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Residents, neighborhood leaders oppose proposed liquor store at South Kentucky Avenue site near Joshua Academy
Summary
Fourth Ward council member and multiple residents told the Evansville Common Council they oppose a planned liquor-store conversion at 321–329 South Kentucky Avenue, citing proximity to Nazarene Church and Joshua Academy preschool, notice and zoning-process concerns, and neighborhood impacts.
Councilwoman Carruthers and several residents urged the Evansville Common Council on Monday to take up community concerns about a proposed liquor store at 321–329 South Kentucky Avenue, saying the location is within walking distance of Nazarene Church and Joshua Academy preschool.
Carruthers said constituents alerted her that a change-of-use filing was made to the Area Plan Commission on Feb. 24 and a site review occurred March 3; she told council she will meet with Area Plan Commission staff and the owners this week. Carruthers said the property has C-4 zoning dating to 1977 and the change of use does not require a rezoning or automatic city-council review; she said that limited the council’s and neighbors’ prior notice and input opportunities.
Pastor and community leader Reverend Adrian Brooks of Memorial Baptist Church, representing the Memorial Community Development Corporation, asked council to create what he called a “good neighbor ordinance” requiring notification to neighborhood associations, schools, and churches within three blocks of a business prior to a change of use. Brooks said the center-city neighborhood has invested in redevelopment and does not want new businesses that would harm families or impede progress.
Other speakers who live or work in the area told council they were not notified and described concern about the store’s proximity to children and existing social-service sites. James Sutton and Shawna Jarboe said the neighborhood has seen sustained investment and that an additional liquor store would undercut those efforts; Jarboe noted APC paperwork requires removal of fuel pumps and tanks per Indiana Department of Environmental Management specifications and expressed concern about permit and site-plan conformity.
Property owner and developer Michael O’Daniel said he owns property across the street and that he did not receive notice. He said he would rather see the building become a youth ministry or church and publicly stated that 310 South Kentucky Avenue is planned to become a youth ministry site. O’Daniel and others highlighted enforcement gaps and urged the council to consider ways to prevent similar situations going forward.
Council members said the matter raises two questions: how the change of use occurred without broader notice and what ordinance or notification changes could prevent similar community surprise in the future. No council vote or formal action on the specific liquor-store application occurred during the meeting; council members said they would continue conversations with APC and staff.
