The site of a former match factory on Elmore Street saw its first steps toward reuse Wednesday following the transfer of the property from the city to its Redevelopment Commission.
Approved during a Crawfordsville Board of Works & Safety meeting, the resolution clears a path for the commission to begin evaluating the property and negotiating with potential buyers, Mayor Todd Barton said.
“There was an old brick building there that was falling in years ago. It was an eyesore and a safety hazard, so we had it torn down,” he said. “The goal is to get it redeveloped but it’s hard for the city to do that because the city itself can’t negotiate things, but the Redevelopment Commission can, so we’re moving it over to them.”
The 1.75-acre property, located at 1300 Elmore St., sits in an industrial zone and will be likewise utilized, he added. Specific plans for the site are in the early stages, but Barton speculates a handful of possibilities.
“We’ve had several inquiries, but we’re not very far with any of them. Nothing real solid,” he said, adding that the property’s eastern boundary borders the Louisville and Nashville Railway, which is owned by CSX, providing potential for a collective effort.
