Block 400 is a new $85 million mixed-use development by developer Flaherty and Collins Properties for the northwest quad of downtown Indianapolis.

The development will include 487 apartments, a new 40,000 sq ft "urban prototype" Marsh grocery, and 15,000 sq ft of additional retail space.

Using TIF revenue, the City of Indianapolis will also fund an $11-13 million 930-unit parking garage to be used by insurance company OneAmerica, which is losing hundreds of employee parking spots to the development.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for Spring/Summer of 2012. "The Axis" is scheduled to be completed by Summer 2013 and "The Point" is scheduled to be done by 2015.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/6762093017_01e7c355dd_o.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6762093337_9994834615_o.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7151/6762092629_43fbf1c256_o.jpg

IBJ.com article:

http://www.ibj.com/marsh-to-anchor-massive-new-downtown-development/PARAMS/article/32137

Marsh to Anchor Massive New Downtown Development

By Corey Schouten

"A local developer plans to build a Marsh grocery store and hundreds of apartments in a massive project that would replace a block and a half of surface parking lots in the northwest quadrant of downtown Indianapolis..."

Indystar.com article:

http://www.indystar.com/article/20120124/BUSINESS/120124033/Urban-grocery-487-apartments-set-Block-400-project?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|IndyStar.com

Urban grocery, 487 apartments set for 'Block 400' project

By Jeff Swiatek

"A second Marsh supermarket Downtown will help anchor a 487-unit apartment complex planned on two blocks near the Downtown Canal..."

As thrilled as I am (and I am) to see this finally happening, I must note that "Block 400" is the perfect name for this development. It's blocky and uninspired.

Sorry... hate to be the negative guy whining on the internet..

One thing, that has me confused... How can you build a 930 unit space garage for 11 to 13 million downtown, but in Broad Ripple, 15 Million only gets you about a third of the spaces... Something seems disproportionate.

They just said the City is paying $11M - $13 million. They didn't say that is the full cost of the garage. I don't know what the full price of the garage might be.

They just said the City is paying $11M - $13 million. They didn't say that is the full cost of the garage. I don't know what the full price of the garage might be.

The IBJ article actually does state that the city is "footing the bill" for the garage. It still confuses me as to how One America is selling a prime piece of land and then getting paid for a graage to park more cars than they are losing from the surface lot including a skywalk...........

A bit of a side note, when you look at the aerial site plan, all but one block shown there are visible cars parked. it is a mix between garage and surface, but geeze, every block!

I am so excited about this project! :banana:

This is EXACTLY what Indy needs! High-density infill! I love that Indiana Avenue is getting the attention it deserves!

Hopefully this will cause more of the historic warehouses in the area to be restored and turned into businesses, apartments, etc. :cheers:

More renderings from CSO architects website:

Aerial (including view of parking garage at #4)
http://www.csoinc.net/sites/default/files/projects/slideshow/1/MasterPlan_AerialView.jpg?1327525729

View of The Point, looking SW
http://www.csoinc.net/sites/default/files/projects/slideshow/1/Exterior-ThePoint.jpg?1327525832

One America Parking Garage
http://www.csoinc.net/sites/default/files/projects/slideshow/1/Exterior-OneAmGarage.jpg?1327525821

Marsh Interior Produce
http://www.csoinc.net/sites/default/files/projects/slideshow/1/Interior-MarshProduce.jpg?1327525888

Marsh Interior Deli
http://www.csoinc.net/sites/default/files/projects/slideshow/1/Interior-MarshDeli.jpg?1327525866

Marsh Interior Bakery
http://www.csoinc.net/sites/default/files/projects/slideshow/1/Interior-MarshBakery.jpg?1327525849

Geeze, that garage is a huge dead structure. I wish they would at least go half the area and twice as tall to allow for future development. With the current proposal, we will have a sliver of commercial and a wall of concrete death.

Yeah, that garage is a waste. Why tie up a half a block with a four story parking garage?

Not to mention that first floor window grating along Illinois...

Exactly what Indy needs - and more of it! Hiding big box stores/groceries on the first level of mid/high rise development is the way to go. Even the new Wal-Marts that are weaseling their way into DC are banned from having surface parking and are hidden under 4-6 additional stories of apartments on top.

http://www.ibj.com/first-stage-of--85m-downtown-project-up-for-approval/PARAMS/article/34559

First stage of $85M downtown project up for approval

The first stage of a major $85 million downtown project anchored by a Marsh grocery store is up for consideration by the city on Thursday.

Indianapolis’ Regional Center Hearing Examiner is set to hear a request by local developer Flaherty & Collins Properties to build a five-story parking garage at the northwest corner of New York Street and Capitol Avenue.

The project, announced in January, calls for 487 apartments, the Marsh grocery store, the parking garage and additional retail space on properties bounded by Michigan Street, Capitol Avenue, Vermont Street and Indiana Avenue.

Overall, the project would replace a block and a half of surface parking lots owned by locally based OneAmerica Financial Partners Inc., which uses them for employee parking.

To make way for the development—dubbed “Block 400”—the city would foot the roughly $13 million cost of building the 1,020-space parking garage for OneAmerica at the northwest corner of Illinois and New York streets.

