The coronavirus pandemic may have disruptedbusiness, but it didn't stop developers from announcing andmoving forward with new projects.
From new hotels and food halls to warehouses and distribution hubs, Central Indiana has seen shovels move dirt on a variety of projects.
Below you'll find a list of projects that have been announced, opened and put on pause over the course of the past year. IndyStar will update this list as new announcements are made.
16 Tech district rises in Indianapolis
What to know about 16 Tech as its era in Indianapolis begins: After years of planning and construction, the 16 Tech Innovation District, a hub ofscientific research, technology innovation and entrepreneurship described as a first of its kind for Indianapolis,opened.
The $500 million, 50-acre district will feature office, retail andcreative space and roughly 250multifamily apartments.A central green space will serve as the district's centerpiece. Walking and biking trails and multi-use paths will help connect the space to downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. Developers and planners hope the amenitieswill help attract and retainscientists, researchers, engineers, designersand other professionals to Indianapolis.
AMP food hall at 16 Tech delayed:Those excited aboutthe food hall at the 16 Tech Innovation District had towait a bit longer. Developers announced the opening of AMP,the 40,000-square-foot food market at 1220 Waterway Blvd., would be delayed, due to vendors needingcounty health department inspections. The market had initially been scheduled to open by the end of March.
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Pizza, salads and café operations to launch at AMP food hall:By mid-April, four brands—Frankie’s Pizza Parlor, Tinker Coffee Co., Prox gourmet salads and Circle City Sweets— had launcheda soft opening of the AMP food hall at 16 Tech.
The 40,000-square-foot European-style market at 1220 Waterway Blvd., will eventually feature food, drinks and produce from local retailers working out ofseven restaurant stalls, 14 shipping containers, an open-air bar and a full-service restaurant.
The Bottleworks District opens on Mass Ave
Bottleworks Hotel opens at former Coca-Cola building in downtown Indianapolis: Against the backdrop of a global pandemic and a recession that's upendedthe tourism and hospitality industry, a boutique hotelopened in a new downtown districtthat's beentouted as therebirth of an iconic Indianapolis structure.
The 139-roomboutique Bottleworks Hotelopened on Dec. 15, occupyingthe top two floors of the historic formerCoca-Cola bottling plant's administration building in the 800 block of Mass Ave. The hotel wasamong the firstamenitiesto openin the $300-million mixed-use Bottleworks District.
Inside the Bottleworks Hotel: Hospitality meets Coca-Cola history:The Bottleworks Hotel right near the heart of downtown pays homageto its beginnings as a Coca-Cola bottlingfactory.
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Guests check in at the lobby standing on the original terrazzo tiling in the former tasting room. They can look out large glass windows — the same ones that showcased the plant's machinery.See inside.
The food hall at Bottleworks opened in January. Here's a list of the restaurants: Excitement washigh for one of the city’s most anticipated food halls. The Garage Food Hall component of the $300 million Bottleworks District development downtownopened in January as part of phase one of theculinary, arts and entertainment hub.
Lobster rolls, ice cream and whiskey all areunder one roof; a 38,000 square foot space that’s within walking distance of businesses and residences — it’s between Chatham Arch and Mass Ave. neighborhoods.
Living Room movie theater at Bottleworks on Mass Ave.The movie theater opened Dec. 23 as part of the first wave of businesses at Bottleworks.
The theaterhas had to navigate reduced release offerings, institute a safety plan and find ways to reach the public— including those who are hesitant to venture into enclosed spaces during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Inside the 'Living Room Theaters' in Bottleworks: Ahead of the grand opening of theLiving Room Theaters inthe Bottleworks District, IndyStar photographers took readers inside with a color photo gallery displaying the final touches on the boutique movie theater.
North side development
St. Vincent announces $325M expansion at 86th Street. Here's what's planned.
Ascension St. Vincent officials announced plans for a $325 million expansion on the 86th Street campus that will include an updated women’s hospital, and a new neurosurgical hospital, positioning the hospital to become a destination for patients from across the Midwest.
The project will include a larger neonatal intensive care unit. Carmel-based Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine will partner on the hospital that showcases its specialty.
With the additions, the north-side facility will seek to become a regional quaternary care center, which will provide specialty complex care to patients from around the state as well as the region, hospital officials said.
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New chapter for former GM site
Former GM stamping plant will be home to Elanco Animal Health headquarters: Elanco Animal Health plans to establish its global operations in Indiana, constructing a $100 million headquarters at the former GM stamping plant site, just south of the Indianapolis Zoo.
State, city, and company officials announced the deal that will include as much as$170 million in taxpayer-funded incentives.The new headquarters is part of a $300 million investment Elanco plans to make in Indiana, which will serve as the base for the company's consolidated global operations.
