NEW TRAILS COMING TO NEW ALBANY LOOP ISLAND WETLANDS NATURE PRESERVE

The New Albany Loop Island Wetlands are a premier nature preserve located on the eastern edge of the New Albany Shoreline. The nearly 54-acre site provides stunning views of local wildlife year-round, and is accessible right along the Ohio River Greenway. The City is committed to this conservation effort to preserve this public nature sanctuary for generations to come.

A few years ago, the City of New Albany stabilized the ground and installed a trail system through the area, so nature enthusiasts and hikers could enjoy the scenic views provided by the Wetlands. Now, those trails are being expanded further, nearly doubling the size of the current trails.

“We are committed to improving access to some of the most beautiful areas in our city within the New Albany Loop Island Wetlands,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “These lands are, and will remain, owned by the people of New Albany and open for public access year-round. This additional trail system will expand access to the New Albany Loop Island Wetlands and offer even more scenic nature views and wildlife watching, and the site is just a stone’s throw from our downtown.” 

HISTORY OF THE SHORELINE

The City of New Albany has been expanding and improving its shoreline for over two decades now.

It all started with the plans for the Ohio River Greenway in 1994. This ambitious trail project would connect the communities of New Albany, Clarksville, and Jeffersonville, and the trail was finally completed in 2016 when the City of New Albany acquired the bridge over Silver Creek to make the final connection for the communities. Now, the 7.5 mile path is enjoyed by thousands of nature enthusiasts, bikers, runners, and families each year.

EASTERN EXPANSION OF THE SHORELINE

Since then, the City of New Albany has been adding new amenities and trails to the Greenway, expanding the Shoreline so that it can be enjoyed for decades to come. On the eastern side, trails have been completed at the New Albany Loop Island Wetlands, and the announcement today revealed that more trails are coming to this site.

Additional neighborhood trails have been completed leading to the site of Silver Creek Landing, a new kayak and boat launch into Silver Creek that was completed in 2023. Plans for this site were revealed in late 2016, and the City of New Albany was pleased to be the first to develop a Blueway along Silver Creek for kayakers, fisherman, and water enthusiasts.

WESTERN EXPANSION OF THE SHORELINE

Along the western side of the Shoreline, the City of New Albany added the “New Albany Flow Park,” a world-class skatepark. The City of New Albany, in partnership with the Carnegie Center for Art and History and the Southern Indiana Tourism Bureau, completed the New Albany Flow Park in late 2019, a one-of-a-kind skate-able work of art on New Albany’s Shoreline, enhancing the Ohio River Greenway. The New Albany Flow Park is a unique and ambitious project that integrates art with healthy living and quality of place initiatives.

Further along the western side, the New Albany Boat Ramp was opened in late 2023. This new access point to the Ohio River will allow for more boaters to access the river, and could open the possibility for fishing tournaments and other water sports to come to the area. The site surrounding the boat ramp is expected to be redeveloped into a greenspace and family fun park, with natural playgrounds and other amenities to be added soon.

SPRING IS COMING

“The City of New Albany will continue to improve access to some of our most scenic areas and natural amenities,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “These areas are owned by the people of New Albany, and we are committed to protecting our public lands and keeping them accessible to everyone in our River City.”

APARTMENT MORATORIUM PASSES, CITY TO FOCUS ON HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

APARTMENT MORATORIUM PASSES, CITY TO FOCUS ON HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

The New Albany City Council has approved Mayor Gahan’s recommendation and passed an ordinance that will place a moratorium on new apartment construction and the issuance of short-term rental permits in New Albany.

In late January, Mayor Gahan recommended that the City of New Albany place a moratorium on the construction of new apartments and the issuance of short-term rental permits. This came after months of speaking with and listening to residents, developers, real estate professionals, and other interested parties.

Additionally, the City of New Albany partnered with the University of Louisville’s Urban Studies Institute to perform an in-depth analysis of the city’s housing stock and how we can best prepare for the future. The study overwhelmingly showed that New Albany needed to help provide more options and opportunities for home ownership in the city of New Albany.

Last year, the City of New Albany announced the formation of the GROWTH Program which is aimed at providing incentives for new home buyers, as well as programs to help keep residents in their homes. Additionally, the city will explore incentives to offset infrastructure costs and pass down cost savings to potential home owners. Potential parts of the program include Credit Repair programs, Home Repair Assistance, Down Payment Assistance, among others. The full program is expected to be announced later this year.

“This moratorium will give us time to pump the brakes on the high rate of apartment construction, and allow us to plan and prepare for the next few decades of housing needs in New Albany,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “I want to thank the City Council for their support on this initiative, and am looking forward to getting to work on updating the City’s comprehensive plan.”

Now, City Leaders will begin updating the city’s comprehensive plan and zoning code to prepare a roadmap for the future of housing in New Albany. It’s clear that more and more people are wanting to make their home in our River City, and the City hopes to revise the comprehensive plan that will remove barriers for home ownership in New Albany. The American Dream begins with home ownership, and we want to do our part to ensure that every resident who wants to pursue that dream has an opportunity.

“It is clear that there is a mis-match between the available housing stock and the types of homes that people want and need in our city,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “If you are a young person who is looking to step up into your first starter home, or if you are a senior who is looking to step down into a smaller retirement house, we want you to have those Middle Housing options that are so important in helping our community thrive.”