The garage, however, could be as large as six stories and 1,234 spaces, according to documents submitted to the city by Flaherty.

The parking structure would resemble the nearby OneAmerica Tower to the south and would be constructed of similar building materials, the developer’s plans said.

If they really need to build a six story parking garage that takes up half of the block, I think they should re-align it to be built on the southern half of the block, all along New York Street. That way, the frontage along Vermont Street could be reserved for a future residential project. A six story parking garage - especially one with no first floor retail - should not be built along the Vermont Street frontage!

If they really need to build a six story parking garage that takes up half of the block, I think they should re-align it to be built on the southern half of the block, all along New York Street. That way, the frontage along Vermont Street could be reserved for a future residential project. A six story parking garage - especially one with no first floor retail - should not be built along the Vermont Street frontage!

But it does have first floor retail. on all three street-facing sides...

EDIT: Nevermind, it's only corner retail space...

That garage is ridiculous.... That brings the city up to nearly $20 million in subsidized structured parking for the year. Thats almost half of IndyGo's annual operating budget.

Love our priorities here...

That garage is ridiculous.... That brings the city up to nearly $20 million in subsidized structured parking for the year. Thats almost half of IndyGo's annual operating budget.

Love our priorities here...

When you put it like that, it hits home. That is kinda extreme, especially when this is the style developmen, that - in theory, doesnt need cars.

Well -- the parking garage is for all of the people who work in the One America Tower. Currently they park mostly on about 2 1/2 blocks of surface parking to the NW of the building. 1 1/2 of those blocks of surface parking will be where the new "Pointe" and "Axix" residential developments will be located. Those two residential projects will each have their own internal parking.

I understand the need to build a big parking garage for One America. I just think they should do it in a much more appropriate design style. I think a very reasonable compromise would be just to shift the direction of the garage from a north-south orientation a half block wide along Illinois Street to an East-West orientation on the half block along New York Street. At least that way there could still be room for an attractive residential building to go in all along Vermont Street - which is a beautiful, fairly quiet, increasingly almost all residential / commercial corridor through the heart of the north side of downtown - all the way from IUPUI to Lockerbie Square - (and even beyond now - as it continues under the interstate into the Cottage Home neighborhood).

With the parking garage fronting New York Street -- all of the parking spaces would be right next to the One America Building -- so it would even be more convenient for the One America employees to do it this way.

I feel a bit better after reading that. Even though I'm upset about the lack of retail in the structure, it does free up the massive area parking blocks for positive development.

I'm guessing the orientation and location of the garage has more to do with the sale price of the land negotiated from area landowners than anything else.

Well -- the parking garage is for all of the people who work in the One America Tower. Currently they park mostly on about 2 1/2 blocks of surface parking to the NW of the building. 1 1/2 of those blocks of surface parking will be where the new "Pointe" and "Axix" residential developments will be located. Those two residential projects will each have their own internal parking.

I understand the need to build a big parking garage for One America. I just think they should do it in a much more appropriate design style. I think a very reasonable compromise would be just to shift the direction of the garage from a north-south orientation a half block wide along Illinois Street to an East-West orientation on the half block along New York Street. At least that way there could still be room for an attractive residential building to go in all along Vermont Street - which is a beautiful, fairly quiet, increasingly almost all residential / commercial corridor through the heart of the north side of downtown - all the way from IUPUI to Lockerbie Square - (and even beyond now - as it continues under the interstate into the Cottage Home neighborhood).

With the parking garage fronting New York Street -- all of the parking spaces would be right next to the One America Building -- so it would even be more convenient for the One America employees to do it this way.

Well -- the parking garage is for all of the people who work in the One America Tower. Currently they park mostly on about 2 1/2 blocks of surface parking to the NW of the building. 1 1/2 of those blocks of surface parking will be where the new "Pointe" and "Axix" residential developments will be located. Those two residential projects will each have their own internal parking.

I understand the need to build a big parking garage for One America. I just think they should do it in a much more appropriate design style. I think a very reasonable compromise would be just to shift the direction of the garage from a north-south orientation a half block wide along Illinois Street to an East-West orientation on the half block along New York Street. At least that way there could still be room for an attractive residential building to go in all along Vermont Street - which is a beautiful, fairly quiet, increasingly almost all residential / commercial corridor through the heart of the north side of downtown - all the way from IUPUI to Lockerbie Square - (and even beyond now - as it continues under the interstate into the Cottage Home neighborhood).

With the parking garage fronting New York Street -- all of the parking spaces would be right next to the One America Building -- so it would even be more convenient for the One America employees to do it this way.

I like that idea Garfield. I would still like to see the first floor street frontage of all sides contain retail space.

I don't see why they couldn't place the garage in the center of the lot, and wrap it with meaningful infrastructure meant for humans..........

That would be the ideal situaion. Its great that the parking garage is helping the "Axis" and "Pointe" projects happen -- but I agree - its too bad there couldn't have been a third residential project that is part of this complex that would have consisted of a residential project wrapped around this mega parking garage.

