Broad Ripple Mixed-Use Project Moves Forward

A mixed use development in Broad Ripple cleared a final hurdle, Monday.

The council voted 18-10 to move the project forward.

The Metropolitan Development Commission signed off on the project and the council accepted its recommendation.

The project, on the site of a former Shell gas station, includes a Whole Foods grocery store which has drawn the ire of those such as Dan Sockrider.

"The scale of what this looks like - where as Broad Ripple's design district with 85 percent local, independent business - this is not consistent with the form based code that was just suggested with the Envision Broad Ripple Plan released in November, 2012," he said.  "We don't feel this represents the feel of the Village.  And, we also don't support tax dollars going to this development."

He says even though the council is allowing the project, the fight is not over.

"I believe the fight does continue," said Sockrider.  "I believe there's some potential that this will go to the Supreme Court."

Browning Investment's attorney Joseph Scimia sees the project as a new opportunity for the community and says he thinks it will help Broad Ripple grow.

"It will also, quite honestly I believe, be a game changer for the Broad Ripple area," said Scimia.  "It will bring much needed housing to the area.  It will bring first class retail to the area.  It will bring an investment to the area.  It will basically be a key project for the area."

The $25 million project also includes 104 apartments and 340 parking spaces.