Evansville neighborhood gets new ‘front door’
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The city of Evansville has repurposed an archway once used as a welcoming sign for the city’s downtown. The arch now serves as a gateway to the city’s growing Jacobsville neighborhood, which Mayor Stephanie Terry called a “cornerstone of a strong, vibrant city.”
The arch at one time sat at the head of Main Street in downtown Evansville but was removed during the construction of the Ford Center. The city’s redevelopment commission moved it to Garvin Park until the recent decision was made to move it to the Jacobsville neighborhood.
Now sitting at the corner of North Main and Franklin streets, the arch features a new “Welcome to Jacobsville” sign at its peak.
“When we pitched this idea to the residents in Jacobsville, the response was overwhelmingly positive,” Evansville Director of Metropolitan Development Kelley Coures said. “The archway not only makes a beautiful gateway into the Jacobsville neighborhood, but also pays a beautiful tribute to a piece of Evansville history.”
The relocation of the arch cost approximately $150,000 and was paid for using TIF funds.
Jacobsville is located just north of downtown and is home to historic Bosse Field and Garvin Park as well as Willard Library, Indiana’s oldest public library. The neighborhood has been the focus of redevelopment efforts for the past decade.
Ted O’Connell, director of development of the Jacobsville Area Community Corp. in Evansville, discussed redevelopment efforts and challenges in the neighborhood in a September Q&A with Inside INdiana Business.