The Vintage Fire Museum moved to Jeffersonville so that Gahan might monetize.

Fire engines aren't everyone's shtick, but it's worth remembering that the impetus for what is now a Vintage Fire Museum as situated in Jeffersonville came almost entirely from New Albanians, from the Conway collection's inception straight through to the museum's brief residency in the Coyle showroom.

As the corporate welfare housing project at the former auto dealership has unfolded behind Jeff Gahan's perennially closed doors, it has become far easier to understand the reasons for the shabby treatment accorded the fire museum's stalwarts by Gahan and his economic dishevelment chief David Duggins.

They had a two-for-one TIF/sewer waiver deal to be completed just in time for the 2015 political calendar, and so the fire museum was given the bum's rush. The museum may or may not have been a good fit at the Coyle site, but what's clear now is that it did not fit into Gahan's governance-by-monetization worldview -- after all, how on earth could a handful of geezers ever kick back campaign finance to the tune of fat cats like Flaherty Collins?

I'm happy to see the Fire Museum's ongoing progress in Jeffersonville, and even more delighted that Rick, Kim and the crew at Donum Dei stepped in to help with an event that I wasn't able to organize. Thanks, guys.

'Chili, Brats & Brew' celebrates Jeff fire museum, by Jenna Esarey (C-J)

My Saturday, Part 1: Chili, brats, beer and Bir at the Vintage Fire Museum in Jeffersonville.

The beer, music and majority of the museum's volunteers came to yesterday's fundraiser from New Albany. As noted, the museum itself is situated in Jeffersonville. I merely note these observations in the service of exceedingly weird history.

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Drinking Progressively: Let's make it Tuesday evenings, beginning on November 25.

Three things to do on a warm Saturday in November that don't involve watching sports.

The Friday night portion of Bank Street Brewhouse's pop-up kitchen with Taco Punk (Gabe Sowder) seemed to go pretty well. It'll play again tonight, beginning around 6:00 p.m.

Pop-Up Taco Punk at Bank Street Brewhouse, Nov. 21 & 22 (6 p.m. - close).

In Jeffersonville: How could I say no to Curt Peters, my philosophy mentor at IU Southeast, when he asked if NABC could bring Rosa L. Stumblebus, our draft truck, to the Vintage Fire Museum today?

Vintage Fire Museum offers "Chili, Brats, and (NABC) Brew," this Saturday.

A short distance from the Vintage Fire Museum, our pals from Indy are opening their tap room. Brewing is to follow early next year.

Flat12 Bierwerks taproom location in Jeffersonville: "Soft" opening on Nov. 22, grand opening on Dec. 6, brewing to follow.

Thanks to readers who support these and other events. Think globally ... drink (and eat, and shop) locally.

Drinking Progressively: Let's make it Tuesday evenings, beginning on November 25.

Devil's Rock night club is opening on Main Street.

Did you know that Preston Arts Center is still a location in which one can "Shop Downtown New Albany", even though its Indiana branch's doors have been closed for three years?

Ditto for the Vintage Fire Museum, no longer located in New Albany, but in Jeffersonville.

It says so right there on Develop New Albany's web site. I suppose these entities are grandfathered into their present categories owing to previous incarnations and membership pay schedules.

Unusually, the same web site still lists Cafe 27, the Main Street bistro that closed a couple months ago. The successor to Cafe 27, Devil's Rock Night Club and Concert Venue, is nowhere to be found on the site, even if DNA itself still touts real estate listings in Outer Timbuktu.

The newspaper gets to the very bottom of it here. Personally, I don't see what all the fuss is about.

The Fire Museum is gone. Now, what happens to the Coyle property?

Walking westbound on Spring Street yesterday afternoon, I noticed the temporary message board at the Vintage Fire Museum being loaded atop a trailer, and Curt Peters stacking boxes into a pickup truck. A glance behind the windows at the former Coyle Chevrolet showroom revealed -- nothing. The museum's apparently gone to Jeffersonville.

We've covered this ground previously, but it's worth recalling the gist of it: In and of itself alone, the Vintage Fire Museum never would have been a game changer downtown. However, as a component of an organized downtown economic development strategy, it surely could have played a role. The museum's departure to Jeffersonville tells us:

1. As yet, the city of New Albany's downtown economic (and overall) development strategy remains piecemeal at best, and non-existent at worst. Entities petition for money and favors. Sometimes they get it, and sometimes not.

