More parking on way for Battell Park in Mishawaka

MISHAWAKA — Calling the purchase of the former Burns equipment rental properties at Mishawaka Avenue and Liberty Drive “far-sighted,” the Redevelopment Commission gave the go-ahead this week for the city to buy it for future development.

The move was called a once-in-a-lifetime chance for the city to acquire land that can help in future development of Battell Park. Specifically, plans could include a parking lot to offer park patrons safer and more access to the city’s oldest park.

On Monday, the city’s Redevelopment Commission approved a buy-sell agreement for the former Burns Rent-Alls building on the northeast corner of Mishawaka Avenue and Liberty Drive and the former salon building to the north and two buildings being used as rental apartments off of Grove Street.

Cost for the purchase is $535,000. City Planner Ken Prince said the money for the land would come from the Tax Incremental Finance District, either by delaying completion of the projects already earmarked for use or possibly through a TIF bond that could be considered should the city opt to take advantage of lower rates.

The Common Council last week approved the property for the city’s acquisition list after Prince outlined the discussions the city has had with property owners. Since 2018, the Burns owners have approached to gauge the city’s interest in buying the rental business site after Burns moved from that location to one on Home Street.

Prince said the city thought the owners could market the building for commercial use, and the city considered acquiring the northern properties for a municipal parking lot, but eventually declined.

This summer, the owners approached again, and the city came up with a plan.

Last week, the council members acknowledged the high cost for the property, but all recognized the lack of available space in that area for the city to further develop the park.

“We may not get this opportunity again,” Council member Matt Mammolenti said.

Council Presodent Gregg Hixenbaugh said it was in the best interest of the city to maintain control of the last area of land near the park. “I think the possibility of commercial use is an attraction,” Hixenbaugh said. “It would benefit the general fund for the city of Mishawaka.”

Prince said once an agreement is reached with owners, the city would take possession once tenants are out of the properties and after the buildings are inspected. Current plans are to eventually demolish the properties on Liberty Drive and Grove Street, with the Burns building left to see whether it can be marketed for possible commercial use. It also could be razed, Prince said, but that decision cannot be made at this time.

Any plans for demolition, however, likely would take place next spring at the earliest, he said.

Battell Park work

Battell Park was dedicated in 1884, and its features for recreational and cultural use have made it the city’s premier park for history. The Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Monument has stood in the park since 1884, getting a new base in 1967 and being relocated in 2019 to the Veterans Plaza.

The park was dedicated in 1994 as a single-site historic district, and the Battell Park Historic District was designated on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

A rock wall and rock garden were built during the 1930s as part of the WPA project, and the park’s bandshell is a gathering place for cultural events.

The city’s Historic Preservation Commission has overseen the park’s projects over the decades, and David Eisen, who has served on the commission for more than 20 years, said a city-owned parking area would serve park patrons attending events there.

“Often, there will be weddings on Saturday afternoons and you see people crossing the street and trying to get there from all over the place,” Eisen said. “Having the city parking lot would be a good thing because the parks department would landscape it and it would turn out to be a very nice parking lot for the neighborhood.”

Future plans call for the city to develop a veterans walkway that will include kiosks detailing the contributions that Mishawaka residents made in the nation’s wars and a granite monument that will include the names of residents killed in action.