The announcement also opens up a new chapter for the former industrial site, once slated to become a $1.4 billion mixed-used development called Waterside. The purchase agreement between the state and the site’s former owner Ambrose Property Group signals an end to a more than yearlong legal dispute between the developer and Indianapolis.
City Market struggles
Indianapolis City Market struggling to stay afloat with challenges far beyond the pandemic:“I can’t go on any longer like this.”
That’s the conclusion that Adam Odgaard came to after reviewing his finances from the past year with theIndianapolis City Marketboard. The year of 2020 financially ravaged his business,Poke Guru, a healthy food restaurant,like it did nearly all others. But for tenants inside the historic City Market, life has been especially tough.
The mounting obstacles have discouraged vendors, who have grown increasingly frustrated with what they see as a lack of communication and urgent action from City Market staff throughout the year.
Without bailout from Indianapolis, City Market could run out of money in months:TheCity Marketis asking Indianapolis for funding to cover anticipated shortfalls as it weathers the rest of the year, and is offering deferred rent for struggling tenants who have suffered a debilitating drop in foot traffic.
How much exactly of a bailout it needs from the city is uncertain.
Cook Medical makes equity investment in Indianapolis
Cook Medical device supplier facility planned for northeast Indianapolis to create up to 100 jobs:Bloomington-based Cook Medical announcedplans to build a40,000-square-foot medical device manufacturing facility in northeast Indianapolis to address racial disparities and bring job opportunitiesto the underservedcommunity.
"We're trying to build a program here that brings education, jobs and opportunity back to the residents of northeast Indianapolis," saidPete Yonkman, president of Cook Group and Cook Medical, during a press conference streamed on Facebook Live.
Locally owned grocery store to open in food desert off 38th Street on northeast side: A new locally owned grocery store on the northeast side of Indianapolis will offer relief to one of the city's many food deserts.
Indy Fresh Market — a 14,000-square foot facility planned off of 38th Street and Sheridan Avenue—is welcome news for the northeast area. The store is part of a community investment launched alongside a newCook Medical manufacturing facilitythat seeks to provide opportunities to the underserved community.
Indianapolis invests in neighborhood revitalizations
Why Martindale Brightwood is getting $3.5 million from the city of Indianapolis: City officials announced that they intend to pour $3.5 million in federal funding into theMartindale Brightwood neighborhood over the next threeyears. The neighborhood has been nameda2021Lift Indyneighborhood.
The dollars wouldfund career coaching, home ownership and repair,and other quality-of-life programs aimed at assisting residents affected by thecoronavirus pandemic.
Hogsett announces $3.5M for Near North Corridor: TheNear North Corridor is one of twoareas of focus for the city's2021 Lift Indy community revitalization program,Mayor Joe Hogsett said.
The corridor willreceive$3.5 million in federal funding over the next three years. The money would support affordable housing,infrastructure, social services, economic opportunities, job training, and other quality of life amenities in the corridor, where thenovel coronavirus pandemic has had significantimpact on residents.
Salesforce Tower, prominent buildings under new ownership
Oklahoma company buys Salesforce Tower for $192.5 million: An Oklahoma-basedinvestment firm has purchased Salesforce Tower for $192.5 million.
Square Deal Investment Managementacquired the downtown landmarkfrom California-basedHertz Investment Group. Stretching48 floors, Salesforce Tower at 111 Monument Circleis the tallest skyscraperin Indiana.
Historic Stutz building sold to out-of-state real estate firm: The longtime owner of the historic Stutz buildingin downtown Indianapolis has solda majority-ownership stake in the propertyto an out-of-state real estate firmspecializing in restoring and modernizing historic buildings.
SomeraRoad, a New York and Nashville-based company, has acquired interestin the building at 10th Street and Capitol Avenue, according to a news release. Terms of the deal, including the purchase price,were not disclosed..
Development sparks concern
Indianapolis residents watch neighborhoods change, forests disappear with development:For decades, Augusta Heights hasn’t changed much.The neighborhood, tucked in between where Michigan Road and W 79th St meet Crooked Creek, is secluded, peaceful. Residents describe it as “the country in the middle of the city.”
But for the first time in years, change is coming to Augusta Heights. Developers are moving in and building new homes. They’rebringing street lights, sidewalks, sewer systems, and new roads.
Concerned residents: Nearly 28 acres of woods, wetland to be removed for development: Nearby residents of the approved Tremont Town Center development in Wayne Townshipsay they're concerned with increased traffic, noise and destruction of woods, wetlands.
Cummins expansions on hold
Cummins puts $35M Greenwood expansion on hold amid pandemic, will still purchase site: With businessdisruptedby the novel coronavirus pandemic,Columbus-based Cummins Inc. has paused plans to build a $35 million, 100,000-square-footdigital and information technology hub in Greenwood.
