Indianapolis, IN

Officials break ground on 13-acre expansion of White River State Park

Published

1 year ago

October 30, 2024

Officials break ground on 13-acre expansion of White River State Park

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana officials on Tuesday unveiled plans for a 13-acre expansion at the White River State Park.

They held a groundbreaking for the $65 million extension along the west bank of the river.

Park officials say the expansion will happen over two phases.

They say the expansion includes several event pavilions, a river beach, an expansion of the White River Trail, and connections to the new tech park called the OneHealth Innovation District. It will be fully complete in 18 months.

Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb said, “This is a moment that’s not just historic but will change how we are able to showcase who we are and where we are going.”

This story was created from a script aired on WISH-TV.

Officials break ground on 13-acre expansion of White River State Park

Indiana officials on Oct. 29, 2025, unveiled plans for a 13-acre expansion at the White River State Park in downtown Indianapolis. They held a groundbreaking for the $65 million extension along the west bank of the river. (Image Provided/DAVID RUBIN Land Collective and Rundell Ernstberger Associates)

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News releases

“Indianapolis, IN – Today, the White River State Park Development Commission hosted a groundbreaking ceremony at the former GM Stamping Plant to celebrate the largest-ever extension of White River State Park. Remarks by Governor Eric Holcomb, Mayor Joe Hogsett, Executive Director of the White River State Park Development Commission Jake Oakman, and City of Indianapolis officials were followed by a ceremonial groundbreaking.
“White River State Park is a 267-acre urban greenspace that abuts the White River in Downtown Indianapolis. The park’s new, 13-acre extension, set adjacent to the historic GM Stamping Plant atop a levee that runs the length of the western edge of the site, represents the Park’s largest expansion to date. Landscape architects Rundell Ernstberger Associates (REA), based in Indianapolis, and Philadelphia-based DAVID RUBIN Land Collective (Land Collective) collaborated on the design, which features a raked, skyline-facing grand theater floating above the levee infrastructure to safeguard the city from flooding.
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“Key design elements include ‘get downs’ for direct river access, multiple pavilions and porch swings, a river beach, expansion of the White River Trail, and connections to the burgeoning Innovation District, which represents a new chapter of investment to downtown’s southwest quadrant, along with access for the Valley Neighborhood to the new riverfront. Considered “river theater,” the extension establishes a monumental overlook and front porch unified by the White River Trail for gathering, performance, and observation of river activities. It is the first site for the White River State Park to directly engage the river.
“‘This is a wonderful opportunity to describe an inclusive social overlay upon the levee which safeguards Indianapolis and the citizens of the Westside neighborhood, by offering river engagement through White River State Park’s expansion southward. This new landscape addition will offer the people of Indianapolis, the State of Indiana, and their visiting friends a new perspective of the White River, which is the extraordinary natural feature that informs so much of the State’s character. In this project, infrastructure, rejuvenated riparian ecology, and year-round experience are seamlessly integrated to inform identity,’ said David A. Rubin, Founding Principal, DAVID RUBIN Land Collective.
“‘A legacy riverfront site that served as the center of Indianapolis automobile manufacturing for over 100 years will take on new life as a destination space along the White River Greenway’s network – a riverfront gem that serves as downtown’s front door to the River’s west side, connecting the new Henry Street bridge, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, the Innovation District campus, and the nearby Valley Neighborhood,’ said Daniel Liggett, REA Partner and project lead. ‘Our work with the White River State Park Commission will establish a welcoming and accessible urban riverfront park offering a distinctive prospect on our city’s skyline for all and a place that reflects the history and identities of the site, its neighboring communities, and the City of Indianapolis.’
“‘Working through the significant challenges of design expression atop the existing levee – the integrity of which cannot be compromised – the landscape architects have worked with the City of Indianapolis Department of Public Works, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and other city, state, and federal agencies to ensure the levee remains accessible and functional, while providing an iconic river experience that will become a venue for seasonal programming and a new landmark for the City of Indianapolis. The new riverfront park reinforces the design intent of George Kessler’s historic plan for the city’s Park and Boulevard System to create “open spaces providing recreation and fresh air for all.’
“In 2019, Land Collective participated in the White River Master Plan to identify potential opportunities for spaces that would allow human engagement along the river corridor. As a result of that plan, the firm identified the possibility for expansion adjacent to the Westside neighborhood as one such place. This master plan identified three tenets: river infrastructure, ecological rejuvenation, and social impact. Working in collaboration with Rundell Ernstberger and the White River State Park Development Commission, Land Collective identified this expansion site, which exists at the intersection of these three tenets.”
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Rundell Ernstberger Associates and DAVID RUBIN Land Collective

“INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Eric Holcomb joined members of the White River State Park Development Commission and other community leaders for a ceremonial groundbreaking on a 15-acre extension of the park. Located on the west bank of the White River on a site once occupied by a General Motors manufacturing facility, the extension is the largest addition to the park since its founding in the early 1980s. The project will preserve and repurpose what remains of the Indianapolis GM Stamping Plant and include other amenities that leverage the site’s proximity to the White River and Valley Neighborhood and take advantage of panoramic views of the Indianapolis skyline. This project is being supported by a $30 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
“‘White River State Park is a crown jewel for our state, and it’s going to get even better with this latest strategic investment,’ said Gov. Holcomb. ‘We are kicking off a new era for the park while simultaneously preserving an important icon of our state’s industrial and manufacturing heritage. Lilly Endowment’s support is once again making a project that has been years in the making into a modern day reality and we are profusely grateful for their support. When completed, this addition to the White River State Park will serve as a glorious gateway to a vibrant innovation district complemented by this important community asset for nearby residents and visitors alike to enjoy.’
“The park extension will be immediately east of the OneHealth Innovation District, which is also being developed on the grounds of the former GM site. Anchored by Elanco Animal Health’s new global headquarters and Purdue University, the district is seeking to become a globally recognized research and innovation campus dedicated to optimizing the health of people, animals, plants, and the planet.
“‘White River State Park is an extraordinary place that attracts Indiana residents and visitors to downtown Indianapolis to enjoy greenspaces, trails, the Indianapolis Zoo, the Downtown Canal, museums, baseball games, concerts and festivals,’ said Ronni Kloth, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for community development. ‘This exciting expansion of the park will provide visitors with desirable amenities, including opportunities to enjoy and engage with the White River, and add to the vibrancy of the new innovation district.’
“Most of Lilly Endowment’s grant will support repurposing the remnant of the GM Stamping Plant into an event and community center. The centerpiece of the park extension, the multipurpose facility will be developed for year-round activations. Designed by legendary industrial architect Albert Kahn, the stamping plant was a landmark in industrial design and housed GM from 1930 through 2011.The factory played an important role during World War II and at its peak employed nearly 5,000 workers. Preserving this piece of Indianapolis history was an important consideration for the commission and other stakeholders in developing plans for the park expansion.
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“‘We are excited about the opportunities this park extension will bring to preserve part of our history, physically and visually engage with the White River, connect with the nearby Valley neighborhood, and draw visitors to our downtown,’ said Jake Oakman, executive director of White River State Park. ‘More than 40 years ago, Lilly Endowment helped write the first chapter of White River State Park’s history when it supported the initial master planning of the park, and it has supported several other developments in the park over the years. We are thrilled that this new grant is helping us write this next chapter in the park’s history.’
“Reclaiming abandoned industrial space and repurposing a former manufacturing facility fits White River State Park’s mission and history. The development commission was originally chartered in the early 1980s with a goal of reclaiming abandoned industrial land and facilities on the west side of downtown Indianapolis. By the end of the decade, Washington Street was rerouted to make room for the Indianapolis Zoo, the first attraction to call the park home. This development began a revolutionary transformation of the west side of the state’s capital city, turning an industrial wasteland into the vibrant cultural campus there today.
“In addition to the Kahn Pavilion, the park extension will have other amenities that include an extended promenade trail, bench swings, a water feature, and a river theater designed for both small events and day-to-day use by visitors. The new Henry Street Bridge will bring the Indianapolis Cultural Trail into the park extension and will allow for connectivity to the east bank of the river. These features will be accompanied by new greenspaces that are designed to highlight views over the White River towards the Indianapolis skyline.
“The extension is located just east of the site of Elanco Animal Health’s new global headquarters, north of the Valley Neighborhood, and south of the Indianapolis Zoo. As a part of the project, White River Parkway will be realigned to enable travel between Elanco’s headquarters and the park extension.”
White River State Park
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Indianapolis, IN

More than 25% of downtown offices sit empty as north side booms

Published

2 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

More than 25% of downtown offices sit empty as north side booms

Companies are increasingly looking north for space, a sign that employers still want in-person offices just not in the downtown high-rises that once drew business. The trend means downtown office space remains in high-supply and low-demand — unless, that is, the office space comes flush with amenities, the market shows.