BREAKING NEWS:

Developer's $85M project hits snag
A local developer's plans for a parking garage, part of an $85 million downtown mixed-use project, met resistance from a city official who said the structure's design needs to be more “pedestrian-friendly” for the area of Illinois and New York streets.


http://www.ibj.com/city-delays-approval-of-downtown-parking-garage/PARAMS/article/34597

Interesting that they mention 2 people opposing the lack of retail. I don't understand One America's stubbornness to this.. the city is paying for it!

And overlooking the lack of retail if it's better landscaped? how on earth is that a good tradeoff?

http://www.ibj.com/city-delays-approval-of-downtown-parking-garage/PARAMS/article/34597

City delays approval of downtown parking garage

The developer of an $85 million downtown project faces a delay after its design for a parking garage failed to meet city approval Thursday morning.

The Indianapolis Regional Center Hearing Examiner denied recommendation of the design and instead gave Flaherty & Collins Properties more time to resubmit plans that he said needed to be more welcoming to downtown pedestrians.

Approval of the garage design now will be considered at the examiner’s June 14 meeting.

“These are high-traffic roadways,” David DiMarzio said. “We would like these to be more pedestrian-friendly.”

The project, announced in January, originally called for 487 apartments, a Marsh grocery store, the parking garage and additional retail space on properties bounded by Michigan Street, Capitol Avenue, Vermont Street and Indiana Avenue. Revised plans call for 330 apartment units.

Overall, the project would replace a block and a half of surface parking lots owned by locally based OneAmerica Financial Partners Inc., which uses them for employee parking.

The five- or six-story garage would be built at the northwest corner of New York and Illinois streets.

Flaherty & Collins is planning 1,500 square feet of retail space, which could grow to more if there’s enough demand, said Jim Crossin, the company’s vice president of development.

But two Indianapolis residents who attended the meeting insisted the retail plans are inadequate, especially since city guidelines say parking garages fronting pedestrian walkways should include “retail shops, restaurants, business services and offices.”

Because the site is within the Regional Center overlay district, the project needs to comply with Regional Center Urban Design guidelines and requires initial approval by the city’s hearing examiner.

“This particular garage is a less-than-inspiring design,” said Joshua Brewster, who works downtown. “This simply looks like an ice-cube tray, basically, and I think the downtown deserves more.”

Crossin, however, countered by pointing out that the main purpose of the garage is to serve OneAmerica employees and tenants of the company’s tower.

“You can’t escape the fact that it is a parking garage, and some things aren’t achievable,” he said. “By no means is it more than a utilitarian garage, so we think [the design] is appropriate.”

DiMarzio, the hearing examiner, said he could overlook the small amount of retail space if the developer improves the ground-floor design and provides more landscaping to make the design more pedestrian-friendly.

A groundbreaking is scheduled for this summer.

Glad that this got pushed back. While the recommendations may make it a little better, the notion that they think this is appropriate is a punch in the face. Look at other garages around the country that have implemented green roofs, transit centers, multi-use planning (shit, look at Broad Ripple, our own city...)

If their push back is rooted in finance, I can understand. But say it, dont be a douche and try to squash the opposition at our own game. That just makes the developer look even more dumb.

Wilhelm Construction has broken ground on the garage. The parking lot is almost entirely torn up, and the sidewalks have been fenced off (the sign with the witicisms remains).

The parking lot that will become Block 400 is not being parked upon any more, and it's possible that once the equipment is done tearing up the Illinois & New York lot, they may move over to begin tearing up the other block.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/92012641@N03/8362148693/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/92012641@N03/8362148693/

Booooo!

Does anyone know if the "Axis" project, covering the full city block will be started on first - or if it will be the triangular 1/2 block "Pointe" project? It seems like the full block between Vermont, Capitol, Michigan and Senate has been cleared of regular parkers -- but I just wanted to see if anyone knows for sure. Any ideas when the first residential parts of the project are expected to start construction?

The Pointe is scheduled later if I remember correctly.

They have started tearing up the trees, fences, sidewalks, and some of the parking lot on the Axis block. The Pointe block is being used as parking for the displaced OneAmerica parking, presumably until the garage is finished.

Based on the fact that they're already pouring concrete for the garage and tearing up the vacant lot, I would expect construction to start on Block 400 within a couple of months.

^^ Great to hear. I hate the design and location of the parking garage (it shouldn't have been built fronting along beautiful, residential, walkable Vermont Street - especially without including any first floor commercial opportunities!), but glad to hear the residential units should be starting under construction soon. The Axis alone will add another 320 or so units - and then another 160 or so with the Pointe.

Which building will contain the new Marsh? That's something I'm looking forward to having downtown. I've been in some of the newer-modeled Marshs and they're extremely nice inside.

I thought originally Block 400 wasn't supposed to start until the parking garage was complete. I thought OneAmerica said they couldn't spare the land until they had parking in place to replace it. Now they are getting along fine with half a parking lot? Something is fishy here.

I've heard many of the AUL tenants are using the SAFECO parking garage about two or three blocks to the north - since it isn't being used much with most of that SAFECO building currently empty. I don't know for sure - but, that may help to free up the space on the square block surface parking lot so they may now be able to begin the Axis residential project earlier than initially anticipated.

I've heard many of the AUL tenants are using the SAFECO parking garage about two or three blocks to the north - since it isn't being used much with most of that SAFECO building currently empty. I don't know for sure - but, that may help to free up the space on the square block surface parking lot so they may now be able to begin the Axis residential project earlier than initially anticipated.

