L'burg Entertainment District Formed; Cheap Liquor Licenses Could Lure New Investment

Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 7:28 AM

By Mike Perleberg

The Lawrenceburg Downtown Riverfront Entertainment District was made official following a vote by City Council on April 20. Photo by Mike Perleberg, Eagle 99.3. (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - Most any type of business can now obtain a liquor license for relatively little money in a portion of downtown Lawrenceburg. City Council unanimously approved the Lawrenceburg Downtown Riverfront Entertainment District on April 20. A week earlier, the proposed district had gained the approval of the Lawrenceburg Redevelopment Commission. The designation allows the city to take advantage of a state law that allows for unlimited $1,000 three-way liquor licenses in the district, which encompasses several blocks along the Ohio River between the Lawrenceburg Event Center and Hollywood Casino. The opportunity was highlighted in a study completed last October by consultants with national downtown experts Hyett Palma. Normally, liquor licenses sell for upwards of $25,000. Such savings could tempt a bar or restaurant to take a much closer look at doing business in Lawrenceburg. The Downtown Partnership Committee assembled last year by Lawrenceburg Mayor Dennis Carr was tasked with doing the legwork to form the entertainment district. “Anything we can do to help spur business and commerce in the county is a plus, and making it easier for businesses to draw people downtown will be a boon for all of Lawrenceburg. It’s also encouraging to see the downtown partnership committee making progress on the Hyett Palma recommendations. It has only been a few months but already the committee has worked in concert with the city to enact changes that will positively alter the look and feel of Lawrenceburg for years to come,” says committee member Eric Kranz, executive director of the Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce. RELATED: South Bend District Has Succeeded In Short Time Applications for the cheap liquor licenses will soon be available at the Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce office, 320 Walnut Street. Each application will be reviewed by the Downtown Committee with an expected 90 day turnaround. Each LDRED liquor license will require an annual renewal. Downtown committee president Tom Palmer says the program is open to many types of businesses, not just bars and restaurants. He gave art galleries or book stores serving wine as an example. “Now that we have this in place we have something to sell,” says Palmer, adding that the city and committee may begin focusing on marketing the opportunity in downtown to prospective businesses. Carr supports the entertainment district idea as a way to aid in the revitalization of the city’s historic downtown. “I’m encouraged by the efforts of the Downtown Partnership Committee in forming the blade sign grant program, a downtown lighting project and now creating an entertainment district – all positive measures in developing our downtown as outlined by Hyett Palma’s action agenda,” Carr said in a statement. There are some restrictions on which businesses can take advantage of the cheap liquor license. A business must be within the entertainment district. The program prohibits private clubs, night clubs, and adult entertainment venues. Existing establishments already holding a liquor license may not sell their license in order to apply for an LDRED license, unless they are willing to wait one year between selling and applying. Applications will be evaluated on various criteria. Each businesses must be in line with the district’s purpose to become a cultural and dining destination for the region. Also, the business activity must not be detrimental to property values and other businesses in the district. The committee will also consider the license applicant business’ location, operation, economic impact, and experience of its ownership before signing off on a license. In addition to complying with the above guidelines, each new business will have to fall in line with all building, health, zoning laws, ordinances and rules of the Indiana State Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, local, state, and federal governments - just like a business located anywhere else in the county. Applications for the blade sign grant program are also available at the chamber of commerce office. Funding in the amount of $25,000 has been approved for the program, which can cover half the cost – up to $2,500 – of new signage for businesses inside the Lawrenceburg levee district, according to Palmer. Folks will also begin to notice new lighting soon to be installed on some downtown buildings. White LED string lights could soon outline buildings on a block of Center Street at Walnut Street as part of a lighting pilot program by the downtown committee. Canopy lighting on some sidewalks is also a possibility. “We should have just raised everybody’s property values down there,” says Palmer. RELATED STORIES: Cheap, Unlimited Liquor Licenses May Be New Tool For Downtown L’burg Revitalization Downtown Action Agenda Highlights Casino, Ohio River Opportunities