Developer vs. Home Owners in Evansville Land Dispute

Who should get the last word when it comes to land redevelopment: property owners, or the people who have to live next to the site? Thats the issue neighbors on Evansvilles Southeast side are struggling with tonight as they try to convince a landlord to demolish his building. The corner lot at Riverside and Alvord Blvd. was a mechanics shop but neighbors tired of the collection of junked cars began turning up the pressure on the landlord. They discovered its zoned residential, not commercial. Now theyre standing firm against a proposal to change it... "If everybodys against this, why would they wanna rezone?" asked neighbor Jim Kemp. The mechanics shop is gone now, but property owner David Hanson says he wants to find some way to turn a profit from property hes paying taxes on. "Nothing Im interested in doing would degrade the property, only enhance it," he told the Area Plan Commission at a hearing Thursday afternoon. The Commission didnt vote on a zoning change at the meeting, instead it gave Hanson an indefinite continuance to come up with a site plan for the lot. Opponent Jim Kemp said of the move, "It could be a victory but (they) should have voted on it. Tonight." Jim Kemp collected dozens of signatures from neighbors around the site. He says there is only one good use for it... "Demolished. Cleaned up, grass mowed." David Hanson says hed be happy to meet with neighbors to share their ideas. Whether the sides will see eye to eye is another story. Even if the Area Plan Commission votes in favor of a zoning change it would still have to be approved by the city council.