MARCH 29-APRIL 4, 2024
Hendricks Commercial Properties is close to finalizing the deals that will lead to its planned $600 million redevelopment of Circle Centre Mall downtown. Mickey Shuey explains how its track record with other major projects in the city—including Ironworks and Bottleworks—helped persuade city officials that Hendricks was right for the job. Also in this week’s issue, Dave Lindquist has the story of Fred Kaufman, a veteran of the early days of fast-food franchising who has come out of retirement to lead two Rally’s restaurants. And Susan Orr explains how a 26-year employee of Chase Bank in Indianapolis was such an influence on the co-founder of a New York City startup that he named it after her.
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Hendricks’ growing reputation led to Circle Centre opportunity
Hendricks Commercial Properties has spent more than $550 million to acquire and redevelop properties across Indianapolis and Carmel since 2013. But the Wisconsin-based firm says it’s just getting started with work it hopes to do here.
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Carmel task force looks at city’s housing challenges
Carmel’s housing options mostly fit into two opposite categories: single-family detached houses in subdivisions and multifamily apartment buildings in the downtown core. City officials want to explore a third category: the “missing middle.”
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Seasoned fast-food franchisee couldn’t stay away
Fred Kaufman was once a prominent Burger King franchisee in central Indiana. An attempt at retirement didn’t stick, and he’s now the co-owner of two Rally’s locations in Indianapolis.
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Startup founder’s gesture surprises Chase employee
Hetal Retail, an early-stage software developer based in New York City, has an unusual connection to the Hoosier state—its name was selected in part to honor the Indianapolis bank employee who helped the company get off the ground.
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Mark Montieth: Milan championship is a story almost too good to be true
The Milan story is basketball’s version of “The Andy Griffith Show” and seems to rerun nearly as often. It reflects wholesome small-town values that never existed as perfectly as our nostalgia-tinted lenses would have us believe but still reminds us of a simpler, more innocent time.
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Indiana 250: Sue Ellspermann
Sue Ellspermann is president of Ivy Tech Community College, the nation’s largest single accredited statewide community college system with 19 campuses, more than 40 locations and more than 160,000 students.
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Made in Indiana: Decorative glass by Kokomo Opalescent Glass Co.
Kokomo Opalescent glass can be seen worldwide, including at the Vatican; the Chicago Cultural Center; Frank Lloyd Wright’s Dana House in Springfield, Illinois; Disney World and Disneyland; The White House; Yellowstone National Park; Washington, D.C., Metro; and DreamWorks Studios.
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Much of Pan Am block being demolished to make way for convention center expansion, 40-story hotel
The structures and public spaces being erased from the site include the former Pavilion at Pan Am event center at 201 S. Capitol Ave. and the Pan American Plaza, making way for vertical construction later this spring.
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More time needed to assess Indiana’s work-based learning overhaul, says new brief
Paramount to last year’s bill was a provision that established accounts for students in grades 10-12 to pay for career training outside their schools. The new framework is intended to enable students to earn a postsecondary credential before leaving the K-12 system.
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Six local school districts chosen for grants to develop plans to boost college enrollment
The grants are part of the $10 million second phase of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation’s College Matters: Reversing the Trend initiative.
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Legislation that would reel in IEDC likely to return in 2025
State Sen. Spencer Deery said he plans to reintroduce similar legislation in 2025. From his viewpoint, the agency has become too focused on big deals that can give it a bad reputation.
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Indiana businesses win new protections from lawsuits
Tweaks to tort law were among the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s top legislative priorities this year, but not everyone was happy with all of the tort-related changes that came out of the Indiana General Assembly.
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New AES Indiana president brings communication skills, relationships to industry challenges
Observers say Brandi Davis-Handy is a collaborative, enthusiastic leader who was a good pick for a tough job.
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Editorial: Housing study is a smart move for Carmel’s maturing community
Mayor Sue Finkam has created a nine-member housing task force that as a first course of business is tackling the issue of the “missing middle”—typically middle-class housing options that include duplexes and small multiplex buildings.
Read MoreGreg Weaver: Transition brings change to Indiana Lawyer
Look for more business-related coverage in the future, especially as it relates to attorney involvement in lobbying and government affairs. We also plan to extend our coverage of county courts, new lawsuits and interesting trials across the state.
Read MoreAl Hubbard: Not-for-profit hospital market lacks choice, competition
In a free market, consumers make buying decisions based on market research and recommendations from trusted advisers. In the hospital market, consumers make buying decisions based on physician referrals.
Read MoreBrian Schutt: Elevate your imagination for what real estate can be
Pragmatically, beautiful real estate can become central to community identity. By helping the investment last longer, beauty increases sustainability.
Read MorePete the Planner: Job satisfaction is so much more than a good salary
The allure of a hefty paycheck can be intoxicating. It’s easy to believe that more money equates to greater success or happiness. But the truth is, our perception of our own salary often shifts dramatically when compared with someone else’s.
Read MoreIlya Rekhter: Indiana should seize Bitcoin opportunities
We already have key pieces of the puzzle in place: a good business climate, reliable power and an IEDC data center incentive.
Read MoreCecil Bohanon and John Horowitz: Local government essential in balanced governing
Perhaps a reason the U.S. state-building in Afghanistan failed was because our policy centralized authority under an elected national leader but ignored the crucial role of local leadership.
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Business personality Marcus Lemonis to speak at 2024 Rally conference
Rally, which debuted last year, is designed to bring together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and educators from a variety of business sectors.
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McLaren Racing extends Zak Brown’s contract as CEO through 2030
McLaren is the only team that competes in Formula 1, IndyCar, Formula E, Extreme E and esports.
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NFL grants Colts marketing rights for Germany, Austria
The territories are the first international markets for Indianapolis since the league began its Global Markets Program in 2022.
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Ireland-based startup Wiistream to establish U.S. HQ in Indianapolis
Wiistream’s introduction to Indianapolis came last year via One-Zero, a sports tech conference that takes place twice a year: in Dublin, Ireland, in the spring and in Indianapolis in the fall.
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