Yeah, as HoosierLawyer said no one's parking there now. Yesterday there was a second layer of fencing going up, looked more construction-site permanent. Looks like construction is imminent. I'm looking forward to seeing how this development changes the NW quad.

I thought originally Block 400 wasn't supposed to start until the parking garage was complete. I thought OneAmerica said they couldn't spare the land until they had parking in place to replace it. Now they are getting along fine with half a parking lot? Something is fishy here.

As part of the agreement for the terrible approval for the garage, F&C were required to locate temporary parking spaces for the displaced spaces near Ill and NY and were also required to move forward on construction of Block 400.

Yes, was very pleased to see all activity in this section of downtown. The street presence along Michigan will be huge and a major improvement! This section of downtown is so desolate and these developments are a major win.

Yes, was very pleased to see all activity in this section of downtown. The street presence along Michigan will be huge and a major improvement! This section of downtown is so desolate and these developments are a major win.

Right now (particularly with all the trees down) I have a direct view from my windows to the garage crane and the towers downtown. I, for one, am looking forward to having something on those blank-slate blocks to obscure my view.

Went by Block 400 yesterday and lots of earth moving on the residential/commercial part of things now. That whole lot looks like the pavement is gone and some drainage work is beginning.

Someone else I know commented about the two sites being under construction at the same time right now, and there is not a parking issue....

Why are we building this parking garage again?

Someone else I know commented about the two sites being under construction at the same time right now, and there is not a parking issue....

Why are we building this parking garage again?

Because One America is a "good corporate citizen"

Parking garage progress...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/92012641@N03/8429810243/

Marsh/Condos progress...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/92012641@N03/8430767162/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/92012641@N03/8429810243/http://www.flickr.com/photos/92012641@N03/8429810243/

So.. they're actually building the garage without basement levels?? I'm sure that's to save money... but it seems disrespectful.. I mean they're already taking up an entire city block with this thing, and they make no effort to maximize space??? They could have had a smaller footprint and built 2 or 3 levels underground. Fuck them.

Parking garage progress...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/92012641@N03/8429810243/

Marsh/Condos progress...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/92012641@N03/8430767162/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/92012641@N03/8429810243/http://www.flickr.com/photos/92012641@N03/8429810243/

Its a pathetic design. I don't think design is even the correct term since it is pretty much just a cement box set on top of the block. Another thing that is extremely annoying is how they are not designing the north end, fronting Vermont Street, to allow it to hold street-front commercial uses. Vermont is such a great, walkable downtown street -- lined with residential and commercial uses all the way from IUPUI to Lockerbie -- and then it will have this huge, ugly half-block long dead parking garage frontage right in the middle of its route through downtown. I don't think the financiers gave any thought about how this project might be able to be integrated into downtown in an appropriate way. It was all about how can we build 1500 parking spaces (or however many there are) in the cheapest way possible.

Moochie: "I mean they're already taking up an entire city block with this thing..."

Actually -- I guess if there is one half way positive thing about this garage its that it is "only" taking up half a block. This garage is taking up only the eastern half of the block. I have no idea what the plan is for the western half of the block.

I think it would have been a lot better if they had built the 1/2 block garage on the southern half of the block -- and then they could have filled the northern half of the block with apartments with first floor retail fronting Vermont Street.

I just can't get my head around how the builders of the One America tower had the right idea when building tall, then didn't supply adequate parking for tower workers, thereby retarding development for all the city blocks surrounding the tower for decades...

OK, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.. perhaps they assumed that Indy would actually develop an adequate public transportation in the decades following construction?

Anyhoo, there are many who share the blame for this multiple decades long debacle. It's just disgraceful all the way around...

Its a pathetic design. I don't think design is even the correct term since it is pretty much just a cement box set on top of the block. Another thing that is extremely annoying is how they are not designing the north end, fronting Vermont Street, to allow it to hold street-front commercial uses. Vermont is such a great, walkable downtown street -- lined with residential and commercial uses all the way from IUPUI to Lockerbie -- and then it will have this huge, ugly half-block long dead parking garage frontage right in the middle of its route through downtown. I don't think the financiers gave any thought about how this project might be able to be integrated into downtown in an appropriate way. It was all about how can we build 1500 parking spaces (or however many there are) in the cheapest way possible.

Man, that is one big ass crane on that garage site. This means it'll be mostly precast concrete pieces trucked in. With no basement, this will go up very, very quickly after the foundation is finished and cured. It should only take a couple months to top off. It'll probably be finished and in use by early summer.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8189/8362148693_33a96bca57_b.jpg

One idea is that perhaps with the added capacity of this garage over the previous surface lot that maybe there will be another building go up down the line. Another tower perhaps. There is certainly room for it considering the garage takes up half a block instead of the whole thing.

One idea is that perhaps with the added capacity of this garage over the previous surface lot that maybe there will be another building go up down the line. Another tower perhaps. There is certainly room for it considering the garage takes up half a block instead of the whole thing.

OK fine.. are they at least overbuilding the existing garage so that 5 stories can be added at a future date? Or will be we need to waste another half block for another brutalist parking garage with no retail to support the new tower's parking needs?

