Buckingham plans $45M 'village'

April 28, 2008
Back to TopCommentsE-mailPrint
960 N. Meridian St.A local developer has big plans for the neighborhood around the renovated Central Library. Buckingham Cos. plans to spend up to $45 million building new apartments, offices, restaurants and retail space on several parcels it has quietly assembled near its headquarters in the Stokely-Van Camp building. Buckingham bought the Stokely building (southeast corner of Meridian and St. Joseph streets) and surrounding parking lots in February 2007. The firm has a contract to purchase four more parcels nearby—including the former Rollerland skating rink. It also is looking at a request for development proposals for the Ambassador Apartments and a parking lot along Pennsylvania Street. Those properties are being offered for sale by the Library. Plans for 960 N. Meridian St. (shown here) call for first-floor retail and 70 apartments. The company already is in talks with an office-supply chain about taking space. Read the full story here. What do you think?
ADVERTISEMENT
  • BobApril 28, 2008 10:49 AM
    MMMMM looks more like a Holiday Inn then a downtown apartment building. I like the concept here. It doesn’t have to be 40 stories. But I thing in that area 4 to 6 floors might work and look better. And please dump the balconies. The last things we need to see driving down Meridian Street are green plastic lawn chairs, old barbeque grills and Christmas tree light dotting a building. This is NOT the canal.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • Robert SaysApril 28, 2008 12:11 PM
    This is excellent. This area needs a lot of attention. Infill housing and retail will be perfect. After Meridian and Pennsylvannia Streets maybe someone will help Illinois St. Its horrible.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • MarkApril 28, 2008 2:56 PM
    I'm not oppsed to the balconies, as many people wanting to live downtown also want to be able to enjoy views by sitting outside and enjoying the weather and sunsets. However, the problem you mention can be combated by having strict rules in the rental agreement and landowners agreement. No individual satellites, no BBQ grills. We have that at my condoplex in downtown with views and it works just fine.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • BradApril 28, 2008 4:44 PM
    Perfect!
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • NickApril 28, 2008 4:51 PM
    It's illegal for a condo association or apartment complex to prohibit satellite dishes on private balconies in most circumstances. Local cable companies were going in and negotiating exclusive deals that would prohibit competition by satellite providers in apartment complexes and large condo developments. The FCC stepped in and by and large has prohibited such restrictions.

    If your landlord prohibits installing a satellite dish on an exclusive use balcony, there's a good chance it's an illegal restriction...
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • MarkApril 28, 2008 5:37 PM
    Nick,

    It isn't an illegal restriction if it is a Condominium complex and it is clearly stated in the covenants and the buyer signs the agreement to abide by the rules of the Association. It's no different than a subdivision restricting the type of mailbox you put in or not allowing a flagpole in the front yard. If the homeowner purchases, they have to abide and follow it.

    City View tower at 38th and Meridian tried to eliminate the use of individual satellites (they are a mix of renters and owners) and did not get a majority of owners and renters to agree to the change. If they would have had it originally in their plan when they first built or a new owner took over, then they could restrict it.

    As far as rentals, I'm not sure what the legality is since you are renting from that owner, i'm assuming you would have to follow the same restrictions as well if the landloard imposes them, or you simply don't move there.

    We are able to get a satellite, but it has to be a majority vote by all owners to have a dish on the roof. The way our building is set up though, each unit is individually wired and not on a circuit, so it wouldn't be cost effective, or realistic for us to have a larger unit. So we are stuck with Brighthouse.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • MikeApril 28, 2008 6:28 PM
    Nick, they can designate an area for satellite dishes that are out of sight like on a section of the roof. As long as there is a place to put dishes I believe that the restriction is legal.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • The UrbanophileApril 28, 2008 8:39 PM
    I hate to give our host grief, but that article does not include a lot of specifics about what will be done with all that land. A lot more information is needed to even being evaluating this.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • IndymanApril 29, 2008 8:43 AM
    It is against fire code regulations to have a gas or charcoal grill on a balcony or porch that has a roof. Since the floor of the one above is the ceiling for the one below.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • CoryWApril 29, 2008 9:12 AM
    Wow, great news. The area is ripe for a rejuvenation...they should really build off of the library and make this a thinking mans destination. I love seeing our downtown continue to grow and evolve. We have a lot to be proud of for the Mile-Square.

    Any news on the Ralston Square plans?
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • GregApril 29, 2008 9:13 AM
    I used to have an illegal full sized grill on my balcony - man those were some good times.

    I kept it up there because when the propane nozzle broke off - and the regulator couldn't be shut off.

    So... I had to keep using it in order to drain the propane out.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • Robert SaysApril 29, 2008 5:30 PM
    It would be nice if all Meridan St. vacant parcels be devloped. Infill will make this street seem more urban. Another Meridian Street parcel needing to be developed is the land north of the Scottish Rite Cathedral. What an excellent place for a multi story housing project. Great views. Any news on that land. A parking lot on Meridian that size seems inappropriate.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • thundermuttApril 29, 2008 9:56 PM
    Bob, the building rendering clearly shows 4 stories. This is an excellent bridge to the mid-rise office buildings at Gateway and Landmark and north of the Interstate.

    It is also the seventh major investment or serious announcement (of new construction or first-class rehab/re-use) on Meridian north of the library in the past two years: Meridian@21, Walgreen's, WFYI, The Lexington, Buckingham HQ, and CVS were the first six.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • MattMay 1, 2008 11:17 AM
    Agree definatly satelite dishes should be banned from balconies, and I think the there shouldn't be any balconies on the meridian street side, or if there are make them not cover the entire facade.

    Can't they just put a place for satelites on the roof and then run a wire to each apartment? I would think this would provide better reception anyways.

    Would be nice for it to be a little taller, but not as tall as the library.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • Bob Evan's SausageMay 2, 2008 12:01 PM
    Buckingham couldn't plan their way out of a paper sack. This will never see the light of day.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • SwimINindyMay 7, 2008 11:40 PM
    Actually for a first rendering, i actually rather like the design, Perhaps with the library's expansion, and style, a more mod neighborhood will emerge in this section of dowtown. Only time will tell though. And big retailers are always a welcoming sign. If a well known company considers propsects well enough to move in, obviously people are their and more are on the way. Another beneficial development for downtown, and nice size infill
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment

Post a comment to this blog

COMMENTS POLICY
We reserve the right to remove any post that we feel is obscene, profane, vulgar, racist, sexually explicit, abusive, or hateful.
 
You are legally responsible for what you post and your anonymity is not guaranteed.
 
Posts that insult, defame, threaten, harass or abuse other readers or people mentioned in IBJ editorial content are also subject to removal. Please respect the privacy of individuals and refrain from posting personal information.
 
No solicitations, spamming or advertisements are allowed. Readers may post links to other informational websites that are relevant to the topic at hand, but please do not link to objectionable material.
 
We may remove messages that are unrelated to the topic, encourage illegal activity, use all capital letters or are unreadable.
 

Messages that are flagged by readers as objectionable will be reviewed and may or may not be removed. Please do not flag a post simply because you disagree with it.

ADVANCED SEARCH
Sponsored by
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT