DEC. 6-12, 2019
John Russell examines the success of Zionsville-based BHI Senior Living. That’s the developer of the upscale, 500-unit Hoosier Village campus, which has a long waiting list. BHI is thriving in a tough market for retirement communities. Back in Indianapolis, Democrats on the City-County Council raised some hackles when they proposed more than doubling the base pay for their part-time positions. It’s an easy thing to criticize, but, as Samm Quinn reports this week, the base pay hasn’t changed in more than 30 years, and Indianapolis councilors are underpaid compared to some nearby peer cities. And we have a classic tale of entrepreneurial ingenuity. Sam Stall reports on Fatheadz, which makes plus-sized eyewear. It was started by Indianapolis resident Rico Elmore after he couldn’t find any sunglasses that would fit his generously sized melon.
Front PageBack to Top
BHI Senior Living on growth tear, even as some of its rivals sputter
The retirement community operator had revenue of $51.4 million last year, up 4% from 2017, according to its Form 990 tax return.
Read More
City-County Council pay lags badly in Indianapolis
Indianapolis’ part-time city-county councilors are paid significantly less than officials with the same positions in comparable cities across the nation
Read More
Indianapolis Monthly embracing digital future
Indianapolis Monthly is not abandoning print. But the 42-year-old magazine is making a serious push into digital in an effort to grow its reach—and eventually revenue.
Read MoreTop StoriesBack to Top
As injuries mount, Methodist Sports Medicine expands to meet need
Founded in 1983, the practice has 28 physicians and annual revenue of $35 million, and shows little sign of slowing.
Read More
Got a big head? Fatheadz has you in its sights
Starting out in 2005 with just four sets of sunglass frames, the eyeglass company now offers five lines for men and women with more than 100 frame styles.
Read MoreQ&A with Matt Hay, Redux sales director
Hay has an electrode sewn to his brain stem that conveys sound coming through a tiny device on the side of his head. He’s now a sales director at Redux—which makes a device that dries and restores hearing aids.
Read More
Estridge plans 17 townhomes in historic Old Northside neighborhood
According to filings with the city, the project would consist of 17 two-story town houses over two blocks along East 16th Street.
Read MoreDeveloper plans apartments at Central State for low-income residents, homeless
Chicago-based Mercy Housing and Missouri-based MACO Development Co. plan to build the $25.6 million, 156-unit apartment complex at 3355 Kirkbride Way on the west side of Indianapolis.
Read More
ClusterTruck, Kroger to test drive food-delivery partnership
Indianapolis food-delivery company ClusterTruck is partnering with Cincinnati-based Kroger for a pilot program that will give the grocery giant an entry into the fast-growing meal delivery market, the companies announced Monday.
Read MoreRepublicans tap deputy speaker to replace departing Bosma
Todd Huston, of Fishers, became co-chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee during the 2019 session and played a big role in crafting the 2020-2021 state budget.
Read More
Insurance company acquires former Lids HQ in Zionsville for $18.25M
Group One Thousand One LLC, an Indianapolis-based insurance holding company, announced plans Tuesday to expand local operations into the Zionsville building beginning next year.
Read MoreIPS finds a powerful charter ally in its 11th hour bid to win back takeover schools
Christel House Academy, a politically influential charter network, wants to relocate its south-side school to Manual High School if oversight of that campus is returned to Indianapolis Public Schools.
Read MoreFocusBack to Top
Apartment-building blitz reshapes Broad Ripple
Broad Ripple is wrapping up a prolific six-year stretch during which developers have spent more than $125 million to bring nearly 800 new apartments to the neighborhood.
Read More
Scotty’s Brewhouse founder Wise joins CBRE as retail broker
Scott Wise, who founded the once-flourishing Scotty’s Brewhouse restaurant chain, starts Tuesday at CBRE’s Indianapolis office, joining a team of 12 brokers in the office’s retail division.
Read More
Neighboring east-side hotels sold for $30.5M to Los Angeles firm
The three hotels at the intersection of Interstates 70 and 465 have nearly 500 rooms between them. The largest, a Marriott that serves as an overflow hotel for big downtown events, is slated for a renovation that could run between $10 million and $20 million.
Read MoreOpinionBack to Top
EDITORIAL: SEC’s enforcement actions protect integrity of markets
The Securities and Exchange Commission under President Trump isn’t known for its aggressiveness. As a Reuters analysis recently highlighted, the nation’s “top market cop is slowly taking the shackles off corporations,” in the hope that relaxed regulation will help reverse a 20-year decline in the number of U.S. public company listings. But we’re glad to […]
Read MoreMAURER: Time for curtain to drop on quarter-century run
As promised, this is the last of almost 500 regularly scheduled IBJ columns. My assistant Susan and I trashed the “fat file,” the one on issues and ideas we have maintained for the last 25 years.
Read MoreKENNEDY: For a community, no news is not good news
The collapse of the business model that sustained local newspapers is well-known; the consequences, however, are only beginning to be appreciated.
Read MoreBOHANON & CUROTT: Nation’s lower fertility rates are good news, bad news
From wide perspective, decreasing fertility rates exacerbate the problem of slowing population growth. From the individual’s perspective, they reflect continued positive economic trends.
Read MoreWATTS: Is it time to buy into local option sales taxes?
Upcoming research from Purdue University indicates that local tax revenue generated by new homeowners doesn’t keep up with added costs of services.
Read MoreSamantha Julka: We have to hold our yoga class outside!
You can learn a lot about your organization by asking a few questions about what people might add to their space.
Read MoreKIM: New tools help families weigh investment merit of college choices
As with any investment, price is what you pay, but value is what you get.
Read MoreLetter: Protect God’s creation
Gary Varvel’s statements regarding man not being able to destroy the climate because God would not allow it is putting way too much of a burden on God for the failures of man.
Read MoreLetter: Climate column ignored facts
I respect Varvel’s faith and his right to speak his own opinion. But it is his opinion, entirely disconnected from facts.
Read MoreLetter: Faith doesn’t justify climate devastation
A naive belief that God will act in the 11th hour to reverse human-caused damage allows the so-called faithful to remain complacent and to continue “business as usual” in the irresponsible exploitation of Earth’s resources.
Read MoreLetter: Empower Hoosier energy consumers
For the past three sessions, I’ve pushed for legislation that would prevent homeowners associations from restricting the placement or use of solar panels.
Read MoreIn BriefBack to Top
UPDATE: Tech-staffing firm eyes Broad Ripple for new office-apartment HQ complex
Sources said Eight Eleven Group is hoping to build a five-story office building, an adjacent four-story apartment structure and an underground parking garage where 200 to 250 people will be employed.
Read MoreIndiana hopes to extend health insurance program to 2030
Indiana plans to seek federal approval to continue a health insurance program that covers about 418,000 low-income residents amid a pending lawsuit that could eliminate nearly all of the program’s funding.
Read MoreSpecial prosecutor finds insufficient evidence in Hamilton County nepotism, harassment allegations
A special prosecutor started investigating former Deputy Treasurer Susan Byer’s claims five months after she filed a November 2018 lawsuit alleging the office allowed county employees to waive penalties on late property-tax payments for themselves and family members.
Read MoreIndianapolis Star executive editor Ramos to resign
Ronnie Ramos, executive editor of The Indianapolis Star since March 2018, plans to resign Dec. 20 “to pursue other opportunities,” the newspaper reported Monday morning.
Read MoreMerry Clickmas: Black Friday online sales hit record $7.4B
In-store sales slipped, but sales by people who bought things online and then headed to the store to pick them up surged 43.2% on Black Friday, according to Adobe Analytics.
Read MoreForefrontBack to Top
Kevin Brinegar: Smoking is costly to Hoosiers, companies, communities
Indiana’s smoking prevalence results in tragic individual and family health consequences, including thousands of teens on course to becoming lifelong smokers.
Read MoreJim Lucas: Cigarette tax debate is about individual liberty
The continued willful sanctioning of laws “for our good” is nothing more than death by a thousand cuts.
Read MoreRichard Feldman: Marijuana should be treated more like alcohol
The acceptance clearly crosses political party lines, evidenced by the states that have passed legalization statutes and referendums.
Read MoreDeborah Daniels: The young’uns might have a reason to be frustrated
What I am talking about is our overall selfishness as a generation.
Read MoreMichael Leppert: The Red for Ed rally changed the context of 2020
Holcomb will need to overcome a legacy of choices that have led us here, many of which preceded him.
Read MoreAbdul-Hakim Shabazz: Indiana’s teachers have been miseducated
We are not talking about 15 additional hours of certification. It’s included in the 90 hours teachers must get already.
Read MoreGlenda Ritz: Red for Ed—who is listening?
Our Indiana teachers really are taking home less pay today.
Read MoreMarshawn Wolley: Indy needs a city official focused on black males
Last year, 103 black males were murdered in Indianapolis.
Read MoreRandall Shepard: Indiana’s civic health is strong—except in voting
Our performance has been below the national turnout since about 1990.
Read MoreBill Oesterle: Voting trends could spell trouble for GOP
I am not predicting a blue-wave here, but some of Indiana’s most important races could become dramatically more competitive.
Read MoreCurt Smith: Attorney general, 5th District will be races to watch
Party insiders worry Curtis Hill is vulnerable, and anyone who wins the Democratic nomination could run a negative campaign.
Read MoreJennifer Wagner: When parenting looks a lot like politics
If the person with whom you’re negotiating gives you what you want, take the win and move on.
Read MoreShariq Siddiqui: We can’t shirk protecting children to save a dime
Approximately five U.S. children die every day of child abuse.
Read MoreExploreBack to Top
MARK MONTIETH: This man brought Barry Collier to Butler—and that changed everything
Before we get to the fluky set of circumstances that got Barry Collier to Butler in the first place and meet the man who made it happen, let’s establish a premise: Without Collier, there is no Butler Way.
Read More