UPDATE: 90 days later, Deaf Gahan's "blight and eyesore" has been superseded by "eyesore and blight" -- and DNA jauntily approves.

(October above; August below)

Boy, what a difference three months makes. Now two-way traffic on Market affords motorists an entirely different view of the former eyesore.

As the Green Mouse says, "Those gaping holes and half-buried debris are all autumnal and shit."

Too bad the USA is dropping out of UNESCO, or else we might have a new tourist landmark: The Duggins Cool-newal Urban World Heritage Site.

I wonder how many public housing units would fit in this space?

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August 6, 2017: Thanks, Gahan: Deaf called it "a blight and eyesore for the area," so he acted swiftly ... to create another one in its place.

Curiously, NAC's forensics department verifies that Team Gahan only recently has been on the site it has helped keep derelict.

Back in March, a scandal-plagued Jeff Gahan explained why he had to demolish buildings at the corner of Market and Vincennes. He didn't say anything about creating a post-industrial wasteland in the aftermath, but maybe the memo got lost when Duggins took all the city's bulldozers over to the New Albany Housing Authority ... with Democratic Party approval.

But wait.

Maybe it's another case of contractor error.

Previously:

Once again, NA Confidential handily scoops Jeff Gahan's flailing propaganda commissariat, so let's take a glance at the mayor's new theme park.

River Run Family Waterpark is doing so well that an aquatic sequel is planned for the former Market Boy acreage.

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As an addendum, NA Confidential has been unable to confirm whether New Albany Mayor Jeff M. Gahan or anyone working in the city's administration is under federal investigation or indictment for corruption, bribery or racketeering. It is standard policy of the U.S. Justice Department to refuse to confirm or deny the existence or non-existence of investigations or subjects of investigations. A similar policy exists at the F.B.I.

Thanks, Gahan: Deaf called it "a blight and eyesore for the area," so he acted swiftly ... to create another one in its place.

Curiously, NAC's forensics department verifies that Team Gahan only recently has been on the site it has helped keep derelict.

Back in March, a scandal-plagued Jeff Gahan explained why he had to demolish buildings at the corner of Market and Vincennes. He didn't say anything about creating a post-industrial wasteland in the aftermath, but maybe the memo got lost when Duggins took all the city's bulldozers over to the New Albany Housing Authority ... with Democratic Party approval.

But wait.

Maybe it's another case of contractor error.

Previously:

Once again, NA Confidential handily scoops Jeff Gahan's flailing propaganda commissariat, so let's take a glance at the mayor's new theme park.

River Run Family Waterpark is doing so well that an aquatic sequel is planned for the former Market Boy acreage.

---

As an addendum, NA Confidential has been unable to confirm whether New Albany Mayor Jeff M. Gahan or anyone working in the city's administration is under federal investigation or indictment for corruption, bribery or racketeering. It is standard policy of the U.S. Justice Department to refuse to confirm or deny the existence or non-existence of investigations or subjects of investigations. A similar policy exists at the F.B.I.

Son of a Duggins-geddon It: Tommy Lancaster Restaurant dies so that Gahan campaign monetization might live.

Half a block has been cleared without input from an elected official apart from the mayor himself. Coming next to this corner?

All hail redevelopment!

For demolition fetishists, don't worry -- we haven't left you out!

If a CVS materializes here, I'm going to start throwing Molotov cocktails.

Duggins-geddon It: Market Boy dies so that Gahan campaign monetization might live.

Once again, NA Confidential handily scoops Jeff Gahan's flailing propaganda commissariat, so let's take a glance at the mayor's new theme park.

Duggins-geddon It: Market Boy dies so that Gahan campaign monetization might live.

As you can see, the former Tommy Lancaster Restaurant still stands, but it's only a matter of time. Coming next to this corner?

All hail redevelopment!

Once again, NA Confidential handily scoops Jeff Gahan's flailing propaganda commissariat, so let's take a glance at the mayor's new theme park.

Once again, NA Confidential handily scoops Jeff Gahan's flailing propaganda commissariat, so let's take a glance at the mayor's new theme park.

Can someone help us out? Is this a scene from the 1917 twister, the 2017 public housing action plan or the remodeled front room at Tommy Lancaster's? Is there broaster chicken yet?

Discussions here at the blog started over the weekend.

It looks like the demolition of the old Tommy Lancaster's on Market is underway. Presumably, Gahanesque luxury is on the horizon.

The fever for Redevelopment Commission demolition: Lancaster's is coming down, Market Boy is next and incentives are sure to follow.

