TERRE HAUTE —
Two dozen people gathered inside the classroom of Union Hospital’s Landsbaum Center on Wednesday evening to hear planners from Ratio Architects Inc. share their findings from a two-day community workshop. The workshops are part of the ongoing discussion between stakeholders regarding revitalization and developments in the neighborhood between ISU and Union Hospital.
Jackie Turner, a planner with the Indianapolis-based consulting firm, said residents and stakeholders came into the room both Tuesday and Wednesday to complete surveys and discuss proposals concerning the Rural Health Innovation Collaborative, as well as neighborhood revitalization between Indiana State University and the hospital.
The RHIC, announced in December 2008, is a partnership designed to remedy health care worker shortages in rural areas.
The synergy created between the university and hospital represents more than just health care though, she explained, pointing out that nearly 3,000 employees work at the two institutions.
The 270-acre zone contained between U.S. 41, North Ninth Street, Eighth Avenue and Tippecanoe Street, represents what Turner described as an “older, urban neighborhood,” with a classic grid-like street design and small lots for homes, while also maintaining two of the region’s largest employers.
But driving down Lafayette Avenue, a road she described as the neighborhood’s spine, one sees a number of vacant buildings and even lots. It seems clear that development is needed in that area, and opportunities abound to answer that need, she said. While the days of that area serving large families are probably over, that doesn’t preclude the area from being residential, she said. Young professionals working at the hospital and university have shown an interest in living closer to work, as would married and single students alike.
“When we talk about what makes a successful community, we talk about how long it takes to walk places,” she said, explaining that commercial and retail developments need to rise up to match the younger professionals who might want to live there. Programs such as RHIC, and the related business accelerators, will only serve to bring more people.
Turner showed slides featuring a number of similar community revitalization projects, ranging from the Memphis Medical District in Tennessee to the Baltimore Science and Tech Park in Maryland, as well as the Mid-Illinois Medical District in Springfield. Still, Turner and colleagues acknowledged one concern expressed by residents is that ISU and Union Hospital are merging into one another. The idea that the two institutions would physically merge is very unlikely, she said, pointing to a map showing the size of land between them is actually larger than the existing university campus. What’s more likely, she and others said, is that new businesses and residential structures will fill in the gap.
But along with the plan under discussion, participants were shown neighboring plans of connected areas. The ISU Campus Master Plan, Riverscape, and Collett Park Master Plan all touch the potential RHIC developments.
Among those attending Wednesday evening’s meeting was Tom Roznowski, author of “An American Hometown” which features the history of Terre Haute.
“I was just fascinated by the initiative being taken here,” he said of the proposals, calling it a “really progressive partnership” between many groups. Developments such as this, he said, can be a strong anchor for revitalization projects.
On the other hand, homeowner Ryan Carter wasn’t so sure.
“I don’t know. I guess they need to do something,” the Third Avenue resident said, agreeing with planners that Lafayette Avenue needs help.
But Carter expressed concern that current homeowners in the area will be pushed out if unable to keep up with new zoning and planning regulations. “It’ll be just like Toad Hop,” he said. “They’ll push them out.”
Many of the homes in front of his house are already owned by the hospital, and those behind are owned by the university, he said. Regardless what the planners and officials say, Carter said eventually the neighborhood will be one large complex similar to Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis, with the hospital, medical school and nursing programs taking up the whole area. “They’re up to something,” he said. “That’s why they keep having these meetings.”
Brian Boyce can be reached at brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
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