The Kroger-anchored development referenced below will add far more trees than it has removed, Sandor Development CEO Sid Eskenazi tells Property Lines. The project
along the Monon Trail at 86th Street will replace 13 trees with at least 28 new ones. The trees and planned landscaping along
the trail were picked out in consultation with the Indy Parks department. The developer also has agreed to give 96 more trees
to other parks as part of the project. Eskenazi has a request for the neighborhood group that has fought the project at every
turn: "Give us a chance to finish it and see what it looks like when it's done," he said.
You can see the plans for the trail-side landscaping here, here and here.
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Seriously: bravo for this aspect of the plan! It is often a very simple thing to make a decent pedestrian environment, even within a car-centered development. Concrete pavers and continuity do not cost a lot (in the overall cost of a project) but make movement so much easier and safer for people walking, especially those who don't ambulate so well and parents trying to wrangle several young kids.
Thanks for the clarification, Sid - looks great.
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The sentiment surrounding this development says a lot about what we expect from our built environment.
Instead of just assuming that commercial areas are inherently ugly and should always be separate, perhaps we as a community should start demanding more aesthetically and functionally from the businesses that call our city home.
It's entirely possible for residential, commercial, and recreational areas to coexist and complement one another.
But it's hard to understand that when the only things to which we're exposed are strip malls, parking lots, big box retailers, and vinyl villages.
So in a way, one can't really blame the Nora residents who oppose this development.
In our small town, he left several local contractors holding the bag for large sums of money. His strip center is almost vacant and is noted for lack of maintenance.
Maybe he has changed in the last 20 years but..........
Awful, but typical. And Donna, excuse me if I don't jump for joy because a little concrete strip is shown through an asphalt jungle past a denuded lump of garbage.
or a new Kroger?
You can argue the aesthetics, but the parks department was involved
in the selection of the materials.
I'm with tced. The development between Evergreen and the Monon looked bad 20 years ago when I ran a business in Nora. Good riddance.
The trees and growth that were there before were not a veritable forest by any means, but they provided definite shade and blocked the view of the adjoining lot.
Thundermutt and Tced; you're missing the point entirely!
And YES, I am in this area ALL the time.
The developer has torn down the trees so that he can use that huge stretch of the Monon Trail as a commercial window. Disgusting.
You are right. They have put shade trees in the parking islands because that conforms with regulations. You can't tell me they didn't specifically choose understory trees to open views up to their property, regardless of Parks Department.
And you're right, Kroger doesn't know the difference. I don't care if they consulted with Jonny Q. Treemaster - what they're showing on the plans will look crappy. Large paortions of spaced out understory trees always look bad.
The Nora-Nimby Council people were opposed to this development anyway, so they'll take any excuse to stir the pot.
Obtuse? You've obviously been watching too much Shawshank Redemption lately...
As for the Shawshank Redemption, I don't know what the hell you're talking about.
Also, residents abutting the trail south need to be worried. If the city decides to give away a part of the trail behind their houses, they'll do it. No public hearing, no nothing!
If the leadership actually insisted on this they'd be voted out of office so fast!
Instead it will be a Kroger for the next 50 years. BRAVO
The drainage from the parking lot is being diverted to a culvert (they call it a swale) next to the trail.
The land along the trail is technically park land (go look this up if you doubt me). The city entered into an agreement with the developer and gave the developer rights to the land - CITY PARK LAND - your land people! But not any more! Oh, and if the city wants to cancel the agreement, which they can do, they owe the developer over $300,000 (that is not a typo) to do so. In exchange, the developer is giving the city 96 trees for Eagle Creek Park (I'm not sure this is fair - do you?). The last time I checked, Eagle Creek is not in Nora.
Like the new drainage ditch, oops, I mean swale, this stinks. Check back in a couple of years - this property will look like all the other crappy Sandor properties.
The foliage that was there before wasn't aesthetically pretty, folks. It was a jumble of smaller trees, shrubs, weeds, etc. Yes, it blocked the view, but it was a mess. This area is right next to an urbanized part of Indianapolis, a busy street. There are going to be gas stations; there are going to be retailers. I think the landscaping will look nice. So what if it doesn't fully block the view of the store? If you want to ride/walk in a forest, go up to the trail between 96th and 111th.
Stop the whining.
Sorry Chuck71, I can't get over people who don't know what they're talking about.
I have seen lots of Sandor Development Properties, they are one of the largest independent developers IN THE NATION.....if you want to bash Sidney go ahead, he can take it, but you will all be eating crow soon because this will look nice, whether you like it or not.
To MJ: So, it's okay to tear down trees, but not be forced to then bury the lines? And I don't see any BUFFER that's going to be created by these trees. Believe me, instead of a beautiful canopy, we're now going to be looking over a lovely gas station and parking lot. Can't wait...
Amazing, the focus on Kroger with this going on.
Nasty, Nasty