Marion mayor hopes mixed-use project serves as catalyst for downtown development
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A conceptual rendering of the River Rock Lofts in downtown Marion. (image provided)
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A conceptual rendering of the River Rock Lofts in downtown Marion. (image provided)
The Marion City Council is set to consider a proposal Tuesday for a $10.8 million mixed-use development in the city’s downtown riverfront district.
Known as River Rock Lofts, the project would add 44 apartments, 3,300 square feet of commercial space, and a public plaza for community use along the city’s riverwalk.
Mayor Ronald Morell said the project would serve as a “pivotal landmark development” that is designed to spur economic opportunity in downtown Marion.
Morrell, who was elected last November, told Inside INdiana Business that he had a vision to create a walkable and dense downtown.
“The city of Marion hasn’t had anything new developed from ground up of this magnitude in over a decade,” he said. “So being able to add something like this to our downtown will be tremendous to be able to attract and retain young professionals and empty nesters to our downtown, to be able to create a space where people are proud to live in.”
River Rock Lofts is being developed by Fishers-based Rebar Development and Muncie-based The Ridge Group. Located between Adams and Branson streets, the development will include an indoor/outdoor courtyard, a work-from-home lounge, and indoor bike storage.
Morrell said the city isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel with this downtown development project, but he has looked to cities like Fort Wayne and Evansville, which have also made concerted efforts to make the most of their downtown riverfront areas.
“The same kind of concept and the same kind of method that they used is what we’re going to try to create here in Marion,” the mayor said. “Obviously, we’re a smaller city, but to be able to have a cornerstone development like this in the River Rock Lofts will be a huge catalyst to our economic development in our city.”
Rebar founder Shelby Bowen, a native of Marion, will lead the presentation of an economic development agreement for the project before the city council. The plan also calls for public infrastructure improvements, though details were not provided.
“River Rock Lofts has been a dream of mine for many years and we have an experienced team in place to make it successful,” Bowen said in written remarks. “Rebar Development has a track record of redevelopment projects in established downtown districts, and I’m very excited to present this opportunity to council in my hometown.”
If the project is approved by the city council, construction is expected to begin in early 2025 and be complete by the spring of 2026.
Morrell said the project will serve as a cornerstone for the city that will fuel downtown growth.
“I think it’s going to inspire so many more developments and so many more people who are already here that own existing buildings to do more. I mean, just from the announcement going out last week, there’s been so many people that have reached out that are looking to either revamp what is already here and existing or develop other spaces we have in our downtown.”
The mayor noted that existing business owners in the area have expressed excitement for the potential increase in foot traffic that new housing will bring in.
The Marion City Council is set to meet Tuesday at 6 p.m.