A few dozen people spent their lunch hour Aug. 22 discussing City of Carmel projects as part of the Carmel Small Business Network.
Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard spoke in the city council chambers about issues such as property taxes, debt and proposed projects such as purchasing an antique carousel and constructing a luxury hotel.
Brainard told the group of business owners he’s sending his 2018 budget to the Carmel City Council and that he expects the tax rate to remain flat. He defended his plan to spend approximately $5 million to acquire an antique carousel built in 1907.
“It will make it a more interesting visit to Carmel,” he said.
Brainard also explained how it makes financial sense for the city to become part owners of a luxury hotel in the Carmel City Center area. He said most hotel chains wants to see big returns on investment, and the city is happier with smaller profit margins from the hotel because of what it will mean for economic development.
“If we’re going to give away that much in terms of incentives, why don’t we just have an ownership stake?” Brainard said.
ARTS & DESIGN DISTRICT
Carrie Holle of Highgarden Real Estate expressed concerns about business vacancies in the Carmel Arts & Design District, noting two art galleries that have closed, French Bleu Gallery and Inspire Studio Gallery. Huntington Bank also closed its location at Sophia Square.
“We’re putting a lot of effort into Midtown and the City Center area. Are we doing anything to bring some life to the Carmel Arts & Design District?” she asked.
Brainard said the city spends hundreds of thousands on that area and is doing all it can to attract visitors to Main Street. He said he the district is strong.
“We have 127 arts-related businesses, and we’re looking at two or three,” he said. “We’re not particularly worried about it.”
Brainard said Huntington’s walk-up branch was a new concept and it didn’t work out in that space because of a lack of drive-thru.
Teresa Chapman of State Farm Insurance asked about a rumored plan to tear down and replace several buildings on the south side of Main Street between Range Line Road and 1st Avenue SW.
“We are continuing to look at that as an option,” Brainard said.
PROPOSED PROJECTS
In summer 2016, Kite Realty announced plans to transform the southwest corner of 116th Street and Range Line Road by tearing down the existing strip mall and building a mixed-use development with 200 new residential units. As of May 2017, business owners in that shopping center wondered about the progress of that development. Also in summer 2016, Kite Realty announced plans for a movie theater and bowling center at the existing Hamilton Crossing Center near U.S. 31 in Carmel in a vacant space formerly occupied by Office Depot. Renderings were released for both projects. Businesses are still operating at both sites and demolition is not underway.
Brainard said he’s spoken to representatives from Kite Realty and both projects are still on track.
Brainard said he’s also still negotiating with PNC Bank on a proposal to build a mixed-use development at the corner of Main Street and Range Line Road in the PNC parking lot. Renderings have been released but no sale has been finalized.
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE
In October 2015, the Carmel City Council passed an anti-discrimination ordinance that includes protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. At the time, some Carmel residents and business owners expressed concern that if the law was passed, people would file frivolous, unsupported claims of discrimination. Almost two years later, Brainard said that hasn’t happened.
“I’m not aware of a single complaint filed, which is a good thing,” he said.
U.S. 31 CORRIDOR
Brainard was asked about his plan to transform the office-lined U.S. 31 corridor into mini-villages, where parking lots currently stand. He has proposed providing millions of dollars in taxpayer incentives to encourage the addition of restaurants, apartments and condos with parking garages in those areas.
“I think people look at those parking lots and think it is a waste of space,” Brainard said.
RANGE LINE AND MAIN ROUNDABOUT
Tim Hannon, a local doctor and entrepreneur, asked about the possibility of the City of Carmel replacing the traffic light intersection at Main Street and Range Line Road with a roundabout. Instead, he suggested the city could use a traffic officer during select hours as a low-cost way to move traffic without having to tear down the historic traffic light.
Brainard said he’s not opposed to the idea and notes that it’s common in Europe. He said it’s too early to decide what to do about that intersection because additional roads are in the works, such as new east-west streets connecting the Midtown area and north-south roads along the Monon Greenway. He said it’s possible that could alleviate congestion because motorists will have more roads to use.
ZONING
Mike Hollibaugh, director of the city’s Dept. of Community Services, spoke about zoning changes coming to Carmel, such as a Unified Design Ordinance that has been approved by the Carmel Plan Commission. Basically, it’s a replacement for the city’s zoning ordinance and map that should streamline the planning process and allow for more mixed-use developments in some areas.
“This is the first phase. and it will take our subdivision ordinance and integrate it into our zoning codes so it’s one document,” he said. “It’s streamlined and much more simplified.”
SMALL BUSINESSES
Brainard also spoke about Carmel’s population growth, saying the city could soon reach 100,000 residents. For 2016, it’s been estimated that Carmel had a population of 91,374. Hollibaugh said the growth should attract more small businesses as opposed to chains.
“I think over time, as Carmel’s population fills out, we will have more small businesses,” Hollibaugh said.
