Mold Remediation in New Albany, IN

Sloan Spalding is the mayor of the city of New Albany.

In New Albany, we believe the cities that thrive in the future will be those that embrace innovation, adapt quickly and deliver exceptional service to residents and businesses alike.

We’ve already taken meaningful steps in that direction — investing in technology infrastructure and data centers to ensure our long-term competitiveness. But staying ahead requires more than just physical assets; it demands a shift in how we think about government operations and the adoption of emerging tools like artificial intelligence to enhance our work.

That’s why I was proud to participate in a recent community event, "AI and Workforce Development: What Small Businesses & Municipalities Need to Know," focused on the future of AI in city services.

Hosted by the Community Innovation Partnership and Innovate New Albany, the event brought together more than 60 local leaders, small business owners and entrepreneurs for a forward-looking discussion on how AI can improve life and work in our community.

Local governments and small businesses can harness AI

At the event, I joined Melanie McGee, co-founder of SkillSpout — a Cleveland-based IT consulting firm — for a timely conversation about how AI can drive smarter governance and economic growth. As emerging technologies continue to reshape nearly every industry, we explored how both local governments and small businesses can harness AI to strengthen workforces, improve operations and ensure long-term success.

For instance, AI-driven training tools can help employees build new skills, boost productivity, and adapt to evolving job demands. When implemented thoughtfully, AI can help cities like New Albany streamline service delivery, optimize data use and enhance how we engage with residents. These technologies can also generate economic opportunities — making our community even more attractive to businesses and talent.

Of course, responsible implementation is key.

AI should work alongside people, not replace them. That means developing smart internal policies, investing in education and leveraging state-level support to ensure our workforce and community reap the full benefits of these advancements.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to explore real-world applications — such as AI-powered permitting processes that proactively identify and resolve bottlenecks or tools that allow residents to report issues like potholes with a simple photo, automatically triggering a work order.

These aren’t distant possibilities; they’re practical, achievable solutions that align with New Albany’s forward-thinking approach.

It was energizing to connect with innovators across our community and hear their insights. With strong partners and the exceptional talent we have throughout Ohio, I am confident that New Albany will continue to lead — not just in infrastructure but in the ideas, collaboration and commitment that define a truly smart city.

Sloan Spalding is the mayor of the city of New Albany.

It will follow through with its development agreements to fund roadway and utility upgrades, according to the statement.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Microsoft is "pushing back" its $1 billion investment plan to build three data centers in Licking County that was expected to begin this summer, the company confirmed.

One Columbus announced details of the project's first phase on Oct. 28, revealing an initial $1 billion investment on facilities in New Albany, Heath and Hebron.

Microsoft said in a statement Monday that it is not moving forward with any of the Licking County sites at this time. A spokesperson said they are "pushing back plans."

"We will continue to evaluate these sites in line with our investment strategy," according to Microsoft. "We sincerely appreciate the leadership and partnership of Ohio government officials and the support of Licking County residents."

Microsoft plans to ensure the land at the sites in Hebron and Heath can be used for farming, but site preparations in New Albany will begin.

The company will also follow through with its development agreements to fund roadway and utility upgrades, according to the statement.

"We will continue to invest in and collaborate with local organizations to support digital skills development, restoration efforts, and to strengthen the communities in Licking County for future generations," the company said.

Microsoft first announced in October 2024 that it was constructing a data center in New Albany over the next few years. The 245,000-square-foot data center would have been built on nearly 200 acres on Beech Road and cost $420 million to construct.

The tech company informed New Albany that it is changing the build schedule for the planned data center construction within the New Albany International Business Park, Mayor Sloan Spalding said in a statement.

“We understand that large-scale projects like this require flexibility, and we appreciate Microsoft’s continued engagement with the City throughout this process," Spalding said.

New Albany City Council unanimously passed a resolution last year giving the tech giant a 100% property tax abatement for 15 years.

Microsoft estimated that the data center would have employed a minimum of 30 full-time employees with an annual payroll of $1.5 million.

Construction was expected to begin in July and be completed around December 2027.

Meta and Google have data centers built in New Albany. Spalding called them key assets to the city.

The project aims to serve as the backbone for cloud computing platform Microsoft Azure’s capabilities as the demand for data storage and cloud technology increases.

Heath Mayor Mark Johns told 10TV he was informed about Microsoft's decision last week.

Heath City Council gathered for a regular meeting just hours after Microsoft announced it would push back its plans.

Johns told the council that he is still hopeful that Microsoft will eventually develop on the farmland site in Heath but said there is no rush. He said it is important to note that Microsoft will hold up its end of the deal to fund millions of dollars in improvements to roads and utilities around the project site.

“I don’t see any downside for the city," Johns said. "Sure, we hope they move forward but we are not out (of) anything. You’re not out (of) something you didn’t have but what we do have is commitment to help finance some very important infrastructure projects in our community."

Hebron Mayor Valerie Mockus is taking the delay as an opportunity to regroup.

“In some ways, I think it may be a blessing for us to really regroup and make sure that our strategy is exactly on point for the residents," Mockus said. "I think that the county in general is reeling from a lot of changes very quickly."

"So I think pauses like this, while it impacts the tax revenue potential, still gives us an opportunity to make sure that we are really, really speaking deeply with the residents of the village to make sure that the direction that we're going is a good fit for as many people as we possibly can do that for," Mockus added.

The locations in Hebron and Heath were pending approval at that time.

