Riverfront Independence Day Celebration

Are you ready for some Fireworks!?

The City of New Albany's Riverfront Independence Day Celebration is set for July 3, 2018!

This event is proudly sponsored and presented by the Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County. We want to extend our thanks and appreciation to the Horseshoe Foundation for their support of summer events in New Albany.

This year's event features some amazing talent, including American Idol Contestant Layla Spring, America's Got Talent Finalists Linkin' Bridge, and the always entertaining Louisville Crashers!

Layla Spring - Photo from ABC's American Idol (April 9th, Eric McCandless).

Linkin' Bridge - photo still from NBC's America's Got Talent.

The Louisville Crashers at the Riverfront Amphitheater.

The fun begins at 6pm on July 3, 2018! Come join us for a wonderful concert, local food and drink, and a wonderful fireworks display at dark. Be sure to bring your favorite lawn chair or blanket!

Final Vote to Save Historic Reisz Building Postponed Until July 2

City Council members have informed the administration that the final vote on restoring the Reisz Furniture Building for use as a new city hall will not take place at the City Council meeting on Thursday, June 21, 2018. The ordinance has passed all previous readings, and is set for final approval at the council meeting on July 2nd.

HISTORY OF THE PROPERTY

The historically recognized Reisz Furniture Building has been vacant for decades. It was constructed in 1852 and was home to a flour mill, before serving as the Kraft Funeral Home, M. Fine & Sons Shirt Factory, Graf Harness and Saddlery Shop, and has also been utilized by the Schmitt Furniture Company.

After being marketed for years, no buyer or tenant had been found to save the property.

“We have put together a plan that saves the historic building and puts it back into service as a new city building,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “We will consolidate operations, repair a special building that has fallen into a blighted condition, and promote economic growth in our downtown. The new Main Street location will allow for ease of access for both city employees and the citizens of New Albany.”

PROJECT GOALS

If approved, this project will save the historic property, develop a community owned asset, and remove blight from our community.

“To come in and have a user that will redevelop the whole property – it will be a substantial investment. I think people will be very happy to see the interest coming in and redeveloping it, and it will also help the surrounding businesses see that their investment is going to be further complemented by the public investment in the Reisz building,” stated Mike Kopp, a prominent real estate developer who has helped transform historic structures for new uses.

The project will save millions of dollars over time, as the city has paid costs in its current location for over 57 years. It will also help the surrounding businesses see their private investment backed up by pubic investment.

“This project is the perfect example of how historic preservation, blight removal, and economic redevelopment can come together to create a great project,” Mayor Jeff Gahan. “When this project is complete, the residents of New Albany will own a new, modern city hall. Instead of throwing away our community’s tax dollars on rent, we will be investing in and saving a historic property that will be owned by the community and utilized for years to come.”

Grant Line Road Project Prep Work Underway

The Grant Line Road Project will run from Daisy Lane to McDonald Lane and will include multiple infrastructure and safety improvements. The multi-use path on the west side will be extended from Cherokee Drive to Beechwod Avenue, and sidewalks will be added on the east side. Additional drainage improvements will be made, including new curbs and gutters, drainage inlets, and a new storm-sewer system.

A new left-turn lane (southbound) will be added at Jollisaint Avenue.  Additionally, new ADA compliant sidewalks, ramps, pedestrian signals, and traffic signals will be added throughout the project area.

Multiple efforts are underway in advance of the upcoming Grant Line Road Project.

Dan Christiani Excavating will be performing a Water Main Repair on Grant Line Road (near Beechwood Avenue) starting tomorrow, Wednesday June 20th. This work will require a lane closure while crews work to repair this infrastructure.

Work is also underway preparing for utilities to relocate in anticipation of the Grant Line Road Project. Rolling lane closures from Daisy Lane to McDonald Lane on Grant Line Road are anticipated while crews work on this part of the project. Flaggers and other safety personnel and equipment will be on-site to assist with traffic during the lane closures.

State Street Signal and Traffic Flow Improvement Project

Traffic flow improvements are coming to State Street.

The City of New Albany has been working on improving the street signals along State Street. The signals that had previously been up were quite old and outdated. These outdated signals led to traffic issues and did not allow for modern techniques and infrastructure that will help improve traffic flow.

Recently, new street signals have been installed along the corridor. While construction has been ongoing and the new signals were being installed, the signals had to be set to a “timed” system – which essentially means that lights will stay red for a set amount of time and then shift over to green, and vice versa.

Now that all of the new, modern street signals have been installed along State Street, crews are now working on installing detection loops and an Interconnect System. This system will allow the street signals to communicate with each other based on current traffic flows and alter green/red light timings accordingly. Essentially, this should allow traffic to move on State Street much more smoothly than it currently is.

Crews have finished paving throughout intersections along State Street and are currently working on striping and street markings, as well as pedestrian signals at each crosswalk.

The entire project is anticipated to be finished within the next month. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to complete this important infrastructure project.

From Biscuits to Bourbon - New Albany Welcomes Sazerac

The Sazerac Company, one of the oldest family-owned distilleries in the world, is officially coming to New Albany. At Monday night’s city council meeting, the council approved an incentive package that was the final step in bringing this project to reality.

“This is an extraordinary day in the history of New Albany,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “In a remarkably short period of time, good fortune and a focused effort has brought a wonderful opportunity for our citizens in the form of a world-class manufacturer and distiller, The Sazerac Company. Thanks to the team at Sazerac for choosing New Albany, Indiana. We are truly looking forward to a bright future together.”

Sazerac has plans to create up to 110 new jobs, including 50 new employees by the end of this year, with average salaries above the state and county average wage.

“When Pillsbury left it could have been devastating to the community. There were so many breadwinners of families in our community that lost their jobs,” stated Councilman Bob Caesar, sponsor of Monday’s Resolution at the City Council meeting. “To get good paying jobs back in that facility, in such a quick turnaround, is a major accomplishment for New Albany. To have this well-established, good paying company spend $66 million bringing a vacated plant back to life is a wonderful thing for our community.”