By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
WABASH – The City of Wabash will lease a building near the Wabash River to a local businessman who plans to open a store as part of the Wabash River Redevelopment Project.
The Wabash Board of Public Works and Safety approved the three-year lease for the building, which is now being used as a storage facility for the Wabash Park Department.
Wabash Marketplace Inc. received a $50,000 grant from the State of Indiana, then raised another $50,000 locally for the project, which seeks the creation of a riverfront plaza featuring two gazebos, seating and landscaping. There also will be a deck that overlooks the river.
As part of the project, Wabash businessman Ben Gebhart plans to open an outfitter store in the city-owned building. It is expected that the business would be a place that could rent bicycles, canoes, kayaks and sell all the accessories and things that go along with those kinds of activities.
Under the three-year lease, the first year would cost $1, while the rent for the second year would be $200 per month. The third year, according to Mayor Scott Long, would be based on market values.
For further details see the Jan. 11 issue of The Paper of Wabash County