Urban Indiana

Quote from: NextDoorNeighbor on Feb 17, 2024, 01:23 PMOh no! 

It's been interesting down here, before they demolished 20 story building, it was planned to be redeveloped into apartments. Of course they demolished it and the original developers decided to dip after year. Another developer went to the project and downsized it to be 6-8 stories and then they left. CRG is now doing it this time around, if the building was elsewhere downtown people would be happy. On SkyscraperCity and some personal people I know, not a lot of them are happy about a 20-story building being replaced by a 4-story one. We really need to upgrade our skyline downtown...

Oh no! 

5th&main project has been sent for approval, it appears they have downsized it again to 4 floors

Indiana lawmakers pump brakes on proposal to raise speed limit

Hoosiers won't soon be zooming down their highways at a legal 75 miles per hour.

A House roads committee on Tuesday heard legislation that would boost the limit up from the current 70 miles per hour, but won't advance it — for now. It did, however, move long-sought legislation allowing jurors to know when someone in a car crash wasn't wearing a seat belt.

"We all know this isn't going to get a vote today, and that's okay," Rep. Ben Smaltz, R-Auburn, said of his House Bill 1308. "... I have carried issues that have taken me 10 years to get done the right way."

Smaltz said he wanted to start the conversation because Indiana's roads are in "excellent condition" thanks to recent funding increases.

He also said advancements in vehicle technology — made since Indiana raised the speed limit from 65 to 70 miles per hour in 2005 — have improved safety.

More below:
https://www.ibj.com/articles/indiana-lawmakers-pump-the-brakes-on-proposal-to-raise-speed-limit

Happy hour, cocktails to-go bill makes splash at Indiana Statehouse

It's 5 o'clock somewhere—and in Indiana, bars and restaurants could soon offer customers "happy hour" drink deals under legislation that also authorizes alcohol carry-out orders.

Abbi Raben, representing the Indiana Restaurant & Lodging Association, said House Bill 1086 would allow retailers to boost traffic during slow hours "while also ensuring that it's done in a responsible manner."

Retailers currently are limited to all-day alcoholic beverage specials, which she noted isn't always "the most economical choice" for businesses.

The bill would allow retailers to reduce drink prices for up to four hours a day, but less than 15 hours in a week. Happy hours wouldn't be allowed between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m.

More below:
https://www.ibj.com/articles/happy-hour-cocktails-to-go-bill-makes-splash-at-indiana-statehouse

Developer planning two subdivisions in Westfield with nearly 600 houses

Indianapolis-based Platinum Properties Management Co. is seeking approval from the city of Westfield for two new residential developments that would consist of nearly 600 houses, according to documents filed with the city.

The Westfield City Council is scheduled to hear introductions for the Ravinia and Winterburg subdivisions at its meeting Monday night.

The proposals are the first housing developments to go before the new Westfield City Council. Each of the seven council members began their first full terms this month.

Platinum Properties, founded in 1997 by owner Paul Rioux, is looking to partner with Lennar Homes of Indiana, a division of Miami-based homebuilder Lennar Corp., to build Ravinia on 80 acres near the intersection of West 166th Street and Eagletown Road.

More below:
https://www.ibj.com/articles/developer-planning-two-subdivisions-in-westfield-with-about-600-total-houses

Sen. Aaron Freeman, city reach temporary truce in 'no-turn-on-red' fight

A Republican senator from Indianapolis is backing off this year on legislation that would have repealed a city ordinance banning right turns on red at certain downtown intersections.

Sen. Aaron Freeman instead offered an amendment Thursday that would require the city to pause the installation of any more no-turn-on-red signs until July 1, 2025. The amendment was added on voice vote to Freeman's Senate Bill 52, which would put a one-year moratorium on IndyGo's usage of dedicated bus lanes for the Blue Line..

Over the next year, a state task force would assess both the impact of IndyGo's dedicated lanes and the city's  no-turn-on-red restrictions. The task force would be required to submit a report to the Legislature by Dec. 1, 2024.

More below:
https://www.ibj.com/articles/sen-aaron-freeman-city-reach-temporary-truce-in-no-turn-on-red-fight

Indy Democrats strategize ways to defeat state Senate Republican nemesis Aaron Freeman

Some Indianapolis Democrats are looking for a candidate, raising money and strategizing other ways to defeat a Republican state senator who has been a frequent thorn in their sides.

Aaron Freeman, a Senate Republican and former Indianapolis city-county councilor, has become known for frequent legislation that seeks to derail policies and plans implemented by Democrat-controlled city-county government in Indianapolis and its public transit agency, IndyGo.

Now a group of Democrats are seeking to unseat the south-side attorney as he tries to secure a third term. He faces no opposition in the May 7 Republican primary and no Democrat has yet filed to run in the primary.

About 40 people assembled Thursday night at Futuro, a pizza shop off of Washington Street, for a strategy session to help find a candidate that the Marion County Democratic Party could put on the ballot by the November election.

"We're going to unseat Aaron Freeman," newly-elected Indianapolis City-County Councilor Jesse Brown told the crowd. "And I promise you we have the power to do that regardless of the money that he's got."

More below:
https://www.ibj.com/articles/group-of-indianapolis-democrats-organizes-to-oust-gop-lawmaker

West Elm, Simply Amish stores on the move along north-side corridor

Home furnishings retailers West Elm and Simply Amish recently exited longtime north-side Indianapolis locations with plans for new stores along the 86th/82nd Street corridor.

West Elm, a subsidiary of San Francisco-based Williams-Sonoma Inc. that carries contemporary furniture and housewares, closed its only Indiana store earlier this month at the Fashion Mall at Keystone.

A new West Elm store is scheduled to open April 26 at the Nora Plaza retail center, 1340 E. 86th St., a company spokesperson said. The 12,885-square-foot store will occupy the former sites of Goodman's Shoes and Lakeshore Learning educational supply store.

More below:
https://www.ibj.com/articles/west-elm-simply-amish-stores-on-the-move-along-86th-82nd-street-corridor

One popular South Bend restaurant on the market, another favorite resurging

A long-time South Bend riverfront restaurant that closed last fall is on the market, while the operator of another popular downtown eatery says customers are coming back after a recent reopening.

The Bucket, owned by the Navarre Hospitality Group since 2021, went up for sale earlier this month for $725,000, said Gage Hudak, vice president of Bradley Company and the commercial real estate broker handling the listing.

After being closed for about 2 1/2 years, Frank's Place was reopened last November by new owner Bhola Singh and is operated by Autumn Kabzinski, 28, a South Bend native.

The two changes reflect the challenges and fluidity of the restaurant business, especially during the COVID pandemic and in its aftermath.

More below:
https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/articles/one-popular-south-bend-restaurant-is-on-the-market-while-another-favorite-is-resurging