VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – Vigo County Commissioners bought the old International Paper plant property years ago for $550,000.
For years it sat untouched until it last fall when it was declined for rezoning for the new Vigo County Jail by the County Council.
In Tuesday morning’s meeting, commissioners decided to open the property to investors.
“We wanna see some improvements done on that,” said Vigo County Commissioner President Brad Anderson. “So we’ve put an RFP out for investors that are looking to do something, to lease it to them and make improvements on that.”
Ideas from officials and residents range from a concert venue to a green space.
Resident Veronica Richardson wants the property to benefit local children.
“I think they should have a water park here for the kids here,” she explained. “That way they don’t have to go to Plainfield and they can be right here in Terre Haute.”
Michael Shaw, President of the local landscape revitalization group Riverscape, said this opportunity for improvement will add to the group’s community wide Riverscape plan.
“This is really an exciting area for our community to develop along the river. It’s the largest piece of land in that area so it’s a great area to see developed,” he said. “And it will really anchor future development in that whole southern part of the Riverscape plan.”
Commissioners hope to see the property benefit locals, and bring in tourism as well.
Anderson expects to see bids come in within the next two to three weeks, after which commissioners will decide what the property will become.
“They’ve got 60 acres there that, you know, it may turn into something nice,” he said.
