River Ridge redevelopment plans move forward
“The River Ridge Development Authority plans to acquire nearly three acres of land through eminent domain as part of an undisclosed project in which agency staff members say a commercial developer wants a total of 15 acres.
The Jeffersonville City Council on Monday night gave the River Ridge board its blessing to move forward with taking the land, which includes about 900 feet along railroad tracks owned by Mid-America Rail Storage and Leasing. The River Ridge board unanimously approved the plan earlier in the afternoon.
The federal government, in decommissioning the former Indiana Army Ammunition Plant, deeded the roughly 55 miles of rail lines in what’s now the 6,000-acre business and industrial park to Mid-America.
Attorney David Lewis, who represents the River Ridge board, said state law requires it to try negotiating what both sides consider a fair purchase price before filing a lawsuit.
Greg Miller, president and chief executive of Louisville-based Mid-America Rail, said he was disappointed to hear Monday night about River Ridge’s plan to pave over the tracks instead of relocating them since it has worked with River Ridge officials for the last 17 years when land is needed.
“We’re one of the longest tenants up there,” Miller said, adding that the company will continue to maintain other tracks in River Ridge.
River Ridge also continues working with the company to relocate some rail lines to open up more sites along Patrol Road, which runs parallel to and just southeast of one of its main transportation routes, Ind. 62.”
White, Charlie, The Courier Journal 22 July 2014.