Tom Kohler, a senior principal with Real Estate Research Consultants, Inc., of Orlando, Florida, gave this presentation to the Huntingburg City Council on Sept. 24.

1. City of Huntingburg
Economic Development
Strategy and
Comprehensive Plan
Update
Presentation September 24, 2013
GG

2. Scope of Services
• Review of 2007 Comprehensive Plan
• Assessment Of Local Market
• Provide Development Options
• Identify Catalytic Sites For
Redevelopment
• Provide Strategic Development Initiatives

3. Stakeholder Interview
Highlights
• Small town feel – great family community
• US 231/SR 64 Styline overpass
• Connection to Interstate 69
• Re-energize 4th
Street/downtown
• Redevelop old hospital area
• Better leverage airport assets
• Better coordinated marketing of downtown,
League Stadium, Memorial Gym
• Need for more labor
• Expand recreational/eco tourism assets
• Enhance entryways to city

4. Summary of Presentation
• Market Data Summary
• Community Places
• Community Connections
• Community Identity
• Community Opportunities
• Incentives And Partnerships
• Next Steps

5. Market Summary
• Evidence of demand for additional development activities
over the next 30 years
• 66,000 to 84,000 SF of GAFO tenants
– Could include tenants such as Marshall’s, T.J. Maxx, Stein
Mart along the US 231 corridor north of downtown
– Restaurants and specialty shops located along 4th
Street in
downtown
• 30,000 to 40,000 SF of office space could be supported
• Additional industrial/warehousing
– Styline Overpass is potential catalyst for additional
distribution and cargo oriented development opportunities
• Limited service hotel (80-120 rooms) on 14th
Street
near Events Center
• Medium density multifamily (150-225) units along US
231 on north end of town (old hospital area)

6. Community Places
• Downtown
• Huntingburg City Park
• Lake Huntingburg
• Memorial Gym
• Churches
• Neighborhoods

7. Downtown 4th
Street
• Historic “Main Street” character
• Good pedestrian scale
• Owner-occupied tenants
• Upper floor potential
• New “beginning” with reconstruction

8. Huntingburg City Park
• League Stadium- home of the Dubois
Bombers
• “League of Their Own” film fame
• Recreational facilities: tennis, Little
League, volleyball, swimming, picnicking
• Large event venue

9. Community Places
Memorial Gym
•Huntingburg Lake
•Churches
•Neighborhoods

10. Community Connections
• Styline Overpass/US 231 reroute
• Expansion of trail system
• Expansion of sidewalk system
• Connecting parks, Huntingburg Lake,
neighborhoods to downtown
• Connecting system to school campuses

11. Community Connections

12. Connection Facilities

13. Example of Design Elements

14. Community Identity
• Quintessential “small town
America” community
• Historic scale of “Main Street”
• Strong spiritual base
• Agricultural roots
• Family-oriented sense of pride
• Outdoor natural beauty/parks
• Has significant potential
beyond its size
• Need better access to
interstate highways

15. Community Identity
Enhancements
• Adopt urban design guidelines
• Develop quality entrance features
• Activate second floor 4th
St. buildings
• Encourage outdoor cafes downtown
• Expand & promote quality special events
schedule
• Promote eco & recreational tourism

16. Urban Design Elements

17. Community Opportunities
• Styline/14th
Street overpass creates
hospitality corridor/ access to more
industrial sites
• Airport potential as a regional supported
port authority
• Redevelopment of “old hospital” area for
mixed uses- TIF district
• “New” downtown 4th
Street design
• Use enhanced trail system as an
economic driver

18. Styline Overpass

19. Hospitality Corridor
• Overpass opens up corridor from US 231
to SR 64
• Added 14thStreet frontage exposure
provides site for new hotel
• Other sites on 14th
Street should develop
as supporting uses
• Possible TIF district in conjunction with
hospital property

20. Old Hospital Area
Development
• Prepare small area plan
• Provide incentive policies to
encourage mixed use development
• Consider creating tax increment
district including Events Center area

21. Airport Support
• Provide funding for completion of Master
Plan- essential for FAA grants
• Continue to push for creation of
regionally supported port authority
• Continue to market shovel-ready airport
development sites
• Enhance research relationship with
Crane Battery Innovation Center
• Focus opportunities on cyberjet
research/production

22. New” 4th
Street
• Complete downtown plan
• Focus on reconstruction
management plan
• Configuration of streetscape options
• Use of sidewalks for cafes
• On/off street parking design
• Accommodation of trail system as
customer generator
• Accommodation of street as venue
• Draft incentive policies

23. Downtown Incentive Policies
• Enhance parking facilities and develop and
marketing brochure for visitors
• Continue and expand façade grants for
downtown properties
• Develop “second floor” program to activate
live/work spaces
• Tenant recruitment incentives

24. Expanded Trail System
• Recognize that outdoor recreational
assets are economic drivers
• Fund an expanded trailway system
• Tie trails to enhanced sidewalk system
for access to school campuses
• Connect trails to parks, Huntingburg
Lake, downtown
• Engage Huntingburg Lake as a key
recreational asset for water related
activities

25. Public Infrastructure
Initiatives
• Styline Overpass
• Gateway features at US
231/14th
Street & SR 64/Styline
• Entryway feature @ 6th
Street /US 231
• New waterline/reconstruct 4th
Street
• Enhanced pedestrian/trail
connections through town
• Develop hospitality corridor on
14th
Street; hotel site

26. Engage New Partners
• Broader support for airport from surrounding
jurisdictions
• Joint marketing with renewed emphasis on
outdoor recreation, eco-tourism & water-related
activities
• Trail system support to tie entire community
together
• Downtown merchants, Chamber and Visitor &
Tourism Council refocus on coordinated
schedule of festivals and special events to
appeal to broader market

27. Next Steps
• Design & construct overpass
• Complete Downtown Plan
• Develop construction program/schedule for new
water line on 4th
Street
• Increase funding for airport to support
preparation of Master Plan
• Identify IDOT funding sources for enhancing trail
system
• Develop incentive policies to activate second
floors on 4th
Street
• Prepare small area/TIF plan for
Events Center/Hospital area