NOVEMBER 9-15, 2009
This week, read about how developer J. Greg Allen kept his ambitious downtown condo project on track despite the tough economy and find out why the Horizon League Network is winning big-time kudos. Also, Greg Andrews takes a look at Flaherty & Collins Properties' failed Charlotte skyscraper project, and we discover the joy that is Holy Cow! frosting.
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Critics: NCAA’s reselling of suites out of sync with scalping ban
Lucas Oil Stadium suite holders are upset that the NCAA is taking their luxury boxes for the men’s basketball Final Four
in April and reselling them on the secondary—or scalpers—market.
Speaker-maker Klipsch making noise in earphone niche
Making money in earphones will require higher sales volumes, but Klipsch CEO Fred Klipsch thinks there are plenty more consumers
left for his company to tap.
IURC conducts review of Centennial’s telecom service
Every neighborhood has its battles, but the 1,017-resident Centennial subdivision in Westfield is embroiled in one of the
most unusual: a very public fight over the adequacy of its phone, Internet and video service.
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IUPUI mulling options for old Wishard Hospital site
The most obvious use for the old Wishard site is an expansion of the Indiana University School of Medicine, particularly for
medical research space, university administrators said.
Allen Plaza developer bullish on downtown, eager for next project
J. Greg Allen sees the $14 million Allen Plaza renovation as a message to city leaders that he intends to leave
a lasting mark on downtown.
Horizon League wins acclaim for its Web-based sports network
Horizon League Commissioner Jon LeCrone never envisioned himself getting into the television business. But that
changed in 2004 when he saw a Butler University women’s basketball game being aired on a laptop computer.
Failed Charlotte skyscraper brings Indianapolis developer back to earth
The Flaherty & Collins project—dubbed 210 Trade—would have been the tallest residential building in the Carolinas, with more floors
than any building in the region except the Charlotte headquarters of Bank of America Corp.
Companies reap rewards on irrigation investments
Mike’s Express Carwash uses a lot of water. There’s just no getting around it. So when automated systems engineer
Ryan Binkley looked for ways to conserve resources, he focused on the company’s irrigation systems.
Sestertii Solar leasing panels to make solar power more affordable
The electricity they generate may be free, but most home- and business-owners can’t justify the upfront cost of solar
panels. A price tag of $25,000 to $50,000 for a modest system puts the cost close to luxury car territory.
Struggling Bioanalytical Systems adds outsider to board
Shareholders are starting to make inroads in their effort to turn struggling West Lafayette-based Bioanalytical Systems Inc. in a new direction.
Read MoreFocusBack to Top
Suburban counties building outer loop to avoid Indianapolis
Counties wanting to speed traffic among suburbs are building highways to avoid having to travel into Indianapolis. The result,
a 100-mile outer loop beyond Interstate 465, won’t be completed for years, and it won’t be built to consistent standards,
but it might help ease congestion.
Catholic-owned builder edges into Indianapolis
When Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Inc. bought Tonn and Blank Construction Co. in 1998, more
than one employee of the Michigan City firm wondered what it would be like to be run by a Roman Catholic
order that not only owned a string of Midwestern hospitals but also traced its spiritual heritage to
a 12th century mystic.
WOODS: Too many contractors misleading prospects
Some contractors, many of whom are desperate to replenish backlogs decimated by the recession, are not telling prospective
clients the whole story about exit strategies.
OpinionBack to Top
EDITORIAL: Tough love from taxpayers fed up with school spending
Across Indiana, in more than a dozen different school districts over the past year, taxpayers have sent a message to administrators:
We are no longer giving you a blank check.
KATTERJOHN: Indianapolis is a 21st century schizoid town
With apologies to the rock group King Crimson, who recorded a song in the late ’60s called “21st Century
Schizoid Man,” I’d like to draw attention to our city’s split personality. Good Indianapolis.
Bad Indianapolis.
MARCUS: The economic exorcism was successful
The damage done by the recession is still with us, even if the recession itself has ended. But sufficient evidence is available to suggest that the demon recession has left the nation’s economic body.
Read MoreGROSSMAN: Just what are ‘green jobs,’ anyway?
Indiana officials appear to be working hard to get our share of the 5 million “green jobs” President
Obama says he’ll create. Sounds like a good idea, except for one problem: No one can really say just what
a green job is.
ALTOM: What’s available about you online may surprise you
A half-hour perusing the various social media sites can give you carloads of information about your sought-after individual.
Read MoreHAUKE: Apple faces competition in mobile phone wars
For a while, everyone seemed to think the iPhone was unassailable, but Motorola, Google and Verizon are about to give it their best shot. And investors are placing their bets now.
Read MoreHICKS: Families of veterans also serve their country
I have to note that Nov. 11 is Veterans Day. It is rightfully a time we thank those among us who have served.
Read MoreDurham’s woes resemble Firstmark’s
The financial legerdemain surrounding Tim Durham and his ownership of Fair Finance [described in an Oct. 26 story] brings
back memories.
Sallie Mae jobs are in jeopardy
There are 2,300 hard-working and well-paid professionals here in Indiana whose
jobs are hanging in the balance while Congress debates a bill (H.R. 3221) that would eliminate the private student loan industry
as we know it.
Have you hired a veteran today?
With Veterans Day upon us, we are reminded to thank a veteran for his or her service and to honor the memories of those
who fought for our country and did not come home. But in the business community, we can do more than that, all year long,
by bringing veterans into our organizations.
Health care reform should slow down
I am writing because I have closely
followed the debate on health care reform and am questioning some of the decisions being made by our legislators in Congress.
Let’s focus on medical errors
Debra Smith’s column in your Oct. 19 [Focus section] needs some clarification and correction.
Read MoreIn BriefBack to Top
Huntington National Bank’s assets fell because partnership ended
Last week’s front-page story “Shuffling the deck” pointed out the significant gains midsize banks have
made in the Indianapolis market over the last year. The one glaring exception was Columbus, Ohio-based Huntington National
Bank, which had lost $56.3 million in local deposits as of June 30, according to the FDIC. A closer look explains
why.
Members of City-County Council form task force to study CIB financial problems
A new task force formed this month is charged with recommending solutions to the financial problems of the Indianapolis
Capital Improvement Board and its related convention and tourism issues.
Sign proposed for IBJ building requires public hearing
The parent company of Indianapolis Business Journal has filed plans to add a sign with an electronic-message component outside
the newspaper’s headquarters at 41 E. Washington St.
WFYI boss elected to national PBS board
Lloyd Wright, president and CEO of WFYI Public Broadcasting, has been elected to the PBS board of directors. He will serve
a three-year term.
Chemical-maker Benchmark Products merges with Ohio’s New Surface Technologies
Benchmark Products Inc., a local manufacturer of metal-finishing chemicals, will combine with a Bedford, Ohio, company and
keep its headquarters and production in Indianapolis. The combined company will be renamed Asterion LLC.
WellPoint, Obama administration battle over cost of health reform to employers
At this point in the health reform debate, you have to take numbers from any side with a grain of salt. That said, Indianapolis-based
WellPoint Inc. has done perhaps the only local analysis of how proposed reforms would affect the cost of health insurance
for employers.
Former Smith-Holden Music employees open new Bloomington store
Two key employees of the recently closed store in downtown Bloomington have opened their own venture,
Melody Music Shop.
NFP of Note: Hamilton County Area Neighborhood Development Inc.
Hamilton County Area Neighborhood Development Inc. creates and promotes affordable, safe, quality housing and educates
the community about housing needs.