Clinton to replace empty factories

CLINTON, Ind. (WTHI) - Two long-decaying factories in Clinton, Ind. could soon be replaced by new apartments, city officials said Friday.

One factory, a former overalls factory on South 4 ^th Street, will be converted into about twelve apartments. The other factory, a former plastics plant on the city’s north side, will be torn down and replaced with about 58 other apartments.

Mayor Jack Gilfoy said the city bought both properties at a discount through a county tax sale, adding that no property taxes had been paid on the 4 ^th Street property since the late 1990s.

On Thursday, the city got word they had received two state grants worth about $8 million to prepare the properties and build the new apartments. Gilfoy said that, with those grants, other state and federal funds, and reimbursements from the developers, the city’s only expense in the project will be the labor costs of cleaning up the properties.

The projects are expected to wrap up in 2014.