LIGONIER â The Ligonier Redevelopment commission got an imagined first look at a design concept for its proposed alley project in the 100 block of Cavin Street.
Rick Johnson of the street department handed out artistâs renderings of some of the features the alley could have. The concept drawings show brightly colored triangular sails for shade and decorative lighting, storefront motifs, benches and a brick surface actually made from stamped concrete.
Johnson said there are original bricks in the alley, covered by asphalt. He said removing the asphalt might loosen or damage the bricks. Stamped concrete could provide an alternative material to create the look of brick.
Last year was a boom year for homebuilding across Indiana, and although Noble County didnât see a record spike in new home construction, numbers were up compared to 2019.
But with new subdivisions under development, 2021 could shape up to be one of the countyâs best years for new home construction in decades.
Despite the pandemic, Noble County saw more new homes in 2020, with the county seeing 121 homes permitted last year.
Thatâs up from 97 total homes built in 2019, one of the countyâs slowest years in recent history. The 2020 numbers fell behind the 141 homes permitted in 2018, but beat the 113 homes started in 2017.
LIGONIER â Ligonier will include repairs to three alleys along with Chapman Street in its next Community Crossings grant application round, due soon.
The board of works heard Wednesday that the project will cost an estimated $764,000. If the grant quest is successful, the state pays 75% and the city, 25%.
âIâm happy to see this include alleys,â said Mayor Patty Fisel. âItâs a sign of progress to move from streets to alleys.â
Board of works members Fisel, Steve Clouse, Tom Janes and Earle Franklin affirmed their support for soccer programs and disc golf tournaments at Kenney Park.
Park director Travis Brimhall asked for input in resuming the soccer program in the spring. The soccer program was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, but the fall football program was conducted within state and county health guidelines. Brimhall said the soccer program could be managed with the same health guidelines used by the fall football program.
KENDALLVILLE â This year will be the first in more than two decades that a new residential subdivision opens in Kendallville, as Lancia Homes is getting ready to prepare lots and start building houses in the new Noble Creek subdivision.
Itâs been a year since the development was first announced and Kendallville residents should expect to see dirt moving this spring, with ground broken on the first new homes by summer.
Jamie Lancia, president of Fort Wayne-based Lancia Homes, said his company is in the process of bidding infrastructure work for the 72-lot development off Sherman Street, across from South Side Elementary.