Ligonier RDC acquires foundation propert

Jul 25, 2023

LIGONIER — The Ligonier Redevelopment Commission has purchased the 27-acre property south of town that was the former home of the Community Foundation of Noble County. The price was not disclosed.

The commission plans to annex the land and pursue a developer to build a residential subdivision.

The commission gave city attorney Jack Birch the authorization to sign the documents.

Foundation executive director Margarita White and board president Frank Tijerina attended Wednesday’s meeting.

“We are excited that the city is buying the property,” White said. “The building will be demolished” when utilities are fully terminated. (See related story with the foundation’s statement.)

In a related topic, Ligonier farmer Lauren Cunningham asked for clarification from the city on his plans to farm on the property. He asked for a timeline for the house demolition so he could plan for planting crops.

Cunningham currently farms nine acres on the property, which was once a part of his great-grandparents’ farm. Another farmer has harvested hay on the remaining acreage around the house.

Ligonier building inspector Earle Franklin said the permit to demolish the house has been filed, but work cannot proceed until NIPSCO terminates service.

The commission and Cunningham agreed that Cunningham would farm whatever acreage was tillable and mow the remaining acres this year. A new agreement will be needed in 2024, after the demolition and site cleanup is complete and depending on developer interest.

In other business, the alley project has been stalled by the cost of brick, roof and structural repairs to the adjacent buildings. Franklin said the estimated cost to repair both buildings is $56,562. Lights, canopies, benches, tables and chairs, and an archway will cost an additional estimated $42,000.

Public safety director and police chief Bryan Shearer said the building owner will need to “make the building safe” before the alley project can continue. Barricades have been placed in the area, due to the danger of falling bricks.

The commission voted to table the alley project until the building owner resolves these issues. The RDC has not yet earmarked any funds for the alley project.

In a following meeting, the board of works agreed to hire David Pena as a part-time street department employee at $17 per hour for two days a week. Pena is a Goshen police officer.

The board also made an adjustment to a resident’s sewage bill of $110.76. The resident reported that a grandchild had turned on an outdoor spigot, which wasn’t discovered for several days.

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