Developer eyes $100M-plus overhaul of Monument Circle building, purchased for just $6M

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25 thoughts on “Developer eyes $100M-plus overhaul of Monument Circle building, purchased for just $6M

    1. To get state/local money, in the form of either grants or tax credits/deferments.

      Key quote: ““The building will require significant short- and long-term investment that could reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars, as well as a thoughtful, long-term approach to revitalization with input from local and state leadership, key stakeholders and the broader community,” Ozdemir said.”

      To your point Pat, why involve the state? To get state money, the quote is developer speak for we will be asking for money if you want to provide input.

    2. Because Keystone and the city just had a falling out over Eleven Park when they asked for even more money and the state might be needed to either step in with money or force the city to give them money.

      How that isn’t mentioned in this article, I find interesting.

  1. The old English cannot be rebuilt, but the design concept and spacial fenestration of the facade can sure be emulated, and should be! Please don’t try and imitate the 19th and 20th century architecture of the past.
    I’ll repeat it for the umpteenth time, never ever close a portion of the circle space to traffic! Temporary events are excepted. This is the most iconic space in the entire city and state!!

    1. The Circle is infinitely better being pedestrianized. Foot traffic is up, safety has been improved, and it has generally become a space people enjoy. You’re right in that it’s the most iconic space in Indy, but not because you can drive your car in a circle around it.

      Legally, the Circle is not a thoroughfare. It doesn’t serve high traffic volumes and doesn’t have any major access points. The only argument to open it back up to cars at this point is just, “I’ve been mildly inconvenienced.”

      The world is moving towards pedestrianization of public spaces so people can actually enjoy them, not just drive through them. We should follow suit.

  2. “The purchase price is a fraction of the $42 million that seller Franklin Street Partners spent to buy the building in 2010” – That was near the bottom of the real estate market after the crash. Where did the value go?? Buying this for $6M is unbelievably cheap.

    1. Since covid and the mostly peaceful riots, businesses aren’t exactly rushing to downtown.

    1. For ~$100M you’re not getting a bigger or better building. Just a redevelopment.

    2. There are (used to be?) stepback and max height requirements to protect the monument from being blocked of sunlight and views from other surrounding buildings.

  3. It is fantastic to see great minds and money focus on making Monument Circle exciting again. I would add that the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra has gone public with a brilliant plan to reimagine the Hilbert and parts nearby, on the south east side of the Circle.

    Let’s work together to accomplish things beyond what any one of us could dream of!

  4. Well my reading of the article tells me this is part of a much larger future development. I see clues in the article.

    “The building will require significant short- and long-term investment that could reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars, as well as a thoughtful, long-term approach to revitalization with input from local and state leadership, key stakeholders and the broader community,” Ozdemir said.”

    This tells me he has eyes on the Sheraton and the parking garage next to it, since this property backs up to it and they are long overdue for redevelopment.

    Many things could happen, but I see redeveloping the Sheraton into an upscale hotel or multiple flag property, maybe a mix of apartments and hotel. Use the Anthem Building to be a multi story lobby with rooftop dining/bar.

    I may not be thinking big enough. Developers are being big and bold in Indy. The Bottleworks, the plan for the Indy 11 Stadium that Hogwarts killed, and Circle Center redevelopment are helping to redefine large swaths of downtown. I don’t see Ozdemir doing anything small here.

    When I was much younger, I did soils testing in the elevator shafts when they gutted Penney’s to make Anthem. Found lots of pieces of marble and limestone from the English Hotel. I wish I had picked up a few pieces

    1. Bottleworks was done by the same people who are doing the Circle Center Mall, not Keystone Group.

      When I see the Keystone Group, I see a mixed record on “big projects”. Did they finish the InterContinental? Yep. Also took 11 years. Even if you want to blame COVID, that’s a long time for a property purchased in 2013.

      Eleven Park died when it became apparent that they needed even more taxpayer money on a project that was never going to be able to deliver an MLS franchise, because MLS doesn’t think Ersal Ozdemir is well capitalized enough to be an owner in their league. Keystone is now trying a very similar “big project” in Westfield, but it’s apparently dependent on the state giving them a special taxing district.

      Look, Keystone got a steal on the building and location, likely because it became apparent that whoever bought this building was going to have to demolish it and start over. And I do think Keystone has admirable ambitions and wants to deliver good projects. But the past makes me question if they’re capitalized well enough to pull off what they want to do, and I just don’t have much confidence that this project takes less than 15 years and/or that it won’t be asking for a boatload of government subsidies or handouts.

    2. Really only one developer is doing quality work here, and they aren’t even based in Indiana.

    1. Downtown needs about 10,000 more people living in the Mile Square before a Target can become sustainable.

  5. As long as the ground floor is commercial and has a dollar tree, a dry cleaner, a dentist, and a branch bank then I think all state laws will be covered.

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