Merrill Tower moving west

Developer Stephen Alexander isn’t fazed by a zoning setback for his $67 million West Merrill Tower. The Metropolitan Development Commission denied his request to vacate an alley for the 24-story project, so Alexander plans to simply move the project’s proposed footprint about a block to the west, on property he also owns. The tower, between Eli Lilly & Co.’s Faris Campus and Lucas Oil Stadium, would include first-floor retail, a parking garage, 40 apartments and a 225-room hotel. The proposal won rezoning approval Wednesday, but the MDC denied an alley vacation request and deadlocked on a skyplane variance. Alexander says the city needs to help facilitate projects that add density, rather than obstructing them.