The old Colgate plant and clock on Clarksville riverfront has officially been transferred to a New York advertising company and is in the process of making its way into the hands of developers. Active International is the unnamed company looking to purchase the structure at the end of last year, but environmental studies of the grounds apparently took longer than expected. The company has been known to barter advertising services for clients’ underutilized assets such as property, which may have been a contributing factor for the Colgate purchase (AI does marketing work for Colgate).
Negotiations are reportedly under way to find a developer to take on the redevelopment of the 52 acre Colgate campus into a major component of the proposed Clark’s Landing district stretching from the plant to the Ohio River. Don’t expect to see construction any time soon, though. Rick Dickman, redevelopment director for Clarksville, says any construction activity is likely at least three years away.
All the basic information we’ve known for a while (read more here and here), but the announcement finalizes the sale and represents the project moving forward. Next, a master plan is being pursued that will incorporate New Urbanist principles in the district’s layout and one or several developers will take on redevelopment of the site.
The old red-brick prison-turned-factory will likely remain but there is no provision for Clarksville to mandate its preservation. A yellow brick art-deco styled structure just west of the original building will likely be torn down, according to Clarksville. Losing the modern streamlined profile of the art-deco building would be a loss for the area overall if you ask us, but, of course, plans are still being developed. In the mean time, take a look at the Colgate plant close up after the click.
- Southern Indiana’s Clarks Landing Rendered (Broken Sidewalk)
- Clark’s Landing Project Brings New Urbanism To Waterfront (Broken Sidewalk)
Thanks for covering this, I really hope this is developed in a beneficial way to the community. And I have always loved that art deco portion of the building. Guess it’s time to go lie down in front of some bulldozers!