The overall Indianapolis office market sat at 21.2% vacant at the end of 2025, a slight dip from earlier in the year but an improvement over the year before, according to research published in January by Colliers.

The downtown office market vacancy rate, however, did not budge, remaining at 26%, signaling the challenges landlords face in drawing companies to move to or resign leases in the city’s urban core. Leasing on the north side of the city and Hamilton County largely buoyed the overall health of the Indianapolis metro office market, said Nick Svarczkopf, CBRE senior vice president of office and medical properties.

The reason is relatively simple, tenant representatives say: Companies downsized as employees work more hybrid hours and those who still want office space lean toward shared, untraditional layouts. Most downtown office space, especially in the largest office buildings, tends to be older, more old-fashioned workspaces dotted with cubicles and individual office walls.

The rare exception is Bottleworks, a development off the main strip of Mass Ave. The Hendricks Commercial Properties space is completely filled, with a fully pre-leased building in the pipeline.

In June, law firm Ice Miller signed an 85,000-square-foot lease in the Bottleworks Phase III under development off Mass Ave set to open in 2028. The contract became the largest downtown lease since 2019 and made the firm the largest tenant at the state-of-the-art Bottleworks campus.

Bottleworks offers many of the features workplace real estate experts say employees in 2026 value most: fitness centers, walkable areas and close dining spots to grab lunch. Employers have taken note, paying premium rent to move into office space that has access to these more experiential options, said Rich Forslund, executive vice president at Colliers’ Indianapolis office.

“Downtown has some but the suburbs have quite a bit,” Forslund said. “So people are moving to those spots in order to try to draw folks back to the office.”

Companies put employee experience first

A stroll through the Indiana Members Credit Union’s new headquarters at 835 N. College Ave., part of Bottleworks, reveals all of those aforementioned amenities — plus an employee-only outdoor patio, a custom soda and sparkling water machine and a state-of-the-art golf simulator, saving the company time-consuming and costly bonding outings to Top Golf.

For IMCU employees, the new office represents a drastic change from their old headquarters on the south side that cobbled together several strip mall-like buildings and a surface parking lot into a corporate campus. Roughly 120 of the company’s 467 employees work at the Bottleworks office, where they are required to come at least four days a week. The remaining employees work at customer branches around the city.

President and CEO John Newett said the credit union ran out of space at its south-side location, prompting the need for the company’s move at the start of the new year. To ensure that doesn’t happen again soon, IMCU built in space for additional workers in the new office and hopes the spot just off Mass. Ave. will attract younger employees looking for an up-and-coming place to work as well as draw new employees from other suburbs to the north and west.

Part of that strategy included finding as many “wow factors” in the new space as possible, Newett said.

“It’s a little more fun than the traditional office,” Newett said.

Indy lags behind other major downtowns

Across the country, office vacancy is hovering around 20.5% as the U.S. market shows signs of stabilizing after years of growing vacancies following the pandemic. Yet statistics from cities across the nation show that Indianapolis is relatively unique with suburban areas outpacing dense downtown neighborhoods.

While Indianapolis’ downtown real estate market still struggles, other cities are leaning on downtown office space for new leases. Nationwide, downtown districts accounted for 42% of leasing activity in the final three months of the year, despite comprising just 35% of overall supply, CBRE reported. Leasing rose 8% year-over-year in 2025, while suburban activity fell 7% over the same period.

In Indianapolis, those numbers are much lower: Just 17% of leases during the same timeframe were located downtown.

The stats are not too worrisome to experts, as Indianapolis typically lags behind the bigger coastal markets, Forslund said. But Indianapolis will need to decide where it wants to go in the future, whether that means upgrading older buildings or converting more empty space to apartments and hotels.

“I refer to it as we are still in our teenage years, trying to figure out what we want to be,” Forslund said.

Indy employers will have to get more creative, or less picky, in the near future as supply dries up on the booming north side market. For instance, Midtown Carmel sits virtually full. And just one commercial office building for rent is under construction in Hamilton County, the Union at Fishers District, a mixed-use development with luxury office space set to open in early 2027 next to IKEA.

Elsewhere around the area, companies are constructing build-to-own properties but those won’t be available to other companies looking for open space and workstations for their employees. Those projects include Republic Airways’ corporate headquarters expansion in Carmel, a Merchants Bank project in Carmel and Elanco’s new headquarters, which opened in October on the west side of Indianapolis.

As building new office space has become more and more expensive, more landlords are choosing to reinvest in and upgrade their existing offices in a bid to make them more attractive, Svarczkopf said.

