LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- More business growth could be coming to the Town of Clarksville as vacant buildings are planned to be transformed.
Ivy Shawler, who has worked in Clarksville for decades, has noticed changes.
"You're seeing a lot of old stuff sitting around for a long time," Shawler said.
Shawler said new things are coming in while other businesses are leaving. Some of those vacant buildings are now part of a larger plan for the town.
"My thing is when I see buildings that are empty and not being used and then they are building something new so take it down and build something new right there," Shawler said.
Clarksville plans to repurpose those vacant buildings.
The 100,000 square foot Harbor Freight building on East Lewis and Clark Parkway is one of several buildings in the area looking for a new life.
"We are looking for developers to give us a plan," said Tammi Gibson, Clarksville Economic Development director. "They can send a plan on how they would develop this into a business, if they would demolish the property."
It's part of the Clarksville's 3C master plan focused on making the area more walkable and to make the most of the properties.
"We've got a lot of parking lots and not so many people use parking anymore for shopping and that is where that plan came from," Gibson said.
Recent studies have shown that many residents don't want more apartments. South Clarksville has seen a boom of apartments in recent years.
Farther north, vacant buildings up for sale can be considered for whatever a developer wants, pending council approval and zoning restrictions.
"I really think more for the young people to go somewhere, to do something," Shawler said. "Something like a gaming place or a skating rink."
The former America's Best Inn and Suites on Eastern Boulevard was sold to the town's redevelopment commission for just under $5 million. The space is looking for a brighter future and in negotiations with a developer.
"We are very fortunate to be between two very strong communities, Jeffersonville and New Albany, and as a region we feed off each other for that," Gibson said. "We're very open-mined and I will say that about the community and the properties that we have."
In June, crews started demolishing the flood wall opening near the intersection of Main Street and Riverside Drive as part of Clarksville's $5.5 million Main Street redevelopment project, intended to allow for better access between businesses and people who use the waterfront area.
The Clarksville Redevelopment Commission celebrated the opening of Main Street in November 2021, but connecting Riverside and Main was put on hold until the completion of the flood wall project, which expands the view of the Ohio River and adds sidewalks, bike lanes and two lanes of traffic to Riverside.
To read more about the flood wall project, click here.
To read more about the conference center project, click here.
Related Stories:
- Study shows south Clarksville 'preferred location' for new conference center
- Clarksville approves zoning change to support 1.1 million square-foot logistics center
- Goodbounce shares plans to open pickleball facility in southern Indiana
- Town of Clarksville's $5.5 million Main Street project expect to benefit businesses
- Crews demolishing floodwall opening near Ohio River in Clarksville
Copyright 2023 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
