Dispute over plan to restore Speedway

There are big plans to renovate the area around the Speedway. They call for rerouted streets, roundabouts, and new shopping. But the owners of one business are resisting part of that plan.

Speedway Monogramming has been in business for nearly 30 years. The T-shirt and racing novelty store is within a plot of land that the town of Speedway has its eye on for redevelopment.

Jim Luebbert, and his wife Susan, own the shop. They said they're not against the redevelopment plan. But they are against being forced to sell their property.

"It's not right for a government to come in and take your property just for the tax base," said store owner Susan Luebbert.

The Luebbert’s contacted a public interest law firm called the Institute for Justice last month.

On Friday, an organizer from that group set up a booth in front of Speedway Monogramming to try to get public support for the Luebbert's cause.

Christina Walsh of Institute for Justice said what the town of Speedway is trying to do is wrong.

"They've made it clear; they've stated publicly, that even though they're acquiring these properties in the immediate future for moving 16th Street and vacating Georgetown Road, they've said that in the future, land acquired is going to be transferred to private developers. That's unjust, it's unconstitutional, and in Indiana it's illegal," said Walsh.

The Speedway Redevelopment Commission released pictures of what the area around the track would look like once it's been redeveloped. But Susan and Jim Luebbert and public advocates see part of that future involving a battle over property rights.

24-Hour News 8 has left several phone messages with the executive director of the Speedway Redevelopment Commission, requesting an interview for this story. They have not returned the call.