Published: November 04, 2009 10:03 pm         

Officials request land transfer for Terre Haute North growth

TERRE HAUTE — With space limited for expansion on the campus of Terre Haute North Vigo High School, Vigo County School Corp. officials Wednesday requested the county transfer nearby land for use as sports and band practice fields as well as other future growth.

Paul Mason, president of the Vigo County Board of Commissioners, encouraged school officials to send a written request for the county to donate or transfer county-owned land to the school corporation. The proposed site includes 9.03 acres that adjoins school property to the west of the school’s football stadium.

It also includes a 70-foot-wide tract of property that connects to Maple Avenue along the west side of the 38th Support Battalion National Guard Armory.

“We would take the written request under advisement. I am sure it would be OK. We would let legal do its part, our legal team working with your legal team,” Mason said.

Commissioners in August transferred 3.44 acres of land to the Terre Haute Board of Public Works and Safety to expand the city’s fire and police training facility. That land would adjoin a northwest section of the proposed property for the high school.

With that transfer to the city, commissioners also transferred a 10-foot right-of-way easement to allow the city to install a water line from Maple Avenue extending north into the city’s fire training facility at 2465 N. Brown Ave. The city now has 13.4 acres.

Vigo County School Corp. Superintendent Dan Tanoos; Staci Mason, principal at Terre Haute North Vigo High School; and Mick Newport, executive director of secondary education, met with commissioners about the land transfer/donation.

“I think this serves several purposes for future expansion. Number one, North’s practice field is a shortened field and doesn’t really give the kids a full practice area,” Tanoos said. “And if the school ever wanted to expand, and we had funding at the time, we would look at the possibility of making a fieldhouse in that area for the school,” Tanoos said.

Principal Mason added, “One of the other major things we would gain is an area for our band to practice. Currently, the only place our band has to practice is on that west parking lot and often there are cars still parked there and we have to figure out how to move those so they have a place to practice without interference from someone else.”

On the possibility of a fieldhouse, Tanoos said, “When you look, comparatively speaking, to the [athletic] conference we are in, at the facilities, and we have very nice facilities, but when you compare them, they are not in the same league in terms of Center Grove or {Indianapolis] North Central, which have a fieldhouse.

“We probably would not go that elaborate, but at least this would give the kids a place to change [athletic uniforms] close to the [football stadium] and maybe add a track, also,” he said.

Tanoos, after the meeting, added that a future fieldhouse would likely require private donations for construction.

Commissioner Judith Anderson said she supports transferring the property.

“At North, property is kinda at a premium and you are kinda boxed in, so this would be good,” Anderson told school officials.

Commissioner Mason said the school corporation would likely have to rezone the land because it is currently zoned for agriculture. Tanoos said he would bring the issue before the School Board and get permission to proceed to obtain the property from the county.

Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com.