NEW PALESTINE — Over 30 years ago someone in New Palestine had an original idea for creating a town center gathering spot. Town manager Jim Robinson was recently given the older plans for the town center long after he’d been working on creating the same type of town space for the community.
“It’s funny how I was able to get that old blueprint that was over 30 years old, and it is pretty similar to the new proposal we’ve been working,” Robinson said.
Over the past year and a half, Robinson has quietly been working behind the scenes with investors to develop 80-acres off of U.S. 52 and CR 550W in New Palestine that would be developed as a true Town Center.
The project would include a new Town Hall with conference rooms and offices. The plans include an outdoor amphitheater, shops, a community park and some type of housing that might include town homes and cottages.
“It’s funny because the old layout we found was basically being proposed in the same spot we’re planning on using,” Robinson said. “I’d never even seen the plans before until a man who owns the area next to where we are interested in showed me a drawing he had, so when I rolled it out and saw it, I was like ‘Wow! This is unreal.’”
Robinson’s plans are more progressive and encompass more for the community. He’s working with two developers and says they are close to making a New Palestine Town Center a reality. The two developers, Ray Cox and William Cooper, have already created an LLC. Robinson said they have already hired USI Consultants Inc. as their engineers for the massive project.
“As far as the housing part of this, we’ve got people coming out of the woodwork who want to be a part of this development, so we’re in really good shape here,” Robinson said.
The two developers will own most of the property within the 8- acre project with the town probably owning two to three acres for the new Town Hall, complete with parking.
“We couldn’t ask for a better location for this type of community project,” Robinson said. “Since there is an area with a flood plane within the property, we’d use that area for a park.”
The idea for the development is to marry old New Palestine with the newer part of New Palestine to help the town create a better community feel than what they have currently.
“We want to have a place to get people out and together,” Robinson said.
During a recent council meeting, Robinson shared an update on the proposed Town Center project, complete with early rendering ideas, and was pleased that all council members were on board.
“How soon can we start?” Council Vice President Bill Niemier said.
Robinson said an eight-month contract has been signed, and the developers will now study the land over the next several months to make sure the property is suitable. Should the study show the land is not right for development, the contract would allow for the developers to back out.
Robinson, however, is optimistic and noted the council will have a say with the development of the new Town Hall. Niemier said as long as the building doesn’t look like a bank (which the current Town Hall is), he’d be good with any type of plans for a new Town Hall.
“Collectively, as a group we will need to figure out what we want our Town Hall to look like,” Robinson said.
Council President Teri Reed is of the same mindset as Niemier and asked Robinson when he would be back to discuss the plans further. Robinson said he planned to share updates on the project, including development plans, with the council as they become available in the coming months.
“I’d like to be back here as soon as this summer with signed signatures and better developed plans,” Robinson said.
The good news surrounding the project, Robinson noted, is the vast majority of the cost is covered by the developers with the town having to handle only their part, which includes developing a new Town Hall. Robinson noted the town can probably afford costs for the new Town Hall and maybe even an amphitheater, but might have to go outside and get financial help to develop the park.
Robinson noted they might be looking to spend an estimated $2 million to $3 million for a new Town Hall, but the tax hit would be so small that residents would hardly notice an increase. Robinson stated tax breaks on the senior center in New Palestine are scheduled to stop next year, so timing on the new project is “perfect.”
“We know this is a lot of work and we thank you for putting this all together,” Council Secretary Chad Molinder said.
