HAND Abandons Plans At Co-op, Moves On Sheridan, Carmel Sites

LarryInFishers.com

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Plans to develop a housing project on the site of the former Farm Bureau Co-op grain processing plant in Noblesville have been abandoned. For more than two years the Hamilton County Neighborhood Development (HAND) tried to secure funding from state housing authorities for an apartment development on the site at 8th and Mulberry streets, but has now decided against pursuing the project.

An option on the ground expired in recent months. The land is owned by North Central Co-op. The property, formerly the site of huge grain silos, is now vacant. Its future use is undetermined.

Before Farm Bureau began operations, the ground was the site of the Noblesville Milling Company founded in the late 19th century and was a major employer in the city.

HAND is now focusing on two other projects in the county. Cooperating with the Woda Group, Inc. of Ohio, HAND will be able to provide 32 living units at Blackhawk Commons in Sheridan, a project announced earlier that is now cleared to get underway in July. Approval of federal rental tax credits resulted in the final go-ahead.

The apartments will be located in the former Sheridan High School, an 88-year-old structure later used as Adams Elementary which is currently vacant.

In addition to the housing for moderate income tenants, the school’s gymnasium will become a community recreation facility made possible with $300,000 in county funds. The gym, once the largest in the county, hosted sectional basketball tourneys prior to the mid-1950s and is considered a local historic structure.

HAND also has a small apartment project underway in the Home Place area of Carmel. Located near 106th Street and College Avenue, the 10-unit complex will be completed before the end of the year, according to a release from HAND officials.

The non-profit organization has 96 living units for rent in Hamilton County, not counting the Blackhawk Commons and Home Place complexes. HAND was founded in 2003 with the mission of providing affordable housing for county residents.