The $150 million transformation of the Midtown area is ready to begin soon. Old Town Design Group recently went before the Carmel Plan Commission with detailed proposals for two of the buildings.
Old Town Design Group announced in September 2014 that it will redevelop 11 acres east of the Monon Trail between the Carmel Arts & Design District and the Carmel City Center.
Announced tenants include a bank headquarters, a coffee-wine bar, a co-working space and a city market. A parking garage is part of the plan, and public tax increment financing has been discussed but not voted on by the Carmel City Council.
As a result, some – but not all – businesses have already begun their plans to close and relocate. This mostly affects a block of tenants closer to Range Line Road.
Miller Auto Care is one of those businesses, which is why Old Town has submitted plans to construct a new building that will enable Miller Auto to relocate without closing. This new building, at 522 S. Range Line Road, would be built before Miller Auto Care’s existing building would be demolished to make way for a parking structure to support Midtown office workers.
The other building that had its plans submitted will house the new headquarters for Merchants Bank. This building, at 350 1st Avenue SW, will also house a new “city market” concept that will bring together vendors for fresh produce, seafood and meat, an Indiana brewery, an Indiana-based wine producer tasting room and a bakery.
Kwik-Kleen Laundry announced that it is closing for good on Aug. 31 according to signs posted all around the store. The owners had planned on selling the building even before Old Town Design announced the Midtown project.
During the month of August, Kwik-Kleen staff will move equipment out and an attendant won’t always be on duty. They will relocate to 726 South 10th St. in Noblesville.
Amanda’s City-Chic Consignment is also considering a move since the building will be demolished when construction begins. Owner Amanda Newman said it might be some time before construction starts and she wants her customers to know that she isn’t going anywhere just yet.
“As of now, we have received no notification, phone calls or such from our landlord or the midtown developers so we do not have a time frame,” Newman said. “However, we will hopefully have an exciting announcement (in the month of August).”
