COLUMBUS, Ind.–The city of Columbus is on its way to funding a $2 million gap in renovating the old Republic newspaper building for an incoming Master of Architecture program. The Redevelopment Commission on Monday committed $1 million to Indiana University to assist with the $20 million the school has put into getting the facility ready for use by August. Community Education Coalition President and CEO John Burnett said that various community leaders came together to raise the other $1 million that IU had been requesting of Columbus.
The next step is for city council to approve the actual transfer of funds to IU using Central TIF dollars, which are dedicated by the state to the city for uses such as redevelopment.
Adam Thies, Assistant Vice President of Capital and Finance for Indiana University, says IU intends to pay attention to detail with the facility upgrades to make them consistent with both the building’s past and future.