Revitalize the Public Square; refurbish the Methodist Building; develop the old Major Hospital site.

On April 1, the city is set to hold a public hearing on proposals to do those three projects, using a special public-private partnership mechanism available under state law.

Indiana Code 5-23 is known as a “Build-Operate-Transfer” statute.  It allows communities to enter into a P-3, or public-private partnership, to carry out an economic development or infrastructure project. 

On Monday evening, the Shelbyville Redevelopment Commission approved using the B-O-T method for the three projects.

After the meeting, Shelbyville Mayor Tom DeBaun explained the process.

“Basically, that allows us to move forward with the presentation we made to the finance committee and the city council a few weeks ago about creating a budget for the downtown, the Methodist Building and the former hospital site.  The third motion they made and approved was allowing us to advertise for the “Build-Operate-Transfer” request for proposals.”

Once contractor bids are in following the R-F-P,  a committee will review the bids, DeBaun said.

That “B-O-T” committee includes the mayor, Sam Terrell, who's on the Redevelopment Commission, David Finkel, a member of the city's Board of Works, and Matt House, the city engineer.

Last month, Tim Barrick of Ratio Architects talked to the Shelbyville Common Council about the Public Square project.  Also, Ron Kelsay of Genesis Property Group and the Riverfront Taproom made a proposal about the Methodist Building, and Chris King proposed building executive housing on the Major Hospital site.

At the public hearing on April 1, Mayor DeBaun said the review committee may recommend a winning bid for those projects to the Redevelopment Commission.