Indianapolis
Milhaus Redevelops Former Bank One Center into Apt., Office Space
Milhaus Development is currently redeveloping the former Bank One Operations Center in downtown Indianapolis into a five-story mixed-use structure with 258 apartments and up to 68,000 square feet of commercial space. Inside Indiana Business reports that the estimated price tag of the reconversion plan is around $30 million.
Located at 451 East Market Street, the “Artistry” project is centered on the arts theme, reflecting the neighborhood’s history of craft and skill. Marketing and experience-design firm Q7 Associates will brand and market the residences, while the Gene B. Glick Company will provide property management services.
Luxury Hotel in Downtown Indianapolis Open for Business
A new four-star hotel has recently opened in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, as part of the CityWay development.
Called The Alexander, in honor of Alexander Ralston, the engineer and architect who in 1820 led the creation of the city’s plan, the property offers 157 guest rooms with stunning views of the city, along with 52 extended stay suites. Amenities include a fitness center, multiple restaurants and meeting rooms totaling 16,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.
The new hotel has been developed by Indianapolis-based Buckingham Companies and designed by the Gensler architecture firm. Dolce Hotels and Resorts of Rockleigh, N.J. is managing the property.
Flock Real Estate to Spend $1M Renovating Historic Apartment Buildings in Indianapolis
Two Old Northside apartment buildings at the northeast corner of 13th and Alabama streets in Indianapolis are about to get a $1 million makeover. Built in the late 1800s, the three-story properties comprise approximately 20,000 square feet of living space. The Indianapolis Business Journal reports that locally based Flock Real Estate Group will apply for historic tax credits to finance the renovation project. Upon completion, the buildings will offer 12 one-bedroom units, three two-bedroom units and three three-bedroom units, with refurbished hardwood floors, high ceilings, new windows, track lighting and new kitchens with stainless appliances. Rents for the 18 market-rate units will range between $750 and $1,600 per month.
Duke Realty Divests Six-Building Office Portfolio in Indianapolis
A joint venture between Middleton Partners and Romanek Properties has acquired the six-building Hillsdale Technecenter in suburban Indianapolis from locally based Duke Realty Corp. John Huguenard and Peter Harwood of Jones Lang LaSalle represented the seller in the transaction. Financial terms were not disclosed. According to the Indianapolis Business Journal, the sale of the 446,000-square-foot office complex is part of Duke’s plan to reduce its ownership of suburban office properties. The company’s long-term goal is to have 60 percent of its holdings in industrial, 25 percent in office and 15 percent in medical office.
Gershman Brown Crowley to Begin Construction on First Phase of $100M Mixed-Use Project in Carmel
Indianapolis-based Gershman Brown Crowley Inc. will soon break ground on the first two components of its $100 million mixed-use development in Carmel. According to the Indianapolis Business Journal, the developer is seeking design approval from the city for a 9,600-square-foot retail building at the southwest corner of 116th and Illinois streets and a 13,200-square-foot CVS pharmacy planned at 116th and Springmill. Gershman Brown Crowley expects to start construction in March. The pharmacy is scheduled to open in September, while the retail building is slated to be finished by October.
Local Investor Group Acquires 188,000SF Office, Storage, Industrial Space in Indianapolis
Private investor group Alcatraz Investments, LLC has acquired the 188,000-square-foot Indianapolis Enterprise Center on the near-east side of the city. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The facility features office as well as storage and industrial space, and serves small business customers in the downtown Indianapolis market. Alcatraz Investments now plans to upgrade the property, which has experienced four years of deferred maintenance. Scott Meyers, the company’s principal, has owned the center once before, from 2005 to 2007. “We’re genuinely excited about the opportunity to add this property back into our portfolio, having sold it back in 2007,” said Meyers. “The timing was perfect, as demand for storage and Industrial space is growing in this market, and the need for small, affordable office space has never been greater than during the recession.”
General Hotels Plans $8M Renovation for Downtown Crowne Plaza
General Hotels Corp. is planning a major renovation of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. According to Inside Indiana Business, the $8 million project will include extensive upgrades to the hotel’s 273 guest rooms, as well as improvements to the meeting space and food and beverage areas. In order to ensure minimal impact to hotel guests, the renovation will be conducted in phases. It is scheduled to begin during the first quarter of 2013 and be completed by October. “The hotel’s historical, architectural charm and proximity to downtown’s entertainment districts, sporting venues and attractions, combined with newly renovated state-of-the art comfort will offer planners and visitors an exclusive meeting / lodging experience distinctly set apart from other area hotels,” said Jim Dora, Jr., General Hotels Corp. president and CEO.
Eli Lilly Plans $140M Plant Expansion in Indianapolis
Eli Lilly and Co. has announced plans for a $140 million expansion of the company’s Indianapolis insulin manufacturing operations. The company’s initiative represents one of the largest economic development investments in both the city and state in 2012. Construction on the 80,000-square-foot expansion will begin immediately with completion expected in March 2014. More than 100 permanent jobs for highly skilled technicians, scientists, and engineers will be created once the facility becomes operational in 2015.
City Unveils Plans for Mixed-Use M-F Project in Downtown Indianapolis
City officials have announced the winning bid for the reconversion of a prime Mass Avenue parcel in downtown Indianapolis. The development team will be comprised of apartment specialist J.C. Hart Co., retail developer Paul Kite Co. and architecture firm Schmidt Associates. The anticipated cost of the project is approximately $43 million. Plans call for up to 235 market-rate apartments, up to 40,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and two levels of surface and underground parking. The project will be developed on a 1.45-acre property bordered by Massachusetts Avenue, North New Jersey Street and East North Street. The site is currently occupied by the Indianapolis Fire Department.
Creditor Files to Acquire Comfort Suites City Centre for $7.5M
New York-based German American Capital Corp. could become the new owner of the Comfort Suites City Centre in downtown Indianapolis. In February, the property’s current owner, Warsaw Hotel Partners LLC, an affiliate of Dora Brothers Hospitality Corp. in Fishers, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The petition listed $1 million to $10 million in assets and $10 million to $50 million in liabilities. According to the Indianapolis Business Journal, German American is owed $12 million, which makes it the company’s largest creditor. In a recent court filling, the bank has proposed a “credit bid” of $7.5 million to acquire the Comfort Suites City Centre from Warsaw Hotel Partners. If the plan is approved by a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge, German American would take ownership of the property by the end of the year. Comfort Suites City Centre is a 3-star hotel that features 130 air-conditioned guestrooms. Amenities include banquet facilities, an indoor pool, a spa tub, a fitness center and a business center. The property was developed with the help of a $12.6 million loan that German American provided in February 2007. By the time the loan matured in November 2010, Warsaw Hotel Partners still owed the bank $11.2 million.