example—the city intends to work side-by-side with partners to find a viable path. A STORY OF REINVENTION: FROM RAIL YARD TO INDUSTRIAL PARK Bicknell’s economic evolution is inseparable from its history. Cullen notes the city’s founding dates to 1869, with early settlement shaped by wooded terrain so dense it earned the nickname “Stumptown.” Over time, that pioneering spirit turned into a built environment—and later, industrial opportunity. The industrial park itself reflects that progression. Once the location of a busy railroad yard— including maintenance operations and supporting infrastructure—the area transitioned after the railroad’s departure in the late 1970s. Through subsequent decades, the city and its partners pursued industrial development by upgrading utilities, attracting tenants, and repurposing sites into productive use. The result is an employment corridor that grew out of the city’s transportation roots and continues to offer space for the next phase of growth. HOUSING MOMENTUM: “SUCCESS, SUCCESS, SUCCESS” If one theme stands out from this update, it is housing—both as a reflection of progress and as a deliberate strategy to support long-term sustainability. Estabrook describes visible new construction, rising sale prices, and an increase in outside interest. Homes selling for $150,000 and above—once unthinkable locally—now signal that Bicknell is increasingly competitive as a place to live. Community leaders credit years of steady work removing blight, improving curb appeal, and turning dormant parcels into viable building sites. The Bicknell Bulldog Development Corporation has played a practical role in this effort by taking in properties, clearing them when needed, and putting them back into circulation for new construction. The mayor also points to a major recent step: the acquisition of 45 vacant properties through a county certificate sale process, creating a bank of buildable lots intended for new housing. What has changed, Estabrook says, is demand. Where the city once struggled to attract builders, developers are now coming forward proactively. Local builders have already identified lots they want for 1,200-square-foot, three-bedroom, twobath homes—an attainable housing product that can serve working families and support broader economic development efforts. The city is also evolving its model. Rather than simply 95 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 01 BICKNELL, IN
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI5MjAx