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.
      Reply to CommentFlag Comment
    • CorySeptember 25, 2009 12:16 PM
      Me too. But don't give up. Hopefully they'll work the kinks out soon.
      Reply to CommentFlag Comment
    • 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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