Plan taking shape

PENNVILLE — It’s still a few weeks away from the final presentation, but the plan is taking shape.

Brent Mather of R&B Architects of Indianapolis met with a group of about 25 Pennville-area residents Saturday at Pennville Community Center to share some ideas and get feedback about the revitalization plan he is developing for the town.

The plan, which will be presented Dec. 4 to Pennville Town Council for final approval, is focusing on the Union Street (Indiana 1) corridor, Pennville Library, the former Pennville Elementary School, Pennville Park and a potential recreational opportunity along the Salamonie River.

The last idea on that list would involve reaching back into Pennville’s history, when from the 1880s through the 1920s there was a lagoon with an amusement park and river boat rides along the river on the southwest side of the city. A series of dikes were constructed, Mather said, to move the river closer to town with a mill built along the banks. The idea is to rebuild the dikes that are no longer in place to again create an area that could be used for recreational purposes — a canoe put in/pull out point and a camping area were suggested — and to provide relief from flooding.

“There are lots of roadblocks,” said Mather, noting that such a project would be a long-term goal. “I’m not saying that that happens in one year.

“The idea is that if you have a plan for how it’s going to have all these other benefits, when you go to (government agencies for help) they’re a lot more receptive.”

With Pennville Elementary School now closed — it was discussed as the possible facility for adult education for industry, nursing or agriculture — Mather said the library could be expanded to serve as an after-school learning center and gathering place for area children. Improving and expanding Pennville Park was also key on the list of offering recreational opportunities.

As for Union Street, the goal would be to rehabilitate buildings in the downtown area in addition to repairing and expanding sidewalks. Mather also mentioned areas for potential housing expansion, including land north of the industrial park, south of Hillside Cemetery and in the area of Washington street on the south side of town.

In addition to plan ideas, Mather shared some of the results from a survey that was taken by 155 respondents. It showed the desire for a predominantly local economy (as opposed to a tourist economy) with a top priority of adding more places to eat. The other priorities for community needs included a grocery store, other shopping opportunities, a coffee shop and special events — items Mather referred to as “quality of life” issues.

He noted that an option for small communities like Pennville that don’t have a large enough population to support a stand-alone grocery store is combination businesses that could address several needs under one roof.

Other suggestions from those in attendance included creating a local museum, taking advantage of Pennville’s school choice with buses currently coming from both Jay and Southern Wells schools, constructing an amphitheatre along with the lagoon recreational facility, marketing existing features such as the go-cart track, grist mill and Balbec Cabin and offering night life.

“If we hang out with our friends, we have to go somewhere,” said Branda Manns, noting that it would be great to have somewhere to go in Pennville.

To help bring the ideas in the plan to fruition, Mather also suggested that Pennville create a tax increment financing (TIF) district in order to capture any increased property tax revenue and use those funds to improve the targeted area.