Stutz tower.

From IBJ property lines.

"The developer behind Stutz Business Center is pushing forward on plans for a tower at the southeast corner of Senate Avenue and 11th Street. The project could be as tall as 18 stories and cost as much as $40 million, said Anne Jester, a spokeswoman for the developer, locally based Turner Woodard. Details are not finalized, and neither is financing, she said. The goal is to start construction by 2010 and complete the retail and residential project by 2012. The new building would replace a one-story cinder-block building with a LEED-certified tower. Turner Woodard has details of the project here. -->"



I am on a role with these blogs ROFL.
Anyway, I have mixed views on this. I passed the Stutz center once when we were driving to the Indiana State Museum. It is just your typical turn of the century warehouse with a few decorative touches.
However, I never thought of the potential of these empty corner lots near I-70 or even these old warehouses. I like the idea of creating smaller high-rises. All too often you see urbanites and locals desperate for the tallest and the biggest when in reality multiple smaller high rises creates a bigger affect than just one massive high rise that dominates all else.
Onto the tower.
Cheesy would describe it in my opinion. The spires and over all design remind me of something out of the 1980's. It looks like an attempt at a mix of art deco pencil design and modern spunk but really this is very cheesy and tacky. The massive letters upon its facade just makes it look worse. I never understood the thrill with putting names on high rises or massive urban structures. I've always found it in practical and tasteless.
Lighting could change all this and with a bit of creativity with the lighting it might not end up being so tacky and 1980's. I'm glad to see more development as Indianapolis continues to be the envy of Midwestern cities at least in the pace of development and downtown life.
The near North side of Indianapolis is seeing a lot of development it seems after the reopening of the Central Library.
2010 seems far but when it comes to the ‘business’ world, I suppose it is not that long.
This could be the mark of a renaissance for that part of downtown, which could meet up with the redevelopments going on in the Old North side historical district.
I suppose we shall have to wait and see how this works out.
I will not miss that cinder-block building that is for sure.