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I live at the Drake during the early 1970’s. The brass elevator and stained glass are great memories. It was a grand place, but even then it was getting rough around the edges. It’s just not practical to save everything; let it go.
I can accept the loss of the Drake. It sucks, but it is in severe disrepair. However, this entire process by TCM has made me skeptical and less than trusting (if they knew they couldn’t restore or preserve it, why buy it at all and why not sell it?).
What I cannot accept is a parking lot going in its place. That is a slap in the face to a marginalized neighborhood that has been gutted by tax-exempt institutions for more and more parking over the last several decades and is an insult to the investment that the City is making in transit.
Yes, it should be saved and no, the loss of the Drake is not acceptable. With hindsight being 20/20 and watching this unfold for the last few years, there is no way TCM ever planned on keeping this historic building.
It seems as if the RFP process was a sham to provide a cover story to the Museum’s plan from day one to demolish the building. When a building is vacant for as long as the Drake has been vacant, it is bound to deteriorate. The cost of renovation using tax credits and other creative financing can easily cover the renovation costs. There are affordable apartments several blocks further north on Meridian that were renovated for affordable apartments and there was no controversy about the cost of rehab. The Children’s Museum did not reach out far enough and long enough to save the Drake. They never intended to save it. If they wanted it saved they would not have purchased it in the first place.
Due to the architecture in the Historic District, Meridian has been called one of the “great streets in America.” Much of Meridian north of 38th Street has been ignored, and blighted neighborhoods line this central artery of our city. The Drake should be saved to enhance this area of Midtown. I don’t think affordable housing along the Red Line will improve neighborhoods. It seems this was the intention of short-sighted IndyGoers. The neighborhood cannot be restored to its former splendor, as planners want to develop affordable. or low income housing, along the main street of Indianapolis. Housing could be built near the Red Line but not on Meridian Street, but we Hoosiers don’t walk a block. This city does not enjoy a walking culture. The entire Red Line is a disaster.
Save the Drake!
Yes, The Drake should be saved and it can be saved. There is a market for market-rate apartments in Midtown, just ask Van Rooy. They are spending millions on a major renovation to the Buckingham and Balmoral, which is right across the street from The Drake. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis has leveled enough properties on Meridian and we don’t need yet another parking lot.
In exchange for allowing parking on the site, allow TCM to move the Drake and transfer ownership to someone who will restore it as apartments or hotel.
They could move it to the former Winona Hospital site north of 32nd…the Museum owns the vacant ground at 32nd & Illinois.
You’re kidding right? Do you have any idea how cost prohibitive that would be?
Have you forgotten that the historic Ambassador apartment building was moved to make way for the Central Library expansion? It is twice the footprint of the Drake, and two stories shorter so greater weight/mass than the Drake.
And the solution is simple: make TCM pay for it if they want the parking lot that badly.
The Ambassador wasn’t moved. https://historicindianapolis.com/ambassador-apartments/
Love The Drake!
I hate the Drake.
I hate to love the Drake.
The Children’s Museum clearly never intended to restore the building. They have been bad actors in this process, and as such have lost their their reputation and the trust of the public.
Creating a new surface parking lot fronting the street should be illegal in Indianapolis in 2019. That is especially true for such a prime location. I know that it is against code in downtown. It should be against code at this location too.
The apartment building is beautiful. Study after study has shown that preserving historical buildings are a boon a City. The Drake must be saved. Tearing it down would be a loss economically, culturally and environmentally for Indianapolis.
I’m not too sure why people are so upset about this. You can’t preserve everything, and I’m sure this will not permanently be parking. I’d rather the site be land banked and shovel ready as a parking lot than a deteriorating apartment building.
It’s a tax-exempt institution. They have no incentive to make it anything other than a parking lot. Once it’s there, it is there forever. If they aren’t going to fix the Drake or redevelop the property, they need to be forced to sell it.
Over time I could easily see it turning into a museum expansion. I dont see what mechanism or logic would be used to “force” them to sell it.
The Owners of the Buckingham & Balmoral on the east side of Meridian Street immediatly across the street are spending a significant amount to relocate tenants and make major improvements to that property which was built about the same time. The improvements include ne electrical, plumbing and air conditioning. I’m sure the scope of needed improvements are about the same since the buildings are about the same age. Meridian streets always been the most important street in Indianapolis and should not lose significant landmark buildings only to be replaced with parking lots. The CM benefits greatly from its location on Meridian Street and will benefit from a successful Red Line.