That sounded prickly and sarcastic, but I'm seriously asking.. Those seem to be heavier than needed poured in place support posts for a 4 or 5 story garage. Any idea if they're overbuilding on purpose in case expansion is needed?

Moochie: "I mean they're already taking up an entire city block with this thing..."

Actually -- I guess if there is one half way positive thing about this garage its that it is "only" taking up half a block. This garage is taking up only the eastern half of the block. I have no idea what the plan is for the western half of the block.

I think it would have been a lot better if they had built the 1/2 block garage on the southern half of the block -- and then they could have filled the northern half of the block with apartments with first floor retail fronting Vermont Street.
They actually first considered the southern half of the block but rejected that because a traffic analysis showed insufficient excess vehicle capacity on NY. Next they looked at the western half but rejected that because the gerbil tube needed to intersect the tower on the eastern half of the block. Voila, they settled on the eastern half.

As for building on the western half, I believe that's in the long-term plans. At least, they claimed they needed to keep the full half-block on the western end for a standard office footprint. Shifting the garage to the center of the block, as we proposed, would not have left a sufficient footprint for that.

There are also long-term plans for possibly building north of Vermont. OneAmerica views their tower and the two blocks north of it as their "campus" so don't expect to see lots of fancy mixed-use construction going on around there.

^^ What does "insufficient excess vehicle capacity on NY" mean?

^^ What does "insufficient excess vehicle capacity on NY" mean?

My guess is that the amount of vehicles directed onto NY from the garage would exceed the available listed capacity for the segment. Thus, insufficient excess capacity. I can't wait to see what Illinois looks like at 5pm on a week day through here. This has to be the largest concentration of parking garages.

It seems like, with some smart designing and by putting the garage in the southern half of the block -- there could have been a way figured out where people could enter and exit the garage on Capitol, New York and Illinois. All one way streets. It sure seems that by using all of those entrance / egress options - it would have spread out the flow of cars during the peak times. Again -- it just seems like in so many ways, it would have been best to have this garage on the southern part of the block only. The frontage along Vermont street never should have been allowed to have a parking garage fronting it - especially one without any street-front commercial space.

It seems like, with some smart designing and by putting the garage in the southern half of the block -- there could have been a way figured out where people could enter and exit the garage on Capitol, New York and Illinois. All one way streets. It sure seems that by using all of those entrance / egress options - it would have spread out the flow of cars during the peak times. Again -- it just seems like in so many ways, it would have been best to have this garage on the southern part of the block only. The frontage along Vermont street never should have been allowed to have a parking garage fronting it - especially one without any street-front commercial space.

Tom, you have no idea the amount of head-beating-against-the-wall was done over this garage that will likely never see the light of day. Suffice to say, many great ideas were pitched to what amounts to a large stone wall....

I think I have a pretty good idea actually -- which is even sadder - to know how stubborn the developers were in their opposition to all of the good ideas that were given to them about how they could do this the right way - and how this crappy design was allowed to be approved. aaaaarrrrrrg

I think I have a pretty good idea actually -- which is even sadder - to know how stubborn the developers were in their opposition to all of the good ideas that were given to them about how they could do this the right way - and how this crappy design was allowed to be approved. aaaaarrrrrrg

In this situation, I don't think it was the developer who was making the call..........it was a large corporation flexing their muscle to the city who flexed their muscle to the developer......not that the developer gets off clean. Again "Good Corporate Citizen" was the term provided about One America, and this is what we got.

^^ What does "insufficient excess vehicle capacity on NY" mean?
Sorry, that was my writing, not theirs. I basically meant that they had studied vehicle patterns around the site and found that NY was already at capacity at peak times and couldn't accommodate a big efflux of cars from the garage at the same time.

It seems like, with some smart designing and by putting the garage in the southern half of the block -- there could have been a way figured out where people could enter and exit the garage on Capitol, New York and Illinois. All one way streets. It sure seems that by using all of those entrance / egress options - it would have spread out the flow of cars during the peak times. Again -- it just seems like in so many ways, it would have been best to have this garage on the southern part of the block only. The frontage along Vermont street never should have been allowed to have a parking garage fronting it - especially one without any street-front commercial space.

Ideally the center block proposal could have still had an entrance/exit onto illinois, maybe just an entrance from NY and an exit onto Vermont. This could have also kept the gerbil tube connected to the tower, but it isn't what One America wanted, thus..........

^^ (in response to CorrND's response two posts above): .... which sounds pretty much like the situation at quite a few of our other downtown parking garages. Don't see why it makes a big difference now for this particular project -- and I really don't see how designing it with primary in / out access only on northbound Illinois Street will make the situation work much better (as opposed to potentially providing in/out access on Capitol, New York and Illinois - which might have been possible with a well designed project built on the southern half of the block) - but, anyway ..... since this project is already coming out of the ground -- its no use continuing to beat a dead horse. I think its probably time to stop complaining at this point.

To Indy'd -- I'd hate to have seen an exit onto Vermont. That is a very pedestrian oriented street that will have another 480 residential units built on the blocks immediately west of this parking garage block. I hate the way parking garage egress / ingress areas mess up a nice, walkable block. This parking garage shouldn't have even touched Vermont Street.

absolutely agree......just adding that many more options existed. We need to make sure this isn't how we move forward on other projects, there will be more garages that we pay for I'm sure.

