City says it has blown past goal of transforming 2,000 troubled homes
In the two years since the initiative started, the city of Indianapolis has spent $24.3 million—largely in federal funds—to demolish, build or rehab more than 2,500 homes.
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City seeks walkability, better flow in Castleton
Castleton remains central Indiana’s most expansive retail corridor, but does its retail focus—and its car-centric layout—suggest trouble lies ahead?
Democratic hopefuls for City-County Council face concerns over party affiliation
At issue is that counties determine party affiliation in municipal elections by using candidates’ past primary votes—and neither ever has voted in a primary election.
Council leaders urge legislative hearing on Indy Eleven stadium bill
Republican and Democratic leaders of the City-County Council say they want the opportunity to fully debate a bill that would funnel state and local tax revenue to an 18,000-seat stadium that would be part of a larger mixed-use development.
CICF, Hogsett seek $4M fund to provide wraparound services to formerly homeless
The fund is designed to tackle “the significant lack of service provider capacity” that grew after Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett in 2017 launched an effort to provide 400 more housing units for the homeless.
Westfield sees advanced manufacturing as new growth engine
As Bastian Solutions, a Carmel-based subsidiary of Japan-based Toyota Industries Corp., prepares to open its Westfield facility along U.S. 31, city leaders are working to woo other companies like it.
City-County Council OKs $24M in additional public works spending
Some council members voted for the measure in spite of previously expressed frustration that the measure transfers $300,000 out of the city’s parking meter fund to eventually pay for initiatives that seek to curb homelessness and panhandling.
Embattled Indy Council Democrat Stephen Clay decides to skip reelection bid
Democrats were not planning to endorse him at their upcoming pre-primary convention as their preferred candidate for District 13, which is on the northeast side.
Indianapolis grappling with increase in deaths among homeless population
At least 70 people died in Indianapolis last year who previously experienced homelessness, the highest number ever recorded by the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention.
Greenwood exploits creek for ‘riverfront’ district
As part of its effort to add redevelop its downtown, Greenwood is putting an unusual asset to use: a meandering minor waterway that in spots is not much wider than a drainage ditch.
Republicans Jose Evans, Jefferson Shreve eschew 2019 city elections
Jose Evans has decided to not to run for mayor and has thrown his support behind State Sen. Jim Merritt. And City-County Council member Jefferson Shreve, who replaced Jeff Miller last year, won’t seek a return to the council after his current term ends.
$15M project to widen State Road 32 will disrupt downtown Westfield businesses
By 2022, the city and the Indiana Department of Transportation expect to begin widening a half-mile section of the thoroughfare from Shamrock Boulevard to East Street.
Hogsett kicks off 2019 mayoral campaign with $3.2M war chest
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett has a huge fundraising advantage over his Republican challengers, who are starting their campaigns with bank accounts in the four-figure range.
Council panel postpones vote on controversial billboard plan to consider changes
Council Vice President Zach Adamson said “we all have received lots of calls” on the proposal and said postponing the matter would “allow additional conversation” on whether or not to amend the proposal or accept it as written.
UPDATE: Merritt, longtime state senator, running for Indianapolis mayor
Jim Merritt, who will formally announce his campaign Thursday afternoon, told IBJ he was running for mayor because he “loves my city,” and is concerned about the city’s high number of murders and “rampant homelessness.”
City parking meter hours to be extended after council vote
The new ordinance is expected to generate an additional $800,000 in parking meter fees annually—about $200,000 less than council members initially sought in a more extensive proposal.
$9.2M Riverside Park amphitheater could be a ‘game-changer’
A towering limestone monument to a long-ago Indianapolis mayor will be transformed into a performance venue at Riverside Park, thanks in part to a Lilly Endowment Inc. grant.
S&P upgrades rating on tax-supported Indianapolis bonds
S&P Global upgraded the city’s property-tax-secured bonds to AA+ from its previous rating of AA.
Merritt mulling mayoral run after quitting job as GOP county chairman
State Sen. Jim Merritt told IBJ on Monday morning that he’s doing his due diligence on a potential campaign for mayor, leaving the Marion County GOP temporarily without a leader.
Billboard proposal riles neighbors, sign firms
Digital billboards seem poised to make an official entrance in Marion County soon—but almost no one, including the sign industry, is happy about it.