JAN. 15-21, 2021
Downtown apartment managers are extending rent specials, reducing parking costs and offering other incentives to get tenants in the door—and lock in current residents—as they try to stave off a pandemic-related slowdown. Mickey Shuey charts the decline in rent prices downtown—and their continued rise elsewhere in the Indy area. Also in this week’s issue, John Russell explores the rush to vaccinate Hoosiers for COVID-19 as quickly as possible, after federal officials gave states the green light to dramatically expand the pool of people eligible. And Samm Quinn details the progress of the Indianapolis International Airport’s retail refresh effort, which is off to a slower start than anticipated due to the pandemic.
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Pandemic means renters can find deals downtown
Downtown apartment managers are extending rent specials, reducing parking costs and offering other incentives to get tenants in the door—and lock those already there into new leases.
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Indiana scrambles to get COVID vaccines into arms
As hospitals and health departments scramble to erect temporary clinics, the big questions are how fast states can roll out the vaccines and how long it will take for people to get protected.
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Steak n Shake in tight spot as key debt deadline looms
The chain nearly broke even in the latest quarter it reported, no small feat after losing a combined $29 million in 2018 and 2019.
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Airport’s retail-refresh timeline shifts with pandemic
Even amid dramatically reduced foot traffic, the facility’s work to refresh its slate of restaurants and shops is progressing—albeit more slowly than initially expected.
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Local startup aims to revolutionize car sales
After working for car dealerships for a quarter century, entrepreneur Cole Keesling is ready to flip the script to work for car buyers.
Read MoreQ&A with Derrick Stewart, YMCA of Greater Indianapolis
The organization has an annual budget of $60 million, operates 12 fitness centers, and offers child care and other programs at 120 sites. Its 2020 revenue plunged about 40%, largely because it lost so many members.
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Bill would give Indy Eleven more time to finalize stadium plan
Indy Eleven officials said last week that they plan to announce a location for the proposed $550 million Eleven Park development—which would include a stadium—by the end of March.
Read MoreIndyGo foundation names new executive director with big fundraising challenge
Under state law, the Indianapolis Public Transportation Foundation is supposed to raise about $6 million per year to supplement revenue generated by a Marion County transit tax. So far, it’s well behind the goal.
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Martin University focuses on workforce needs to close equity gap
The predominantly Black college—under the leadership of a president hired less than two years ago—is making moves to expand its enrollment, its reach among Black adults and its presence in the community.
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Martin University focuses on workforce needs to close equity gap
The predominantly Black college—under the leadership of a president hired less than two years ago—is making moves to expand its enrollment, its reach among Black adults and its presence in the community.
Read MoreMore Hoosiers are earning post-high school certificates
The 2020 Certificates report shows that Indiana has gained 15 percentage points toward education attainment since 2008.
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Editorial: Pass legislation to help rid police agencies of bad officers
This is a meaningful piece of legislation that has the support of the Indiana State Police, Indiana State Fraternal Order of Police, Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and Indiana Sheriff’s Association, as well as the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, the NAACP and the Indiana Black Expo, plus the Indy Chamber and the Indiana Public Defender Council.
Read MoreLesley Weidenbener: How we decide what is an IBJ story
IBJ defines “business coverage” more broadly than many business journals.
Read MoreMario Rodriguez: Blueprint for post-COVID economy includes Blue Line route
The Infosys project reaffirmed my belief that the airport should aspire to move people and move the needle on economic development.
Read MoreJean Ross: Will 2021 be the Year of the Nurse at the Statehouse?
I am discouraged we might waste another year not addressing the nursing shortage in Indiana. Cost, access and poor health outcomes will continue to be the symptoms discussed, and addressing the nursing shortage will not be seen as a probable diagnosis.
Read MoreMickey Kim: Pandemic reinforces truths of market volatility, forecasts
Successful investing is simple but not easy. Patience and discipline are virtues because they aren’t easy, yet they are essential for your success.
Read MoreKristen Cooper: Psychological stability is key to leading in 2021
If you own a business or lead in some capacity, you can be guaranteed that problems will arise daily and that it’s entirely up to you to decide how to respond. This set of questions below will help put you in the right state of mind to mitigate problems and communicate effectively.
Read MoreTom Gallagher: Let’s stop pitting urban and suburban against one another
It is important to understand, too, that a desire for urban living is not simply a hipster trend or a temporary phase of youth.
Read MoreBohanon & Curott: Treasury secretary pick raises concerns about Fed relationship
Janet Yellen used to be chairperson of the Federal Reserve. Her pending appointment raises new questions about the Fed’s independence from Congress and the Treasury.
