Kokomo resident Tom Anderson remembers when Philips Street extended all the way to Virginia Street on the city’s near west side.
But Philips was vacated in the name of industry (making way for a Continental Steel expansion), and that route was lost.
Now Anderson is trying to keep the same thing from happening to Lindsay Street, the north-south road running between Park and Markland avenues, just east of the Wildcat Creek.
Anderson’s reason is simple, and one he’s been pressing for years.
Instead of traffic having to take what amounts to a detour getting from Park Road to Philips Street, Anderson wants a more-or-less straight shot.
At one point, it appeared Anderson might have some support, as serious discussions took place during 2001 planning sessions for the possible reuse of the Continental Steel Main Plant site.
This month Anderson’s hope of a straight line between Philips and Park Road took a blow when Syndicate Sales officials asked the Kokomo Common Council to vacate Lindsay between Markland and Harrison Street.
Company spokesman Brian Wright told the Kokomo Common Council Monday Syndicate wants to expand its present operations, due in part to the recent acquisition of a competitor.
Those expansion plans, he explained, could involve building over the Lindsay right of way if the city agrees to vacate the street.
Both city engineer Carey Stranahan and city development director Debbie Cook spoke in favor of vacating the street, saying it was important to allow a local company to expand.
And Wright said the company, which has bought and improved properties formerly owned by Haynes International and Continental Steel to create room for the current west side headquarters/production/distribution facility, is basically landlocked if Lindsay can’t be vacated.
Anderson, however, said losing Lindsay would close off one of the possibilities for extending a north-south corridor, similar in convenience to Dixon Road.
He proposed leaving the Lindsay right of way intact, and routing a future road over the existing old bridge to the east of the parks department headquarters in Highland Park.
That drew an objection from Councilman Mike Karickhoff, R-At Large, who said there’s already too much traffic routed through Highland Park.
Kokomo-Howard County Plan Commission director Glen Boise did propose a compromise at Monday’s public hearing.
In return for granting the Lindsay Street vacation, the council could ask Syndicate to ensure some future north-south right of way between Park Avenue and Markland in that area, Boise said.
Council could make a final decision on Syndicate’s request at the next council meeting, 7 p.m. July 28 in council chambers, City Hall, 100 S. Union St.
Scott Smith may be reached at (765) 454-8569 or via e-mail at scott.smith@kokomotribune.com
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