Carmel proposes $76M in new debt, antique carousel in the works

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The Carmel City Council will consider $76 million in new bonds to pay for various projects including incentives for a new hotel, four new roundabouts and even an antique carousel that could be purchased.

Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard told Current that several city councilors and mayor’s office staff traveled to Canada to look at an antique, hand-carved carousel from 1910 that is for sale. It has all sorts of animals, and the city would buy land and construct a building around the carousel to protect it. Brainard said they are still negotiating on the price, but it could be $2 to $3 million to purchase the carousel, but he said it will only increase in value. He said he has an idea for the location but doesn’t want to announce the land the city will try to purchase this early because it could harm the city’s negotiating power.

“There are only about 150 of these left in the world so it would be a real attraction,” Brainard said. “Can you imagine all the people who would come to ride the carousel or get their picture taken?”

As for the hotel, Brainard said the City of Carmel would provide incentives to help lure a new hotel to build in the Carmel City Center area. Carmel recently agreed to pay $20,000 monthly to a consultant to attract an Autograph Collection hotel by Marriott by 2020. Brainard said there’s a need for a luxury hotel in Carmel’s downtown.The exact nature of the incentives will be detailed prior to the July 17 council meeting.

Brainard said he also has the exact list of new proposed roundabouts and will provide it to Current before the Monday, July 17 council meeting.

This story will be updated.


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