Read MoreLetter: An obvious place for homeless
I don’t understand why the city keeps saying there’s no place to house the homeless. Drive over to the VA Hospital, at 2601 Cold Springs Road.
Read MoreLetter: Government has important role in economy
A column in IBJ was woefully incomplete by their deliberate failure to recognize a market force (our anti-trust laws) that protects consumers and competitors for the benefit of our economy.
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UPDATE: Council OKs spending $13M on pandemic relief funds
The Indianapolis City-County Council on Monday night approved a measure to appropriate about $12.9 million from the city’s general fund for a variety of pandemic-related uses.
Read MoreLongtime city attorneys for Westfield, Carmel tender resignations
Brian Zaiger, Westfield’s city attorney since 1992, resigned earlier this month at the request of the mayor. Doug Haney, an attorney for the city of Carmel, tendered his verbal resignation late last month after representing the municipality for 24 years.
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Lilly shares surge after its potential Alzheimer’s drug slows cognitive decline
The experimental drug, donanemab, could be a huge breakthrough for Lilly, which has spent billions of dollars over 30 years researching treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, only to see them fall short in clinical trials.
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Local developer plans $16M apartment project along Monon Trail
Called Monon 46, the 102-unit complex is expected to be comprised of three apartment buildings, including two directly along the trail south of Broad Ripple.
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Mark Messmer: Businesses need COVID-19 immunity to fully recover
This immunity does not apply if the party engages in gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.
Read MoreShawn Christ: Protecting businesses from liability would be shameful
Senate Bill 1 would deny a day in court to workers and consumers whose sickness or death from the virus was caused by the negligence of a corporation.
Read MoreAbdul-Hakim Shabazz: State lawmakers need to get on the pot (sort of)
A lot of states waited until after they legalized pot to come up with rules. Indiana can be ahead of the game.
Read MoreDr. Richard Feldman: Increasing cigarette tax would make Indiana healthier
Will we finally increase the cigarette tax this legislative session? It would be big medicine for Indiana’s health and economics.
Read MoreClaire Fiddian-Green: Ensuring Hoosier children can read should be 2021 goal
Let’s apply the same sense of urgency to ensuring students learn to read as we have to producing a coronavirus vaccine.
Read MoreUna Osili: Pandemic can be catalyst to reimagine society
The COVID-19 recession has not only exacerbated high levels of inequality, it has also reinforced widening racial and social divisions.
Read MoreJennifer Wagner: Pandemic offers opportunity to rethink regulations
Starting a career in a profession like cosmetology can be a way out of poverty. … But the barrier to entry is more than $10,000. That’s a pretty expensive ticket to pursue the American Dream.
Read MoreBrad Rateike: Exiting gracefully is as important as first impression
Crafting and executing a successful exit plan is less instinctive than trying to make a strong first impression. However … just because it is calculated does not necessarily make it insincere.
Read MoreJim Shella: Trump’s legacy inspires us to reject the truth
Politicians no longer shade the truth. They reject it and they encourage us to reject it, too.
Read MoreRiley Parr: Republicans must present ideas in next four years
It’s not enough to poke holes in the Democrats’ agenda. Republicans must have ideas of their own, and the ideas must be rooted in free enterprise, liberty, opportunity and growth.
Read MoreMichael Leppert: Government exists for the governed, not the governors
All the things Vice President Mike Pence has done since he attached himself to the worst president ever were obviously done for Pence himself.
Read MoreShariq Siddiqui: Politicians must find common ground to move forward
Common ground does not mean slowing things down until the next election. Common ground means finding incremental solutions to fast-track into public policy before the next election.
Read MoreDeborah Daniels: Sad to see Brooks leave a polarized Congress
As I watch some in Congress pursue destructive goals that threaten our democratic ideals and institutions … I am very sorry to see that institution lose someone like Brooks.
Read MoreCurt Smith: After narrow leads, Democrats must cooperate
The voices these so-called leaders ignore are not easily dismissed as rancor from the right. This half of the Great Divide desires and deserves a voice in these deliberations.
Read MoreKaren Celestino-Horseman: Politicians’ words can inspire destruction
Every member of the Indiana delegation should now acknowledge that Biden is our next president and Harris our next vice president. … Their priority should be about saving lives, not preserving power.
Read MoreMarshawn Wolley: Like the tea party, Trumpism will die
Perhaps recognizing the issues related to racial-threat anxiety and addressing the economic anxieties of poor white people could create a political herd mentality.
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Mike Lopresti: Years ending in ‘1’ seem to spawn historic events
So here we are in 2021, and it is impossible to imagine the tradition of IU basketball without Knight, a World Series in the daytime, or the Final Four in a simple basketball arena.
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