The tech giant has pulled out of many land investments nationwide, so this move is not surprising, said One Columbus, the economic development organization for the Columbus region.

"The Columbus Region is committed to working with great companies like Microsoft over the long term," said Kenny McDonald, president and CEO of One Columbus. "We realize that the build out of these centers and the associated infrastructure will take time and have some starts and stops along the way."

The project has the potential to create hundreds of direct jobs if the campuses reach full capacity, Microsoft previously said.

More than 50 firefighters responded to the Parkview Tower on Saturday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — One person is in critical condition with at least 25 others, including a firefighter, were taken to a hospital following a large fire at a New Albany apartment building.

More than 50 firefighters responded to Parkview Tower in the 100 block of Fischer Drive around 7 p.m. Saturday.

The fire left residents scrambling to grab what they could and make it out of the building safely. Firefighters had to rescue 30 people from the building.

Parkview Tower is no stranger to the New Albany Fire Department, according to Deputy Fire Chief Tim Kron.

Some residents said it was common for them to hear fire alarms, resulting in visits from the fire department. In most cases, it would turn out to be a false alarm. The false alarms is something residents like Susheela Williams have been complaining about.

Credit: Aspen Hester/WHAS-TV

“There's nothing ever going on. You get tired of running to the door to look out and make sure everything's alright. [You] Look outside the window [and] make sure there aren't any fire trucks and [don’t] see nothing. Well then, you don't do anything about it,” Williams said.

Williams said she was at work when she received multiple calls about the fire and rushed to the scene.

Residents are still left in the dark and wondering if their apartment has been impacted or if they have anything to go back to.

“This is our home and nobody’s saying anything yet,” Williams said.

No one was allowed back into the building and many waited at a nearby gymnasium for a TARC bus to take them to various hotels for shelter.

The fire was put out in 15 minutes and the cause remains unknown.

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NEW ALBANY, Ind. —

The city of New Albany has been working for years to improve the community, and now it's taking another major step by introducing luxury apartments on Main Street.

The Oxbow, a new development will feature 43 one- and two-bedroom apartments with stunning views of the Ohio River and an elevated living experience.

Community leaders are optimistic that these improvements will enhance the charm of Main Street.

Mayor Jeff Gahan emphasized, "The Oxbow represents what we’re striving for here in New Albany: modern housing that meets our community's needs, innovative spaces for entrepreneurs, and connectivity to our expanding shoreline and trail system."

The project, developed by the Denton Floyd Real Estate Group and the Wheatley Group, faced obstacles due to post-COVID construction costs and rising interest rates.

Paul Wheatley explained how the team overcame these challenges, saying, "We had a lot of post-COVID issues as it relates to construction cost and interest rates, which we have all experienced in our lives."

With over $250 million invested in the area over the last four years and more than 700 new jobs generated, the momentum of development is undeniable.

The Vice President Director of Economic Development John Launius of One Southern Indiana said, "You've got Clark and Floyd County that are really kind of leading the pack, in population growth. Our southern Indiana region is outpacing the the Bi-State MSA and even the, the state average. So, we continue to grow census over census. you know, you're right around 8 to 10 percent."

"Twenty years ago, it was hard to park in downtown New Albany. People are back, the infrastructure is being improved, and a lot of money has come into the city," resident Joe Lobred said.

The Oxbow will also feature 6,000 square feet of office and business spaces on the first floor, further fueling downtown revitalization.

Residents like Tina Buechler see the progress firsthand.

"They're building condos and apartments—it’s really building New Albany up," Buechler said.

With projects like The Oxbow, New Albany continues its focus on innovation, infrastructure improvement, and community growth.

The Oxbow is expected to be completed by the fall of next year.

Project: New Albany Tavern

Location: 114 E. Market St., New Albany

Description: A new tavern with ties to Louisville restaurants is being built in New Albany with an opening planned for this spring.

Scott Lukemire, co-owner of Old Louisville Tavern and Hillcrest Tavern, said the New Albany Tavern will feature about 70% of the menu at the current locations due to a smaller kitchen and likely open in late April or early May. The menu will include a variety of items but include favorites like the knocker burgers, buffalo wings and fries.

"We will still be doing all fresh, making all of our sauces, making all of our dressings," he said. "I think everybody enjoys the fact that we have a lot of different options and it's not just the same old bar things."

He and co-owner Dan Borsch are currently in the design layout phase of the development and are staying on brand with the restaurant's name choice, Lukemire said. They hope to create a welcoming neighborhood environment with the new location.

"We're looking for it to feel a lot like a nice cross between Hillcrest and Old Louisville, just a warm neighborhood feel," Lukemire said. "We want everyone to be welcome from the neighborhood and enjoy the food and get great service, just like we do at our other locations."

The space, with upstairs and downstairs seating, can hold just under 100 guests and will staff around 15-20 people. Once operating as a saloon in its original state, the historic building was most recently home to Pints & Union — now located on Bardstown Road.

Lukemire said he and Borsch originally opened Old Louisville Tavern in 2013 and closed for a rebuild after a fire in 2014. They reopened in 2016 and Hillcrest Tavern opened on Frankfort Avenue shortly before the pandemic.

"We're grateful to be where we're at and have the opportunity to continue to grow," he said.

Cost: About $250,000.

Size: Around 2,000 square feet.

Developer: Scott Lukemire and Dan Borsch.

What's being replaced?: Pints & Union.