Frequently Asked Questions – Prospect Reuse Vision

The following are some frequently asked questions that Citizens has received as it has sought community input concerning the Prospect Vision, including during an open house held in July on the Twin Aire site.

General Redevelopment

Q. Will there be enough security at the proposed Twin Aire site?
A. Yes, whatever operator is chosen for the site will need to ensure proper security.

Q. How will you slow the traffic on Hoyt and Traub streets for children crossing the street to the new park?
A. Citizens and the new owner of the site will be working with the City of Indianapolis to be sure proper measures are taken to ensure the safety of pedestrians near the facility.

Q. Can you please save the gas holder frame as a way to commemorate the coke plant?
A. While we know the gas holder is a landmark in the community and a symbol of the history of the coke plant, it will most likely be removed for safety reasons.

Q. Can the Pleasant Run Trail be re-routed to cut through the plant? Expansion of the Greenways is very important to our neighborhood.
A. At this time, we don’t anticipate rerouting the Pleasant Run Trail through the plant property. Rerouting the trail through the property presents public safety issues and the trail might not be compatible with potential development plans for the core plant site. However, Citizens is already working with city officials to provide better signage on the current Pleasant Run Trail so trail users have a better idea how to navigate around the area.

Q. Will the development at the Twin Aire site incorporate the following?

Youth sports – We expect it will accommodate a variety of youth sports.
Jobs – Yes, we do expect the creation of a number of jobs, but the exact number is uncertain.
Spray park – A small spray park might be possible on the Twin Aire site.
Swimming pool – We do not expect a swimming pool to be included. Pools are very expensive to operate and maintain.
Sledding hill – A sledding area might also be possible.
Things for disabled kids to do – Citizens will insist that the facility meet the access requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Basketball courts with 24/7 security – Basketball courts could be a part of the new facility but would be monitored and kept clean and safe.
A skate park -- A skate park is not expected to be a part of this new facility.
Drive-in Theatre – We do not expect a drive-in theatre to be part of the new facility. The market for drive-in theaters is dwindling due to indoor theaters and home video rental.
Activities for kids during all seasons – We are hopeful the new facility will have year-round activities for kids.

Q. Will Citizens sign a community benefit agreement with neighborhood groups to guide the development of the property?
A. Citizens does not anticipate entering into a community benefit agreement concerning the development of the property. After receiving regular input from the community, final decisions concerning the development of the various parcels will be made by the Citizens Energy Group Board of Directors, which is a non-partisan community based group representing the citizens of Marion County.

Environmental

Q. Do you intend to allow access to the creek (Pleasant Run)?
A. Unfortunately, we must restrict access to Pleasant Run Creek for safety reasons. Pleasant Run Creek is not a public waterway and access is generally restricted by the many private landowners along the creek. On the coke plant property, there are railroad crossings and plant equipment adjacent to the creek that could cause a danger to the public. Residents of the area should also remember that Pleasant Run Creek periodically receives combined sewer overflow discharges from locations outside of the coke plant property.

Q. Doesn’t the State own the land on both sides of Pleasant Run through the property?
A. No, land on both sides of the creek on the former coke plant property is owned by Citizens Energy Group.

Q. Do you have any plans to clean up the coal dust residue from our neighborhoods?
A. Citizens is working with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management on a comprehensive environmental remediation plan for the Prospect site. We don’t anticipate this plan will include cleaning up coal dust outside of the plant site.

Q. What is the depth of the monitoring wells at the Twin Aire site and what was found?
A. The monitoring wells at Twin Aire go down to the water table, a depth of about 20 feet. Multiple rounds of water sampling from these wells have proven that there is no risk to public health or welfare.

Q. Is there asbestos on the Twin Aire site?
A. No. There was some asbestos in the old movie screens, but this material was removed and disposed of in accordance with state and federal laws.

Q. Will the air quality be impacted during demolition? How will you contain the dust?
A. There will be some dust during the demolition process. Citizens will take measures to minimize dust such as watering down structures being demolished. We will also make sure all neighborhood associations are aware of the times and dates we intend to do demolition work and the information will be posted on our website.

Q. Will Citizens do any job training for remediation work at the main plant site?
A. Citizens will not be creating a job training program for remediation work at the plant site. However, the company is certainly open to others creating such programs to support remediation work throughout Marion County.

Demolition

Q. Where is the waste from the plant going?
A. Citizens will be selling scrap metal and other usable materials from the plant. Other materials will either be recycled or removed for placement at landfill sites outside the area.

Q. Will demolition activities contaminate the soil or Pleasant Run Creek?
A. No. Citizens will take state-approved measures to protect the soil and Pleasant Run Creek from environmental impact during the demolition process.

Q. Where do we send our contact information if we are interested in being hired for either remediation or demolition work at the plant site?
A. Contact information for contractors hired for remediation and demolition will be posted on our website in late 2010 when demolition work is scheduled to begin.

Q. Will demolition be completed before the Super Bowl in 2012?
A. No, demolition is not scheduled to begin until late 2010 and will take a year or more to complete.

Q. Is Citizens receiving any funding from the State for demolition?
A. No.

Q. Will Citizens keep ownership of any of the Coke Plant property?
A. Yes, Citizens plans to retain ownership of the core coke plant site and lease it to a developer or to individual companies locating their businesses on one or more parcels. Citizens does plan to sell adjoining parcels along Pleasant Run Parkway and two sites south of the core plant site.