Indiana Avenue 12-story development will go up despite lingering height concerns

The city Wednesday gave the green light for a massive 12-story mixed-use development along the canal despite some lingering concerns from neighbors over the height of the building in what was once the historic Black cultural center of Indianapolis.

The $100 million-plus development by Indiana Avenue Partners, a joint venture of the Indianapolis-based Arrow Street Development and Chatham Park Development , will include 263 residential units and a parking garage with more than 300 parking spaces at 501 Indiana Avenue on the near north side. Three retail spaces would anchor the ground floor.

The building will sit on a lot currently occupied by a two-story office building.

The project narrowly passed the Metropolitan Development Commission Wednesday by a 4-3 vote.

Ransom Place resident Claudia Polley addressed the commission to express concerns over the scale of the proposed building, saying that the height runs the risk of "overwhelming" the historic corridor along Indiana Avenue. Most of the surrounding buildings are no higher than three stories.Polley said she learned recently that the building would partially block the downtown skyline view from the rooftop of the Madam Walker Legacy Center, which sits one block northwest .

"The Madam Walker building is the only national historic landmark in downtown Indianapolis that is associated with Black heritage on Indiana Avenue," Polley told the commission. "It is extremely important that we establish a precedent about not overwhelming Indiana Avenue with projects that consume history."

Polley expressed her support for development in the area but questioned if the structures laid out matched the neighborhood. She founded the Urban Legacy Lands Initiative, now Blacklight Indy, to revitalize the Indiana Avenue corridor.

"I'm all in favor of the developer accomplishing and building a beautiful building... but at some point, we just have to be aware that this building could be slightly smaller," Polley said.

Commissioners heard the concerns Polley raised but reminded her that the public hearing period had passed, and the site was within the city's Mile Square, where tall residential buildings are commonplace. A hearing officer approved the project at a June 27 meeting after no appeals were filed.

In 2023, city leaders designated Indiana Avenue as a priority for economic development. Since then, arguments have abounded over how best to revive the neighborhood that was largely razed by interstates and the expansion of IUPUI, now Indiana University Indianapolis, over the past five decades.

‘A place of joy:’ Black community hopes Indiana Avenue project embraces thriving past

In 2020, residents along Indiana Avenue fought back against a proposed five-story, nearly 350-unit apartment building across from the Madam Walker Legacy Center. The developer, Indianapolis-based Buckingham Companies, ultimately withdrew the proposal and sold the rights to the land that houses a three-story office building. The land was sold to the Indiana University Foundation in 2023, according to online property records.

Alysa Guffey covers retail development and commercial real estate for IndyStar. Contact her at amguffey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Avenue 12-story development will go up despite lingering height concerns