City push on building codes draws gripes
A vigorous effort by city officials to enforce building-safety codes has some concerned that it’s becoming tougher to revitalize older properties.
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Universal curbside recycling program looks iffy
Finding a way to cover the cost of expanding the program with revenue from sales of recycled goods such as aluminum, plastic and glass has proved tough, even as commodities prices rise with the improving economy.
Evans exits mayor’s race, supports Kennedy
Democratic City-County Councillor Jose Evans follows Indianapolis businessman Brian Williams out of the race to challenge Republican Mayor Greg Ballard.
Mayoral contender Kennedy to leave day job
Democratic mayoral candidate Melina Kennedy will leave her attorney job at law firm Baker and Daniels on Friday to begin campaigning full-time next month.
Water employee: Veolia falsified records to get bonuses
Testimony is part of effort to deny Veolia Water $29 million contract termination fee as part of utility sale. Group claims salaried employees owed millions of dollars.
Ballard to raise millions through utility, meter deals
In the spring, Mayor Greg Ballard introduced a plan to sell the city’s water and sewer utilities to Citizens Energy Group, the public charitable trust that owns Citizens Gas. About six months later, he rolled out a deal to lease the city’s parking meters to a private operator.
LEADING QUESTIONS: Deputy mayor keeps thick skin
Michael Huber has learned not to take critics' barbs personally as he oversees some of the city's biggest deals.
Fountain Square turning to first-of-kind tax to fund improvements
A Fountain Square group led by neighborhood business owners hopes to create an “economic improvement district” for the up-and-coming neighborhood, where additional tax revenue could be used for everything from litter cleanup and marketing to capital improvements.
Touted Build America Bonds may not be available for utility deal
Citizens Energy previously said not using the bonds would add about $100 million to the cost of the deal over 30 years.
City looking for consultants to ramp up green programs
The Office of Sustainability in November put out two requests for consultants or teams to implement environmentally friendly initiatives.
Start of downtown North of South project in flux
The developer of the $150 million mixed-use project in downtown Indianapolis had hoped to start construction by the end of the year. But delays in getting the project zoned properly likely will move the start date back.
Controversy engulfs Devington community group
Devington Community Development Corp. tried to tackle a host of neighborhood ills before closing its doors this month. But the agency also was embroiled in disputes with a local minister and its landlord.
Local parking vendor eyes contract with ACS
T2 Systems Inc., which makes software to manage the enforcement of parking violations and the collection of fines, is hopeful it can continue providing the service under a new parking-meter manager.
LEADING QUESTIONS: New councillor in for wild ride
As a new City-County Council member entrenched in several hot-button issues, Angel Rivera sometimes blows off steam on his Ducati SportClassic GT1000.
City names new controller, communications director
Jeff Spalding, a former financial administrator at the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, has been named controller for the city of Indianapolis.
City revokes four cab companies’ licenses
The license revocations stemmed from violations such as failure to maintain a dispatch log, failure to maintain a dispatch facility and failed body or mechanical inspections.
Mayor’s communications strategist leaving city post
Robert Vane, Ballard’s deputy chief of staff and communications director, plans to start his own firm specializing in crisis and strategic communications. His last day with the city is Nov. 5.
Di Rimini violations reveal holes in process that relies on trust
Brazen violations of city design guidelines and state building codes by the developer of the Di Rimini apartments cast a spotlight on what is essentially an honor system of regulation for developers once they win approval for their projects.
Downtown apartment developers take divergent paths to financing
J.C. Hart Co. spent more than a year securing a $5 million bank loan to expand an existing project; Buckingham Cos. turned to the city to finance its ambitious project just north of the Eli Lilly and Co. campus.
New parking meter plan could yield Indianapolis more cash
The revised plan calls for less money up front, more over the life of the contract and more flexibility to terminate the 50-year deal early.