Dems look to downtown funds for Rebuild Indy alternative
City-County Council Democrats on Wednesday morning unveiled an alternative to the mayor's infrastructure-spending plan. It would involve less borrowing and use money in the downtown TIF fund.
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Longtime councilor Brown to leave office
Democrat Vernon Brown, a key opponent of Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard’s infrastructure-spending plan, said he plans to resign from the City-County Council this summer.
Worker on city’s deep-tunnel project killed
A Citizens Energy Group spokesman says an ambulance was called to the deep tunnel project on the city's southwest side about 3 a.m. Friday. It isn't clear yet what happened.
City of Indianapolis crafts plans for bicentennial
The Department of Economic Development hopes Plan 2020 leads to the updating and revision of no fewer than six official policy documents, from the comprehensive land-use plan to the recreation and open-space plan.
Coalition fights Ballard plan to shake up curbside recycling
Incinerator operator Covanta is close to announcing a proposal to build a $40 million material recovery facility in Indianapolis. Recycling industry leaders oppose the plan.
City-County Council OKs $16M more in road-repair spending
The amount adds to the already $8.3 million in street-repair spending that was approved by the council May 12.
Council votes to support $30M Broad Ripple project
Developer Browning Investments Inc. plans to use $5.7 million from the bond issue to help finance the apartment/retail project along the Central Canal.
Online grocer plans 238 jobs in Indianapolis
Peapod Inc., an online grocery-delivery service, is seeking city tax incentives to help it with an expansion that would create 238 jobs by 2018. The jobs would pay about $15 per hour.
Council to consider citywide landlord registry
Indianapolis landlords would have to register with the city by Jan. 1 or face a $500 fine under a proposal that will be introduced to the City-County Council on Monday night.
Indianapolis cancels cricket championship
“Deteriorating” communications with the sponsoring organization forced the decision, the city of Indianapolis announced Friday afternoon.
Pedcor angling for $16M subsidy for City Center expansion
Preliminary plans call for starting work on a parking garage and as many as three mixed-use buildings this fall, with another half-dozen projects in the pipeline.
Indy parks embark on $8 million in upgrades
The Indianapolis Parks Foundation on Tuesday announced a plan to improve 16 parks in Marion County, including the renovation or creation of playgrounds, trails, basketball courts and restrooms.
Indiana cities getting money to fight urban blight
Indianapolis, Lawrence, Gary and two other Indiana cities have received a total of about $15 million to help eliminate blighted and abandoned homes.
Influx of offenders may tax county coffers
The state’s inmate population is projected to continue rising, even after a criminal-code overhaul intended to prevent the need for prison expansions takes effect July 1.
City unveils first car-sharing charging station
A French company on Monday unveiled its first electric car-charging station in Indianapolis, where drivers will be able to rent plug-in vehicles for short-term trips later this year.
Strapped schools are wheeling and dealing with municipalities
State-mandated tax caps are putting additional pressure on public budgets—and spurring local governments to take unusual steps to help their cash-strapped schools.
Council OKs smoke-detector ordinance, road repair funds
The Indianapolis City-County Council voted 24-5 Monday night to update the city code on smoke detectors. It also voted 24-5 to spend $8.3 million from the Rebuild Indy fund on emergency road repairs.
Supreme Court takes up case on death records
An attorney for an Evansville newspaper on Thursday told the Indiana Supreme Court that the public should be able to find out a person’s cause of death. But the Vanderburgh County Health Department argued that state law says otherwise.
Bid says 2 new hotels possible before 2018 Super Bowl
The city on Wednesday turned in a 900-page bid to host the 2018 Super Bowl that mentions the possibility of two new downtown hotels. Meanwhile, a Colts official said owner Jim Irsay plans to help lobby for the city’s bid at the May 19-21 NFL owners meeting.
Fadness: Fishers needs to find common ground
With a hard-fought primary battle in the mayoral election behind him, Fishers Town Manager Scott Fadness is focusing on building community consensus along with a vibrant downtown.