INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The police car that Dan Akroyd drove in “Blues Brothers 2000” will be auctioned in October in Indianapolis.

The Ford Police Interceptor in the 1998 sequel to the original “Blues Brothers” comedy, released in 1980, will be sold Oct. 5 during Mecum Auctions’ Indy Fall Special 2024 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Akroyd’s character Elwood Blues drove the car in one scene that led to a crash with what Guinness World Records calls the largest car pileup on film: 50 cars. In the scene, Elwood Blues drives from the crash, turns to the band members and tells them, “Don’t look back.”

Akroyd formerly owned the 1991 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor that carries a 351 CI V-8 engine — with $15,000 worth of modifications — and a blue interior. The car will be sold with documentation connecting it to the movie.

Mecum says Akroyd sold the car to the Slippery Noodle Inn in downtown Indianapolis.

Photos show the car for sale has an autograph and inscription from the actor on the dashboard.

The Indy Fall Special will be Mecum’s second autumn auction in Indianapolis. The auction will include 1,000 classic and collector vehicles.

Tickets to the show will be $30 for a single-day ticket, and $75 for the three-day event from Oct. 3-5. Children 12 and younger get in free.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Former NBA player Metta World Peace and other panelists on Thursday participated in the Circle City Classic’s mental health panel discussion.

The nonprofit Indiana Black Expo‘s Circle City Classic, in its 40th year, will conclude Saturday with a parade and football game.

The former Indiana Pacers player once known as Ron Artest shared his personal mental health journey and the importance of removing the stigma around seeking help. “It’s been going on before us, during our time here, and after us so it’s the opportunity to give tools, some encouragement and some support.”

Thursday’s event was billed as the first time World Peace has spoken about mental health in Indiana. He says he was particularly happy to talk to youths at Warren Central High School as they navigate changes in their lives. “It’s good to be back here, especially in Indiana, to talk about the stigmas with mental health, especially when you’re trying to become a professional, exit high school or college. What’s next?”

Cara Holdsclaw, the chief operating officer of Indiana Black Expo (IBE), says, after receiving good feedback regarding talking about mental health during IBE’s Summer Celebration in June, organizers of the Circle City Classic thought continuing the discussion was important. “We want to make sure that people know it’s OK to ask for help if they know something might not be right, and to be able to seek the help that you may need, or be able to see that somebody else in your family or friends need help as well,” Holdsclaw said.

As Masimba Taylor, the principal of Warren Central High School, sees it, the mental health discussion with students was very needed. “They always bring up mental health, and so the fact that the young people are talking about it, the fact that they’re asking for more information, and asking for help, so if we can provide even just a small bit or the opportunity to hear from professionals, then it’s everything.”

Student and football player Madden Beriault says listening to a former professional athlete tell his story and give advice is a great way for him to better his own mental health as he navigates school and sports. “Being a student-athlete is a lot of different things on your plate and a lot of different stresses from a lot of different angles, so hopefully learn how to cope with different types of stress.”

While some people may not have the resources to get the mental health support they need, World Peace — also known as Metta Sandiford-Artest — says it’s important to continue to believe in yourself even when the journey gets rough. “Practice breathing. Practice meditation. Make sure you stay spiritual and remember your core values and keep your families first. But, I also believe in collaborating with others across the board. Sometimes it’s hard to go through things on your own.”

Mental health resources

With at least $5 billion in the development pipeline, downtown Indianapolis is experiencing a commercial boom that will change the fabric of the city over the next four years.

The development projects span multiple industries, including hospitality, health, retail and residential housing. The downtown investments could also contribute taxes to an even more lucrative development in the more distant future. Most of the priciest developments outlined below fall within a special tax plan the city created to fund a potential Major League Soccer Stadium.

Regardless of whether the stadium comes to fruition, these projects suggest the city may be moving forward from the ghost town era of the pandemic and reinventing its physical landscape.

Below are the nine most expensive developments underway downtown.

IU Health Hospital Campus

Cost: $2.3 billion

Where: Southwest corner of 16th Street and Capitol Avenue

The city’s largest development sits on the north side of downtown with IU Health’s construction of its new state-of-the-art hospital complex. The project starts at the southwest corner of 16th Street and Capitol Avenue and stretches south to I-65. With a price tag of more than $2 billion, the project will consolidate IU Health’s Methodist and University hospitals into one large academic medical center.

With three 16-story towers that will alter the Indianapolis skyline, the hospital will contain more than 2 million square feet of space and 864 beds.

Though detailed plans are not yet finalized, the ground floors will include a mix of retail and dining spaces to open the development up to the surrounding community. IU Health officials also expect the opening of the medical campus to attract additional development to the neighborhood. They have said they will work with developers to avoid gentrification in the area.

The project will open in late 2027.

