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Council adopts PUD rezoning for former furniture factory at West Maryland to allow 127-unit redevelopment
Summary
The Common Council approved Ordinance R2025-01 to rezone property on West Maryland Street from M-3 industrial to a Planned Unit Development (PUD) enabling rehabilitation of an existing factory into an estimated 127 residential units; the Area Plan Commission recommended approval 8–0.
The Evansville Common Council on Feb. 24 adopted Ordinance R2025-01 amended to rezone the property on the north side of West Maryland Street (between Pigeon Creek and Fulton Avenue) from M-3 industrial to Planned Unit Development (PUD) to allow a multifamily residential redevelopment.
The Area Plan Commission recommended approval 8–0. Council approved the rezoning by voice and roll call, with eight members voting aye and none opposed.
Cassie Virgin, planning staff for the Area Plan Commission, told the council the site — originally a Cargus Furniture Company factory built in 1889 and expanded in 1919 — has been vacant since 2014. The applicant, Morley Corp on behalf of John Anderson, proposes rehabilitating the existing industrial structure into an estimated 127 residential units. Virgin explained the applicant sought PUD zoning because multiple variances would otherwise be needed to adapt the existing building for residential use.
“The specific development standards as proposed for this development are shown on the site plan submitted with the request,” Virgin said, noting the site plan becomes part of the recorded PUD ordinance and that permitted uses, height, signage and several development standards (setbacks, parking, interior landscaping) would be set by the ordinance.
Brett Sermersheim, representing Morley Corp., described the plan’s green-space distribution and said the design preserves green islands and interior landscaping where feasible; he also noted the developer previously completed the downtown YMCA redevelopment.
Council discussion was brief; staff and the developer answered questions about setbacks, parking arrangements and green space. The council then voted to accept the amendment and adopt the ordinance.
Outcome and implementation: Ordinance R2025-01 amended was declared adopted (8–0). The recorded PUD site plan and ordinance will govern permitted uses, development standards and any variances granted as part of the rezoning. The applicant is required to follow the recorded site plan and the conditions specified in the PUD.
Votes at a glance: Ordinance R2025-01 amended (rezoning to PUD for multifamily redevelopment) Motion: Adopt ordinance R2025-01 amended (rezoning from M-3 to PUD) Result: Adopted Roll call: Mosby — Aye; Hieronymus — Aye (thumbs up recorded); Carruthers — Aye; Kayla Lindsay — Aye; Brinkmeyer — Aye; Allen — Aye; Johnson — Aye; Green — Aye.
Context: The 2035/2035 future land use map recommends industrial for the block, but staff said the request aligns with surrounding residential recommendations and neighborhood revitalization goals; the site plan includes variances to accommodate adaptive reuse and will be recorded with the ordinance.
