Fun with renderings: $6.6M Illinois Place Apartments

October 23, 2012
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Illinois Place IndianapolisDevelopment partners The Whitsett Group and The Children's Museum of Indianapolis held a ceremonial groundbreaking this morning for a planned $6.6 million redevelopment of part of the former home of Winona Hospital. Plans for Illinois Place call for 33 one-bedroom and 17 two-bedroom affordable apartments in two buildings. The project is being built at the southeast corner of Illinois and 33rd streets. (Earlier IBJ.com story is here.) The initial plans call for residential and green space. There's also room for a commercial development, likely a medical clinic, on the 4-acre site. The architect is Indianapolis-based DkGr LLC. Among those attending the event were U.S. Rep. Andre Carson and Mayor Greg Ballard. What do you think? (Click for a larger version.)

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  • Good looking but not sensitive to surroundings
    Cooper's DadOctober 23, 2012 1:57 PM
    This is no a bad looking building, generally speaking. But when the existing neighboring achhitecture is considered, it shows no sensitivity for neighboring uses, designs and architecture. From the country English Trinity Church across the street to the forgettably modern style of the former Planned Parenthood building (also opposite), to the former stately homes that are now small offices, there's nothing in this design that reflects, respects, or complements the good design elements where they are present in the immediate neighborhood. And please, DMD, do not allow a two-story blade sign to serve simply as a wayfinder "Leasing Office". In fact, it's hard to justify a blade sign of any kind at this location.
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  • Initial Thought
    NickOctober 23, 2012 2:28 PM
    I like the design, but why so few apartments?
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  • Agree, More?
    PJOctober 23, 2012 2:49 PM
    I agree, I think the design is great, but wish there was a 4th floor to add more density!
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  • Doesn't fit with the neighborhood.
    erinOctober 23, 2012 3:33 PM
    In a vacuum, this is a decent looking design. However, it makes no attempt to fit in with the surrounding neighborhood and will stick out like a sore thumb. A brick facade would be complementary to the many brick high rises and mid-rises in that area. This ultra-modern design simply isn't the right fit for the neighborhood.
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    • re: @Erin
      PJOctober 23, 2012 3:46 PM
      Erin, This is an open parking lot, surrounded on the west by dilapidated houses, parking lots to the south, and some older mid-rise buildings to the north and east. There isn't much context to work with. This type of site is a prime example of where you actually CAN go modern or different. This is not a small infill lot. This project area is quite substantial.
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    • Context schmontext
      SassafrasOctober 24, 2012 8:52 AM
      For the architectural purists out there, what do you have to say about the way the Children's Museum has blended in with the context of the neighborhood. Like PJ, my biggest complaint is the lack of density--a parcel like this could easily support another floor, if not two.
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    • Contilevered ROOF AGAIN!
      UrbanDwellerOctober 24, 2012 11:44 AM
      Yet another cantilevered roof!!!! Will someone please get out of town architect designs.
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      • Proud Purist
        WeezieOctober 24, 2012 1:00 PM
        I agree with those who take issue with the design not fitting into the existing neighborhood. A museum is one thing, housing is another. Plus, IMHO the design is awful. Back to the drawing board, folks!
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      • Variety
        RayOctober 24, 2012 2:11 PM
        I understand that there are circumstances where fitting into the feel of the neighborhood is important, but this in not one of them. The design is not perfect, but it fits fine with the area and the fact that this is a city with density and variety. I've heard people say that Indy is like a big small town, but it really shows whenever someone wants to build something. There is more to life than red brick, people.
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        • Not fitting in?
          MicahOctober 24, 2012 4:38 PM
          To Erin, Weezie & Coopers Dad: the architecture doesn't fit in?!? Well, I guess your solution is to develop another parking lot, dilapidated house or...hmmm, how about a vacant lot? Have you all seen or walked the 'neighborhood', lol!!!!!!! This design finally suggest a more contemporary approach that makes sense for one of the many lifeless areas in our sprawling town. I actually like the elevations and cantilever in this design much more than many other attempts in more high profile areas in the city. Heck, the canal (sporting some of the worst development in Indy) should be jealous of this building! It would be nice to see 4 stories but the demand for higher density just isn't there yet. I can't believe anyone would have major qualms over this building.
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        • Contilevered ROOF AGAIN!
          BelgiandipOctober 25, 2012 11:06 AM
          I agree with UrbanDweller. Why does every recent design in this City have to incorporate such a roof style? Do we have ANYONE with any imagination and daring? I am not an architect, but from a general public eye, everything new in this City just seems to be a repeat of what we've seen before. No imagination or creativity.
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          • Indy style
            MicahOctober 25, 2012 12:05 PM
            At least this roof A) makes more of a statement than the wimpy cantilevers that Ratio seem to be placing all over the city and B) is not a suburban style gable which would seem to fit into the surrounding area...but like i say, why would you want to fit into surburbia? Buildings need to shape the COMMUNITY rather than splashy styles. I think this building is a decent design for the area.
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            • What's better?
              MicahOctober 25, 2012 5:33 PM
              So, whoever cares about architecture: what's better IYHO: The new institutional looking buildings with mini cantilever systems, a al Ratio; the new cruise ships, a la Schmidt; or the new institutional buildings on the IUPUI campus over the past 3 years m, a la Smith Group. I vote for the latter.
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            1. Good ole' Obamacare. Thanks liberals and those who didn't bother to vote.

            2. Yes. Blame those who were too lazy to go vote Obama out and those who voted him in again. That's my take on it. I know folks won't get it on the left. OK. Start berating me now!

            3. Serioulsy, people are AGINST this project? Most communities would be salivating over a project like this. You'd rather have an empty eye-sore gas station and shacks posing as apartments? This project is exactly what BR needs. BUILD IT MR MAYOR. And yes, I am a BR resident, and have been for 20 years.

            4. As a St. Vincent employee of over 20 years, I am saddened and disheartened by this announcement. Unfortunately, as the healthcare "industry" continues on this political and corporate path, all that St. Vincent Hospital has stood for spiritually for its employees and this community is being sucked dry. I know it truly has no choice. It is not just Obamacare or just competition or just any single thing. This trend started long before I was even born when the government became involved in healthcare and it became an "industry." I grieve for those who will lose their jobs, one of whom may be me, but I also grieve for this hospital which I have served for over 20 years. May God give us and it the grace to withstand the future of healthcare.

            5. Why do people constantly harp on this issue and act ignorant about what a city population measures? A city's population is the city's population. There is no argument or debate about it. If you want to measure the density of a city--measure it. If you want to measure the size of a metropolitan area, then measure the metropolitan population. City boundaries cover different sized areas--and they always have (though the disparity has probably increased since about 1900 or so when more cities began annexing their surrounding communities). For example, San Francisco only covers 49 square miles while Houston cover nearly 600 square miles. No one argues about the population rankings of either city even though they clearly cover extremely different sized areas. Indianapolis is the 13 largest city by population in the U.S. That is a fact. While the population of a metropolitan area may give you a better sense of how large a community is, as noted, even metro areas can vary widely in the size of geographic area they cover--so that is not a perfect comparison either.

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