Richmond's Urban Transformation
A discussion with Mayor Ron Oler about employment, business, and housing
Richmond, Indiana, has been unlocking urban transformation through employment and business redevelopment, new residential projects, and opportunities. The city is on the verge of revitalization and recognizes the need to support employment growth.
Mayor Ron Oler talked about these factors with Michael Allen on The Hub podcast earlier this year. Mayor Oler has identified an opportunity to reshape the city, particularly its downtown, and embrace ideas to address the challenges posed by this growth.
“The vision I have for the city of revitalizing is convincing people to move back here, to live here, open businesses, and take a chance on Richmond like they used to in the past. We have to take a chance on Richmond; Richmond is back,” stated Mayor Oler.
Twelve city departments collaborate with the mayor to make strategic decisions, working together with various city departments and unions to breathe new life into the city and realize its potential. These city leaders are pursuing initiatives to address public safety, transportation issues, and market-rate housing projects to assist the local workforce. Here are some of these opportunities:
Redevelopment of sites and ‘Revitalize Richmond’
The city and partners are promoting the redevelopment of the former Elder-Beerman site for commercial use. Mayor Oler’s vision is to integrate these new developments with Richmond’s rich history and urban landscape. Richmond is undergoing a clean-up of historic sites such as the Elder-Beerman site, Gorge Park, Gennett Records, and Starr Piano areas, creating fresh opportunities while preserving the past.
A $25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.’s College and Community Collaboration initiative for Revitalize Richmond is enhancing downtown properties and commercial spaces. This initiative includes the development of new urban housing in downtown Richmond, improved transit connecting Earlham’s campus to downtown, new outdoor recreation opportunities in the Whitewater Valley Gorge, and other quality-of-place improvements.
New market-rate housing in Richmond
Market-rate housing is based on the market rate for the community —these are apartments designed for young professionals and empty nesters. The housing complexes include modern on-site amenities such as gyms, dog parks, pools, and more, where people can work and live. They are emerging in smaller communities and are currently happening in Richmond to accommodate Wayne County’s workforce.
Addressing the need for transportation in Richmond
About 12,000 people work in Richmond/Wayne County but do not reside here, and 8,000 of those commute. A Revive I-70 project is rebuilding 21 miles of Interstate 70 from the Ohio line through Wayne County to convert it into three lanes in both directions, making it more efficient for commuters and truck traffic. Accompanying this is the rebranding of the City of Richmond to help attract more people to the community. The rebranding will include monumental signage at the first exit entering Indiana from Ohio.
One of the biggest impediments to employment is transportation. The lack of public transit to Richmond's manufacturing companies and factories poses a challenge. To address this, the city is exploring a new form of transportation called micro-transit: smaller, affordable, on-demand buses or vans that will pick up employees from neighborhoods and transport them to work in the manufacturing areas. There is a demand for more transportation services, such as on-demand drivers, for those who want to earn extra money.
Listen to the The Hub with Michael Allen podcast, sponsored by Manpower Richmond, for more insights on revitalizing Richmond: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_toIO7tyooQ
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