Now, four days later, City Hall has gotten around to revealing the latest "fix" to occur without substantive public discussion -- perhaps another gentrification project embellished in late-period Suburban Balsa architectural design, coming soon to Uptown just as soon as the abatements, incentives and sewer tap-in waivers are inked.

Verily, Gahan's still "not finished yet," but exactly what do you bequeath a city when you've already tiffed it a luxury indoor astroturf-clad recreation center, a luxury water slide, a luxury apartment complex and a luxury dog grooming park?

The Green Mouse has learned that the mayor plans to fill the space between Market, Vincennes and King Streets with a tourist attraction called Fort Gahan.

As a replica of the Colonial-era trading post built by the pioneering Gahan family, who since January 1, 2012 have officially predated the arrival to New Albany of those upstart poseur Scribners, Fort Gahan will feature an interactive museum dedicated to the city's founding Mac Eacháin family (their name later was shortened to "Jeff"), complete with a trendy eatery priced to suit the beautiful people; children's games like pin-the-tail-on-the-progressive, and a streamlined 24-hour campaign finance portal.

But first, down with those nasty buildings. Take it away, Mike; after all, we know you really said it, not him.

Demolition to Begin Next Week

March 21, 2017

Revitalization set to begin at Vincennes and East Market Streets. The New Albany Redevelopment Commission obtained possession of the old Tommy Lancaster’s Restaurant and Market Boy Convenient Store. Both structures, over years of neglect, have become eyesores and blight in the area. Tommy Lancaster’s Restaurant once served thousands of customers over several decades. However, the restaurant closed in 2011 and has been vacant and deteriorating since its closing. Market Boy, which sits adjacent to Tommy’s, has not seen any improvements for years and too has become a blight and eyesore for the area.

Both properties, Tommy’s and Market Boy, are set to be razed in the coming week. The properties were evaluated and determined to be unsalvageable. Upon demolition, the Redevelopment Commission will begin the process of revitalization by putting the properties together in a Request for Proposal to spur economic development in that area and along the Vincennes corridor.

“Tommy’s and Market Boy are two establishments that have served our community well over the years,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan, “but it is exciting to facilitate and make way for brand new development here in New Albany.”

The fever for Redevelopment Commission demolition: Lancaster's is coming down, Market Boy is next and incentives are sure to follow.

The minutes from September, 2016 (above) tell the story, as we'd already surmised here:

It looks like the demolition of the old Tommy Lancaster's on Market is underway. Presumably, Gahanesque luxury is on the horizon.

The bids were discussed in February, 2017 (March commission meeting minutes aren't yet available).

Potential incentives, abatements, municipal partnerships and campaign finance courtesy parameters have yet to be announced ... publicly, that is. Here is the satellite view of future luxury:

It looks like the demolition of the old Tommy Lancaster's on Market is underway. Presumably, Gahanesque luxury is on the horizon.

Only the functionaries deep within the shadowy bowels of the Redevelopment Commission know for sure, but they're not talking, and it appears the building formerly housing the Tommy Lancaster restaurant is being gutted in preparation for whatever TIF-laden grandiosity is to come.

Last April, we looked at the gradual process by which absentee owner Vinod Gupta's properties on Market and King Streets were being absorbed by the city of New Albany.

Have a look at Vinod Gupta's Discounted IN Properties.

It turns out that the Floridian seller, Vinod Gupta, is a big-time dealer in "discounted" properties (thanks to T for the link).

And this:

Coming soon: The Gupta Vincennes Revitalization Project, built to Caesar-surface glam standards.

Meanwhile, Vinod Gupta, who lives in Florida, made out like a bandit, tripling his money for six years of do-nothingness. Gupta owns 45 properties in Floyd County, and no doubt hopes the likes of (Bob) Caesar convinces the city to overpay him for those, too -- I mean, we simply must make the squalor LOOK better, mustn't we?

Recent Elevate map excerpts (below) show that Gupta's former parcels near (and including) the former Lancaster's have been snatched up by the city, in addition to what used to be Market Boy. Fronting King Street, two city-owned parcels are separated from each other by three properties identified only as "NULL" at the database, suggesting that all five have been joined together.

The vacant corner lot at Vincennes and King remains in private hands. One wonders for how long, and whether a soccer stadium can be made to fit in such a small area. I'm also curious about the city being listed as owner of the railroad right-of-way (final map).

It is probable that Main Street-style beautification lies in store for this area. It's the most efficient means of campaign finance monetization for Jeff Gahan, and we've already outlined his predictably wasted opportunity to civilize Vincennes Street utilizing Jeff Speck's sensible plan.

