Small-suite office building planned for west side of Carmel

Carmel-based D.B. Klain Construction has filed plans to build a 31,800-square-foot, two-story building on about 2.72 acres at 10439 Commerce Drive in Carmel. The building, to be called Onyx Office Suites, would accommodate up to 105 small tenants.

The land, east of a Target store on North Michigan Road, is vacant and separated from the nearby Ashbrooke neighborhood by a pond.

David Klain, owner of D.B. Klain, said he’s seeing a demand for small office spaces, and that area of Carmel doesn’t have much supply to meet the demand. He anticipates drawing tenants from Carmel and Zionsville.

“Ultimately, the way technology is these days, people can work remotely in a small office environment,” he said.

He said while some people enjoy the opportunity to work out of their homes, others find it challenging and want a small office.

“We want to create an environment that gives you the feel of a home office but away from home,” he said. No tenants have been lined up for the project, but Klain expects interest will grow quickly once construction begins, probably near the end of the first quarter of 2019. The building would open 10 to 12 months later.

D.B. Klain recently built about 5,000 square feet of small office suites in the Village of West Clay. Those leased very quickly, prompting the developer to add 10,000 square feet to the building, Klain said.

The proposed Commerce Drive project would also include a cafe and lounge area for tenants. Its proximity to Target, an Office Max and several restaurants make it an attractive location for an office, he said.