Call for volunteers
I'm not aware of any comprehensive inventory of downtown properties short of a street by street search of the tax records, and I know that can be misleading. While we'll need that, too, I'm calling for volunteers to help us create a necessary component for any renaissance of downtown New Albany.
In any other city, this would be a natural government function, but it's not one the taxpayers are willing to foot the bill for. So let's do it ourselves and do it in a coordinated manner. Anyone who has made a start on this --- please share your work.
I suggest we meet at Destinations Booksellers on Sunday, Jan. 30, at 1 p.m. Short of a blizzard, we'll walk the streets of downtown, however we choose to define it, and catalog the properties on each street, documenting their use(s) and occupants, and take record photographs of same. Later we can determine ownership, further uses and occupants, and official plat designations and tax valuations.
With enough volunteers, we can do this in short order, but if it's just a few of us, we'll keep plugging until our inventory is complete. Weekends are best for me, but we can determine assignments between ourselves.
If you have a passion for bringing downtown New Albany back to life, join us. And post your comments below or e-mail me at ops@destinationsbooksellers.com.
In any other city, this would be a natural government function, but it's not one the taxpayers are willing to foot the bill for. So let's do it ourselves and do it in a coordinated manner. Anyone who has made a start on this --- please share your work.
I suggest we meet at Destinations Booksellers on Sunday, Jan. 30, at 1 p.m. Short of a blizzard, we'll walk the streets of downtown, however we choose to define it, and catalog the properties on each street, documenting their use(s) and occupants, and take record photographs of same. Later we can determine ownership, further uses and occupants, and official plat designations and tax valuations.
With enough volunteers, we can do this in short order, but if it's just a few of us, we'll keep plugging until our inventory is complete. Weekends are best for me, but we can determine assignments between ourselves.
If you have a passion for bringing downtown New Albany back to life, join us. And post your comments below or e-mail me at ops@destinationsbooksellers.com.
posted by All4Word at 1:59 PM
3 Comments:
Definitely check with John Rosenbarger and Scott Woods at NA Planning and Zoning. I'm confident money has already been spent to develop maps, census and other survey information for both the Enterprise Zone and Historic District. I don't know the status of the city's GIS project, but they might even have mapping stuff you could get on CD.
Greg Sekula and Laura Renwick at Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana (284-4534) might also have a serious start on this or can head you in the right direction.
There was a historical review of properties done during Doug England's mayoral run. Unfortunately, I can't remember the exact title and the library's new online catalog search seems to be malfunctioning at the moment.
It's available in the Indiana Room and goes property by property in an attempt to grade each building according to standards for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. A photo is included for most properties that warrant the highest rating of outstanding.
Sunday sounds like fun, though. And a lot like last weekend.
I've seen the book of which bluegill speaks, and it's also available for check-out upstairs.
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