Group seeking more answers

Before it votes, Portland Redevelopment Commission wants some questions answered.

At a special meeting Friday morning, commission members delayed a decision on assisting with a residential development project at the Hood Building. 

They also discussed renovating the brick alley adjacent to Community Resource Center, ultimately tabling that matter as well. 

Forza Commercial Real Estate out of Indianapolis has submitted a letter of intent indicating its interest in developing the Hood Building into a 30 to 40 unit apartment complex. 

The building at 309 W. Main St. is owned by The Graphic Printing Company and houses The Commercial Review. 

The CR’s publisher Jack Ronald and community developer Ami Huffman have proposed that the redevelopment commission partner with Portland Economic Development Corporation to purchase the building this year. Then, when Forza is ready to begin construction in 2022 or 2023, it can work out a deal to buy the property. 

The commission and PEDC met Monday for an information session with Forza, hearing more about the proposal and the company’s other development projects in Indiana. 

While several commission members expressed interest Friday in the project, they also brought up the need for more information — including whether tax increment financing (TIF) money can even be used. 

“I’m willing to go on record and say yeah, I’d be in favor of funding part of that, just as long as we can,” said commission member Rusty Inman. “I just want somebody to put it on paper and tell me with a legal letterhead that says ‘yep’ or ‘nope.’” 

At Monday’s meeting, Brent Mather of R&B Architects told the boards that the project is allowed under Indiana code because the apartment complex would be considered a business. 

However, commission president Mark Clemens said Friday that he’s gotten conflicting information about the commission’s ability to help. He’s currently working out an agreement with Bose, McKinney & Evans LLP to offer legal opinion. (City attorney Bill Hinkle recused himself from the project as he is also the attorney for The Graphic Printing Company.) 

Aside from the legal issue, the commission also intends to seek out more information about Forza and the plan for the project. That includes talking with representatives from other cities with Forza developments, obtaining a financial statement for the development and possibly visiting in-progress and completed projects by the company. 

The commission plans to gather the information by July 1 and meet shortly after. PEDC is meeting to discuss the proposal at 4 p.m. Monday. 

Also discussed Friday was the proposed renovation of the brick alley adjacent to Community Resource Center. 

Earlier this year, the commission heard that the alley would have to be partially excavated to install larger utility lines for HoosierBoy Smokehouse and Brew, a restaurant slated to open this year at 105 W. Main St. 

Members considered using that construction as an opportunity to renovate the alley, using a mix of old bricks and new ones and limiting traffic to create a pedestrian space.

While HoosierBoy hit a funding roadblock earlier this year, leaving the need for updated utility lines uncertain, the commission heard Friday that the restaurant is again moving forward. 

Now, it must decide what to do with the alley. The commission received three bids for the project but have not selected one yet. The commission decided to table the discussion until Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman asks Portland City Council for approval of the project. 

Also Friday, the commission voted to allow remote meetings via telephone. That will permit the commission to hold meetings and vote when one or more members cannot attend in person.