For the Daily Journal
Future commercial development, such as restaurants, could come to Edinburgh near the outlet mall.
Property owner HHH Properties LLC wants to develop about 65 acres of land west of Edinburgh Premium Outlets for future commercial use that could include restaurants, banks and other businesses, said Mark Pratt, president of Breeden Inc. in Columbus, representing the applicant.
The Bartholomew County Plan Commission is recommending the property, which is on the west side of U.S. 31 south of County Road 800N, be rezoned from general agriculture to commercial regional. The Bartholomew County Commissioners have the final say on the rezoning.
Pratt said the acreage, which was assessed in March for $49,300 according to county property records, already has drawn interest.
“We’ve had prospects look at the property,” Pratt said to the plan commission.
The land is close to industrial and commercial development, including a Hardee’s restaurant, Ricker’s gas station, a self-storage facility, Taco Bell and a Best Western Hotel. Across U.S. 31 to the east are the Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton Inn hotels, MainSource Bank, Thornton’s gas station and the Exit 76 Antique Mall.
Pratt said developers have shown interest in the property and noted restaurants and other service industries are likely prospects due to the proximity of Interstate 65.
“It’s one of the most interesting and attractive properties along (U.S.) 31,” Pratt said. “We would like to begin construction of the infrastructure before the end of the year.”
HHH representative Jill Fivecoat said the acreage has been owned by her family since 1820. Fivecoat, who lives in Greenville, South Carolina, said she and three other siblings decided to form a limited liability company.
“We had to decide what we wanted to do with it,” she said. “It was our legacy growing up.”
She said a joint decision was made to sell the property so the next generation of family members wouldn’t have to deal with it.
Fivecoat also said she anticipates more development occurring in the future, which should be beneficial to the area.
“For the Columbus area and Taylorsville, it’s awesome,” she said.
