Clarian plans 16th Street expansion project 8.25.10

Indianapolis - A new major project is in the works and it involves the expansion of a well-known medical name in Indianapolis.

Clarian Health is partnering with Shiel Sexton and Landmark Health on two projects worth nearly $200 million. The site of the project is just south of Methodist Hospital, stretching from I-65 on the west to Illinois Street to the east.

Deputy Mayor Michael Huber calls the project "huge."

"This is one of the most exciting things happening in our city from an economic development impact standpoint," Huber said.

One project calls for a five-story administration building and an 1,100-space parking garage with medical office and retail space on the first floor. The other project calls for a neuroscience complex near Senate Avenue.

"From the mayor's perspective, the crown jewel is the Neurosciences Center of Excellence, which is going be a national center, that will attract the top talent in life sciences and neurosciences," said Huber.

The projects are expected to create more than 1,200 medical jobs, along with hundreds of construction jobs, just as work on the new convention center wraps up. Huber says there's also a tax benefit.

"Clarian's organization is a not for profit, but much of the new development will be tax paying, because it's a non-profit, private partnership with the developer. So that's another plus, in addition to the jobs and investment coming into this area," Huber said.

"I think this is a fantastic economic development opportunity," said Michael Osborne with the Near North Community Development Corporation.

Osborne says he sees the project driving more restaurants and retail.

"Bringing in 2,000 jobs to our area means 2,000 more people here to eat lunch and shop after work, who may even be interested in buying homes in the area," he said.

While Clarian owns much of the land, which is mostly parking lots, Fire Station Number 5 has stood since 1983, but would move to a new location a few blocks away.

Though the project has been in the works for awhile, it still needs final approval from several different entities including public safety, parks, the bond bank and City-County Council.

Huber says the mayor's office is doing all it can to pave the way.

"It's going to be a completely transformational effort on 16th Street," he said.

Development will be done in phases over the next several years, with ground breaking on the neurosciences center and parking garage this fall.
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