The Ferdinand Town Council received a presentation from Randy Begle and his son Dakota from Begle Properties LLC. This presentation addressed various components in regards to accessible housing in the Ferdinand Community.
Tuesday night the Begles told the Ferdinand Council they are in the process of developing two additional lots to build duplexes along 5th street, and want to start an initial 12-unit complex in a two-story apartment building out on the northside of the industrial bypass, as well as possible units in the future.
The council approved the zoning ordinance to change a zoning issue on the north side that was listed as B2 for business and changed it to a multifamily zoning ordinance.
The council is also looking at an application for tax abatement that the Begles submitted and in addition to that the council approved another ordinance to help with the transition into apartments on the property.
In conjunction to these ordinances the Begles also requested aid from the Town of Ferdinand in order to help with the some of the utility expenses mainly in the infrastructure of the utility.
Town Council President, Ken Sicard, says that the next steps that will be taken by the council are to first take an overview of what the cost would look like for the Town of Ferdinand to invest in such expenses in order to install a water and sanity sewer system.
He says that the Begles provided projected figures if the town decides to cover the utility expenses with an estimated outlook of the return on investment being reached within 8 years for the community to get their money back.
Sicard notes the importance of helping developers such as the Begles.
Dakota Begle, also gave a presentation and testimonials on the significance of partaking in such an investment as he plans to return to the Ferdinand area after finishing college at Purdue and help move the community forward by providing housing that is crucial to serving incoming talent and retain future generations.
Sicard elaborates on what it means to see one of Ferdinand’s up and coming young professionals take interest in town’s future.
The council told the Begles that they look forward to working with them in finding solutions that can allow both the them and the council to work together in the best interest of all tax payers and also be able to invest in a subject that has been a long standing issue such as accessible housing for the town of Ferdinand.
