Jacobsville director reports neighborhood progress; Hope of Evansville and partners outline supportive caregiver housing plan

Ted O'Connell, director of Jacobsville Development, used the Aug. 19 Redevelopment Commission meeting to summarize two years of neighborhood work and to introduce a housing proposal from community partners.

O'Connell described neighborhood projects that included returning the Christmas parade (more than 6,000 attendees and over 90 entries), construction of community bus stops using donated recycled materials, a rat‑control pilot and increased neighborhood engagement. "We put out 300 Bluetooth enabled rat bait stations throughout the neighborhood," he said, and reported the pilot recorded a 93% reduction in rat activity between the pilot's early and final months and an estimated 14,000 rodent‑control hits; the project also removed 158 tons of bulk trash and produced higher turnout at neighborhood meetings.

Following O'Connell, Nikki Waller of Hope of Evansville and Jill Zueck of Priceless Properties and Construction Management presented a planned supportive family caregiver housing project. The concept pairs a housing voucher recipient who needs some in‑home support with a paid caregiver who would live in the same unit. Waller said the project aims to serve people who can largely live independently but lack a caregiver and to provide a paid caregiver role to someone transitioning from a shelter or similar housing program. "This type of housing would first of all serve them," Waller said, describing units with separation for privacy and an ADA‑compliant first floor.

The presenters said they have identified four adjoining lots on Maryland and Oakley streets (three buildable units in the proposal) within walking distance of the hospital, bus stops, food and pharmacy services. Jill Zueck gave a rough cost estimate for the builds: "About $207,000 is what the units are gonna run," she said, noting Kite Building Center has agreed to donate a materials take‑off list and provide discounted materials. They described an estimated operating cost target of about $1,000 per month for all three homes (excluding utilities), with long‑term program support expected from the structured family caregiving program administered by SWERCA and funded through Medicaid for the caregiver subsidy.

The presenters requested permission to return later with a formal funding request; they said fundraising and final material costs remain in development. Waller said Hope of Evansville would manage property operations and that a trust mechanism was proposed to direct rental and caregiver salary funds to property management and ongoing costs.

Commission staff and commissioners advised the group to consult city development staff and the commission attorney on funding and legal structure. Commissioners and staff explained limits on how redevelopment (TIF) funds can be used and the added complications introduced by Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), which altered property‑tax forecasts that underpin some TIF projections. A staff member recommended the presenters talk with the Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD) and with city attorneys (referred to in the meeting as Lana and Colby) to explore Neighborhood Development Corporation (NDC) formation, the affordable housing trust fund and other funding sources. Staff cautioned that the Redevelopment Commission has statutory limits on certain housing expenditures and that existing bond and debt service obligations for the Jacobsville TIF are a first priority.

No formal action was taken on the housing proposal at the meeting. Presenters were advised to continue planning, gather detailed cost estimates and return with a formal request once materials and finance plans are complete.