In a down economy, the Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency is planning to build a new $5 million, 30,000 square foot building that can built-out to 45,000 square feet in the future.  Better known as KIPDA, the Louisville organization oversees transportation planning for the area.  Funded by state and federal governments, KIPDA also manages services for the aging.

KIPDA has maxed out their current digs, which no longer meet the organization’s needs.  One example is that a flex parking schedule had to be implemented during board meeting week in order for board members to have a place to park.

Eastern Jefferson County is the proposed location for the new building, which will have twice as much parking as their current location.  Located near I-64 and Blankenbaker Parkway, the desired spot is the Blankenbaker Station Business Park.  Why this locale?  It is centrally situated to the agency’s members and provides the necessary space needed to conduct business.

KIPDA intends to build “green” based on U.S. Green Building Council’s eco-friendly standards.  They also will be applying for grants in order to offset the cost.  That was their answer when asked whether it’s appropriate to build new when many local governments are experiencing deficits in their budgets.

Metropolitan Housing Coalition Executive Director Cathy Hinko said that she’s concerned with the location of the new building.  According to Hinko, it’s inconvenient to access by public transit, which conflicts with public policy from the last decade.

KIPDA, however, disagrees, and believes that TARC service would expand to the area when the need arises.  Nina Walfoort, TARC spokeswoman, stated that currently it would take around an hour to arrive at the KIPDA’s proposed location from downtown Louisville.

Walfoort said that all TARC would request is that KIPDA make a good-faith effort to put the bus line in.

Residential real estate sales took a downturn first, and now we’re seeing commercial real estate suffering.  Some business owners in the Louisville area are struggling with vacancies and others are in foreclosure.  It’s interesting that KIPDA wants to build new during a down economy.

Maybe there’s just not a building that would adequately house the organization in the immediate Louisville area.