New Carlisle has always been famous for having two Speedways right across the street from one another. But our great city will have to find a new thing to hang our hats on, since the east side Speedway is being demolished now that the state-of-the-art west side Speedway is big enough to service the entire town.

So what is going to replace the iconic east side Speedway store? Main & Lake is here to provide some suggestions to our city leaders.

1. Taco Bell

It’s no secret that Taco Bell has been on New Carlisle’s wish list for decades. A Taco Bell would signal to the rest of the world that our little city has finally arrived. Sure, it’s not authentic, top-quality Mexican food, but who doesn’t love a quesadilla, Doritos Locos Taco, or Crunchwrap Supreme?

2. Methadone Clinic

New Carlisle, like many communities, has many residents mired in the depths of addiction. Putting a methadone clinic at the city’s busiest intersection would send a message that New Carlisle isn’t trying to hide from its problems; instead, we are meeting them head on and putting all our resources into battling drug addiction. This is our chance to be leaders on an issue that is sorely lacking leadership nationwide.

3. “Mount Rushmore” Style Monument Park

Recently, Main & Lake ran a poll to determine who the citizens think deserves to be on a theoretical “Mount Rushmore” style monument. It was a just fun little exercise, meant to pay homage to some of the great people who have called New Carlisle home… But what if it was more than that? What if we actually commissioned a sculptor to create a massive stone tribute to our greatest residents? We could turn the lot into a park and draw interest from around the nation, and at the busy Main St. and Lake Ave. intersection it would be a beacon of positivity in our town.

4. Ohio Crush Stadium

Football is the most popular spectator sport in America by a mile. The Ohio Crush, a homegrown semi-professional football team, currently play many of their home games at Raynor Park in Park Layne, and the atmosphere is electric. Hundreds gather to watch guys playing for the love of the game, rather than the love of money. Instead of players showboating and prancing around like prima donnas, these guys are out there gritting their way through aches and pains for pride and brotherhood.

Now, the issue here is that the lot isn’t nearly big enough to put a 100-yard football field. But we demolished people’s homes to make room for the state-of-the-art Speedway, so what’s to say we can’t demolish a bank or some houses to build a football stadium? It seems like an no-brainer to me.

5. Main & Lake Corporate Offices

We pride ourselves on bringing you news, reactions, and opinions about the happenings in our city. Unfortunately, this is a side job for myself, staff writer Chuck Calico, and photographer Benjamin Hana. We’ve had team members come and go, mostly because we generate no money from the site, and it’s done out of love for New Carlisle and all of you.

An office building for Main & Lake would be the first step toward becoming a full-fledged business. Our current staff could move into the building and live there, eliminating current costs of living. The convenient location would allow us to sell our cars, as we would be within walking distance of all our of earthly needs. Main & Lake could cover ALL of the stories ALL of the time with these added resources.

We just need someone to pay to build the thing. If you would like to donate a few hundred thousand dollars to this project, please email [email protected]. All contributions are welcome.

6. Speedway

It’s the obvious choice. For years New Carlisle has been known as “the town with two Speedways,” and having only one – no matter how impressive it is – will erase the rich history and identity New Carlisle has built for itself.

Perhaps some of the rumored changes to the intersection that didn’t get installed with the new Speedway grand opening can come to fruition with a new east side Speedway. Even if it’s a mirror image of the new west side Speedway, we’ve proven that we can support two Speedways. We need this. But more, we DESERVE this.

What are your ideas for the vacant lot? Which of these do you like? Let us know in the comments below!