2023 Indiana Code › Title 36. Local Government › Article 7. Planning and Development › Chapter 14. Redevelopment of Areas Needing Redevelopment Generally; Redevelopment Commissions › 36-7-14-12.2. Powers of Commission

Sec. 12.2. (a) The redevelopment commission may do the following:
(1) Acquire by purchase, exchange, gift, grant, condemnation, or lease, or any combination of methods, any personal property or interest in real property needed for the redevelopment of areas needing redevelopment that are located within the corporate boundaries of the unit.
(2) Hold, use, sell (by conveyance by deed, land sale contract, or other instrument), exchange, lease, rent, or otherwise dispose of property acquired for use in the redevelopment of areas needing redevelopment on the terms and conditions that the commission considers best for the unit and its inhabitants.
(3) Sell, lease, or grant interests in all or part of the real property acquired for redevelopment purposes to any other department of the unit or to any other governmental agency for public ways, levees, sewerage, parks, playgrounds, schools, and other public purposes on any terms that may be agreed on.
(4) Clear real property acquired for redevelopment purposes.
(5) Enter on or into, inspect, investigate, and assess real property and structures acquired or to be acquired for redevelopment purposes to determine the existence, source, nature, and extent of any environmental contamination, including the following:
(A) Hazardous substances.
(B) Petroleum.
(C) Other pollutants.
(6) Remediate environmental contamination, including the following, found on any real property or structures acquired for redevelopment purposes:
(A) Hazardous substances.
(B) Petroleum.
(C) Other pollutants.
(7) Repair and maintain structures acquired for redevelopment purposes.
(8) Remodel, rebuild, enlarge, or make major structural improvements on structures acquired for redevelopment purposes.
(9) Survey or examine any land to determine whether it should be included within an area needing redevelopment to be acquired for redevelopment purposes and to determine the value of that land.
(10) Appear before any other department or agency of the unit, or before any other governmental agency in respect to any matter affecting:
(A) real property acquired or being acquired for redevelopment purposes; or
(B) any area needing redevelopment within the jurisdiction of the commissioners.
(11) Institute or defend in the name of the unit any civil action.
(12) Use any legal or equitable remedy that is necessary or considered proper to protect and enforce the rights of and perform the duties of the department of redevelopment.
(13) Appoint an executive director, appraisers, real estate experts, engineers, architects, surveyors, and attorneys.
(14) Appoint clerks, guards, laborers, and other employees the commission considers advisable, except that those appointments must be made in accordance with the merit system of the unit if such a system exists.
(15) Prescribe the duties and regulate the compensation of employees of the department of redevelopment.
(16) Provide a pension and retirement system for employees of the department of redevelopment by using the Indiana public employees' retirement fund or a retirement plan approved by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(17) Discharge and appoint successors to employees of the department of redevelopment subject to subdivision (14).
(18) Rent offices for use of the department of redevelopment, or accept the use of offices furnished by the unit.
(19) Equip the offices of the department of redevelopment with the necessary furniture, furnishings, equipment, records, and supplies.
(20) Expend, on behalf of the special taxing district, all or any part of the money of the special taxing district.
(21) Contract for the construction of:
(A) local public improvements (as defined in IC 36-7-14.5-6) or structures that are necessary for redevelopment of areas needing redevelopment or economic development within the corporate boundaries of the unit; or
(B) any structure that enhances development or economic development.
(22) Contract for the construction, extension, or improvement of pedestrian skyways.
(23) Accept loans, grants, and other forms of financial assistance from the federal government, the state government, a municipal corporation, a special taxing district, a foundation, or any other source.
(24) Provide financial assistance (including grants and loans) to enable individuals and families to purchase or lease residential units in a multiple unit residential structure within the district. However, financial assistance may be provided only to individuals and families whose income is at or below the unit's median income for individuals and families, respectively.
(25) Provide financial assistance (including grants and loans) to neighborhood development corporations to permit them to:
(A) provide financial assistance for the purposes described in subdivision (24); or
(B) construct, rehabilitate, or repair commercial property within the district.
(26) Require as a condition of financial assistance to the owner of a multiple unit residential structure that any of the units leased by the owner must be leased:
(A) for a period to be determined by the commission, which may not be less than five (5) years;
(B) to families whose income does not exceed eighty percent (80%) of the unit's median income for families; and
(C) at an affordable rate.
(27) This subdivision does not apply to a redevelopment commission in a county for which the total amount of net property taxes allocated to all allocation areas or other tax increment financing areas established by a redevelopment commission, military base reuse authority, military base development authority, or another similar entity in the county in the preceding calendar year exceeded nineteen percent (19%) of the total net property taxes billed in the county in the preceding calendar year. Subject to prior approval by the fiscal body of the unit that established the redevelopment commission, expend money and provide financial assistance (including grants and loans):
(A) in direct support of:
(i) an active military base located within the unit; or
(ii) an entity located in the territory or facilities of a military base or former military base within the unit that is scheduled for closing or is completely or partially inactive or closed, or an entity that is located in any territory or facilities of the United States Department of Defense within the unit that are scheduled for closing or are completely or partially inactive or closed;
including direct support for the promotion of the active military base or entity, the growth of the active military base or entity, and activities at the active military base or entity; and
(B) in support of any other entity that provides services or direct support to an active military base or entity described in clause (A).
The fiscal body of the unit that established the redevelopment commission must separately approve each grant, loan, or other expenditure for financial assistance under this subdivision. The terms of any loan that is made under this subdivision may be changed only if the change is approved by the fiscal body of the unit that established the redevelopment commission. As used in this subdivision, "active military base" has the meaning set forth in IC 36-1-4-20.
(28) Expend revenues from a tax increment financing district that are allocated for police and fire services on both capital expenditures and operating expenses.
(b) Conditions imposed by the commission under subsection (a)(26) remain in force throughout the period determined under subsection (a)(26)(A), even if the owner sells, leases, or conveys the property. The subsequent owner or lessee is bound by the conditions for the remainder of the period.
(c) As used in this section, "pedestrian skyway" means a pedestrian walkway within or outside of the public right-of-way and through and above public or private property and buildings, including all structural supports required to connect skyways to buildings or buildings under construction. Pedestrian skyways constructed, extended, or improved over or through public or private property constitute public property and public improvements, constitute a public use and purpose, and do not require vacation of any public way or other property.
(d) All powers that may be exercised under this chapter by the redevelopment commission may also be exercised by the redevelopment commission in carrying out its duties and purposes under IC 36-7-14.5. However, if a power pertains to issuing bonds or incurring an obligation, the exercise of the power must first be specifically approved by the fiscal or legislative body of the unit, whichever applies.
(e) A commission may not exercise the power of eminent domain.
As added by P.L.1-1990, SEC.363. Amended by P.L.35-1990, SEC.53; P.L.185-2005, SEC.10; P.L.221-2007, SEC.32; P.L.149-2014, SEC.5; P.L.95-2014, SEC.2; P.L.236-2023, SEC.171.