City Market upgrades on track for June completion

Renovations at the downtown Indianapolis City Market are fully under way after their start was delayed last fall.

The city announced the renovations last summer. The market’s east wing will be turned into a hub where bicyclists can store bikes and shower in an $800,000 project, and the main hall will be upgraded with new lighting, rest rooms and vendor stands.

Bids for the main hall came in about $700,000 over the $2.7 million estimate, and the project started a few months later than the announced early-fall date.

Now, though, both the main-hall and east-wing projects are on track to be completed by mid to late June, market leaders said.

Meanwhile, another new tenant, Market Street Produce, will move in early next month.

The city also is continuing to look for additional funds to pay for the $500,000 demolition of the market’s west wing, a project that was delayed to compensate for the main hall bids coming in over budget. Until money is found for that project, it’s unclear when the demolition will take place.

Molly Deuberry, a spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Public Works, said the city has examined using funds from the sale of its water and sewer utilities, which is pending approval by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.

“The city still intends to identify a funding source in order to finish that project,” Deuberry said. “Right now, that’s the only one that has been discussed.”