is tilted. It's really a wonder indies stay alive in any form.

Iamhoosier said...

Roger,
I know. I just think this transaction is a no brainer. I'm not a real estate expert but IMO that land is only that valuable to Kroger.

I might dispute how much they want to spend on the new firehouse, though.

Jeff,
Very good point. I had forgotten that the money for the BI-books came from Redevelopment. I knew it came from the city, just not which entity.