2. The city of Jeffersonville, though still quite capable of ineptitude, at least has such a strategy and has funded it. In the past, I've been approached quite informally and casually by Jeffersonville officials, so as to let me know what their city could do for a business like mine -- downtown. I thank them and carry on, all the while thinking: But why not the same in New Albany, apart from an absence of will to implement it?

3. The Vintage Fire Museum's departure informs us: It's time for vigilance with respect to the future of the Coyle property's vast asphalt expanse, both because an historic building is at stake, and owing to the nature of frequent hints that development there would come in the form of housing -- thus suggesting that cynics like me establish up front just how much the inevitable, giveaway parking garage will cost us. Earlier this summer, the Green Mouse overheard city officials and the 6th district banker/councilman discussing the future of the historic showroom building, and whether it would survive a development deal or be demolished; when asked about it, the councilman ominously replied: "Just a rumor. Though all options should be considered when redeveloping a property."

But all options should NOT be considered when voting on a non-binding resolution. It's a curious world we live in, and an even stranger city. While enjoying today's holiday, remember the Thrasher axiom: "We're all here because we're not all there."

Vintage Fire Museum’s Chili Cook-Off is Nov. 14, and city's economic development plan is ... is ...

The Vintage Fire Museum soon will be moving to Jeffersonville, but for now it remains New Albanian. In the photo, Curt Peters previews the Museum's approaching fundraiser for the Board of Works audience earlier this week.

The Vintage Fire Museum’s 5th Annual Chili Cook-Off takes place on Thursday November 14, 2013 from 5:30-8:00 pm. It will be held at the The Grand on 138 E. Market St, New Albany, Indiana.

Following are the Top Three Things we know for sure about the Chili Cookoff.

1. The museum's restored 1937 flood-time floating fire truck (above) will be unveiled.
2. The chili will be good.
3. The Grand won't bother with craft beer at the cash bar for the occasion. Does it ever?

Sighhhh ... it's probably time to send Blake to The Grand and explain localism to them (again), but in the meantime, as we wish the best to the Vintage Fire Museum in transitional days to come, it's worth a reprise of thoughts published here in August.

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What's the plan, and if there's a plan, how are we to know?

We now know that the Vintage Fire Museum will be moving to Jeffersonville, and that Curt Peters takes the high road (as always) in explaining the museum's ongoing regional basis while barely mentioning the nifty $500 a year lease making such a move inevitable.

Understandably, museum backers are disappointed. But we also know there are two sides to every story, and we've discussed the concept and implications of the fire museum in the past. It was never a panacea for New Albany, to be sure, but could have been a nice addition under favorable circumstances. You know ... as part of an overall plan.

Just let me try to explain, very briefly, what strikes me in all of this. It's not about the fire museum, itself. Primarily, it's that as various issues like this one come and go, and decisions are made (or not made), it is maddeningly difficult to see any pattern, and if there is one, it is a plan largely undertaken without substantive public input.

Consider the following, listed randomly.

• The UEA shifts part of its bounty to Quills, but Lancaster's moves to Clarksville.
• Taming the Main Street corridor is absolutely vital, but other looming grid necessities downtown (one-way streets impeding revitalization) are placed on the seemingly permanent back burner.
• Projects already in an advanced state of planning (Slate Run) suddenly look shaky, and for financial reasons.
• Millions of dollars for two new showpiece parks are declared a priority, but neighborhood pocket parks are not, and there is no consideration as to access for these new parks apart from autos.
• The riverfront amphitheater remains mostly unused, with all attention on Bicentennial Park.
• Another Harvest Homecoming almost is here, with no action or discussion with respect to its disruption of downtown revitalization. Why?
• Nearing the halfway point of the current administration, are there any ideas for downtown housing, parking, pedestrians and bicycles? If so, they've not been revealed.
• There is no currently strategy for coping with the dislocations of the bridges project.
  

My point is simple: What's the plan, and if there's a plan, how are we to know?

In the absence of substantive and sustained transparency, how can any of this be viewed other than as piecemeal and reactive?

Say what you like about Jeffersonville, but at least there seems to be something unified about its current planning direction, something that suggests awareness of challenges and complexities ahead.

Yes, New Albany's had a nice, non-threatening, Chautauqua-style Bicentennial celebration. Unfortunately, it looks increasingly like a wasted year, one during which too much money is being thrown at too few goals, none of which has yet to involve the public.

