WTH? Will this hurt? Will this help?
Location: 1800 block North Meridian
Though difficult to see the red brick on the greatest length of this building pre-dates the front alterations.
Remove economic motivations, remove excuses, and ask yourself: is this compatible or incompatible, good or bad, worthy or unworthy of the fine capital city of Indianapolis? Please bear in mind: the only purpose of this series is to stand for the appropriate renovation and redevelopment of the built environment of Indianapolis. No malice, no hostility, just observation and inquiry. What does this say about this area? And how can we make it better?
Buildings along Meridian Street should be required to at least have street frontages of a minimum of two stories in height and be designed in a manner to at least resemble the 1880-1930 era when major business and apartment development replaced the residential development of that part of this “great Street” to enhance its “urbanity quotient”.
For a view of the original building, by Pierre & Wright (likely designed by the architect Fran Schroeder), visit http://ddarchive.blogspot.com/2012/06/e-f-marburger-and-son-building-1819-n.html
First, the property is unfairly assessed by the county at $310,000 and the owners currently have a property tax bill due for almost $15,000. For anyone to make the appropriate changes to this property, assessments need to truly reflect what the property is worth. Secondly, the city needs to make the area a development zone with architectural guidelines with incentives to redevelop the properties along Meridian Street.
I own a property on East Market Street. I repaved a 9800 square foot parking lot at a cost of $14,000 and the county increased my taxes by 350%. I filed an appeal and was told it would not be reviewed for at least three years. Meanwhile, I have to pay the increased tax.
Without changes from the city businesses will continue to migrate outside of the county and buildings like the one in your article will continue to deteriorate.
UGH! Not to mention it destroys the continuity of the neighboring Mid Century Modern buildings.
Very true! Hope it doesn’t happen to “insurance row” north of Fall Creek…