Urban Indiana

World of Beer Bar & Kitchen closes on Mass Ave

After five years of serving customers at 409 Massachusetts Ave., World of Beer Bar & Kitchen permanently closed at the end of 2023.

A note posted at World of Beer's entrance announced the end of business for the bar and restaurant that opened in 2018 in a 7,500-square-foot spot previously occupied by Mass Ave Toys.

More below:
https://www.ibj.com/articles/world-of-beer-bar-kitchen-closes-on-mass-ave

Hendricks CEO: 'We like the challenge' of Circle Centre

The CEO of Wisconsin-based Hendricks Commercial Properties says he is confident in what he believes is a "good collaborative effort" behind the proposed $600 million transformation of Circle Centre Mall in downtown Indianapolis.

Our partners at the IBJ broke the news in December of the project, which aims to transform the mall into an open-air, pedestrian-focused campus that will include retail, offices and housing over the next decade.

"I think what's most important to us is everything that's going on around Circle Centre. That's what really intrigued us," said Rob Gerbitz. "And beyond that, too, is our relationship with the state and with Mayor Hogsett and his whole team has been really, really good."

More below:
https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/articles/hendricks-ceo-we-like-the-challenge-of-circle-centre-project

Downtown apartments among major Noblesville projects expected to be completed in 2024

Construction on some major development projects is set to be completed this year in Noblesville, while visible progress is slated to be made on others.

Residents will begin moving into two major downtown apartment communities, while motorists will be able to drive along an expanded Pleasant Street and cross the White River.

Here is a look at what's coming to the Hamilton County suburb.

More below:
https://www.ibj.com/articles/downtown-apartments-among-projects-coming-to-a-close-this-year-in-noblesville

Hatfield won't seek re-election; running for judge instead


A seventh House member announced he will not seek re-election in the fall, joining the growing list of House members opting to pursue other opportunities.

Evansville Rep. Ryan Hatfield, a Democrat, announced Thursday he will run for Vanderburgh County Circuit Court Judge, making 2024 his last session after seven years in the General Assembly.

"Serving the people of Evansville as their State Representative in the Indiana General Assembly has been one of the great honors of my life," Hatfield said in a statement. "I want to thank the constituents of House District 77 for allowing me to be their voice at the Statehouse since 2016. During my time in the legislature, I was proud to work on improving health care, expanding broadband, and an array of issues directly impacting Hoosiers."

More below:
https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/articles/hatfield-wont-seek-re-election-running-for-judge-instead

Whitestown junkyard redevelopment proposal to face test

When Whitestown residents envision Maurer Commons, they see a development with a community center, recreational opportunities and green spaces. Those are all elements they say the fast-growing Boone County town lacks.

But when Indianapolis-based Milhaus LLC presented a plan in November for the initial phase of development on the site along Indianapolis Road, west of Interstate 65 and south of Exit 130, it included none of those amenities.

"We want more parks and recreational areas where we can be outside with our children," said Jennifer Knotts, a Whitestown resident who lives south of the Maurer Commons site. "There's not much around for us to be able to take our children out [to] unless we want to travel somewhere else."

More below:
https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/articles/whitestown-junkyard-redevelopment-proposal-to-face-test

INDOT issues call for 'Community Crossings' projects

The Indiana Department of Transportation is accepting applications for projects that could receive funding through the Community Crossings Matching Grant Program. The $1.5 billion program provides grants to support local road and bridge projects statewide.

Grants are made available to cities, towns and counties based on population.

• Cities and towns with a population of fewer than 10,000 will receive funds using a 75/25 match.
• Cities and towns with a population of greater than 10,000 will receive funds using a 50/50 match.
• Counties with a population of fewer than 50,000 will receive funds using a 75/25 match.
• Counties with a population of greater than 50,000 will receive funds using a 50/50 match.

More below:
https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/articles/indot-issues-call-for-community-crossings-projects

Indiana GOP files brief against Rust in primary challenge

The Indiana Republican State Committee filed an amicus brief last week supporting a law that limits who can run under major party banners in Indiana.

U.S. Senate candidate John Rust is challenging the statute because it prevents him from filing as a Republican against party favorite Jim Banks, a U.S. Representative.

The 2021 law bars primary ballot access unless a candidate's two most recent primary votes match the party they wish to represent — a measure that Marion County Superior Judge Patrick J.  Dietrick ruled was unconstitutional in December.

More below:
https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/articles/indiana-gop-files-brief-against-rust-in-primary-challenge

City hopes to start Union Station overpass rehabs this year, land new tenant for Grand Hall

The city of Indianapolis hopes to move ahead this year with plans to renovate several CSX railroad overpasses adjacent to Union Station on the south side of downtown and the sidewalks and roads that run beneath them.

As IBJ reported in early 2023, the city has been eyeing improvements to five overpasses that line the southern border of the Mile Square, starting with the three railroad overpasses nearest Union Station—over Meridian Street, Illinois Street and Capitol Avenue—before pivoting attention to the Delaware and Pennsylvania street overpasses.

Work on at least one of the overpasses—either for Capitol Avenue or Illinois Street—could commence by the end of this year, with the others coming in 2025 or later. The city wants to update the overpasses and the corridors beneath them to make them more pedestrian-friendly, with the addition of new lighting, improved sidewalks and fixes to structural problems.

More below:
https://www.ibj.com/articles/city-targets-later-this-year-for-start-union-station-improvements-including-underpass-changes

Snug bar is Irvington's new cozy castle of Irish whiskey

Opening Tuesday in a 600-square-foot space previously occupied by an Irvington hair salon, Snug is a small Irish-themed bar that's going big with its whiskey offerings.

Irish whiskey is represented in more than 90 bottles of different brands displayed at Snug, where heavyweights Jameson and Bushmills are joined by dozens of lesser-known companies.

"Our goal is to carry anything that has an Irish connection," said Jim Arnoldt, who co-owns Snug with Carey Shea and Timothy Barrett.

More below:
https://www.ibj.com/articles/snug-bar-is-irvingtons-new-cozy-castle-of-irish-whiskey

Indiana lawmakers set to tackle several major education topics

Although Indiana lawmakers maintain the 2024 legislative session will be quicker, quieter and "noncontroversial," there's no shortage of critical—even touchy—education-related topics expected to be prioritized in the coming months.

The General Assembly's next reconvening comes amid what some state leaders have called a statewide literacy "crisis." The latest Indiana data indicates that one in five third-graders currently lacks foundational reading skills.

Policymakers said they're also increasingly concerned about high rates of absenteeism in Hoosier schools. Nearly 20% of Hoosier students were chronically absent from school last year—meaning that they missed 18 days or more—according to the Indiana State Board of Education.

GOP leadership said those issues are top priorities in 2024. A review—and possible tweaks—to last year's work-based learning legislation are also expected, in addition to new bills targeting antisemitism on college campuses and cell phone use in K-12 classrooms.

More below:
https://www.ibj.com/articles/indiana-lawmakers-set-to-tackle-several-major-education-topics