Cummins was slated to break ground on theoffice this past spring as part of a$68 million expansion planalong the I-65 corridor.The office was to house up to 500 employees, many of whom already work for the company.
Hamilton County
New garage in Noblesville paves the way for apartments on the White River: In a development two-step, construction of an $11.5 million parking garage for Hamilton County employees in downtown Noblesville will clear the deck for anapartment complexalong the White River.
Local officials broke ground recently for the parking garage, which will replace surface lots for 1,000 county employees. The five-story building with 475 parking spaces at 8th and Clinton streets will be open to the public after work hours. The garage is on the site of one of two employee parking lots. The county sold the other lot, at 5th Street and Maple Avenue, for $4.5 million to Noblesville, which entered an agreement with a developer to build apartments with first floor businesses on the property.
This is where fast-growing Fishers plans to build over the next 20 years: Officials estimate thatFishers' population, currently 95,000,will reach131,500 by 2040. That means it'll need room to grow.
In an update to its2040 comprehensive plan-- which lays out how land will be used in the future -- the city identified severalareasas targets for special study to make sure growthis managed smartly.
New Meijer opens in Westfield: Meijer has opened a 155,000-square-foot superstore in Westfield at State Road 32 and Spring Mill Road that featuresscan and shop technology, pick-up and delivery.
The storeis the retailer’s 15th location in the Indianapolis metro areaand the fourth to open in five years, according to a news release.Meijer also has stores in Noblesville and Carmel. The new Meijerhas a pharmacy, clothing department, baby section and large pet department, with 200 animal toys and 500 types of food and treats.
Nickel Plate Trail construction races ahead in Fishers but Indianapolis, Noblesville lag: Fishers will take a major step toward completion of the Nickel Plate Trail this summer when it builds a tunnel under 116th Street, a project that will close the street to traffic for 60 days.
The work just east of the Municipal Complex will begin June 1, with drivers diverted to 106th Street and 126th Street. Once theunderpass is in place, the suburb’s 9-mile-long trail will be about two-thirds complete. But the goal of an18-mile trail from Noblesville to 38th Streetin Indianapolis has been delayed indefinitely. Both those neighboring cities have hit funding obstacles, failing to secure Indiana Department of Natural ResourcesNext Level Trails grants,and haven’t even begun designing their trails.
Central Indiana grows as a distribution hub with Apple, Five Below and more
Apple establishing $100M distribution center in Hendricks County, creating up to 500 new jobs: Appleis planning a $100 milliondistribution center in Hendricks County, creating up to 500 jobsby the end of 2024, the company and state officialsannounced.
The hub, to be located west of Plainfield inClayton,is part of Apple's plans to expand its distribution networkand accelerate delivery times for U.S. customers in Indiana and across the country.
The projectis part of a larger announcement the Cupertino, California-based company madeto invest $430 billion and createas many as 20,000 new jobs across the U.S.during the next five years.
Five Below to bring 470 jobs to Shelby County with a new $100M distribution center: Another large distribution center is coming to Central Indiana.Philadelphia-based low-cost retailer Five Below broke ground on its planned $100 million Midwest distribution and e-commerce center at 12050 E. McGregor Road, Indianapolis. While the address is Indy, the property actually is just past the border in Shelby County.
Five Below will build the facility and initially occupyone million square feet of it, the IEDC says. The facility is expected to be fully operational in the summer of 2022. Itwill support the company's continued growth and expansion in the Midwest.
Updates on Fishers' Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport,more
Large distribution plant planned at small airport in Fishers
A distribution center could be the first tenant at Fishers' Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport in along-term plan to develop 211 acresof the property.
The Indianapolis Airport Authority has agreed to sell 38 acres of the airfield to Indianapolis-basedScannell Propertiesfor $4.2 million.
The warehouse would be at the southwest corner of the airport, at 96th Street and Masters Road, and would have parking for 210 cars and 78 truck trailers to haul loads from 18 loading docks.
Fishers zoning officials told area residents no shipments for the warehouse will be by air because the airport runways are too short for cargo planes to use.
Indianapolis-based tech company Kennected creating more than 400 new job: Indianapolis-basedKennectedis expanding its Indianapolisoperationsand plans to create up to 405 new jobs by the end of 2025.
The software-as-a-service company opened itsIndianapolis headquartersat 201 S. Capitol Ave. last year and plans to invest more than $2 million in operations, according to a news release. It hasalready hired 50 new employees toward its goal.
Amelia Pak-Harvey, John Tuohy, MykalMcEldowney, Cheryl Jackson, Domenica Bongiovanni, London Gibson, Shari Rudavsky, Jenna Watson and Michelle Pemberton contributed to this story.
Contact IndyStar reporter Alexandria Burris at aburris@gannett.com or call 317-617-2690. Follow her on Twitter: @allyburris.