“Based on the way the market is right now, they have to upgrade in order to compete,” Svarczkopf said. “The ones that have been successful have gone through the process of reinvesting in the property.”

Even with upgrades, the competition will be hot. At Indiana Members Credit Union, employees have responded well to the new office, executives said. Many amenities, like indoor parking that is patrolled, are not available elsewhere downtown.

“It just answered a lot of the questions we had and the amenities we wanted to provide for our team,” Newett said.

Alysa Guffey writes business and development stories for IndyStar. Have a story tip? Contact her at amguffey@usatodayco.com.

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Indianapolis, IN

Noblesville man arrested, accused of rape of UIndy student in dorm room

Published

14 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Noblesville man arrested, accused of rape of UIndy student in dorm room

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A 21-year-old man was arrested and accused of raping a University of Indianapolis student on campus.

Police say the investigation began on Jan. 24 when University of Indianapolis Police received a call from a woman who said she believed she was drugged at a bar in downtown Indianapolis and then raped in her dorm room.

Court documents say she met Marwan Khalaf of Noblesville at the Metro Bar on Massachusetts Avenue and went back to her dorm room, where he repeatedly raped her. When she woke up one of the last times, he was gone.

According to court documents, she next went to shower and passed out again. She woke up in the shower at 7 a.m. Jan. 24 and called 911.

The student told investigators she had gone out alone on Jan. 23 and took an Uber to a few bars downtown before arriving at the Metro Bar at 12:51 a.m. Jan. 24. Court documents state that’s where she met Khalaf and they danced together.

Court documents say the bar refused to serve the student a drink because she was already intoxicated when she arrived. Khalaf then bought her a shot and they asked her to leave. She says Khalaf left with her and offered to take her home.

The student says she recalls his car being “parked directly across the street from Metro.” According to UIPD Detective Jay Arnold, the student’s identification card was used to enter the dorm at 2:13 a.m.

In an interview with detectives, Khalaf admitted to being at the bar and kissing her, but denied having sexual contact with the student. He told detectives he took care of her because she was drunk and said he left the dorm when it became light outside because his mother was calling him.

Khalaf has been charged with two counts of rape and one count of sexual battery.

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Indianapolis, IN

We speak for ourselves in IPS-charter debate. Don’t dismiss us. | Letters

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

We speak for ourselves in IPS-charter debate. Don’t dismiss us. | Letters

LaToya Hale, Greg Henson, Dontia Dyson, Cristal Salgado and Swantella Nelson
| Indianapolis Star

The signers of a recent statement by the African American Coalition of Indianapolis questioning who speaks for the Black community raise concerns about process while our students of color continue to be left behind in a public education system that offers too little opportunity and too few positive outcomes.

We agree that parents and students should be heard, which is why we’re troubled that our voices were overlooked during the public process led by the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance. We were present at nearly every ILEA meeting, sharing our personal experiences and asking leaders to take bold action, and we spent months discussing and researching ideas before offering a series of recommendations to improve schools in both IPS and the charter sector.

For many of us, speaking up to improve public education in our city goes back years. We have consistently focused on stronger accountability for all schools within IPS and on growing what works in communities that most need quality schools. So we have to ask: Did you not hear us? Or did you choose to ignore us because our opinions don’t align with yours? Are you now trying to diminish our voices by suggesting that our affiliation with certain organizations means we can’t think or speak for ourselves?

Let us be clear. Our advocacy is driven by our own experiences, and it is these perspectives that add value to the debate we’re having as a community. We live in neighborhoods that are directly impacted by the opportunity gap. It takes courage to advocate, and when voices like ours are attacked, it discourages others in our community from standing up and speaking out.

We strongly support IPS — many of us attended the district as children and have our own students there now. We also support a system of quality charter schools, and we will continue to advocate for both despite attempts to pit sectors against one another. While these recent words and claims are unfair and deeply hurtful, we remain dedicated to bringing voices together to solve problems.

It is time to stop the toxic politics of school type and focus on progress for children, especially Black and brown students who have been harmed by a tragic opportunity gap that has existed for generations. While House Bill 1423 is not perfect, we see it as the best opportunity in many years to hold all schools accountable for improved results, expand transportation and access across IPS, and move toward financial stability across the system.

You may disagree with us on the policy, and that is OK. But please do not dismiss our voices or discount our stories, which represent so many in IPS who simply want a high-quality, safe public school experience for their children.

LaToya Hale, Greg Henson, Dontia Dyson, Cristal Salgado and Swantella Nelson are Indianapolis parents.

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