Broad Ripple approves new high rise apartment building
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Broad Ripple is growing, not just in population but in height.
The Broad Ripple Village Association approved another high rise apartment building to be built in the neighborhood, this time right along the Monon Trail near 64th Street.
It would mark the fourth high rise, modern apartment to be built in area within the last few years.
Broad Ripple doesn’t just have a certain look, it’s got it’s own vibe.
“A lot more laid back,” said Casey Kouch. He works at a restaurant in the neighborhood. “A lot of patios, just sit and have a beer or two, grab some food, go for a run,” he said as a runner passed by along Monon. “It’s like downtown but more chill.”
Some people would prefer it stays that way.
“I kind of appreciate kinda the small village kind of feel, and I feel like these kind of tall buildings that are coming in are taking away from that,” said Chloe Tod.
The Coil is one of the tall buildings Tod is talking about. It’s being built along College Avenue and includes apartments, town homes, a Fresh Thyme grocery store and other shops. It stands about six stories high and is currently the tallest structure in the neighborhood.
A few blocks north, Park 66 Flats is in the early stages of being built, adding another tall, modern looking living space to the quaint corner. It will stand near the corner of 66th and Ferguson Street, just south of the Indianapolis Art Center.
And right along the Monon, two more apartment buildings could call the neighborhood home.
The city already approved a six story complex where an office building currently stands at 6311 Westfield Boulevard. It would be 80 feet tall, making it even taller than the Coil. It will include 104 units, a 110 space parking garage, and retail space.
Most recently, the BRVA approved a proposal for a 136 unit, two building complex to go in between Westfield Boulevard and the Monon Trail at 64th Street. It would replace the old Roger’s Pool site.
“I couldn’t imagine (the apartment) really taking away from what (Broad Ripple) is, I mean just now more people would live closer,” said Kouch.
That’s the mindset the Broad Ripple Village Association took when it set out a few years ago to increase the neighborhood’s population by adding more apartments. BRVA president Kent Springer said the goal was to bring about 1700 residents to the area.
“We’ve all seen the growth of Mass Avenue and the popularity. We see Fountain Square’s popularity growing,” Springer said. “We still want the character and charm of Broad Ripple to remain intact, but we also want to remain competitive with the other areas of town.”
Springer said the developers have been respecting the neighborhood’s image and feel.
“They’re being very good about installing trees and watching the setback for the Monon Trail. So they’re really working with us to make it really pedestrian friendly,” Springer said.
The development that the BRVA approved Tuesday night will go before the city’s Metropolitan Development Committee next month. If it’s approved, that would increase the total of new living units coming to Broad Ripple to more than 500 when combined with the other three apartment buildings, starting with The Coil.
But Springer said the new retail space that would go below many of the units is equally important to the area. He feels having more shops and restaurants, not just bars, will attract people to move to the village. However, some worry it will still hurt the areas image.
“I mean it’s more jobs available for people but at the same time it does take away from that kind of authentic like village feel,” said Tod. “I don’t like it as much.”