Evansville board approves series of home-repair, affordable-housing and public-works contracts

The Board of Public Works for the City of Evansville on March 25 approved a slate of contracts and change orders covering home repairs, affordable-housing projects, right-of-way permits and engineering work for the Third Street project.

Board members unanimously approved forgivable and repayable home-repair agreements, contracts with local nonprofit housing providers and predevelopment work for a multi-unit affordable housing proposal, along with several municipal construction change orders and permit recommendations.

City of Evansville Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD) staff presented several agreements aimed at repairing and rehabilitating owner-occupied homes and developing new affordable units. The board approved a $32,040 package for work at 847 East Gumb Street consisting of a $25,000 forgivable promissory note and a $7,040 payable promissory note tied to scope items such as roof replacement, siding and plumbing repairs. The board also approved $150,000 contracts with Community 1, Inc. to repair five roofs, replace three HVAC units and rehabilitate two vacant homes in the Teepee Park neighborhood for sale to income-eligible buyers; a $150,000 contract with Habitat for Humanity for work at 1555 South Linwood Avenue to sell to an income-eligible buyer; and a $150,000 agreement with Memorial Community Development Corporation to rehabilitate a house at 660 Ravenswood Drive to rent to an income-eligible household.

Miss Foster, representing DMD, summarized the individual homeowner and nonprofit projects as “several contracts here for you,” noting the items are similar in purpose but apply to different properties and owners.

Board members also approved a $105,000 predevelopment contract with Echo Housing Corp. to evaluate feasibility for a 50-to-75-unit affordable rental project at 400–420 Reed Street. DMD staff said the phase-1 work will focus on 20–30 units and that the overall development planning envisions up to 50–75 units.

Several smaller home-repair contracts were approved: Titan Electric and Construction LLC for work at 211 Adams Avenue (contract amount clarified in the meeting as $18,002.00), a $8,600 contract with Ace Construction, Inc. at 1813 North Heidelbach Avenue, a $5,800 contract with Rhinelander Construction at 4123 Meadowridge Road, and a $14,550.75 contract with Titan Electric and Construction LLC at 3020 Lake Drive.

On public-works items, the board approved three right-of-way permit applications (numbers 21, 22 and 2123) with a standard maintenance-of-traffic requirement under the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Permit applicant Pete Emery appeared at the meeting to describe driveway work linked to a Judson-facing garage extension; Emery said, “I’ve requested and worked with Chris, for an extension on my Judson facing garage so that it’s deep enough to, garage a camper that my wife, Amy, and I just bought.” The city engineer confirmed the garage structure itself is not in the right of way and that only driveway work is implicated.

The board granted a sidewalk-waiver request for the Engelbrecht 2 subdivision along Saint Joe Avenue, citing constructability problems on Bismarck Avenue where the proposed waiver area includes a 12–14% grade and roughly a 34-foot drop across 240 feet of street. DMD noted limited residential density and steep grades made sidewalk construction problematic.

The board approved a professional-services agreement with V S Engineering for the Third Street project (CIP 44158) for $790,000. The city engineer described the Third Street effort as a federally funded “complete street” project intended to add bike and pedestrian facilities, retain vehicular movements and include substantial utility and green-infrastructure work to help manage stormwater for combined-sewer relief. Staff said the current anticipated construction cost estimate is about $14,000,000; staff also noted an opportunity to apply leftover 2024 federal funds if the work can be advanced quickly.

Contract change orders approved included: Change Order No. 1 to Koberstein Contracting Inc. for Stinson Avenue drainage improvements (increase of $4,651.92); Change Order No. 7 with INDOT on the Walnut Street project to modify curb-and-gutter concrete (increase of $336,612); and Change Order No. 10 with INDOT on Walnut Street for additional water-main work (increase amount discussed in the meeting). Staff said water and sewer utility charges for Walnut Street water main changes will be reimbursed to the city by the utility at contract close.

Board members moved, seconded and voted “Aye” on each item; no abstentions or recorded no votes were announced.

Votes at a glance - Approve BPW minutes for 03/27/2025: approved (unanimous). - Approve contract — Robert Rhinelander / 847 E. Gumb St.: approved (total $32,040; $25,000 forgivable note, $7,040 payable note). - Approve contract — Community 1, Inc. / Teepee Park rehabs: approved (total $150,000). - Approve contract — Habitat for Humanity / 1555 S. Linwood Ave.: approved (total $150,000; staff noted total construction cost around $161,000 and an anticipated resale near $145,000). - Approve contract — Memorial Community Development Corp. / 660 Ravenswood Dr.: approved (total $150,000). - Approve predevelopment contract — Echo Housing Corp. / 400–420 Reed St.: approved (total $105,000; phase 1 covers 20–30 units; overall planning 50–75 units). - Approve contract — Titan Electric and Construction LLC / 211 Adams Ave.: approved (amount clarified in meeting as $18,002.00). - Approve contract — Ace Construction, Inc. / 1813 N. Heidelbach Ave.: approved (total $8,600). - Approve contract — Rhinelander Construction / 4123 Meadowridge Rd.: approved (total $5,800). - Approve contract — Titan Electric and Construction LLC / 3020 Lake Drive: approved (total $14,550.75). - Approve right-of-way permit applications 21, 22 and 2123: approved (with MUTCD-compliant traffic controls; driveway extension at Judson removed from proposal). - Approve sidewalk waiver — Engelbrecht 2 subdivision (Bismarck Ave.): approved (waiver granted citing grade and constructability issues). - Approve professional-services agreement — V S Engineering / Third Street CIP 44158: approved (total $790,000; anticipated construction cost estimate ~$14,000,000; staff seeking potential leftover federal funds). - Approve Change Order No. 1 — Koberstein Contracting Inc. / Stinson Ave.: approved (increase $4,651.92). - Approve Change Order No. 7 — INDOT / Walnut Street (R41500) curb & gutter concrete: approved (increase $336,612). - Approve Change Order No. 10 — INDOT / Walnut Street (R41599) water main: approved (increase amount discussed; utility to reimburse city).

The board adjourned at approximately 1:49 p.m. and had no additional public comment.