Did this project every change to include ground-floor retail? I am sure it probably is somewhere within the Indianapolis Development Thread, but I don't have time for that and I couldn't find it in this thread.

1500 sq ft with the ability to be modified down the road to allow for more if market demands it.

News on the "groundbreaking" for the AXIS project:

http://www.indystar.com/article/2013...ng-Marsh-store

http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o653/benblairesq/IMG-20130221-00020_zps1cc82627.jpg

Aerial photo of the Block 400 construction site, taken a couple of days ago. It looks like they started putting up the crane on the Axis block (the blue structure on the right side / center of the NE quarter).

Thanks for the pic! Really shows the impact the developments are going to have! The 2 worst surface lot areas DT will soon be filled (CityWay is already completed) and now the NW Quad will be more than half full!

Thanks for the pic! Really shows the impact the developments are going to have! The 2 worst surface lot areas DT will soon be filled (CityWay is already completed) and now the NW Quad will be more than half full!

Amen! Who'd have thought this would ever happen even 3-4 years ago? :) I can remember all of us bitching about these lots repeatedly on these very forums not too long ago.

[QUOTE=HoosierLawyer;100578374]http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o653/benblairesq/IMG-20130221-00020_zps1cc82627.jpg

When to they have plans to start the triangle block to the west?

I remember it being sometime after the initial phase was completed and open.

The site ExactTarget may be considering for building an expansion of its office space is the surface lot immediately east of the Axis site (and north of the AUL parking garage site). If all of those projects (Axis, Pointe, parking garage, and ExactTarget new construction) happen, there will only be a few areas of surface parking randomly spaced here and there in that aerial photo.

The last big surface parking issue in that area is the disgusting block and a half immediately north of the State Capitol building. The north side of the capitol block should be returned to a grassy landscaped, tree filled lawn - like the south side. The square block of parking north of Ohio (between Capitol and Senate) should be turned into a new State Legislative and Judicial Center -- with an onsite, largely underground parking garage. This idea has been talked about for decades. The State Legislative offices are crammed into tiny cubicles throughout the Capitol building -- and the rooms for conducting hearings on legislative matters are often ridiculously small little spaces - often in the basement or in random other areas throughout the building. There is a need for more space for Judicial hearings and judicial offices as well. A combined building that could be used by legislators and the judicial leaders should be built on the lot north of Ohio. If that happens -- the amount of large surface parking lots in the mile square would finally be down to a very minimal amount.

The last big surface parking issue in that area is the disgusting block and a half immediately north of the State Capitol building. The north side of the capitol block should be returned to a grassy landscaped, tree filled lawn - like the south side. The square block of parking north of Ohio (between Capitol and Senate) should be turned into a new State Legislative and Judicial Center -- with an onsite, largely underground parking garage. This idea has been talked about for decades. The State Legislative offices are crammed into tiny cubicles throughout the Capitol building -- and the rooms for conducting hearings on legislative matters are often ridiculously small little spaces - often in the basement or in random other areas throughout the building. There is a need for more space for Judicial hearings and judicial offices as well. A combined building that could be used by legislators and the judicial leaders should be built on the lot north of Ohio. If that happens -- the amount of large surface parking lots in the mile square would finally be down to a very minimal amount.

AMEN!!!:applause:

The north side of the capitol block should be returned to a grassy landscaped, tree filled lawn - like the south side.

This is one of my greatest dreams for downtown, second only to seeing transit and pedestrian/complete street infrastructure improvements.

The site ExactTarget may be considering for building an expansion of its office space is the surface lot immediately east of the Axis site (and north of the AUL parking garage site). If all of those projects (Axis, Pointe, parking garage, and ExactTarget new construction) happen, there will only be a few areas of surface parking randomly spaced here and there in that aerial photo.

The last big surface parking issue in that area is the disgusting block and a half immediately north of the State Capitol building. The north side of the capitol block should be returned to a grassy landscaped, tree filled lawn - like the south side. The square block of parking north of Ohio (between Capitol and Senate) should be turned into a new State Legislative and Judicial Center -- with an onsite, largely underground parking garage. This idea has been talked about for decades. The State Legislative offices are crammed into tiny cubicles throughout the Capitol building -- and the rooms for conducting hearings on legislative matters are often ridiculously small little spaces - often in the basement or in random other areas throughout the building. There is a need for more space for Judicial hearings and judicial offices as well. A combined building that could be used by legislators and the judicial leaders should be built on the lot north of Ohio. If that happens -- the amount of large surface parking lots in the mile square would finally be down to a very minimal amount.

Definitely. :cheers:

I would love to see a new center constructed in a fashion mimicking the state capitol building in materials and proportions. It would really give it a government district feel. Also, the parking lot just north of the capitol building is ATROCIOUS and extremely tacky. If I remember correctly it was originally green space.

Definitely. :cheers:

I would love to see a new center constructed in a fashion mimicking the state capitol building in materials and proportions. It would really give it a government district feel. Also, the parking lot just north of the capitol building is ATROCIOUS and extremely tacky. If I remember correctly it was originally green space.

