Development slow around Lucas Oil Stadium

September 24, 2009
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The hoped-for rush of new development around Lucas Oil Stadium has not materialized, IBJ reported in a print story this week. Several projects, including Legends District SoDo, have stalled and owners who had hoped to cash out their land for big bucks still are waiting. Observers say the overall lack of available credit for development projects, a lousy economic environment and an excess of existing construction stock are factors. But there's also little demand for the retail, residential and entertainment uses envisioned for the area. One group that’s no doubt viewing the situation with more than a bit of trepidation is the planners for the 2012 Super Bowl. The nightmare scenario is that, when the big game rolls around, the area near the stadium will still look like it does now—a mix of single-family housing, rail lines, industrial concerns and vacant lots. “When all this started, a lot of existing property owners kind of got stars in their eyes,” said Tim Dora, partner in Dora Hotel Co., which owns several properties, including a parking garage and two new hotels, near Lucas Oil Stadium. “They thought they’d hit the lottery. I don’t think that was the case.” The full story is here.

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  • caliboy28September 24, 2009 12:36 PM
    I don't think Tim Dora is as insightful as he thinks himself to be. He's a traditionally suburban developer for Pete's sake, and his projects downtown are proof of just how little he knows about urban development. The lack of development is due to one thing only - economic crisis. Once the recovery is in full effect and the lenders purse strings loosened a bit, I think we'll finally start to see some of this development materialize. Hey Corey, whats the latest on the Merrill St. Tower? I thought this one was the surest of the bunch in that area?
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  • caliboy28September 24, 2009 12:39 PM
    ... sorry I spelled your name incorrectly Cory. I realized it only after I'd hit submit.
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  • caliboy28September 25, 2009 11:35 AM
    Sigh... I miss the OLD format. It was SO much more reader friendly.
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    • benSeptember 25, 2009 11:44 AM
      True, very, very true.

      How I long for the days of the old site.
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    • CorySeptember 25, 2009 12:16 PM
      Me too. But don't give up. Hopefully they'll work the kinks out soon.
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    • AmericanDirtSeptember 26, 2009 10:19 AM
      Test---has IBJ worked out the kinks of the new blog interface yet? I just lost my comments.
      Reply to CommentFlag Comment
    • freelunchSeptember 28, 2009 7:38 AM
      The proposed projects were only marginally viable in the world of too much credit. If sanity actually returns to the lending world and we don't continue to pursue the decades long strategy of trying to prop up the economy with too much credit and the false economies resulting therefrom, none of those projects will materialize. The demand for them does not exist.
      Reply to CommentFlag Comment

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    1. So the Mayor adds another non value added layer to having a vehicle towed? Whereby the City Government RECIEVES AN ILLEGAL KICKBACK FROM A LGOISTICS COMPANY THAT SUBS THE WORK TO LOCAL TOW COMPANIES? What is the service the City performs for receiving the "tribute"? This is RICO!!!!! What a corrupt and unnecessary layer. What a dirtbag Mayor and his cronies.

    2. Owner occupied housing. Clear enough?

    3. So people think I am paranoid. It's from experience in dealing with puds requested by developers who make major donations themselves to representatives, have nice fund raisers for those running for office and hide through pac's. then there are the public relation firms. You will note some pr comments below. You there Clyde Lee? My opinion. Commercial along 421, great. Multifamily housing, terrible idea that will change the town. Senior condos or zero lot line homes west, great. I suggest keeping all entries to commercial areas at 421. All entries to owner occupied on sycamore. Will keep the traffic on sycamore down some. Two other things. You can't trust what will be there in 10 years. Steve builds quality stuff, but areas change over time. Look at the changes at the wall mart center at 86th and 421 over the last 10 years. Look at the apartments and neighborhoods behind St Vincent's. Raintree properties WILL decrease in value if commercial and multifamily goes in near. It has already been happening around the bridges area. The houses that have been sold recently are way below market. Several deals not closed due to the Illinois construction and the whole unsurety of the bridges. It's pretty simple, Zionsville will approve the whole thing because the city council has been groomed over a LONG period of time for this. I might even suggest some are in their position as a result of this.

    4. Esta, do you have a dog in this fight? You seem to really want to knock anyone against this project. No, I didn't move to Indiana for the architecture. I moved here for that red barn in the field. The horses and fields of corn. A place that is NOT overdeveloped. There are plenty of nearby places in Indianapolis that could be REDEVELOPED instead.

    5. RKW - OK, we get it, you're paranoid. The question is, are you paranoid enough? Greg - Yes, Pittman(s) is (are) at it again. They are developers, they build things. It's what they do. So when you go to work tomorrow, Greg, you're at it again too. Cliff - Really? You moved to Indiana for its progressive architecture? That's like moving to England for the cuisine. Zionsvillain - The house you moved to was once a field or woods. I'm willing to bet folks were upset when that ground was plowed under and a house was built. But I guess now that you are in, everything should stop? "My house was OK, but the next one is sprawl." SE Guy - Please don't paint us with such a wide brush. Most reasonable Zionsville residents welcome planned, measured development.

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