June 9, 2008
Cory SchoutenThe Malibus and Impalas disappeared from Payton Wells Chevrolet more than 18 months ago, but the controversy over the defunct
dealership at 1510 N. Meridian St. is far from being in the rearview mirror for some of the city's top businesspeople and
developers. A court battle over the dealership's properties could determine when and how the roughly six acres of prime land
are redeveloped.
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June 9, 2008
Chip CutterTwo high-profile property developers are squaring off for the rights to transform a six-story apartment complex adjacent to
the Central Library downtown. Van Rooy Properties and Buckingham Cos. both submitted proposals to redevelop the Ambassador
apartments at 39 E. Ninth St., just north of the library.
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June 2, 2008
Chip CutterPhilip Boberschmidt of the downtown law firm of Boberschmidt and Powers has
been appointed trustee to oversee liquidation of Premier Properties USA - a task that begins today.
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June 2, 2008
Jonathan HiskesIndiana University and the city of Bloomington are at odds over how best to commercialize the university's discoveries--or,
more specifically, where to commercialize them.
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June 2, 2008
Chip CutterA locally based property management firm is struggling to find a buyer for its downtown apartment complexes, even as the city's
rental market continues to thrive. The privately owned Zender Family Limited Partnership, which was founded 38 years ago,
placed its 18-property apartment portfolio up for sale in November.
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June 2, 2008
Jon FordPlease, Chairman, forgive me, for I have sinned and I herewith repent. Please Chairman Bernanke, hear my prayers. Please give
me only one more housing bubble and I will forever honor you with the restraint you desire. I have succumbed to the seven
deadly sins of investing and I herewith vow never again to do so, so long as you let interest rates continue to fall. I have
been weak in seven ways: Hubris. Yes, it is true. I believed...
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May 30, 2008
Chip CutterA judge reclassified the bankruptcy status of Premier Properties USA today,
clearing the way for a U.S. trustee to take hold of the company and begin selling its assets.
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May 26, 2008
Scott OlsonIn terms of eco-friendliness, few homes in central Indiana boast much more than a high-efficiency furnace or low-flush toilet.
But a Carmel-based custom-home builder is so certain the region is ready to embrace the green movement that he is willing
to risk investing in a residential community designed to achieve national environmental recognition. Frank Redavide, president
of Castalia Homes LLC, is finalizing financing for the project and plans to start construction within 60 days. The 144-lot
development, called Villages of...
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May 26, 2008
Cory SchoutenLafayette Square Mall could look a lot like the revitalized Glendale Town Center in a few years if the mall's new owners get
their way. A proposed site plan shows that New York-based Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp. doesn't intend to settle for filling
the mall's ample vacant space.
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May 26, 2008
Scott OlsonNew Jersey-based Skanska USA Building Inc., a division of the $23 billion Swedish construction powerhouse Skanska AB, arrived
in Indianapolis in April. Named last year as the top green contractor in the nation by Engineering News-Record magazine, Skanska
USA is recognized in particular for its projects in the health care, higher education and pharmaceutical sectors. Its largest
project, however, is the $998 million Meadowlands football stadium under construction in New Jersey. Locally, Terry Parrott,
50, is in charge of operations....
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May 26, 2008
Cory SchoutenJohn Sebree is launching Watermark Residential as a partnership with the owners of Carmel-based Thompson Thrift, a development
and construction firm best known for its retail strip center projects. Thompson Thrift was eager to diversify its business,
and apartments are as attractive as ever: The subprime mortgage meltdown has reduced the volume of new single-family homes,
and the condo market also is hurting. Meanwhile, apartment occupancy rates are sky high in many markets, including Indianapolis,
and the prospects for rent...
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May 26, 2008
Tracy DonhardtThere's no shortage of research pointing to the growth in the health care industry. For example, health care expenditures
will account for nearly a quarter of the gross domestic product by 2020. Consumers are increasing the number of times they
visit the doctor, and the increase is even greater for baby boomers. The number of medical procedures being performed on an
outpatient basis rises yearly. And jobs in the industry will grow 20 percent by 2016. To meet those demands,...
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May 19, 2008
Cory SchoutenTampa, Fla.-based DeBartolo Development has reached a preliminary agreement to buy Plainfield's Metropolis mall out of foreclosure
and hopes to hook Macy's and Bass Pro Shops to anchor a second phase.
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May 19, 2008
Scott OlsonTax attorney Sandy Bickle looked forward this summer to taking her first two-week vacation since 1976. But the latest property
reassessment and the tax bills to follow are expected to generate a slew of appeals, prompting Bickle to rethink her plans.
"I'll probably take one, but it won't be two weeks," lamented Bickle, who serves in an of-counsel capacity at Ice Miller LLP.
"I expect to be very busy." She's not alone. Tax lawyers, consultants and appraisers all likely will...
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May 19, 2008
Cory SchoutenMany of central Indiana's banks are filling their own safe-deposit boxes, but they're not stuffing them with jewelry, legal
documents or blackmail material. They're banking parcels of land. The sites often are in fast-growing suburbs or redevelopment
areas that hold potential for new brickand-mortar bank branches, sometimes several years down the road. Competition can be
fierce for the prime sites, and other financial institutions aren't the only nemesis for banks: Walgreens and CVS also are
fighting over the best ground,...
