I snagged this photo from this week's Indiana Business Journal. Ralston Square, a development bound by Meridian, South and Pennsylvania Streets and the railroad tracks, received an updated design as hotel, bar, and restaurant tenants have been signed. You can pick up an IBJ for more of the details.
But the design is an improvement over the previous design, which I wrote about here. Mainly, I think the updated design approaches South Street better. The old design, the building stepped back and treated it as a utility/service access facade. The new design, it appears that South Street becomes a prominent facade, as it should be, and the building comes right up to the urban edge on all floors.
It doesn't look like Cabrini Green anymore either.
Also, Cory at Property Lines has an update on the former Jefferson Plaza/new Allen Plaza design. This could be a very slick building when completed. I like the tower element, especially given the building prominence on that city block. That little stretch of Virginia Avenue is really transforming.
15 comments:
Hmm...I kinda like it, but not sure about those smaller windows on the eastern portion.
Would be interesting to see what they have in mind from the Pennsylvania Street corner.
Thanks for the new post.
This will be the ugliest building downtown.
Are they serious?
Kevin...I'm sure the side facing Penn will be the ass end of the building.
El Fuser...Really? Worse than the city county building?
jason, you did mean "uglier than the IPS Offices on Delaware" didn't you? :-)
Actually, I meant uglier than the Federal Building between Penn and Delaware...
LOL. How about a "worst building in town" contest? Make people actually say WHY in some coherent way, and grade on the essay.
I'm sorrry, but it looks like a gigantic parking garage to me.
I know I'm late to the party here, but I like the look of the building. I find it quite appealing. As long as they don't use EIFS, I hate that stuff.
I'm hoping they can bury the train tracks underground to connect Downtown with South Downtown where the Ralston Square Project is located.
Providence is one city that was improved after burying their train tracks with the funds coming form a highway project (I believe they finessed it a bit). They derisively called their train tracks a "China Wall" disconnecting their Downtown from the Rhode Island state house. By burying their train tracks and uncovering the river, they were able to open a lot of land for re-development.
If you want more info about Providence (they even have a successful urban mall like Indy called Providence Place Mall), check out the book "Providence, the Renaissance City."
I bet Indy's downtown can be improved if we bury those train tracks underground just like Providence.
Anon #1...well it does incorporate parking, so it makes sense!
G...I agree, though I don't hate EIFS. It has its place.
Anon #2...I understand your sentiment, I don't know if I totally agree with you. In this situation, there is a draw in Lucas Oil Stadium to pull people south, so I think people are breaking through the psycological barrier of the rails. I'd rather use the federal funds on improving the elevated tracks for passenger/commutter rail use.
jason 266, Anon #2 here.
I was thinking the burying of the train tracks would be part of a federal transit project along with a light rail line. I don't think they would bury the rail lines in Indy without a major rail project to go with it.
I'm getting ahead of myself, but the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act was passed by veto proof majorities in both houses and is on the verge of becoming law. Imagine if there is an actual push by the President (Obama would be more likely to do this rather than McCain) for more rail funding.
I'm all for investment in rail transit. And I wouldn't be against burying the tracks. My sentiment is that light rail could be incorporated into the existing elevated right-of-ways with dedicated tracks and using the money saved by not burying the tracks by extending the system in multiple directions through town. I think the existing rail ROW's will play a huge roll in Indy's future rail transit.
But to reiterate, I'm not against burying the tracks downtown. And I'm excited by the national attention being given to mass transit.
Anon #2 again
I'm not entirely sure, but aren't federal funds one project affairs? Like if the feds agree to your budget, they'll give you money for that project and only that project?
That was my reasoning behind adding the rail line burial to a light rail project. It'll be considered one project. Correct me if I'm wrong though.
I don't think your wrong, though I don't have much experience with federal funds.
Anon #2 one more time:
Ok, I think the feds agree to pay for 60 or 80% of the project and then the rest have to come from local sources. So, adding light rail burial would add stress to a budget for local (state, city, philanthropic) sources.
But would the benefits of opening up more land downtown for development due to rail line burial outweigh the increased expense? I would say yes, but its a tough call.
Then again, Indianapolis was able to raise tens of millions, mostly from philanthropic sources, for the Cultural Trail.
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