Wow, you leave on vacation for a week, and miss this: Two Indianapolis businessmen are hoping to build a
balloon-ride attraction within a 20-story, tubular steel tower. The French-designed "Aerophare" would not only be an instant
landmark, but could give more lift to the city’s $3.6 billion visitor and convention industry, Chris O'Malley reports in this week's IBJ. AeroPhare America has had initial discussions with management of White River
State Park—the firm’s preferred location for the $2.5 million structure—about building it there. AeroPhare America owners
Tim Coughlin and Tony Sandlin are scheduled to present their vision to the park’s board later this month. At the base of
the structure, which measures only about 50 square feet, would be a small theater featuring a history of balloon flight, perhaps
with packages tailored to schools. Admission would be in the range of $4 to $8 a head. The owners also see potential for advertising
revenue. The tower can be used to put on a light show, and a football-shaped balloon could be ready in time for the 2012 Super
Bowl. What do you think? More than just hot air?
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Welcome to Property Lines, Indy's source for neighborhood real estate news. Your host is Scott Olson, IBJ's real estate beat
reporter. Edited by Cory Schouten.
Wow, you leave on vacation for a week, and miss this: Two Indianapolis businessmen are hoping to build a
balloon-ride attraction within a 20-story, tubular steel tower. The French-designed "Aerophare" would not only be an instant
landmark, but could give more lift to the city’s $3.6 billion visitor and convention industry, Chris O'Malley reports in this week's IBJ. AeroPhare America has had initial discussions with management of White River
State Park—the firm’s preferred location for the $2.5 million structure—about building it there. AeroPhare America owners
Tim Coughlin and Tony Sandlin are scheduled to present their vision to the park’s board later this month. At the base of
the structure, which measures only about 50 square feet, would be a small theater featuring a history of balloon flight, perhaps
with packages tailored to schools. Admission would be in the range of $4 to $8 a head. The owners also see potential for advertising
revenue. The tower can be used to put on a light show, and a football-shaped balloon could be ready in time for the 2012 Super
Bowl. What do you think? More than just hot air?
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The Fringe! Plus, the simple fact that there are so many local faves in such close proximity to each other.
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I remenber, watching the toll road, being built, through South Bend, when I was 10 years old. I believe, back then that it was estimated, that the toll road, would be paid for in 20 years and then it would be free. I am now 71, what happened? Since the power is in the people, by that, I mean that, we the people are in total control of everything. I, suggest that no one ever use the toll road again, let it go broke. We the people can control the price of everything, from groceries to gas, if we would just do it. If we don't pay the asking price, the sellers will lower the price and if we wait awhile, they will lower the price to what we accept as reasonable. I would like to know why a highway like interstate 94, is so well maintained, a much better highway, than the toll road, but has no tolls. I would also like to know why, a sitting governor, with a term limit, maximum of eight years, can lease, public property, for 75 years. Even though I have transponders in both of my trucks and will not be affected by the increase, I have been and will contine to avoid using the toll road. I make many trips from northern Indiana to Chicago, every year, and I prefer the better highway, I94!
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Coming from her background,she should be used to those kinds of advances! Menard probably figured it was ok to tuck a buck!
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I'm still waiting for the list of available, high quality apartments in the Village.
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This criminal masquerading as a lawyer obviously has serious issues. He’s been proven by his own testimony to be a pathological liar and probably has a personality disorder as he seems to be constructing a reality around himself. He places no value on truth, honesty or loyalty as evidenced by what he has done to his clients and his own family. And by the demands and lies he has made in court, it is evident he feels entitled to do and say whatever suits his purpose and everyone else is expected to nod obediently and believe him because he is, after all, Bill Super Lawyer; or BS lawyer for short. This millionaire wanna-be no longer owns anything of value; he squandered it and put everything he had into foreclosure. He has no money, house, car, boat or vacation home left to show for what he earned or what he stole. He’s just another loser without morals who will be doing time. I’m certain all of his courtroom shenanigans are antagonizing his poor victims. As Lamar said, his behavior and claims in court have been outrageous. The judge needs to be more than concerned; he needs to be judicial and end this nonsense.
