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Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Direct flights, affordable housing: Takeaways from Terry's State of the City address
EVANSVILLE — Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry delivered her second State of the City address Tuesday afternoon, highlighting wins she saw from her office in the last year and setting goals for coming years. Terry highlighted her new Fight Blight program − aimed at razing structures beyond repair − and the Evansville Fire Department's plans to expand with a new fire station on the East Side. Plans related to the Parks and Recreation Department's $24 million parks bond were also highlighted, including the new splash pad coming to Tepe Park this summer and major updates to Garvin Park. Here are a few of the highlights from Terry's presentation. When Terry delivered her first State of the City address in April 2024, she set the public goal of bringing at least 350 units of affordable housing inside city limits by the time she gave the 2025 State of the City address. The units would either be complete or underway by that time. "I'm proud to report, we didn't just meet the goal," Terry said Tuesday. "We exceeded it." According to the city, there have been 75 newly constructed affordable rental units built in that time, along with 21 affordable homes rehabbed and five affordable houses built. Those underway include 154 rehabbed rental units and 240 multi-family housing units, Terry shared. "That's real, tangible progress," she said. She said she has a new goal for the city: 2,000 new units by the end of 2027. "I know it's ambitious," Terry said. "But if we're serious about tackling the housing crisis, it's the kind of goal we must set." Terry also addressed the impact Senate Bill 1 will have on the city. The bill was designed for property tax relief for residents, but will also limit revenue for schools, libraries and cities. Evansville is anticipating a loss of $15.8 million in property tax revenue over three years. This will result in a reduction of the city's general fund − 70 percent of which is used for public safety measures such as police, fire and dispatchers. "This is a challenge," Terry said. "Because let me be clear, protecting public safety is not optional." Indiana's new property tax guidelines allow cities to raise local income taxes to help make up its losses from property taxes. But Terry said the city will be looking at other options before considering that. Terry closed her speech with a look ahead, including some specifics residents can expect to see or hear about from the city. The city has plans to demolish or repair 150 vacant structures this year. Terry said there are also conversations about restoring direct flights to Detroit from Evansville Regional Airport. This comes after American Airlines brought back the direct flight to Chicago in 2024. This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry delivers second State of the City
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
People invited to join Evansville Block By Block Cleanup initiative
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry will host three Block-by-Block Neighborhood Cleanup programs this spring, beginning March 21 in the CHAIN neighborhood. Officials say after launching the Block-by-Block program with two events in 2024, Mayor Terry plans to build on the program in 2025, hosting eight events between March and October of this year. Friday's announcement comprises the spring portion of the program, and includes the following events and locations: March 21, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., CHAIN Neighborhood April 25, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Lamasco Neighborhood May 31, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Tepe Park Neighborhood Romeo & Juliet to take stage at University of Evansville Evansville officials say the Block-by-Block Neighborhood Cleanup program brings together city employees and community volunteers to pick up trash, mow lawns, trim trees and other aspects of neighborhood cleanup. The CHAIN Neighborhood event also will include demolishing a blighted structure. The program is part of Mayor Terry's emphasis on Neighborhood Revitalization, which also includes programs like Fight Blight, and programs funded by the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. HOPE of Evansville cuts ribbon on new headquarters building in Jacobsville 'We launched Block-by-Block last year with the goal of helping to beautify our neighborhoods, and to strengthen our connections in the community,' Mayor Terry said. 'Were identifying the neighborhoods with the greatest need, using data from departments like the Building Commission and the Evansville Police Department, and were working to make government and the services we can offer as a city accessible to them.' Officials say community members interested in volunteering in any of the Block-by-Block Neighborhood Cleanups are asked to fill out the volunteer form here. Summer and Fall dates for Block-by-Block will be announced at a later date. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
