Jacobsville neighborhood Receives ‘Focal Point’ in Repurposed Lighted Archway with Sign

WNIN | By Tim Jagielo

Published January 11, 2024 at 5:45 PM CST

Sterling Signs installs the "Welcome to Jacobsville" arch with sign Thursday morning before a gathered crowd. The archway used to be on Main Street prior to the Ford Center's construction. It's been widened to fit on North Main Street.

Sign is symbolic of investments into the neighborhood, including $15 million in Complete Street program, large housing developments, protected multimodal path and hundreds of demolished or repurposed abandoned buildings

The gathered crowd includes media, city staff, department heads and parties involved with Jacobsville's revitalization.

On Thursday morning impact tools sound off, tightening the bolts to complete the installation of the ‘“Welcome to Jacobsville” archway with sign.

It’s on North Main Street near the McDonald’s, and a crowd is gathered behind the barricade tape to watch and take photos.

Kelly Coures is outgoing Executive Director for the Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD). He said many other neighborhoods can be identified with a specific landmark — such as Bayard Park. “But his neighborhood didn't have one single focal point that you could say, ‘oh, yeah, that's Jacobsville,’” Coures said. “And so now it does.”

Installing this arch is not just a symbolic gesture. Coures said he’s spent a lot of time walking the streets of Jacobsville — 12 years with the DMD. He’s seen the neighborhood improve significantly in the past 10 years.

$15 million was invested in the Complete Street program and there are two large housing developments right nearby with co-working space and a protected multimodal path.

Coures said a new Master Plan for the neighborhood is in the works.

Other smaller projects included buying and repurposing abandoned buildings and demolishing 200 abandoned homes.

Kelly Coures speaks to the media after a ribbon-cutting ceremony. As outgoing Executive Director for the Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD), Coures facilitated many projects in Jacobsville — including this archway.

Jacobsville was an early federal superfund site. Due to past industrial activities, soil in the neighborhood and beyond could contain toxins.

Now residents beyond the neighborhood can have soil tested for lead and arsenic; soil and lawn remediation are provided if toxins reach dangerous levels.

Attending her first ribbon-cutting as Mayor was Stephanie Terry.

“It's really a model, I think, for other areas of our community,” she said. “And it's creating gateways and cultural districts like this,” she said. “As neighborhoods continue to thrive and get stronger, the community as a whole is going to be more vibrant and strong.”

Terry has pledged her support for more neighborhood investment in underserved areas. Both Terry and Coures praise neighborhood leaders for spearheading projects large and small.

“Really the credit goes to the people in the neighborhood that came together 11 years ago and decided that they were going to take matters into their own hands, revitalize this place and make it a people-centric thing again,” Coures said.

The new archway with built-in lights was previously on Main Street, downtown Evansville before the Ford Center was built. It’s been slightly modified and repurposed.

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Sterling Signs completes installation of archway with sign Thursday morning.