Indy’s director of development leaving for IU gig
Adam Thies will leave the position he’s held since 2012 to join the university as its assistant vice president for capital planning and facilities. Thies starts his new job Aug. 17.
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Indy launches biz portal aimed at streamlining permitting
Indianapolis has joined about a dozen cities in hiring a California startup to develop a portal designed to help small business owners cut through red tape.
Former mayor Goldsmith joins new consulting practice at BKD
Former Indianapolis Mayor Steve Goldsmith has been hired by national accounting powerhouse BKD LLP to lead a new public sector consulting practice, the firm announced Wednesday.
Carmel eyes plan for traffic nightmare at Keystone and 96th St.
City officials hope to start construction in 2017 on a nearly $32 million teardrop roundabout that would bridge through traffic over 96th Street.
Lilly Endowment pledges $5M for city plaza revamp
The announcement follows the October unveiling of the design for the City-County Building plaza overhaul, which is expected to cost $10 million.
GM plant property goes back on block
A big chunk of the former General Motors stamping plant site near downtown will go back on the market July 1 now that the city’s plans to build a criminal justice center there have fallen through.
Ballard education deputy leaving to head up workforce initiative
Jason Kloth, who has been Mayor Greg Ballard’s deputy mayor for education since 2012, will step down Friday to lead a workforce development effort being launched by the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership.
Carmel’s burgeoning downtown puts pressure on neighbors
The two blocks on the western edge of Carmel’s Arts & Design District are residential, at least for now, but that’s expected to change as the population grows by 1,500 every year and the city continues its quest to create a walkable community.
EDITORIAL: Vision Fleet mess is lesson in secrecy
A legal battle over the city’s troubled $32 million plan to rent a fleet of electric cars could cost taxpayers dearly. But Mayor Greg Ballard’s administration left the City-County Council little choice.
UPDATE: Council to sue over city’s $32M electric car contract
Vision Fleet, the electric car vendor in the middle of a dispute between the City-County Council and the city of Indianapolis, is seeking a legal review of its contract in which a five-judge panel determines the validity of the pact.
Council votes not to consider revised justice center plan
The City-County Council voted 16-13 Monday night against considering a scaled-down plan for a new Marion County criminal justice center.
Suburbs paying for new census in hopes of higher tax distributions
A fast-growing city like Fishers can add thousands of new residents in just a few years. But several state funding allocations are based on population numbers the U.S. Census Bureau collects only once a decade, which could grossly underestimate the city’s density.
Noblesville seeks to expand planning jurisdiction
The city of Noblesville is proposing expanding its zoning jurisdiction in preparation for future growth and possible annexation of new property.
Employers spark innovation with creative work spaces
When some employers want their people to innovate, they try putting a new twist on the old desk-computer-cubicle combo.
Ballard’s charter schools chief to become VP at Mind Trust
Brandon Brown has overseen the opening of 15 charter schools since 2012, raising the mayor’s charter schools portfolio to 35.
Council panel advances stripped-down billboard resolution
The amended proposal will advance to the City-County Council as a special resolution that would put the Metropolitan Development Commission in charge of the billboard-approval process.
Council to advance stripped-down version of digital billboard plan
Controversial language that would have allowed as many as 75 billboards to be converted to digital over 36 months was removed from Proposal 250, under an amendment filed Wednesday by sponsor Mary Moriarty Adams.
Brewer, Hogsett will vie to succeed Ballard in Indianapolis
Former U.S. attorney Joe Hogsett and restaurateur Chuck Brewer easily won their primaries Tuesday and will face off in the race for mayor of Indianapolis.
Brainard defeats Sharp in Carmel Republican primary
It was a good night for incumbent mayors in Hamilton County primary elections Tuesday. Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard, Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear and Westfield Mayor Andy Cook all emerged victorious.
Council members question city’s electric car program
Questions about cost and a heavily redacted contract are plaguing Indianapolis’ plan to rent more than 400 electric cars for city employees.