Is it too much to ask to have a plan, and for the plan to be shared?

Losing an anatomically correct fire museum is even tougher.

Don't blame the photographer. I spotted the refashioned sign early Saturday morning in route to the farmers market.

What's the plan, and if there's a plan, how are we to know?

We now know that the Vintage Fire Museum will be moving to Jeffersonville, and that Curt Peters takes the high road (as always) in explaining the museum's ongoing regional basis while barely mentioning the nifty $500 a year lease making such a move inevitable.

Understandably, museum backers are disappointed. But we also know there are two sides to every story, and we've discussed the concept and implications of the fire museum in the past. It was never a panacea for New Albany, to be sure, but could have been a nice addition under favorable circumstances. You know ... as part of an overall plan.

Just let me try to explain, very briefly, what strikes me in all of this. It's not about the fire museum, itself. Primarily, it's that as various issues like this one come and go, and decisions are made (or not made), it is maddeningly difficult to see any pattern, and if there is one, it is a plan largely undertaken without substantive public input.

Consider the following, listed randomly.

• The UEA shifts part of its bounty to Quills, but Lancaster's moves to Clarksville.
• Taming the Main Street corridor is absolutely vital, but other looming grid necessities downtown (one-way streets impeding revitalization) are placed on the seemingly permanent back burner.
• Projects already in an advanced state of planning (Slate Run) suddenly look shaky, and for financial reasons.
• Millions of dollars for two new showpiece parks are declared a priority, but neighborhood pocket parks are not, and there is no consideration as to access for these new parks apart from autos.
• The riverfront amphitheater remains mostly unused, with all attention on Bicentennial Park.
• Another Harvest Homecoming almost is here, with no action or discussion with respect to its disruption of downtown revitalization. Why?
• Nearing the halfway point of the current administration, are there any ideas for downtown housing, parking, pedestrians and bicycles? If so, they've not been revealed.
• There is no currently strategy for coping with the dislocations of the bridges project.

My point is simple: What's the plan, and if there's a plan, how are we to know?

In the absence of substantive and sustained transparency, how can any of this be viewed other than as piecemeal and reactive?

Say what you like about Jeffersonville, but at least there seems to be something unified about its current planning direction, something that suggests awareness of challenges and complexities ahead.

Yes, New Albany's had a nice, non-threatening, Chautauqua-style Bicentennial celebration. Unfortunately, it looks increasingly like a wasted year, one during which too much money is being thrown at too few goals, none of which has yet to involve the public.

Is it too much to ask to have a plan, and for the plan to be shared?

Fire Museum to inept newspaper: "We're not dead yet."

Truth-telling, New Albany style. The museum reacts to a News & 'Bune headline, "Vintage fire museum to close doors."

NAC made every effort to reach CNHI shareholders in Alabama retirement homes for a comment, but none of them care.

On the Vintage Fire Museum and whether it will remain in New Albany.

If you're interested in helping support the concept of a Vintage Fire Museum located in New Albany, whether at its current site amid the former Coyle auto sales property, or somewhere else hereabouts, now's the time to do some earnest brainstorming. We're told a crossroads lies just ahead.

The Green Mouse has learned that as negotiations between museum backers and the departed Coyle family founder, the city of Jeffersonville has offered a "free" building to house the historic fire equipment.

It would be a shame to waste the work already done. A cadre of committed individuals has put in long hours and hard work toward making a go of the museum here in New Albany. Seeing as the fire museum would be a niche destination for visitors, it conceivably might be located just about anywhere in town, leaving the Coyle property to be adaptively reused in an arguably more appropriate fashion.

My suggestion echoes that of the former UEA director Mike Ladd: Gut the main multi-story portion of the Sprigler-owned "Commercial Building" opposite the Carnegie on Bank Street and place the museum there. It'd be less expensive to do that than work necessary to restore the Coyle property, wouldn't it? It would give the Sprigler family an anchor tenant, and New Albany would be able to offer two museums (and a brewery, and two restaurants) on one block.

Any ideas?

Today: The Publican at the Vintage Fire Museum in downtown New Albany.

If you're out and about in downtown New Albany this afternoon, I'll be at the Vintage Fire Museum (411 East Spring Street) between the hours of five and seven, pouring NABC beer samples at the invitation of my former IU Southeast philosophy guru, Dr. Curtis Peters. The public is invited.