Carmel, Pedcor to announce plans for additions at City Center

Plans to construct six new buildings at Carmel City Center, the centerpiece of the city’s downtown cultural and retail district, will be announced Tuesday.

Pedcor, the city’s private partner, released little information late Friday on how the construction would fit into the commercial and residential hub. But a hotel and additional shopping spaces have been discussed for the Downtown area near the Palladium and The Center for the Performing Arts.

Earlier this year, Mayor Jim Brainard reiterated the desire of having an up-scale hotel built in City Center. Brainard could not immediately be reached for comment.

Conceptual designs will be shown at a 1:15 p.m announcement at Plaza at Carmel City Center, 719 Hanover Place. Brainard, city council members and others are expected to attend.

City Council President Rick Sharp knew little about the plans Friday, but expects Pedcor is following through with the vision council members have long wanted for Downtown.

“We think it is vitally important for City Center to be completed,” he said. “It sits across form the Monon as a $200 million investment. And it will add to the success in the Arts and Design district.”

Yet Sharp said the the project could face questions if Pedcor requests financial assistance, a move he doesn’t anticipate. Some council members have been critical of city spending on redevelopment after massive spending led to a $185 million bond package a year ago to refinance debit of the Carmel Redevelopment Commission.

The foundation for City Center can be traced backed 16 years when Brainard unveiled plans for a new downtown. In 2004, Pedcor was tapped to the build the City Center project at Range Line Road and City Center Drive.

Expansive development of mixed-use projects continued since. The Mezz, a $6 million luxury apartments and business office complex, and, The Nash, a $10 million a three-story building with apartments and commercial space, are in various stages in City Center.

Call Star reporter Eric Weddle at (317) 444-6222. Follow him on Twitter: @ericweddle.