This is another good reason to allow a megalomaniacal starchitect (libeskind) to design the Washington street transit center... If we don't get it out of our systems there, we may be compelled to build something fanciful and disastrous on this site or another site where respect for history is crucial.

This is another good reason to allow a megalomaniacal starchitect (libeskind) to design the Washington street transit center... If we don't get it out of our systems there, we may be compelled to build something fanciful and disastrous on this site or another site where respect for history is crucial.

You make a very good point. Perhaps Indianapolis can set an example by both constructing something very abstract and then something very classical at the same time. This would show our dedication not to trends but to quality.

Some photos of the construction sites as of this afternoon.

http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o653/benblairesq/IMG-20130307-00024_zps85c44a41.jpg

http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o653/benblairesq/IMG-20130307-00025_zps7c828c4f.jpg

Note the wooden structure at the Block 400 site. It's 12-15 feet tall.

Is this thread following both of the blocks under construction in the first picture, or are they two separate projects? This vantage point would be great for following the construction as these projects progress.

This is technically following both projects. They are all part of the same development.

The snow has slowed the construction a bit, but they started on the third floor of the garage today (or at least the ramp up to the third floor), and reasonable progress is being made on the Axis. Once the weather clears up, we should see some quick progress.

http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o653/benblairesq/IMG-20130326-00033_zpse8c4769a.jpg

Is there any particularly strong reason why they didn't put a level or 2 of parking below grade? The site seems flat, and I doubt the bedrock is very high, so for a single use garage which has peak traffic flow occurring only at shift changes, it would make it easier to reduce internal congestion splitting the traffic flow into up and down directions inside the garage.

There was a DMD resolution adding $200k (approx) to this project due to "unforseen underground structures"

Is there any particularly strong reason why they didn't put a level or 2 of parking below grade? The site seems flat, and I doubt the bedrock is very high, so for a single use garage which has peak traffic flow occurring only at shift changes, it would make it easier to reduce internal congestion splitting the traffic flow into up and down directions inside the garage.


There is tons of discussion in the first 80% of this thread going over everyone's exasperation, frustration and disgust about the extremely poor design for this parking garage. The only reason I can think of as to why this doesn't have any lower levels is cost.

I don't think anyone on this thread really knows all of the background on why this garage is being allowed to be built as is. Most of us are glad that, because the garage is being built, another block and a half of surface parking is disappearing to be replaced with about 487 units of apartments. Still - it just doesn't make sense to build such a poorly designed parking garage with almost no opportunities for streetfront commercial (despite the fact that the garage will soon be surrounded with about 1000 residential units - and is on the NW edge of the CBD).

So -- long answer summarized: No, there is no particularly good reason why there is not a level or two of this parking garage built underground. We're not happy about it --- but, unfortunately it is well under construction now - and nothing is going to change.

We've pretty much stopped with our criticism of the garage at this point. Five or six months ago you could have been an active voice on this thread in discussing the poor design of this project.

A few of us met with the city and the developer over it and an official remonstration was filed against it.

In the end, big money won.

We lost.

Best part is. We are paying for something we are against......certainly an interesting twist.

The site ExactTarget may be considering for building an expansion of its office space is the surface lot immediately east of the Axis site (and north of the AUL parking garage site). If all of those projects (Axis, Pointe, parking garage, and ExactTarget new construction) happen, there will only be a few areas of surface parking randomly spaced here and there in that aerial photo.

The last big surface parking issue in that area is the disgusting block and a half immediately north of the State Capitol building. The north side of the capitol block should be returned to a grassy landscaped, tree filled lawn - like the south side. The square block of parking north of Ohio (between Capitol and Senate) should be turned into a new State Legislative and Judicial Center -- with an onsite, largely underground parking garage. This idea has been talked about for decades. The State Legislative offices are crammed into tiny cubicles throughout the Capitol building -- and the rooms for conducting hearings on legislative matters are often ridiculously small little spaces - often in the basement or in random other areas throughout the building. There is a need for more space for Judicial hearings and judicial offices as well. A combined building that could be used by legislators and the judicial leaders should be built on the lot north of Ohio. If that happens -- the amount of large surface parking lots in the mile square would finally be down to a very minimal amount.


Finally went back through this thread and found this comment. Is there any chance of this happening at at?

It's one of the most tacky sites in Indianapolis and that says a lot...

I don't think there is any current plan to build a judicial / legislative center on the block to the north of the Capitol Building. It had been discussed - at least 10 - 15 years ago, and there were some models put together of potential building plans. The model was on display in the Capitol Building. There is a State Building Commission with offices in the Indiana Government Center Complex. They used to be toward the west end of the Indiana Government Center South building - on about the 2nd or third floor. Someone there might have information on whether there is any possibility of a new building being built on that block.

Could someone take some updated photos of the site please?

(Edit --- my bad --- after typing the paragraph below, I realized you weren't talking about the parking lot north of the Statehouse. You were talking about the "Block 400" project (the focus of this thread -- duh). You can ignore my notes below. If anyone does have recent photos of the Block 400 site -- that would be great to post them.