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May 12, 2008
Cory SchoutenThe U.S. Trustee's office plans to file a motion to intervene in a Chapter 11
bankruptcy case brought by Premier Properties USA Inc. because the development firm is insolvent.
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May 12, 2008
Cory SchoutenBillionaire philanthropists Mel and Bren Simon are laying the groundwork to donate Asherwood--their extravagant Carmel estate
and golf course--to the Indiana University Foundation, potentially to house a new think tank. The couple plans to downsize
into a home just outside the town square in the nearby Village of WestClay.
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May 5, 2008
Cory SchoutenA depression in the home-building market has claimed a Fishers builder and continues to hammer locally based Davis Homes LLC--a
powerhouse for years that now is facing foreclosure on about 80 home sites.
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May 5, 2008
Chris O'MalleyDomestic automakers were already scheming about new ways to chop dealers--cutting costs to service them--as their market share
drained to Toyota and other foreign competitors. Now, an economy standing on the brakes could drive another round of dealer
consolidations that might not be a good deal for family-owned peddlers of metal.
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April 28, 2008
Cory SchoutenAuthorities are considering pursuing criminal charges against Christopher P. White and other executives at Premier Properties
USA Inc. in connection with deepening troubles at the local development firm, sources familiar with the matter told IBJ.
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April 28, 2008
Cory SchoutenA local developer plans to spend up to $45 million building a "north village of downtown" on several parcels it has assembled
near the Central Library. Buckingham Cos. plans to build apartments, offices, restaurants and retail space-all surrounding
its headquarters in the three-story Stokely-Van Camp building at the southeast corner of Meridian and St. Joseph streets.
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April 28, 2008
Robert StefanskiDay after day, the news seems filled with stories of disruptive credit markets, an economy teetering on recession, and increasing
energy costs. As business professionals grapple with such issues daily, why would commercial real estate professionals consider
the time and effort to "go green"? Historically, green initiatives suffered in part from stereotypical "tree-hugger" false
perceptions. Such perceptions may lead people to believe that green investments simply aren't worth it. The truth? The real
focus has always been the efficient use...
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April 28, 2008
Greg AndrewsIt takes courage, but sometimes the best time to invest in a stock is when almost no one else is. That strategy paid off royally
with Finish Line Inc., whose shares are up 180 percent this year. Now, is the time right to dive into The Steak n Shake Co.?
To be sure, naysayers can find plenty of reasons to steer clear of Steak n Shake, which helps explain why shortsellers-investors
who make their money when shares fall-have flocked to...
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April 28, 2008
Scott OlsonA former Duke Realty Corp. executive who hung up her own shingle last year is close to breaking ground on her first project.
Cindy Schembre, 49, launched Via Retail Development LLC in January 2007 and is negotiating with tenants and closing on the
purchase of 11 acres at 56th Street and Mitthoeffer Road. The $15 million project, known as Lawrence Commons, is an 80,000-square-foot
neighborhood center that is slated to break ground in June. The development includes a 45,000-square-foot anchor...
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April 28, 2008
Scott OlsonIn the few short months since Gordon Hendry began leading the Property Management Division for the local office of CB Richard
Ellis, the firm has become involved in a growing number of commercial loan defaults. Locally, CB Richard Ellis is the courtappointed
receiver for Plainfield Crossing, a 92,000-square-foot West Washington Street strip center anchored by Value City, and for
Crooked Creek Center, a 52,000-square-foot center at 79th Street and Michigan Road. Hendry expects the local office will be
assigned to...
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These higher rates Co. e about only because physicians are now hospital employees. otherwise physicians couldn't charge these rates and share the windfall with the hospital. Community/rural hospitals probably not buying physicians practices and thus weren't getting the windfall anyway.
The incentive for poor people to get themselves off public assistance and "no longer be poor" is even with help...they're STILL POOR! Being poor, even with some assistance, isn't all that pleasant. (I speak from experience) It's a stubborn myth that poor people, who are on public assistance, are sitting in the lap of luxury. You should try living on just those "freebies" that you mentioned and see how meager they actually are. By the way, I didn't mean you had to buy/own a puppy...just pet one. :)
As near as I can tell the minority has ZERO constitutional obligation to offer a quorum to the majority. A requirement for quorum was inserted into the constitution so that tyrannical majorities could not simply shove through odious and objectionable legislation (which is exactly what they did.) By allowing a tyrannical majority to charge fines against the minority for exercising their constitutional prerogative to deny quorum the court as made a mockery of constitutional governance in the state of Indiana.
The voters elected the Reps to make a vote not walk out on the vote. They had to the right to exercise their opinion and vote "no" to the bill. Let me ask you this if you walked out of your job for 5 straight weeks would you get paid? Would you even have a job to go back to? If any elected official walks out on the people they should be arrested for stealing tax dollars from the public. They were elected to do a job and not leave when the job gets stuff.
I have been to several of their locations in Pennsylvania and always go in for 1 item and leave with a basket full of things. I'm very happy they decided on Indiana, now if only they would put the other store in eastside.