Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
An Indianapolis-based developer has submitted plans to the city of Westfield, seeking approval to build a four-building business park on the city’s west side.
Chip Barnes, a founder of Indianapolis-based I3 Investors Inc., told members of the Westfield City Council on Tuesday night that Trailside Business Center would provide midsize industrial warehouse facilities for growing companies.
“The project here is really designed for a niche in the Westfield market,” Barnes told City Council members. “What’s missing in Westfield right now is for these entrepreneurial companies, room for them to grow within the community.”
Trailside Business Center is planned on about 26 acres at 947 W. State Road 32, between Ditch Road and Spring Mill Road. The development would feature two 73,000-square-foot buildings on the west side of the site and two 90,000-square-foot buildings on the east side. A trailhead for the Midland Trace Trail is also planned at the site.
The buildings would be designed to accommodate a total of 20 to 30 businesses that need 8,000 to 30,000 square feet of space for office and warehouse operations. Barnes said Trailside Business Center will not be designed as a distribution facility. He said the business center will be suited for high-end users, such as medical device companies and biotechnology firms.
“It’s going to have a lot of office use up front and then have some warehouse space in back that they can source some product,” Barnes said.
A development cost was not provided at Tuesday’s meeting, and a timeline for construction if the project receives approval was also not available.
Councilor Joe Duepner expressed concerns about the possibility of semi-trailers driving into the development off State Road 32, while Councilor Victor McCarty said he does not think the location is right for a trailhead for the Midland Trace. Mayor Scott Willis said the infrastructure will not be set up for large numbers of 18-wheelers.
“I want to dispel any thought that this is going to be a heavy semi development,” Willis said. “It just isn’t set up for that.”
The Westfield Advisory Plan Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing for Trailside Business Center on June 2, a workshop on July 2 and could vote on a recommendation for the project on Aug. 4. The development could return to the Westfield City Council for a final vote on Aug. 11.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.
Editor's note: You can comment on IBJ stories by signing in to your IBJ account. If you have not registered, please sign up for a free account now. Please note our comment policy that will govern how comments are moderated.