Evaluating building

Portland Redevelopment Commission will have an architect and structural engineer evaluate a downtown building that has been declared unsafe.

The commission on Friday morning approved contracts with Silver Creek Engineering and SEBREE Architects to evaluate the former Hunt’s Building.

It also received an update on its economic development plan.

Portland Board of Works had been scheduled to vote on awarding a bid to demolish the former Hunt’s Building at 208 and 210 N. Meridian St. last month but agreed to hold off at the request of the redevelopment commission.

Commission members discussed the building extensively Friday, with consultant Ed Curtin of CWC Latitudes explaining some of the concerns — it is located in the heart of downtown, it is located in the tax increment financing (TIF) district and the economic development plan is in the process of being revised. He also noted that the commission has invested in the adjacent building that LeeAnn Miller is renovating to become the home of her interior design business.

City attorney Wes Schemenaur explained that the city had Jeff Ballard of Wessler Engineering evaluate the building and that his opinion was it is a risk to public safety in its current state. He added that Ballard’s estimate for total repairs to the building is $700,000-plus while he estimated $200,000 to make it safe.

“This is not something that the city took lightly,” he said.

He also noted concern about the building deteriorating further during winter weather.

“I think we really need to have a concrete plan pretty quickly,” he added. “I think the safety concern is pretty paramount right now.”

The bid from JAShroyer of Muncie to tear down the building was originally $250,000, but has since been reduced to $189,000 because the firm will already be in the city to take down the former Bailey Building on Main Street. (That work is now expected to begin Nov. 20.)

Commission members discussed options, with president Rusty Inman saying he is interested in saving the structure but would not be in support of spending city money on a building that is not owned by the city. (Juan Marentes currently owns the building.)

Miller asked about the possibility of making the building safe now and then seeking grants for additional repairs. Curtin noted that most grants would not be available unless the city owns the building.

Commission members Reda Theurer-Miller, Joe Johnston, Mike Simons and Inman, absent Dave Teeter, approved contracts with Silver Creek Engineering and SEBREE Architects in conjunction with plans to reach out to Marentes about whether he would be willing to consider the city taking ownership of the building. The contract with SEBREE of Carmel is not to exceed $1,200 while the contract with Silver Creek of Indianapolis is $190 per hour with an estimated six hours of work.

Steve McIntosh of the city’s board of works also addressed the redevelopment commission, saying he’s not in favor of tearing down buildings but adding that he wants to make sure funds are spent where they can be most effective. As he has previously, he questioned the timing of the redevelopment commission’s Oct. 17 request to delay the process. He noted that the issue has been discussed at meetings and covered in local media since Aug. 10.

Also Friday, Curtin informed the commission that its updated economic development plan is nearly complete. He asked commission members to review the plan in its current form and offer comments and suggestions.

Rundell Ernstberger Associates, which is working with the redevelopment commission on the plan, visited Portland to conduct surveys in July and then held focus groups and a public open house in September as part of developing the plan. Curtin said some of the highlights include enhancing the visual appearance of the downtown area, stabilizing and refurbishing buildings, supporting business creation, retention and growth and attracting and increasing traffic.

He noted that the plan will also suggest looking at changes to the city zoning ordinance regarding conforming lots, saying 96% percent of existing structures in the downtown area do not meet current ordinance requirements. (In most cases, the lots are smaller than the quarter-acre required by ordinance.) The plan will also suggest reviewing the vacant building code in order to clarify processes.

Plans call for holding another public open house in the next few weeks, with redevelopment commission to then consider initial approval of the plan in December. It would then need to go to Portland Plan Commission and Portland City Council for approval before returning to the redevelopment commission for final approval.

In other business, the commission:

•Approved a $50,000 contribution to Jay School Corporation for clothing and equipment related to its skilled trades program, which was reinstated this year. Jay County Junior/Senior High School principal Chad Dodd explained that the course was one of the top priorities indicated in a community survey distributed last fall.

•Informally agreed to submit a project for Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) 2.0, a state program that can allocate up to $75 million apiece ($500 million total) to regions across the state for quality of place, quality of life and quality of opportunity projects.

•Set its 2024 regular meeting schedule for 8 a.m. on the last Friday of January, April, July and October.

•Was reminded by Inman that redevelopment commission seats are one-year appointments — three by the mayor and two by city council. He noted that the city will have a new mayor — mayor-elect Jeff Westlake was in attendance — and at least two new city council members in 2024.

•Approved its financial report, which shows a balance of just under $1.05 million.