Study shows south Clarksville 'preferred location' for new conference center

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A recent study shows the town of Clarksville is the "preferred location" for a future conference center.

The Town of Clarksville said in a news release Thursday, Aug. 3, that a feasibility study, commissioned by SoIN Tourism, was recently completed. It concluded a south Clarksville site was "the preferred location for a new Southern Indiana Conference Center."

The "preferred location" is along the riverfront across from Ashland Park. The site once housed old Marathon oil tankers, land the town recently purchased.

The study, conducted by Johnson Consulting, compared the former Jeffboat site in Jeffersonville and the south Clarksville site to see which was the better location. The study ultimately concluded Clarksville was the best site "due to lower costs" and the ability to "get the project faster to market." Officials also cited the new and ongoing development in the area.

“Our vision for south Clarksville is to transition from a former industrial area into a walkable community with immediate access to retail, restaurants, parks, and other recreational opportunities,” Clarksville Town Manager Kevin Baity said. “A future hotel and conference center was always a part of that vision, so this feasibility study simply confirms that south Clarksville is the place to be.”

The project is in its early planning phase, so no construction date has been set. However, the Town of Clarksville, along with SoIN Tourism and the Clarksville Redevelopment Commission, will be working on a detailed plan for the conference center in the coming months.

To read the study in its entirety, click here.