Indiana State University Newsroom

Terre Haute residents are being asked to provide input on how the city's vacant properties can be transformed into valuable resources for the community.

Indiana State University's Institute for Community Sustainability and the City of Terre Haute will host "Toward a New Identity: A Re-Envisioning Workshop for Terre Haute" from 5 - 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (June 30) in Federal Hall, Room 122.

"We encourage anyone interested in seeing Terre Haute grow to be part of an emerging movement to improve the economy and quality of life in our community," said Caroline Savage, assistant director of the institute. "There are dozens of vacant properties within the city that can be developed, resulting in cost savings for the city and developers, increased property values for neighboring homes, reduced travel times, less pollution and economic as well as environment stabilization."

Savage calls the workshop a "call to action" meeting. The event will include a discussion of "infill" development and an explanation of why Terre Haute is one of only 22 communities in the nation to receive U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funding this year under the agency's Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program.

The program provides technical assistance to communities using a variety of tools that have demonstrated results and widespread application elsewhere. The purpose of delivering these tools is to stimulate a discussion about growth and development and strengthen local capacity to implement sustainable approaches.

Terre Haute and Danville, Ill. are among four cities selected for the EPA's "Infill Development for Distressed Cities" tool, designed for use by the community with limited outside assistance.

The workshop is free and refreshments will be served. Registration is required at www.tinyurl.com/TerreHauteInfill.

Contact: Caroline Savage, assistant director, Institute for Community Sustainability, Indiana State University, caroline.savage@indstate.edu

Writer: Dave Taylor, media relations director, Office of Communiations and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3743 9r dave.taylor@indstate.edu