October 7, 2009
Scott OlsonThe Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission approved a 10-year tax abatement Wednesday afternoon for a controversial
public-private plan to redevelop a vacant downtown office building.
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October 6, 2009
Cory SchouteA city board this week will consider tax abatements worth about $47,000 over six years for Indianapolis-based IT consultant
Apparatus Inc., which is moving its headquarters to the former WFYI building at 1401 N. Meridian St.
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October 5, 2009
Scott OlsonA proposal that would prevent smokers from lighting up in all indoor public places in Marion County is expected to meet fierce
resistance from bar owners who oppose a stricter smoking ban.
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October 3, 2009
Chris O'MalleyOfficials grappling with a water utility deep in debt and a sewer infrastructure needing upwards of $2 billion in
upgrades were swamped with proposals about how to fix the mess.
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September 29, 2009
Chris O'MalleyAmong 23 firms that have expressed interest in operating Indianapolis’ water and sewer systems is Macquarie, the Australian
firm that operates the Indiana Toll Road under a 75-year, $3.8 billion lease. In July, the city asked companies to express
interest in operating the systems.
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September 19, 2009
IBJ StaffIn the worst recession since the Great Depression, it must be difficult to broker business expansions. But
IEDI's making no excuses for the city’s job creation and retention figures. In fact, it's touting them.
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September 15, 2009
IBJ StaffThe Westfield City Council passed a smoking ban 7-0 last night that will prohibit smoking in most public places, including
outdoor arenas, stadiums and amphitheaters.
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September 14, 2009
Scott OlsonThe financial condition of the city’s Capital Improvement Board, though improving, is still dire enough that employees
of the Indiana Convention Center could be subjected to more unpaid furloughs or layoffs.
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September 12, 2009
IBJ StaffThe idea of the not-for-profit Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association taking out a loan was not warmly received by
city officials. And financial institutions were less than thrilled with the idea given the ICVA’s diminishing revenue
and increasing costs.
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September 12, 2009
Peter SchnitzlerMayor Greg Ballard's administration has asked the businesses for ideas on
how Eagle Creek Park and Riverside Regional Park each could cut costs and generate more revenue.
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September 5, 2009
IBJ StaffThe solution to the property tax fiasco that swept Republican Mayor Greg Ballard into office in 2007 is making his job harder,
and
it could lead to his undoing.
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August 31, 2009
Scott OlsonThe Indianapolis arts community is breathing a collective sigh of relief after learning that the city is not expected to reduce
its funding in 2010. The City-County Council will hear public comments tonight on Mayor Greg Ballard’s 2010 budget before
voting on it Sept. 21.
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August 29, 2009
Peter SchnitzlerFitch and other rating agencies are concerned that the phase-in of property tax caps will further strain the city's finances.
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August 29, 2009
Anthony SchoettleThree music events with direct visitor spending estimated at $28 million that were hosted at Lucas Oil Stadium offer proof,
city officials said, that the expense of the retractable roof and other features of the $720 million facility are paying off.
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August 24, 2009
Anthony SchoettleThe Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association is so desperate for more marketing funding, the organization charged
with promoting the city as a convention and tourism destination is considering taking out a loan. While that
would be the last resort, ICVA CEO Don Welsh said it is one he will have to consider if the money can’t be raised through
local taxes.
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August 24, 2009
Cory SchoutenSeveral prominent local Democrats are lining up to challenge Republican Mayor Greg Ballard just two years into his first
term.
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August 17, 2009
The City-County Council wisely averted disaster for the Capital Improvement Board Aug. 10 by voting to raise the city’s
hotel tax from 9 percent to 10 percent, but the razor-thin vote was another disappointing case of elected officials making
decisions based on partisanship rather than good judgment.
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July 27, 2009
Chris O'MalleyA municipality has filed the first formal complaint against a cable television operator since state telecommunications reform
three years ago unplugged local government oversight of operators.
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July 20, 2009
Kathleen McLaughlinMayor Greg Ballard’s
administration is requesting proposals to manage all but one of Indianapolis’
13 municipal courses.
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July 20, 2009
IBJ StaffIn trying times, people and businesses often have to get creative to make ends meet. The same should hold true for local
government. That’s why we commend city leaders for thinking outside the box in considering two initiatives
to cut costs and generate public revenue.
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July 13, 2009
Cory SchoutenCity officials are considering several proposals designed to wrestle more revenue out of
the city’s roughly 4,000 parking meters, including
the possibility of a long-term lease to a private firm, a move that netted Chicago more than $1 billion
last year.
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June 22, 2009
Cory SchoutenThe Capital Improvement Board could be forced to give up one of its most profitable assets so the city can pull off a $65-million
public-private downtown development deal. The city has agreed to help a developer revitalize the vacant former Bank One operations
center in part by acquiring an adjacent
parking garage for $18.5 million.
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June 22, 2009
Greg AndrewsWithin weeks, EnerDel expects to receive notification that it's getting as much as $480 million in financing under a U.S.
Department of Energy program aimed at fostering advanced vehicle manufacturing.
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June 22, 2009
The city has unveiled a dramatic plan for new housing and retail development to revitalize the old Market Square Arena site.
Despite some shortcomings, the project deserves a chance to give the stagnant area a boost.
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June 15, 2009
Cory SchoutenA $65 million public-private plan for the redevelopment of a vacant downtown office building is raising eyebrows for its unusual
approach and potential risk to taxpayers. The plan calls for a private developer to acquire the former Bank One operations
center, surface parking lots and an adjacent
parking garage from a private owner for $18.5 million, then sell the 1,680-space garage to the city for $18.5 million.
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Laura-the festivals and tastings are free. What does is strengthen the sense of community with activities. What are those empty lots doing for the Village? it's sad you can't see the good that this progress can do for the area. No one is requiring anyone to shop there. I guess you'd rather see a Dollar store move in or no, we'd rather see the property stand empty b/c change is out of the question.
Read down to the part about Brizzi. Someone needs to subpoena his "purchases" of Red RockPictures and Cellstar and his corresponding bank records, I mean c'mon, I'd like to see his alcohol usage records, too. http://diana-vice.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html
Wonder if my neighborhood can advertise our "retention" pond and act like it is a beach too?
a new record at the '11 salebration until they realized that it was a futile effort to get their crapwagon moter and crapwagon car up speed. And then they just quietly slunk off into the night and never spoke of it again. Nothing to see here folks.
millions for putting a company's bumper sticker on one of its Lolas. But you gotta take what you can get.