Efforts to sell the
historic Kasting House, which was once used
for training and housing purposes by
military police during World War II, have
been put on hold because of federal
regulations that dictate the transfer of
airport property.
Seymour Municipal Airport Authority has
learned the Federal Aviation Administration
has rejected the airport’s request to sell
the property at 3018 N. Indiana 11 for
residential purposes. But airport manager
Don Furlow says there is hope the property
can be sold under its present commercial
zoning.
“It’s a matter of time, but I think we can
get it done,” Furlow said Tuesday. The
airport had received an offer of $49,500 for
the house and the little more than two acres
it sits on from Jeff Elsner of Seymour in
November.
The house was built in 1900 by Ernest
Kasting and was purchased by the U.S.
government in 1942 to develop Freeman Field,
an Air Force training base. It later served
as a residential home for many years and
from 2000 to 2009 was used as a day care by
Child Care Network. It has since sat
empty.
The airport currently pays
for the house’s heating and water utilities,
but major upgrades are needed to keep it
from deteriorating further, Furlow said.
“It’s a money drain for us,” he said.
Airport Authority Board members discussed
the situation during a regular monthly
meeting Monday night at the terminal
building. Board member Dr. William
Blaisdell asked about ways to get around the
FAA ruling “What if we sell the house and
lease the property?” Blaisdell asked.
Board attorney Susan Bevers said that idea
wouldn’t work. “You would still have
to change the zoning, and then it would be
an incompatible use,” Bevers said.
Airport Authority Board President Bob
Zickler said he wasn’t happy about the
situation. By not abiding with the
FAA’s rules, the airport could risk losing
federal money for future projects.
“It’s a shame we have an opportunity to sell
it and can’t,” Zickler said.
Board member Scott Davis said if the airport
doesn’t sell the property, it will have to
find someone to move the house or be stuck
with the costs of tearing it down.
Board engineer Don Manley with Butler
Fairman & Seufert Civil Engineers in
Indianapolis said there have been some
instances of residential zoning near
airports. “But it’s not what airports
usually want,” he said. “You start to lose
control when development happens.”
