At a meeting of the Housing Coalition of Noble County on June 22, called together by the Housing Resource Hub (aka the Hub), stakeholders heard updates and details from two Noble County communities that have identified catalyst sites for housing development. Representatives involved in the projects shared the steps taken thus far, as well as their visions for next steps.

This meeting was the first of the coalition since the Noble County Housing Symposium hosted in late April. The coalition is tasked as the “steering committee” for the development and execution of a Noble County Housing Strategy. The broader community was invited to the symposium where they heard an in-depth review of the Noble County Housing Market Potential, highlighting that 2,295 households of all incomes have the potential to move to Noble County each year.

Since then, Noble’s communities have been working to identify potential catalyst sites and endorse projects they feel align with the countywide needs identified by the market report.

Albion

Albion Town Manager Jacob Ihrie shared with the group, at the June meeting, that the Town of Albion has expressed interest in committing to engage with the Hub on at least one development site, and perhaps a second potential site. In addition, the Albion Town Council recently created a committee to explore opportunities and strategies. Using the Hub may provide the town with more say in the development than if a private deal is made, including design of the area and types of homes to be built.

Details have not yet been made public, nor funds committed, but Ihrie expressed optimism that he will soon have news to share about a serious investment in Albion that will provide alternatives to single family housing within the community.

Ligonier

The City of Ligonier’s Redevelopment Commission (RDC) heard about the tools and support services that the Housing Resource Hub can provide at their meeting in June, and will likely commit to funding so it can move forward in collaboration with the Hub to develop a 27-acre site in western Noble County.

The 27 acres were recently purchased by the RDC from the Community Foundation of Noble County. When the sale was announced, the foundation framed their decision to sell through the lens of three primary legal duties known as “duty of care,” “duty of loyalty,” and “duty of obedience.” They explained these duties as:

• Duty of Care: Take care of the nonprofit by ensuring prudent use of all assets, including facility, people, and good will;
  
• Duty of Loyalty: Ensure that the nonprofit’s activities and transactions are, first and foremost, advancing its mission; Recognize and disclose conflicts of interest; Make decisions that are in the best interest of the nonprofit corporation; not in the best interest of the individual board member (or any other individual or for-profit entity);
  
• Duty of Obedience: Ensure that the nonprofit obeys applicable laws and regulations; follows its own bylaws; and that the nonprofit adheres to its stated corporate purposes/mission.

Under its “Duty of Care”, the board identified two options for selling the property. Either list it with an agent or find a buyer itself. The outcomes the board desired to achieve included getting a fair and just price. Most importantly, however, the board desired to be “good neighbors” to the City of Ligonier and allow the property to be used in a way that would positively impact the entire Noble County community. (Noble County was one of only two counties in Northeast Indiana to see a population decline from 2010 to 2020 and the “issue” of attracting new housing development has been a hot topic of discussion for many years, especially as local employers have struggled to fill jobs before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.)

Following discussions between the foundation, City of Ligonier officials, and the RDC, the RDC extended an offer to purchase the property. By purchasing the land, the RDC makes property conveniently located just south of the city (and in close proximity to an area already annexed and planned for future industrial and commercial development available) available for more housing. Profits from the sale of the property are being reinvested into the Community Foundation’s assets to benefit Noble County in other ways as well.

Since the sale closed, the RDC has begun physically transforming the site to be more development-ready. More formal action is likely to occur to secure the services of the Hub in coming months.

Next steps

Though details have not yet been announced, additional catalyst sites are being discussed in Noble County as well. The next step for community-led projects will fall to the Hub. The Housing Coalition will receive a report back from the Hub on a quarterly basis moving forward. As more opportunities begin to take shape, those will also be communicated to the coalition to ensure members can continue to champion efforts to grow Noble’s population and workforce.