Mayor Gahan Recommends Moratorium on New Apartments, Calls on City Council to take Action

Mayor Gahan Recommends Moratorium on New Apartments, Calls on City Council to take Action

Over the past decade, the City has experienced significant growth, leading to an increase in multi-family housing complexes, apartments, and short-term rentals. In 2023, the city partnered with the Urban Studies Institute at the University of Louisville for a comprehensive housing study. This study confirmed that the City of New Albany should focus its efforts on increasing the availability of owner-occupied single-family homes, while disincentivizing apartments and short-term rentals.

Based on these results of the study, Mayor Jeff Gahan has recommended that the City Council explore establishing a moratorium on the construction of apartments, as well as halting the issuance of permits for short-term rentals.

“We believe that the American Dream begins with the opportunity to plant roots and purchase a home, and this study confirmed those beliefs,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “Last year, we initiated the GROWTH program to help incentivize single family homes, and now, we are doubling down on our commitment to increasing the availability of homes for people in New Albany by exploring a moratorium on apartments and short-term rentals.”

Mayor Gahan has drafted an ordinance for consideration by the City Council and hopes that they will take it up at their next meeting.

A moratorium on apartments would provide the City with an opportunity to review and update the Comprehensive Plan and the Zoning Ordinance, specifically addressing the impacts of multi-family housing and short-term rentals on public infrastructure, economic development, and the overall character of the City.

The City Council will now discuss Mayor Gahan’s recommendation at a committee meeting on January 29th at 11:30am at City Hall.

City of New Albany Files Lawsuit to Protect Historic Dam

The City of New Albany has initiated legal proceedings against River Heritage Conservancy, Inc. (RHC)/Origin Park and Ecosystems Connections Institute, LLC (ECI) to prevent the removal of the historic Glenwood Park dam, also known as the Providence Mill dam, situated on Silver Creek.

Mayor Jeff Gahan emphasized the dam's importance in providing water supply for fish and wildlife, flood protection, and water levels for recreational opportunities.

“We will protect the functional, recreational, and historical value of this site,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “Removing this dam can harm the functions that it currently serves, including providing water supply during times of drought and flood protection during periods of heavy rain. It will also hurt the recreation provided by the dam, reducing the number of days suitable for fishing, kayaking, and swimming. And finally, removal of the dam will hurt the historical value of the site, erasing the history of the people who used and still use this site today. The people of New Albany deserve to have input before a local site is destroyed by out-of-county entities.”

The lawsuit asserts the City's ownership rights and challenges River Heritage Conservancy (Origin Park) and Ecosystems Connections Institute's lack of necessary approvals and permits. Neither Origin Park nor Ecosystems has any ownership rights in the dam. The City expresses concern over the potential negative impacts on flood control, recreation, and historical value. Additionally, despite receiving millions of dollars in public funds, River Heritage and Origin Park have refused to engage with city officials on alternatives. If Origin Park removes the dam, it would cost nearly $2 million to replace.

“We are looking forward to resolving this issue for the residents, conservationists, sportsmen, and historic preservationists of New Albany,” stated City of New Albany’s Corporate Counsel Shane Gibson. “We were hopeful that Origin Park officials would sit down to discuss this with us, but since they have refused to meet, we must resolve this through the court of law.”

"We are taking this legal action to protect our community's functional, recreational, and historical assets," stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. "We have been joined by many local officials and partners in our efforts to protect a valuable city asset. Groups like our historic preservation officers at Indiana Landmarks, the Floyd County Historian, New Albany City Council members, and others have joined us in fighting against this unwelcome, out-of-city infringement on the taxpayers of New Albany.”

Further reading:

October 25, 2016 - City Announces Intentions to Develop Silver Creek Landing

May 16, 2022 - City Breaks Ground on Silver Creek Landing

November 18, 2022 - Origin Park Officials Refuse to Meet with City, despite Unanimous Vote from City Council

A Message From Mayor Gahan

Dear New Albany,

I am so excited about the future of our city.

For many years, I have known that New Albany is a special place. I was lucky enough to grow up here, meet my wife here, and raise a family here, and there is no place that I would rather be. Our River City, nestled against the Ohio River, and settled below Floyds Knobs, is starting to come alive – and people are taking notice.

Over the past twelve years, I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve as your Mayor. During that time, we have worked tirelessly to invest in assets that bring new opportunities to our neighbors, our families, and our home:

We invested in our city parks so that people have places to play and be healthy.

We invested in great schools so that residents have the confidence to raise a family here.

We invested in infrastructure, connecting our neighborhoods and our residents.

We invested in new jobs so that people can comfortably live their lives in New Albany.

We invested in public safety so that residents feel secure in their homes.

And we have invested in new opportunities for homeownership, so that more people can begin their American Dream in New Albany.

But the main thing that we have invested in is the future of our River City. This past Tuesday, the people of New Albany showed their confidence in our path towards the future, and I am so thankful to have the opportunity to continue serving as your Mayor.

I can also assure you that this is no time to slow down. We will continue pushing forward to the future, and we will continue investing in the future of New Albany. We will continue putting New Albany FIRST in all things. With me as your mayor, the people of New Albany will always come first.

I am so thankful and honored to have your continued support. But mostly, I am so excited about the future of New Albany. Together, with your help, we will keep moving New Albany forward.

Thank you,

 Mayor Jeff Gahan