Jennifer Gianas lives along Mass Ave. She and her dog, Max, can't wait.
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Downtown landscape to change now that TIF district approved
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City-County Council approves TIF district expansion
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Major Mass. Ave project in downtown Indy at a standstill
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City moves forward with redevelopment of Mass Ave. fire department sites
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Downtown Indianapolis' Mass Ave to get makeover
Fire Station 7 is coming down, so is the credit union next to it. In its place, a multi-million-dollar building with underground parking.
"We are looking to create exciting places, exciting spaces where people want to live, where they want to visit, where they want to work," said Marc Lotter, City of Indianapolis Communications Director.
The official announcement is not until Oct. 25, but Fox59's partners at the Indianapolis Business Journal said the city has already selected firms -J.C. Hart, Paul Kite and Schmidt Associates- to do the work. The new project is expected to continue the theme along Mass Ave. That theme includes retail shops on the bottom, apartments on the top. A source told Fox59 that there will be something that stands out, separating the new building from all the rest.
"(I) do not want to go into too many details, but I can tell you that it will have a very distinct and bold look," said Lotter. "It does fit with the Mass Ave. that we currently have and will also push those boundaries a little bit and really become a focal point of activity along the Mass Ave. area."
Gianas just hopes this new addition will continue to add to what she already loves about the area.
"The shops, the people, this whole environment down here, just the atmosphere," said Gianas.
After the official announcement is unveiled, more work has to be done before construction can begin. The $30 to $50 million project has to first be approved, then the city must find a new spot to build a new fire station to replace the current one. All told, it could take two years before it is completed.