^^ Nothing much to "update". The site hasn't changed in at least twenty years -- probably more like 40 or 50. It is a one block square surface parking lot bounded by Ohio, Senate, New York and Capitol. There may have been some landscaping / trees put in within the last twenty years - which helps a little -- but still, it is a humongous surface parking lot about two blocks from the Circle. The northernmost portion of the Statehouse block is also largely covered in pavement. If you go to an aerial view on Google Maps or something like that, you can zoom down and see what it looks like from above -- or go to Streetview and see what it looks like as you drive by. Its a huge parking lot that unfortunately hasn't changed much for several decades.

Could someone take some updated photos of the site please?

I'll grab some aerial photos tomorrow, but here are two photos of the site from this evening. Looked like they were pouring concrete for the supports in the northeast quadrant today.

From the northwest corner:
http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o653/benblairesq/IMG-20130410-00035_zps4fbdc7fa.jpg

And looking in at the site due east. Note the scaffolding in the center of the building:
http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o653/benblairesq/IMG-20130410-00036_zpse29f9b23.jpg

Hello everyone. Here are some construction shots from a higher elevation.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8388/8640098595_3d776035f8_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/94870764@N02/8640098595/)
IMG_1033 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/94870764@N02/8640098595/) by Jarva Robbins (http://www.flickr.com/people/94870764@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8252/8641195062_c6ed477e3a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/94870764@N02/8641195062/)
IMG_1096 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/94870764@N02/8641195062/) by Jarva Robbins (http://www.flickr.com/people/94870764@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8522/8641188622_5b2481517a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/94870764@N02/8641188622/)
IMG_1153 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/94870764@N02/8641188622/) by Jarva Robbins (http://www.flickr.com/people/94870764@N02/), on Flickr

Nice photos. The angle is great to see the progress. How far apart were these shots taken, a couple days, weeks?

Nice photos. The angle is great to see the progress. How far apart were these shots taken, a couple days, weeks?

March 3
March 21
April 8

It's great to see cranes downtown again.

Thanks for your post Jarva! be sure to update pics periodically ;)

You know.. even though we're fairly unimpressed with the designs here.. this is one the best things to happen to downtown this decade. Those lots had to go.. They were a scar that most of liked to pretend didn't exist. Those pix really show how the development will improve and ignite the area. It's pretty exciting.

You know.. even though we're fairly unimpressed with the designs here.. this is one the best things to happen to downtown this decade. Those lots had to go.. They were a scar that most of liked to pretend didn't exist. Those pix really show how the development will improve and ignite the area. It's pretty exciting.

Yes! And with Phase II the density magnifies even more with thousands sq. feet of more retail space as well. This will genuinely be a high density urban neighborhood in Indianapolis!

You know.. even though we're fairly unimpressed with the designs here.. this is one the best things to happen to downtown this decade. Those lots had to go.. They were a scar that most of liked to pretend didn't exist. Those pix really show how the development will improve and ignite the area. It's pretty exciting.

absolutely. i used to live in indianapolis and was always shocked at the number of empty parking lots outside of the immediate downtown area. i thought the canal project would fix things overnight... silly me. things just take longer than everyone hopes/wishes. thank goodness this site is finally under construction!

I was in Indy over the weekend and saw this construction site. It is going to be quite large, and I'm sure it will add many residents to the city's core. I hope as part of the project they improve the streetscaping around the perimeter of the building.

http://flic.kr/p/ec9VtG


http://flic.kr/p/ec9QgG

This stretch of Illinois may well be the worst block in all of downtown!

This stretch of Illinois may well be the worst block in all of downtown!

That is a lot of parking garages! Yuck! No retail, no connection, no invitation. *sad face*

How is this project going along? Its been a while since we've seen any images...

Also what about the parking garage as well?

I don't know that we need to follow/care about the parking garage anymore. It is a massive pile of......... The Block 400 project has a majority of the foundation supports in place. Sorry, no pictures on my end.

Yes -- nothing overly exciting with the parking garage - although to keep you informed, I believe they are now starting on the 4th level of it.

I have a picture of it on my iPhone but it is hardly worth posting. Its a city block defeating low rise structure. I had to rotate my phone sideways to capture how long this turd is and I was at the intersection of Indiana and Illinois.

Did you mean Indiana and Capitol? Indiana and Illinois don't intersect.

Photos of the parking garage probably wouldn't be too exciting to see --- but if anyone has photos of the Block 400 project (Axis) - that would be great to capture the steady progress that is occurring there. To really see what is going on - you pretty much have to find a place to get an overhead shot - like from one of the offices in the AUL Tower - or from one of the parking garages along the east side of Illinois (between New York and Vermont).

Did you mean Indiana and Capitol? Indiana and Illinois don't intersect.

That is what I meant.

Three photos from earlier today.

From the corner of Michigan and Senate:
http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o653/benblairesq/CIMG1767_zpsc9bf4384.jpg

Axis from above. You really get a sense of the height of the first floor:
http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o653/benblairesq/CIMG1770_zps03b4e4f3.jpg

The Block 400 site overall:
http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o653/benblairesq/CIMG1773_zps2a0c77a8.jpg

Thanks HoosierLawyer! Looking like a neighborhood!

Nice to see the progress. Thanks for the photos. Love to see the overhead views that take in a good chunk of the NW quadrant and beyond.