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If they do build it the city should require them to put some money into an escrow account so that, in ten years when there are thirty or forty of these things across the United States and Canada and everyone has been there and done that and ridership drops to nothing forcing the company into bankruptcy, we will be able to tear this embarrassment down without using taxpayer money.
My question is... How does that hold up to the harsh Indianapolis winters?
Great way too see the entire park.
Does the IMAX have an escrow setup with the city?
Who cares if it attracts for only 5 years or so. If it got people to use the park and come to indy cool. If it caused them to stay downtown - awesome. Why can't this be the start of more for WRSP. I always thought it would be cool to have a drop zone or mini rollercoaster over in that area. Heck Broad Ripple park used to have the worlds largest outdoor swimming pool, and a roller coaster in it! Lets liven up the WRSP and not just put memorials in it.
IRL fans: Gomer
Tenderloins, overalls, PBR, corn on the cob, Sarah Meatball Fisher, Tony George..
Real race fans: Not Gomers
Ferrari, McLaren, BMW, Audi, Porsche, Wine, (expensive) Cheese, F1 Grid girls...
enuf said buddy. :lol:
Ok, I'll give it to you, I laughed out loud on that one. But, hey, don't forget the tater tots, it's an Indiana tradition!
j. j. Says:
December 8th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Gay. LOL. This is about as cool as the giant arch planned for the near Northwest interstate corridor.
Why in a cage??? Becasue of the winds.
Have you ever been 200 feet in the air in a basket? If not you dont know how much you can see.
Got a better idea that would only take a 50 x 50 area in the park and cost the park and city absoluelty nothing? These guys have thier own money...let them try it and see what happens. If it fails they can move it to another location at their own expense.
Like INDYman said..read the entire article....
It would be GREAT at white river park, but that is a slow to move organization. Five others will have bids in before they ever get their heads out of the dark to see the thing.
December 10th, 2008 at 8:00 am
Oh great, so now “gay†is offensive but STFU is not? Get outa here…..
YES, IT IS GREAT THAT GAY USED IN A DEROGATIVE WAY IS OFFENSIVE.
And by the way, nice homophobic corncob joke in your earlier post.
You seem like a very angry and bitter person. But don't get outa here,
just get some help.
And I'm sure by gay jj meant, totally cool.
Both offensive references, and neither really necessary for a blog about real estate. I'm not a prude, but I personally don't appreciate bigoted, ignorant, or demeaning language directed at or about particular groups of people. And if you didn't know they were offensive, you do now. Learn from it.
1- I know what STFU means. I'm not an idiot. When did I say that wasn't offensive? I only commented on someone's childish use of the word GAY.
2- I know what the corncob was. A observation tower design by Pelli for the White River State Park. Again. I'm not an idiot. But why does Berwickguy post about it going up someone's anus? Latent thoughts, anyone? 2nd bad assumption.
3- I am not gay. I just want to keep homophobia out of these posts. There
is no place for that amongst adults. GROW UP. For anyone who's counting, that's 3 bad assumptions about me.
So Cory, this so called self-policing has resulted in at least three false assumptions being made about me. Sounds like great work on everyone's part. As moderator, maybe you should take a more active role in that regard.
P.S. Thank you GobnaitX and Ehtan!!!
bewickguy, go back to your tractor and take a few more laps around the corn field. The adults are talking.
This idea is just plain goofy. If anywhere, put it at the State Fairgrounds....seems more appropriate for this literal pie-in-the sky idea.
Kudos to Chris -- let's give them somethin' to talk about.
And by the way, any time a developer has an idea for a project and can use his own money to do so when it draws an audience, that can't be all bad. Let's just hope that the park overseer's have enough information and the proper insight to make an informed decision about whether this balloon project should move forward. At least someone is trying to do something positive in bad economic times.
About the Conner Prairie balloon thing: it does seem like we wouldn't want or need competing experiences. Plus, with regard to tethered balloons being grounded for winds, Conner Prairie is basically only open during fair weather months anyway, so would it really be affected??