Firehouse Flats Could Bring New Housing to Downtown Vincennes

VINCENNES, Ind. (We Are Knox County) - A new apartment complex could be coming to

downtown Vincennes.

John Anderson, president of AP Construction and Development, recently met with the

Vincennes Redevelopment Commission to discuss a project called Firehouse Flats.

The proposed complex would be built along Vigo Street between 3rd and 4th Streets.

Anderson told RDC members the project would include 89 market rate apartments.

There would be a variety of units, including studio, one, and two-bedroom options.

The site is currently a public parking lot owned by the City of Vincennes.

It’s also home to Firemen’s Memorial Park, which honors firefighters who are retired,

disabled, or died in the line of duty.

Vincennes Redevelopment Commission President Tim Smith says the project includes

plans to keep the memorial and expand parking in the area.

“The parking that they will have will be first come, first serve parking – including for those

people who are shopping downtown,” said Smith.

“We are also looking at some other property in that area to expand city parking.”

Anderson told RDC members the development group is also exploring the idea of

converting one or more historic downtown properties into apartments as part of the overall

project.

Smith confirmed with WAKC News Now that one of those properties is the old Gardner-Brockman Funeral Home at 5th and Main Street.

The Firehouse Flats project is expected to cost more than 20 million dollars.

It would be supported by 4 million dollars in Lilly Endowment funds, 400,000 dollars from

the READI program, developer financing, and the use of Tax Increment Financing, or TIF.

“The TIF would be used to capture the taxes that would pay for the infrastructure and some

of the construction costs with that.”

During the meeting, RDC member Mark McNeece said this could be the largest

development in downtown Vincennes in nearly a century.

Smith believes the project could help bring more people to downtown Vincennes, boosting

foot traffic for existing businesses and opening the door for new ones.

“We of course want a vibrant community and vibrant downtown,” said Smith.

“We think that it is important to get the market rate facilities down there to bring people in

that will spend money downtown in our restaurants and stores.”

While the project does have some support, it hasn’t been officially approved yet.

“We just voted to go ahead and look at the project and to continue to talk about it, but there

are many steps that need to happen before this can ever be a reality,” Smith said.

Anderson told RDC members he plans to continue to own and operate the apartments

once they’re built, rather than sell them.

“Our name is on everything we build,” said Anderson.

“I don’t want to build it then have someone else do something that I don’t like or doesn’t

reflect on us well.”

Smith says community input is important and encourages residents to attend meetings, no

matter where they stand on the project.

You can share your opinion by voting in our poll and adding your thoughts in the comments below.

Do you support the proposed Firehouse Flats apartment development in downtown Vincennes?

• Yes – I support the project.
• No – I do not support the project.