Valparaiso commission approves funds for proposed park property

VALPARAISO | The city hopes to acquire the vacant Worstell building within 30 days and begin demolition by the end of March in preparation for expanding Central Park Plaza.

The Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission on Wednesday approved spending $885,000 to buy the property on Indiana Avenue across the street from the Porter County government center. The commission approved another $128,000 for the asbestos abatement and demolition of the building at the corner of Indiana and Lafayette Street.

Consultant John Blosky, of Amereco Inc., said the demolition bids, which were opened Wednesday, were well below estimates. The work will take about two months, including the hydroseeding of the cleared site. The parking lot will be renovated, possibly for permit parking.

The long-range plan for the site includes closing a half block of Lafayette north of Indiana for construction of a pavilion that could house the farmers market and live entertainment events and be equipped with refrigeration for an ice-skating rink. The western portion could be offered to the county to build office space or could be developed by the city.

The commission approved paying Amereco $23,200 for environmental testing on the site, which has housed a couple of auto repair shops, a laundry and a printing shop in the past. A gas station and other underground storage tanks were nearby. Commission Executive Director Stuart Summers said it appears no soil contamination occurred, but the city is awaiting lab results.

Summers said the property owner has agreed to the price, but the property is in bankruptcy and the city has to wait for the bankruptcy court to sign off on the sale. He hopes to get that done and close on the property in 30 days so the demolition work can begin.

The city plans to spend the rest of the year finalizing the design of the park expansion. Public meetings will be held, and staff will begin working on the fundraising for the project so construction can begin next year.