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Work ordered to stop on proposed hotel on West Washington Street

Wednesday, August 23, 2023
By JARED JERNAGAN, Editor
While no city official has yet been available to comment on the nature of structural concerns to the building at 22 and 24 W. Washington St., Greencastle, they would appear to center around crumbled brick and stone at the southeast corner of the building.
Banner Graphic/BRAND SELVIA

The City of Greencastle issued an order Wednesday morning that work be halted on improvements to the old Central National Bank building at 22 and 24 W. Washington St.

Cited in the stop order was a concern over structural integrity and the “need for structural engineering before proceeding.”

While the exact nature of the issue is not stated in the order, stones and bricks have clearly crumbled from the base of the building at the southeast corner next to the alley that runs behind the structure.

City Building Commissioner Pat Thibodeau is out of the office this week and unavailable for comment on the matter. No other city official had yet been reached for an explanation as of 11 a.m. Thursday.

The building has recently been undergoing roof upgrades as Jeffersonville-based developer Downtown USA prepares to renovate it into a 10-room hotel. Downtown USA is owned by Australian Paul Stubber, who also operates a race car business in Greencastle.

In June, the Greencastle Board of Zoning Appeals approved a special exception to allow a hotel at the location.

Work has halted on upgrades to the old Central National Bank Building at 22 and 24 W. Washington St., Greencastle, due to structural concerns discovered Wednesday morning.
Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN
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  • Proposed hotel. Totally ridiculous.

    -- Posted by Queen53 on Wed, Aug 23, 2023, at 2:26 PM

  • Queen53. Why is it ridiculous?

    -- Posted by Nit on Wed, Aug 23, 2023, at 9:13 PM

  • I am grateful that anyone is interested in those downtown buildings and they aren't just rotting away into history. The old bank building has some great history in Greencastle, being the bank that John Dillinger robbed, it would be very sad to see it demolished. You only have to go as far as Russellville to find the Main Street buildings crumbling away. Hopefully they can get the building stabilized and new life can be breathed back into the building.

    -- Posted by Charlie7 on Thu, Aug 24, 2023, at 7:16 AM

  • Charlie7 - Bainbridge has several old buildings wasting away downtown also or they are apartments.

    -- Posted by infiremanemt on Thu, Aug 24, 2023, at 8:45 AM

  • A hotel in the old bank building would be nice- I hope they pattern it after the old Commercial Hotel with a very big candy counter. Maybe the VIP patrons can park in the new reserved spots at the Courthouse.

    -- Posted by Alfred E. on Thu, Aug 24, 2023, at 9:07 AM

  • Every building in every small town that was bypassed by the interstate highway system is slowly turning to dust. Belle Union and Quincy are near to joining the list of towns that don’t even exist anymore. I’m glad someone wants to save this building and is willing to spend their own money to do it. That’s a far sight better than the “someone should save it” crowd that wants someone else to pay for it.

    -- Posted by techphcy on Thu, Aug 24, 2023, at 11:35 AM

  • Maybe Greencastle should put some funding into a YMCA? Spencer has one, Brazil has one. Give kids something to do in this town.

    -- Posted by Queen53 on Thu, Aug 24, 2023, at 3:37 PM

  • I agree with PutCoRes1963. Hopefully they will get those special passes saved for the judges.

    -- Posted by Keepyaguessin on Thu, Aug 24, 2023, at 7:14 PM

  • A hotel without on-site parking. "We'll just use the city lots for parking". Where does that leave all the downtown employees (including the hotel employees) to park?

    -- Posted by Homegrown765 on Thu, Aug 24, 2023, at 8:40 PM

  • I am still trying to figure out how being robbed is a badge of honor? How being a criminal is someone we should hold up like some great person?

    -- Posted by beg on Fri, Aug 25, 2023, at 1:26 AM
  • *

    That's a great question...

    It's quite a human curiosity that someone who was never formally convicted of a crime would become the subject of folklore, and wear those alleged crimes as badges of honor.

    -- Posted by Bunny1E on Fri, Aug 25, 2023, at 11:54 AM

  • Are we discussing Dillinger? I'm older, so don't trust my memory, but I believe Dillinger was sent to prison, twice. So it seems logical that he was convicted of something.

    -- Posted by Prince of Stardust Hills on Fri, Aug 25, 2023, at 2:12 PM
  • *

    Prince -

    Consider the source.

    He isn't talking about Dillinger, who was convicted of a crime. (He confessed.)

    He is talking about President Trump, and trying to be clever about it. (Failing, as usual.)

    Hare-brain wakes up in cold sweats from the very idea of Trump.

    Imagine...someone wanting to Make America Great Again... the nerve of some people.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Fri, Aug 25, 2023, at 9:34 PM

  • Thanks for clearing that up, dpr. I didn't realize the commenter was trying to be clever. Thanks again.

    -- Posted by Prince of Stardust Hills on Fri, Aug 25, 2023, at 10:31 PM

  • Sorry DPR, I was not but I do love how you make my intention for me.

    I understand that the SSLLSC and those on the extreme right (same people, btw, though they won't admit it) live in a world that their mind and emotions are controlled by the past President. Mine are not. Meant it solely for how it pertains to an above comment and society's view of "great".

    -- Posted by beg on Sat, Aug 26, 2023, at 12:01 AM
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