Reviving Mass Ave's East End

May 9, 2007
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A development team is hoping to replace an Indianapolis Public Schools operations center on Mass Ave with up to 400 homes and 200,000 square feet of retail space. The project would encompass 11 acres and preserve an historic former Coca-Cola Bottling Plant. The team consists of Riley Area Development, Panatonni Development, BDC Development and Plateau Development Group. In exchange for control of the land, the developers would build IPS a new operations center elsewhere. Read more here. What do you think? What does this area need?
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  • CorrNDMay 10, 2007 9:04 AM
    I'm definitely excited about this possibility, but I think I'll file this one under I'll believe it when I see it. Even if this deal does happen, IPS's stipulation that the new facility be built before they vacate the Coke plant -- which I guess is fair -- means that no one would be moving into these 400 homes for many years.
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  • kcfloodMay 10, 2007 11:08 AM
    Hope this actually takes off, The old CC plant would make an awesome place to live.
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  • MikeMay 11, 2007 9:47 AM
    This would be a neat addition and if visually appealing could add a great element to 65 as you head north to meridian street exit. However, I hope that developers learn, especially by the time this gets built that I believe there is going to be a housing glut in downtown indy. Their needs to be a more conscious effort on building quality efficiently enough to price a decent sized condo for a first tiem homebuyer. $110-$150K price range. This will turn Indy around if they can attract young first time homeowners out of college looking for the urban life.
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  • WagsMay 11, 2007 9:58 AM
    Massachusetts Avenue, more than anything, needs to be connected. That actually starts down by the fire station and Barton Towers, which create something of a barrier between the North and South ends of the street.

    Developing the IPS lot and Coke facility would be huge for the area, especially now that the cultural trail is going in.
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  • ryanMay 14, 2007 5:00 PM
    mike and wags said it perfectly...
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  • A CrockettMay 15, 2007 1:58 PM
    I could not agree more with what Mike said. There is a HUGE hole in the downtown residential market under $200,000. The people who really want to be living downtown (young professionals and creative-types) cannot afford to buy $250,000+ condos. Especially when they know they can buy a nice house in Broad Ripple for $160,000 or a brand new vinyl home in Carmfishvillesberg for $175,000.

    SOMEBODY needs to do a true urban loft style development, without all the suburban home touhes, and price them under $200,000. I would move from Broad Ripple in a second of that was offered.
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  • RickyMay 16, 2007 7:19 PM
    Adam Crockett, you so crazy.
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  • AndyMay 16, 2007 7:20 PM
    I am the original developer who took the idea of developing the Coke plant to Riley Area Development Corp. 6+ years ago...

    We are very excited about the possibilities of bringing a one-of-a-kind 24/7 first mixed-use urban project to Indianapolis - the likes that haven't been seen before other than in larger metropolitan markets throughout the United States.

    We are not too worried about the marketplace downtown, as this product will continue to reinvent Indianapolis as a great place to live and work - for decades to come!!
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  • MattMay 16, 2007 10:20 PM
    A Crockett, I completely agree with you. I would move to downtown in a heartbeat if there were more affordable places to live.
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  • Sandra JMay 17, 2007 1:31 PM
    Can I second this statement that Adam said so perfectly.

    SOMEBODY needs to do a true urban loft style development, without all the suburban home touches

    YO AC!
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  1. This is a big help. Thanks for share it here.

  2. Doug Henning!

  3. These guy were thugs — they grew up in freaking Haughville! Smh, sigh. If the mayor needs/wants "quality" Black Hoosiers who are NOT corrupt, give me a call — I know plenty. Land bank info here - http://www.kubepharm.com/indylandbank/IndyLandBank.html

  4. Magician and illusionist!

  5. The basic idea of nice apartments with parking and retail is a good one, but this design seems overwhelmingly big/tall for Broad Ripple. The size could be disguised a bit with lots of big trees/landscaping, but the complex is too massive to blend in easily. That section of canal between College and Westfield will also need to be upgraded on both sides. Nice apartments facing onto a nice promenade with shade trees/plantings could bring together the canal towpath/Monon recreation, the outdoor seating at existing restaurants, and this project into something that upgrades the whole area. A plan for the whole stretch makes more sense than facing nice new housing onto what looks like a ditch. Is there a plan? Does the public have input? Who pays? The apartment idea seems to be reasonable, but Whole Foods is not a good idea for appropriate retail. Besides the store being physically too big, there are already Fresh Market at 54xCollege and Whole Foods in Nora for fancy groceries. Good Earth and Kroger are within walking distance of the Shell site. There are at least 7 grocery stores within a safe bike ride. Whole Foods would add nothing but traffic congestion. This design is on the right track, but there needs to be more work done to ensure that it blends in with and enhances the existing community. A project that large will set a tone for that whole part of town. It could be a real asset, but only if done right.

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