Proposed downtown Indy hotel, residential tower gets new look
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A rendering of the redesigned hotel and apartment/condo tower at 222 N. Alabama St. (Image courtesy of the city of Indianapolis)
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A rendering of how the renovated Old City Hall would look as part of a redevelopment of the west side of Alabama Street. (Image courtesy of the city of Indianapolis)
Design plans for part of the Old City Hall redevelopment project in downtown Indianapolis have undergone a substantial change ahead of the city’s historic preservation commission hearing next month.
Indianapolis-based TWG Development has overhauled its design for the skyscraping tower planned at 222 N. Alabama St., immediately north of Old City Hall and considered the bulk of the $264 million redevelopment project for the west side of that block.
Plans for the exterior of the tower have morphed from a sleek, glass curtain wall to an approach in line with more traditional downtown properties—a mix of curtain wall, concrete and column coverings.
The floor count also has been reduced from the original 32 floors to 29. The 28th floor will have an exposed rooftop area in one wing of the tower, with amenities including an outdoor pool, a fitness center and a clubhouse.
The developer has submitted the new design details for the project, which was first announced a year ago, to the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission for its Sept. 4 meeting. TWG met with the IHPC earlier this year to get initial feedback.
The original plans for the project called for the tower to include 190 apartments, 24 condominiums, 150 hotel rooms and 8,000 square feet of retail and hospitality space, while the 114-year-old former city hall building would be converted into an art gallery, dining, retail and office space.
The mix of uses will remain the same, but the number of units will shift to 186 apartment units, 156 hotel rooms and 23 condominiums, according to a TWG official.
It’s not immediately known whether TWG will seek final approval for its design during the September IHPC meeting. A developer is permitted to make multiple trips to the preservation commission to receive feedback before submitting a final design.
Megan Vukusich, director of the city’s Department of Metropolitan Development said TWG continues to work with the city to find an appropriate design for the project. The commission, which falls under the DMD’s umbrella, includes architects, developers and private sector planning leaders from across Indianapolis.
“What IHPC’s board has requested is to make sure … there’s a seamless transition in the architecture from Old City Hall to a new, modern building,” Vukusich told IBJ on Tuesday. “They just want to make sure that looks seamless as you’re walking down the street, so that’s where a lot of those changes are coming from.”
The IHPC has purview over the design of the project because it includes Old City Hall, which has been designated for historic protection.
As part of its submittal, TWG indicated it plans to make extensive restorations to Old City Hall at 202 N. Alabama St., with the reinstallation of several windows throughout the property. Most have been covered in limestone infill.
The developer also wants to reinstall skylights and clean and repair existing marble flooring and other historical elements. Company officials have previously told IBJ the restoration of the building would be a massive undertaking.
The developer, which is working with Indianapolis firm StudioAxis on the design portion of the project, is still awaiting word from the Indianapolis Economic Development Corp. about whether it will receive funding through the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative.
Vukusich said it’s unclear how much the project could receive incentives, but she indicated the city remains in conversations with the IEDC about that and two other downtown projects: the Simon family’s planned redevelopment of the CSX building across from Gainbridge Fieldhouse and the revamp of Circle Centre Mall.
While city officials have said they’re open to providing funding beyond the $14 million in tax-increment financing that’s already been allocated for the project, TWG has not asked for additional assistance, Vukusich said.
The Old City Hall redevelopment is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.