More rooftops mean more retail for Avon

Developer Republic Properties plans to build about 25,000 square feet of commercial space—including, possibly, some sit-down restaurants—on a five-acre parcel it owns adjacent to Linden Square Village apartments at the corner of 10th Street and North Raceway Road in Avon. 

Republic hopes to begin construction this summer on the first of two commercial buildings, each of which will be about 12,800 square feet, said Republic Senior Vice President Sean McKinnies. Republic is based in Toledo, Ohio. McKinnies works for the firm’s Fishers office.

McKinnies said he’s in lease negotiations with multiple restaurants and a salon interested in leasing space in the building, which will likely house three to four tenants. McKinnies declined to identify the potential tenants because no leases have been signed, but he said he’s talking with well-established local sit-down restaurant operators who already have a presence in the Indianapolis area.

The development will be called Linden Square Shops. Indianapolis-based Curran Architecture is the architect for the project.

A second building to come later might include non-retail tenants, depending on market demand. “A medical office could easily fit into the plan,” McKinnies said.

Republic partnered with Carmel-based J.C. Hart Co. on the Linden Square apartment complex, which was built in 2002 and expanded in 2015. J.C. Hart still owns and manages the apartments, but it is not involved in Republic’s planned commercial development next door.

McKinnies said the apartments, and an adjacent walkable neighborhood, will provide a potential customer base for the commercial project. Another catalyst, he said, is IU Health West’s hospital just a few blocks to the west, which is currently working on an $83 million expansion.

“We’ve had that property a really long time,” McKinnies said of the development site. “The rooftops are there now, we believe, so the need’s there.”

In other news this week:

— Salty Passion Workshop, a store where customers can make their own body scrubs and other bath products, opened Tuesday at Castleton Square Mall.

— Denver CBD will have a grand opening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at its flagship store, 8235 E. 96th St., Suite 110.