Imagine heavy trucks still roaring past on Vincennes, with a few garish (and subsidized) painted ladies in a row on King Street, and suburban-style strip mall on the Market Street side, complete with vape shop, nail salon and payday loan operation. Develop New Albany will fall over itself to commission plaques and Pillar awards. Caesar will be delighted; see how nice it all looks now?

Then, when beaks are wet and rosy, perhaps someone can remind the mayor that he hasn't even gotten the $3 million Main Street Rosenbargerization Project right.

Walkability? Fat chance.

Then again, those millions don't tell the whole story, as now the seasonal landscaping and park-like maintenance of Main Street is underway again, thereby enhancing the property values of adjoining advocates of beautification who have continued to insist against all human rationality that none of this was intended to enhance their property values ... but me, I'm waiting for my verge to be similarly manicured, although I'd forego the manicure if they'd just remove the stumps that have been moldering out there for so many years, and of course I'd be even happier if my council representative beamed back down and actually noticed ANY of these things right in front of his house.

In New Albany, holding your breath surely helps with the stench, but you run the risk of suffocating before anyone in a position of authority beholds the obvious.

Coming soon: The Gupta Vincennes Revitalization Project, built to Caesar-surface glam standards.

Folks near Vincennes have been talking about this for months. From September 23, 2015:

Birdseye, here we come: Is Vincennes Street to be the next victim of non-Speck "beautification"?

Now this.

New Albany purchases former Tommy Lancaster's property, by Jerod Clapp (Cooking School at Church)

NEW ALBANY — After sitting vacant, blighted and vandalized for years, New Albany’s Redevelopment Commission approved the purchase of all six parcels of the former Tommy Lancaster restaurant at 1629 E. Market St.

This week, the commission approved the purchase of the parcels — which included the building and the area around it — for $78,840.

From the mouths of the clueless comes drollery, and accordingly, Bob Caesar echoes time-honored conventional wisdom: We needn't interfere with fundamental reality, just hurry and make it LOOK better, so as not to weigh on the orderly sensibilities of suburbanites.

“It’s another small effort to clean up some blighted areas. That whole corner of Market and Vincennes has looked bad for a long number years,” Caesar said. “John Neace [a real estate investor] cleaned up the other side of that road and made it presentable, and other investors have put money into Vincennes Street and have been successful.

“I think if we could acquire all of that, it would be a real asset for the city.”

Meanwhile, Vinod Gupta, who lives in Florida, made out like a bandit, tripling his money for six years of do-nothingness. Gupta owns 45 properties in Floyd County, and no doubt hopes the likes of Caesar convinces the city to overpay him for those, too -- I mean, we simply must make the squalor LOOK better, mustn't we?

The eGIS map excerpts below show Gupta's parcels near (and including) the former Lancaster's.

The corner property at King and Vincennes is vacant but has an owner (who also owns the former Graf Dodge building), and Market Boy still controls its building and the corner parking lot on Market & Vincennes.

Imagine the subliminal messages Market Boy sends Caesar. He probably can't sleep after those rare occasions of venturing into Uptown.

A few weeks ago on a miserable, overcast day, I took a few photos of the area. Note that the dilapidated blue house is not a Gupta property, and has been cited by David Brewer's office. It appears to be empty, but you might recognize it from the mayor's press release belatedly touting rental property registration and enforcement.

Previous rumors suggested the city's interest in commercial development in this area. Now the whispers hint at more painted ladies.

Hurry: Four of Jeff Gahan's delightful gingerbread houses in Midtown remain up for grabs.

It's worth remembering that two huge factors invariably go unmentioned in periodic discussions about the Vincennes corridor.

First, echoing the Speck study, Vincennes Street is ridiculously configured given the traffic it carries. More importantly, the future disposition of one-way Spring and Market streets is critical for any revitalization plan slated for Gupta Land. To keep these streets as they are is to reduce the value of any investments made there.

With the stalwarts of Team Gahan as yet funneling streets engineering cash to the company Duggins' wife works for (was it a competitive bid, Warren?), positing changes to the vacant lots is putting carts before horses. In short: Just like always.

Second, there's the reality mentioned more than once in these pages, namely that the Vincennes corridor's degradation began on the day after the railroad closed the K & I auto lanes, circa 1979. In the modern paradigm, the best conceivable revitalization strategy for this area is a K & I reopened to walkers and bicyclists; the needed private investment would soon follow, without the low comedy of Team Gahan serving as property consultants and developers.

Unfortunately, the K & I gambit is a long shot.

My guess? Main Street-style beautification for Vincennes, which ignores complete street basics; half-ass (or no-ass) "calming" on market and Spring, also serving no useful ultimate purpose; garish painted ladies in a row; and a cheap strip mall with a nail salon and payday loan operation.

Caesar will be delighted: See how nice it looks now?