First look: IU Health provides peek at hospital construction, hotel-like design

Signia hotel and convention center expansion

Cost: $710 million

Where: Corner of Illinois Street and Georgia Street

One block from the convention center, a large hole in the ground is slowly but surely taking shape as the largest hotel in downtown Indianapolis.

The $510 million Signia by Hilton hotel will provide an additional 800 hotel rooms in its 40-story tower. Combined with a $200 million, 200,000-square foot expansion of the neighboring convention center, the city will eventually have the capacity to host two conventions at once.

Indianapolis provided more than $600 million in government financing for the project, which is expected to open in 2026.

Once new Signia hotel opens, Indianapolis could host larger conventions or two at once

Circle Centre Mall

Cost: $650 million

Where: 49 W. Maryland St.

After years of speculation and discussions around redevelopment, Hendricks Commercial Properties bought Circle Centre Mall earlier this year, officially signaling a new era for the mall spanning two key blocks of downtown.

Hendricks, developer of the Bottleworks District, envisions a seamless indoor-outdoor experience in the reimagined shopping center, which is expected to contain apartments and office space in addition to retail stores.

Though details are not yet finalized, the total investment for the mall redevelopment is estimated to be around $650 million, according to city documents. Hendricks has yet to announce when it will break ground on the project, which it has said will open by 2028.

CSX Building

Cost: $300 million

Where: 230 S. Pennsylvania St.

Boxcar Development LLC, an investment group led by Indiana Pacers owner Herb Simon and the rest of the Simon family, will develop an upscale 13-story, 170-room Shinola hotel and 4,000-seat entertainment venue on the site of the vacant CSX building at 230 S. Pennsylvania St.

The Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission voted 8-0 to approve the demolition of the CSX building, after city officials and developers said they could not find a use for the five-story, century-old building.

Developers hope to break ground near the end of 2024 with a targeted opening date of late 2027.

CSX building: Historic preservation commission approves Shinola hotel, demolition of CSX building

Bottleworks expansion

Cost: $300 million

Where: Corner of Massachusetts Avenue and N. College Street

Hendricks Commercial Properties continues to expand its Bottleworks District on the northeast side of downtown to provide a new era of in-office workspaces with two buildings set to open in the next year.

The Lumina Foundation moved into the building at 820 Massachusetts Ave. this year, leasing a 24,000-square-foot office on the top floor. Retail space will cover the ground floor.

City Market redevelopment

Cost: $298 million

Where: 222 E. Market Street

The once bustling City Market campus will undergo a $298 million facelift by Indianapolis-based-Gershman Partners and Indianapolis-based Citimark as the city hopes to once again establish the site as a central dining and gathering place.

Part of the redevelopment includes a conversion of the Gold Building from office space to 350 apartment units. A new tower will house 60 apartments, 8,000 square feet of office space and 22,000 square feet of retail atop the market’s current east wing.

The market closed earlier this year for a multi-year period and is expected to reopen in 2027.

Old City Hall redevelopment

Cost: $268 million

Where: 202 N. Alabama Street

Though redevelopment plans for Old City Hall are still undergoing revisions from the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission, the transformation of the long-standing civic building is one of the most highly anticipated mixed-use projects in the city’s development pipeline.

Last year, Indianapolis officers selected local developer TWG for the project after a call out for proposals.

Earlier this year, the Central Indiana Regional Development Authority approved a budget of $264 million in READI 2.0 funds for the project, nearly doubling the project from its initial $140 estimated price tag.

501 Indiana Avenue

Cost: $100 million

Where: 501 Indiana Avenue

Along the Indiana Avenue corridor, a two-story office building will soon become a 12-story apartment building, significantly changing the look and feel of the historic area on the northwest side of downtown.

The $100 million-plus development by Indiana Avenue Partners, a joint venture of the Indianapolis-based Arrow Street Development and Chatham Park Development, will include 263 residential units and a parking garage with more than 300 parking spaces and three retail spaces. Purdue University in Indianapolis students are expected to live in the apartment complex.

The project, expected to open in 2026, narrowly passed the Metropolitan Development Commission by a 4-3 vote.

More: Indiana Avenue 12-story development will go up despite lingering height concerns

Elanco Animal Health Global Headquarters

Cost: $100 million

Where: Along the White River between Washington Street and Oliver Avenue

The new Elanco Headquarters, a three-acre research facility near the former site of the GM stamping plant, will open in the spring of 2025 after the state of Indiana awarded the company an incentive package worth $106 million to move its headquarters. The city of Indianapolis pitched in another $64 million in incentives.

The innovative plant, animal and human health district, in partnership with Purdue University, could grow larger with future land purchases.

More: Purdue and Elanco to create 3-acre research facility near former GM stamping plant site

Alysa Guffey covers growth and development for IndyStar. Have a business tip or story? Contact her at amguffey@gannett.com.