Downtown Terre Haute, like city centers in hundreds of Midwestern communities the past four decades, has seen its share of dark days.
With those memories still fresh in the minds of many, it is particularly heartening to see the pride, excitement and enthusiasm that now exists in the downtown sector of this vibrant city.
That pride, excitement and enthusiasm were on full display Thursday night when Downtown Terre Haute Inc. presented its annual Heritage awards to honor businesses and individuals who have contributed mightily to the ongoing revitalization of such an important district of our community.
The awards banquet fittingly took place in the beautifully restored Ohio Building on Ohio Street, just off South Seventh. The enormous investment and effort that went into saving that historic structure continues to stand as an example of the treasures that can re-emerge when people with vision and community commitment rise up to meet a challenge that nearly everyone else has given up on.
The last five years have been very, very good for the heart and soul of Terre Haute’s historic downtown. So many good things have happened on the revitalization front that it is now sometimes difficult to remember all of them.
Rest assured, the work of the award winners announced Thursday night will not soon be forgotten. And it really says something special that there were two winners for design in the private-sector category of The Downtown Heritage Awards.
Boo and Gary Lloyd, Peter and Melony Sacopulos and Todd Nation were one set of honorees. Their work was done on a building at the southwest corner of Seventh and Wabash that houses a number of small businesses, including the popular Crossroads Cafe and Book Nation. The second design award went to Pete and Jackie Wilson, owners of the Coffee Grounds on the south side of Wabash Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets.
The public-sector award was given to the Vigo County commissioners for the inspired remodeling and renovation of the majestic Vigo County Courthouse, a project that took more than three years to complete.
The economic restructuring award went to Dora Brothers Hospitality Corp. for the Candlewood Suites Hotel in the Tribune Building on Wabash between Seventh and Eighth streets. The tremendous boost of economic energy that Dora Brothers’ hotels — the Candlewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn across the street — has infused in the downtown district is immeasurable. That both are enjoying great success so far is a tribute to the vision of those who promoted the projects over the skepticism and objections of critics.
The Vigo County Public Library also received well-deserved honors for its promotion of downtown events and initiatives. Individual awards to Roy Dressler, a past DTH president, and Veronica Dougherty, a tireless community volunteer , highlight the impact hard-working, dedicated people can have when energy is channeled to worthy causes.
Downtown Terre Haute Inc. and Executive Director Andrew Conner are to be commended for the positive and sustained energy they have brought to the city center in the organization’s relatively young life.
We applaud this year’s winners and look forward to continued progress and development. And we wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment expressed at the banquet by Pete Sacopulos, one of the award winners.
“I have never been more upbeat about downtown Terre Haute than I am now,” he said.
To Mr. Sacopulos: Well said. To DTH and its award winners: Well done.
Editorials
TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: Job well done downtown
Awards demonstrate great momentum in city’s center
- Editorials
-
-
EDITORIAL: Remembering Henryville
In the era of instant communication, the past seems to arrive much quicker.
-
EDITORIAL: Towering response
It comes as incredibly sad news that a Garfield Towers resident has succumbed as the result of a fire last week at the northside apartment complex.
-
EDITORIAL: Independent running mates
Almost certainly, running mates will not influence voters choosing Indiana’s next governor.
-
EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news
• Cream of the crop
• Keep the ideas flowing
• Remembering fallen officers
-
EDITORIAL: Hazards of the spring abundant now on I-70
A major holiday weekend is approaching. The weather has been consistently inviting for travel and outdoor activity. Gas prices are even inching downward.
-
EDITORIAL: Embrace the Sycamores
Terre Haute should understand the rarity of an opportunity to celebrate a championship.
-
EDITORIAL: Good choice for stability
For the first time in 25 years, Indiana will have a new chief justice for its Supreme Court. For those who value stability on the state’s highest court — and we count ourselves among those who do — the appointment Tuesday of longtime Justice Brent Dickson is good news.
-
EDITORIAL: Correcting the prison imbalance
Terre Haute will no longer count federal prisoners when the city slices its population into six equal City Council districts. That decision by the City Council last week to remove the inmates at the Terre Haute Federal Correctional Complex from the council district mathematical formula may not make waves, but it makes sense.
-
EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the News
• Sometimes bureaucracies do listen
• April hours bring May flowers
• Getting our airport off the ground
-
EDITORIAL: When it’s IU vs. UK, there’s got to be a way
If the annual Indiana-Kentucky basketball game was not significant, would the coaches of the two universities be talking like this?
-
EDITORIAL: Sen. Lugar’s compelling message
Richard Lugar, no stranger to reading political tea leaves, undoubtedly knew for weeks that defeat was coming Tuesday night in his primary fight for re-election against a more-conservative-than-thou opponent. A statement Lugar released just hours after his loss of titantic proportions indicates that the six-term incumbent saw the reality even before he knew Richard Mourdock was to be his opponent this May.
