Thrusday, January 07, 1999
Study to revitalize Lawrenceburg begins
2 factions target casino patrons
BY RACHEL MELCER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. — With a million dollars in hand and a design study beginning today, an historic preservation group is planning to develop three blocks of High Street.
And so are city officals.
Although their priorities are not the same, the factions hope to compromise in turning the vacant, dilapidated proper ties into a hotel, conference center, shops and homes or apartments.
Council members want to revive the failing downtown commercial area and lure customers from the nearby Argosy Casino and Hotel. They say economic development is their No. 1 priority.
The Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana Inc., the self-proclaimed largest statewide preservation organization in the country, wants to save a half-dozen 19th-century row homes and the Jesse Hunt House, Indiana's oldest three-story brick building.
The two sides are attempting to work together, after months spent sparring over their different views.
Local preservationists sued the city to save the Hunt House from demolition last year. They settled out of court, agreeing to work on a compromise that is just beginning to materialize.
If the tentative partnership should fail, the city, which owns the land, likely will come out on top. But the foundation has the funds and political backing to mount a formidable court challenge.
Both groups say that with this project, the soul of Lawrenceburg is at stake.
“You can't save it all and make it all like it was at the turn of the century. ... But I think you can do a nice mix,” said Bill Browne, president of Indianapolis-based Ratio Architects, hired by the foundation to complete a project master plan by March 1.
“The key to any urban development that is responsible, is it's got to be win-win for everyone.”
Residents and downtown business owners are anxiously watching the project, which has come to symbolize the re vitalization they expected — but did not realize — when Lawrenceburg won the area's first riverboat casino license.
Golden Nugget Las Vegas bought the three blocks of land in 1994, expecting to be chosen as the casino operator — and held onto it after losing the license to Argosy. Following years of contentious negotiations, the city purchased it for $3.5 million last summer.
The city planned to demolish the Hunt House and other historic buildings to make way for a state-of-the-art conference center and hotel. But they were stopped by the pres ervationists' lawsuit.
When the Landmarks Foundation study is completed next month — and compared to a similar study to be undertaken by a city contractor — the factions will know if they can work together.
“Currently, we've got a good rapport among us all. It's just that we have to put all the pieces together to see if they fit,” said Roland Horney, municipal development director.
Together, the city and association applied for a $50,000 state planning grant. And the association says it will invest up to $1 million to make sure the historic properties are preserved and renovated — and may even offer to buy some of the land.
But Lawrenceburg officials say that if there is a conflict, the city's economic future must come first.
“If you can't economically justify making (the historical buildings) a part of it, if it costs too much money to renovate or whatever you're going to do ... then they might have to go away,” said Tom DeWees, chairman of the redevelopment commission.
Officials plan to begin removing some asbestos and dealing with other hazards on the property in about 90 days, Mr. Horney said. And then they will start architectural design and engineering.
“There's still kind of a distance between us and the city,” said Drew Boggs, the foundation's director of real estate and administration. “But I would say the city has been very positive about trying to allow (us) to play a role.”
The historic nature of the High Street land would be an added attraction to tourists. And it would preserve the city's identity as a 19th century Ohio River town.
“Our hope is that the city will see that there is a real opportunity here to do something really unique ... that most cities in the state of Indiana don't have,” Mr. Boggs said.
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