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EYE ON THE PIE: Should we consolidate libraries?

At last, we have a commission working to see if we can improve government in Indiana through reorganization. Former Gov. Joe Kernan and Supreme Court Justice Randy Shepard are leading the effort. Some of us are concerned that the commission has been established to find ways not to improve government services, but to cut local property taxes. The two goals might not work in the same direction. Public libraries are often cited as ripe for consolidation. There are 238 of…

A&E: Clown jewels highlight IndyFringe

About halfway through “Party of One,” an IndyFringe performance by a clown called Captain Melisande, things started to get uncomfortable. Melisande (real name Noel Williams) had already established herself as a loser in love, ready to get out of town and escape her past. Saddled with uncooperative baggage and a desire to keep gabbing even when she had nothing to say, she was the picture of every needy, confused person you ever wanted to help-but stayed away from for fear…

Mayor says MSA ‘not a priority’

With the Nov. 6 mayoral election looming, Mayor Bart Peterson seems content to wait for a third term to choose who will redevelop
the Market Square Arena site. He’s willing to put off the opportunity to wipe past failures clean in large part because the
political climate has changed.

When it comes to LEED, Indiana trailing: But area designers, contractors see green progress

No environmentalist would mistake Indianapolis for the poster child of green building, but local designers and contractors are preparing themselves to capture a market they expect will become an integral piece of their portfolios. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standard, better known as LEED, is a benchmark of sorts for designing, building and operating environmentally friendly buildings. At least 16 projects in the metropolitan area are seeking the LEED certification, but only one so far has achieved green…

After putting $25M into Conrad, city finally will conduct audit

The city plans to hire an outside auditor in the next few months to review the books of the Conrad Indianapolis Hotel and
determine how its investment is performing. It’s a routine process, Mayor Bart Peterson said. But it’s one hotel-industry
experts say is overdue.

CHRIS KATTERJOHN: It’s all about managing diversity

“Diversity” is a word that gets thrown around a lot these days. The pair of words “diversity management” might be more to the point. Diversity really is a fact of life. In terms of humankind, the world is made up of different kinds of people. And those differences go way beyond race, gender and ethnicity. People come from different backgrounds, believe in different religions, and have different sexual preferences, for example. Some are physically handicapped or mentally impaired. Our differences…

Charter designs require creativity: Local architect Axis building school niche

Much of what defines a charter school is in sharp contrast with the traditional model found in public school districts. And the differences start with the structure itself. Charter schools, due to budget restraints, typically involve renovations of a buildings once used for entirely different purposes. From there, the architecture and interior design must create a look and functionality educators say enhances learning and instills in students a sense of ownership and pride in their eventual alma mater. “No one…

Campaign promoting local art moves into second phase: Plan to target business owners is still on the drawing board

“Be Indypendent” bumper stickers are popping up all over town. They’ve been stuck to the side of Dumpsters and the back of everything from VW bugs to cable repair trucks since debuting in July. The curious who follow the message back to its Web site discover an effort to get everyday consumers interested in buying locally produced artwork. The site (www.beindypendent.org) already has had nearly 2,000 hits from seven countries and 35 states, and now campaign organizers are looking to…

RETURN ON TECHNOLOGY: What gossip is the Web spreading about you?

In 2003, Barbra Streisand sued photographer Kenneth Adelman to try to force him to remove an aerial photo of her beachfront house from a public photo collection Adelman said was chronicling beach erosion in California. Suddenly, an obscure house on a shoreline jammed with rich people’s homes was highlighted all over the Web, along with the story of how Streisand was leaning on Adelman. Her attempt at intimidation detonated right under her manicured fingernails. Streisand lost three ways. Her $50…

Commentary: Is this any way to run a government?

As someone who writes and pontificates about the events of the day, summer is usually my slow season. I have to work hard to find things to write and talk about for public consumption. However, this summer has been a whole different matter. We have all been taken aback by the tax protests and subsequent government actions to mitigate the damage. But that wasn’t the big story that caught my attention. The story that stuck in my craw was the…

Conrad owners tussle with project architect: Lawsuit alleges firms are owed more than $850,000 for work on $100 million downtown luxury hotel

The cranes and contractors have been gone from the site of the Conrad Indianapolis for about 18 months. But wrangling over the project continues in court. The private owners of the $100 million project are quarreling with prominent local architects Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf and New York-based engineering firm Cosentini Associates over how much they’re owed for their work. Both Browning and Cosentini have filed liens: Browning says it is owed $764,000; Cosentini claims $91,000. The owners say in a…

SPORTS: Lynch isn’t Hep, but he’s a coach you can root for

I recall being on the football field at Ball State University in November of 1996, moments after the Cardinals had clinched the Mid-American Conference championship. The head coach, Bill Lynch, was exceedingly thrilled, as you might expect. But he also was exceedingly humble, deflecting the credit and making sure the spotlight was focused not on him, but on his players. Fast forward to 1999, when Ball State was in the throes of a losing streak that was to reach 21…

Ex-banker creates empire by buying, boosting sleepy businesses

Riverside Manufacturing was a sleepy New Castle firm with $5 million in sales when Fred Merritt bought it to try his hand
at running a company. Five years later, Riverside’s sales have grown a whopping 800 percent, it dominates its industry, and
Merritt, 39, is ready to work his magic on an Indianapolis company.

VOICES FROM THE INDUSTRY: Choosing renovation or new construction a tough decision

Sooner or later, in the life of almost every building owner, there comes a time when a structure has outlived its usefulness in its current condition. A choice between two options must be made. Do we renovate or do we demolish and build something totally new? The answer is by no means easy or automatic. Confronted with these options, an owner must grapple with a host of issues. The following sample is not exhaustive but may prove helpful as a…

Displaced older workers abandon hopes of landing similar work

A growing percentage of men and women nationwide are reaching a career crossroads at a time when most would hope to have it
made. Almost a quarter of the 3.8 million Americans displaced from their jobs from 2003-2005 were 55 or older, according to
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, up from 21 percent in the prior three years.

UPDATE: Finish Line may claim ‘material adverse’ change

The Finish Line Inc.’s $1.5 billion agreement to buy Genesco Inc. gives the Indianapolis-based retailer the right to back out if the Tennessee company’s business suffers a “material adverse” change. The Indianapolis company appears poised to seize on the language. In a press release late this morning, it said it was “disappointed” with the $4.2 […]

UPDATE: SMC tripling space with Noblesville move

The new SMC Corp. of America facility in Noblesville will encompass 825,000 square feet, more than three times the space that the maker of pneumatic automation equipment occupies now at 3011 N. Franklin Road on the east side of Indianapolis. Mike Jones, who directs national distribution for the company, said today that all details of […]

Next Day Gourmet closing Indianapolis warehouse

A distribution center operated by Next Day Gourmet at 1740 Stout Field Drive near Indianapolis International Airport is being closed, and the work sent to other warehouses, the company said today. Next Day Gourmet, which distributed restaurant equipment and supplies from the location, is owned by U.S. Food Service Inc. of Columbia, Md.

New library almost ready

It’s been quite an ordeal, but the Central Library expansion is almost complete. The Interim Central Library, which opened in Old City Hall after construction began on the expanded…

BREAKING: Finish Line may walk away from Genesco

The Finish Line Inc. late this morning cast doubt on whether it will move forward with its $1.5 billion acquisition of Genesco Inc. after the Tennessee company reported a steep second-quarter loss. In a written statement, Finish Line said it is “disappointed” with Genesco’s $4.2 million loss. “Consistent with its responsibilities to The Finish Line’s […]