-
EDITORIAL: Reviewing the landscape
The compelling story line surrounding the race between Richard Lugar and Richard Mourdock dominated most of the local primary election chatter. With those stunning results now in the books and Mourdock heading toward a showdown with Democratic Party nominee Joe Donnelly of South Bend (the current U.S. House rep from the 2nd District), it’s time to survey the landscape for other general election races that will be worthy of attention.
-
EDITORIAL: GOP changed; Lugar didn’t
Six terms. Overwhelming popularity. A statesman and a gentleman. A visionary. An icon in the annals of U.S. Senate leadership, even world leadership. So dominating on the political landscape that the opposing party did not even produce a candidate in the last election.
-
EDITORIAL: An exercise in democracy
Primary elections rarely draw the same levels of participation as general elections.
-
EDITORIAL: Fight against child abuse demands ongoing attention
As with many of our nation’s most maddening and perplexing social problems, one hardly knows how to fathom the egregious wrongs that occur when a child is abused.
-
EDITORIAL: A ‘giant’ for his hometown
Home is where the heart is. That’s true for all of us. In addition, your heart can take you home.
-
EDITORIAL: Curbing corruption a worthwhile crusade
If you are cynical about government, down to its most local levels, you may think it is overrun — or even controlled — by corruption.
-
EDITORIAL: The politics of Primary 2012
In less than a week, voting Hoosiers get a chance to make a statement about the future of politics in their state and beyond. But whatever that statement turns out to be, the final punctuation marks won’t be added until November. It’s possible that nothing will be settled by the end of the night May 8.
-
EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news
• Their footsteps can lead us
• It would be music to his ears
• Feeding a genuine need
-
EDITORIAL: Hoosier Republicans should stick with Richard Lugar
Until late 2008, most Hoosiers were quite pleased — and in many cases, darn right proud — to call Richard Lugar their senior U.S. senator.
-
EDITORIAL: Matt Branam: 1954-2012
The sudden death of 57-year-old Matt Branam on Friday morning continues to leave an air of sadness hanging over the community.
-
EDITORIAL: A transplant from St. Ann’s
It would be understandable, for most of us, if we were madder than the opposite of heaven if a beloved, historic, personal part of our lives was to be taken away against our will.
-
EDITORIAL: Pragmatic approach to downtown development benefits community
Terre Haute has known for some time now that Indiana State University’s master plan includes creation of student residential centers off-campus in the nearby downtown area.
-
TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: A salute to pride of ’55
Terre Haute gets the chance to witness and appreciate the extent of its rich baseball legacy this Saturday. Its past and present will merge at Bob Warn Field.
-
EDITORIAL: A match of Mitt and Mitch?
Not every Indiana governor’s endorsement of a presidential candidate has made instant national news as did Mitch Daniels’ support for Mitt Romney on Wednesday.
-
EDITORIAL: Drilling for fairness
Consistency and fairness were on trial Monday as the Vigo County commissioners grappled with a controversial rezoning request from a property owner who wants to drill for oil on his land near Hawthorn Park northeast of Terre Haute.
-
EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news
Cheers, jeers and tears
-
EDITORIAL: Be fair, consistent, but keep smokefree ordinance on track
The steps toward a healthier, more vibrant community should continue moving forward.
-
EDITORIAL: Inspired by tradition, celebration
With the observance of Orthodox Easter on Sunday, the spring holy holidays for Christians and Jews will have passed for another year.
-
EDITORIAL: No need to sing the blues
The words from Terre Haute Board of Works President Bob Murray on Monday afternoon were as sweet to the ear as a blues riff from an electric guitar: “The bottom line is, [Blues at the Crossroads] should be able to operate just as it has before. It will get worked out.”
- More Editorials Headlines
-
EDITORIAL: Remembering Henryville
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Beryl Threatens Rain, Winds on Southeast Coast
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Today in History
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Astronauts Enter World's 1st Private Supply Ship
Shell Readies Arctic Drill Ship
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
Passenger Restrained on Flight to Miami Arrested
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Dragon Arrives at Space Station in Historic 1st
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Police: Gunman Has Hostages in Realty Office
Native Americans' Olympic Medals Displayed in DC
Raw Video: Man Rescued From River in China
Beyonce Entertains the First Family
Celtics crush Sixers in Game 7
Alleged Lego Thief Faces Felony Charges
Has Snooki Named Her Baby?
Heat Wave Warms Holiday Weekend
Inspiration for the class of 2012
Colorado College Student Shot While Trespassing
Will Smith & Josh Brolin on "Men in Black 3"
80-Year-Old Skydiver's Nightmare Jump
JWoww Sizzles in a Black Bikini
Sliders on the Grill
Cruise ship crunch
Backstage With Beyonce
Ultimate Creamy Potato Salad
Pope's Personal Butler Under Arrest
Jenny McCarthy's New Man
Tyler's Classic Coleslaw
Britney Spears Under X Factor Fire
Flesh-Eating Bacteria Victim Hits Milestone
