Greenwood Unveils Master Plan for Old Town
(image courtesy city of Greenwood)
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowGreenwood Mayor Mark Myers has a dream to turn the property where a middle school once stood into a showcase for the community as it revitalizes the downtown area. The city of Greenwood has released a master development plan for the 19-acre site known as Old Town.
“This is Greenwood’s moment,” said Myers. “To attract residents, businesses and visitors to Greenwood – both now and in the future – we must continue to invest in projects that improve our quality of life.”
Myers attended the school that the city purchased in 2017. It was demolished this year. The master development plan offers land use estimates and schematics of anticipated buildings. The plan set several goals for the property, including the development of a mixed-use destination for housing and retail space. The housing would be a combination of for-sale and rental properties. City officials also want to reinforce district “character” and make it pedestrian-friendly.
“We’re providing developers with guidance and overarching themes fitting the city’s historic and current aesthetic, as well as features common to successful mixed-use projects throughout central Indiana,” said Myers.
The Greenwood Redevelopment Commission gave approval to city officials to offer the first bid solicitation for development of the property. The RDC also approved a market analysis for the property and surrounding areas. The analysis will evaluate financial value of the property but also the impact that creating the development might have on neighbors and the community.
Whatever development city officials eventually agree upon, they want the site to be anchored by a new fieldhouse which would be renovated and expanded from an old gymnasium. Final design plans for that structure were unveiled last week.
“Being born and raised in Greenwood and having lived here nearly my entire life, I cannot remember a more exciting time for our city. The quality of life we offer our citizens is a reflection of what kind of city we want to be,” said Myers.
Bid solicitation will be open for 120 days. City officials anticipate a final project agreement in early 2020.