Making the same airport mistake

December 02, 2007 07:34 pm

— Every 50 years or so someone from Indianapolis tries to force an economic development bonanza on Anderson. About 1958, the airport which became Indianapolis International was approved to be relocated approximately where Metropolitan wants to be. In a dazzling display of insular thinking, some Anderson groups beat back the initiative and the airport was moved near Plainfield.
Now, Metropolitan wants to relocate to an area that will give increased vitality to the Indianapolis /Anderson economic corridor and provide a center of economic activity in and of itself. Maintaining our insular mind set, that effort is also being beaten back for much the same reasons; possible noise and inconvenience to a few rural residents.
Instead, we will continue to dump money into an airport which is hemmed in by the White River, Chesterfield and a state highway; is virtually inaccessible to Fishers and Indianapolis and whose business/industrial park lies ignored and undeveloped.
We get what we deserve.
George K. Allison
Anderson
Retired president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce for Anderson and Madison County