Since the departure of General Motors, Anderson has had to redefine itself as a community.
The transformation of the Scatterfield Road corridor near Interstate 69 is a prime example of Anderson’s new identity. Without the thousands of jobs from manufacturing plants near Exit 26 — which included Magnequench, Delco Remy America’s American Way sooth of 69 — service and retail businesses have found their niche with an expanded racino nearby.
But a short drive from the exit, businesses are sprouting, not the least of which is the new casino at Hoosier Park. Now the city’s Board of Zoning Approval had given the go-ahead for a medical waste facility to be constructed at the Eagle Park Industrial Center, south of Exit 26.
The facility, operated by PEAT International, will be the first of its kind in the country, and some neighbors are upset, questioning whether there will be pollution, smell and noise.
“This place will not be livable,” said Diana Carter. But the city counters that it has a vested interest in the property.
“Exit 26 became the predominant entrance into our city due to this exit as the favorite selection for the lodging and dining establishments,” Linda Dawson, director of economic development in Anderson, said. “Applewood shopping center created opportunities for retail and from there obviously other retail and commercial activity followed.”
Visitors to Exit 26 have accessibility to hotels and dining, and they remain only a short distance from most major industrial centers in the city. The addition of 2,000 slots at Hoosier Park has only increased traffic to the interchange.
“Over the years all the major retail activities (such as Meijer’s and Menard’s) that are heavily dependent upon regional draw selected this exit as home,” Dawson said. “In turn because of this mix it became the perfect exit for a regional recreational activity such as Hoosier Park. At one time most of Scatterfield Road was residential, but because of the desirability for retail only a few areas are remaining residential.”
In the past year, restaurants such as Montana Mike’s Steakhouse have started the process of building in the area.
In May, Tim Rohrer, franchise owner in Indiana, said he planned to hire 100 people to work at the new restaurant, which will locate next to the Madison County Visitors and Convention Bureau.
Hotels, such as Holiday Inn, have also invested in the corridor.
In May, spokeswoman Caroline Sanfilippo from InterContinental Hotels Group confirmed that construction on a 104-room hotel would start in the spring of 2009 for a tentative opening date of a year later.
At that time, the spokeswoman said, the corporation picked Exit 26 because of its proximity to Indianapolis, as well as the attractive nature of Hoosier Park and Anderson Tool and Die.
Vipul Modi, owner of the Clarion Inn at the interchange, also announced plans to expand.
“The Hoosier Park Casino is going to create a whole new growth spurt at Exit 26,” Dawson said. “We are going to see an increase in hotel, dining and travel service retail cropping up at an increased speed over normal growth. We anticipate the area surrounding Hoosier Park and the area east of Cracker Barrel to develop in a planned manner to offer services and products not currently available in our city. Also, the area surrounding the Madison Church of God location will become desirable because of infrastructure and interstate visibility. All of these areas will include residential activity also.”
PEAT International expects 10 to 15 trucks per week at its facility should the Plan Commission give it the go-ahead in a December meeting.
E. Roy Budd, Energize-ECI executive director, said he sees Exit 26 as a growing area of Interstate 69. Energize-ECI markets 10 counties — including Madison County — to business investors throughout the world.
“I just think the I-69 corridor is prime for development in the next 10 years,” he said.
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Discussion
November 6, 2008
I-69 (Exit 26): Growing all around
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