October 13, 2023

Developers withdraw rezoning petition after neighbors, advocates oppose plan

Cornerstone Companies and GCG Investments proposed a project that would have transformed over 200 acres of land at and around Eagle Creek Park into a commercial area. They withdrew their rezoning petition after significant opposition from neighbors and environmental advocates. - (WFYI News/Abriana Herron)

Cornerstone Companies and GCG Investments proposed a project that would have transformed over 200 acres of land at and around Eagle Creek Park into a commercial area. They withdrew their rezoning petition after significant opposition from neighbors and environmental advocates.

(WFYI News/Abriana Herron)

A development team withdrew a rezoning petition in northwestern Indianapolis after neighbors and environmental advocates expressed concerns with the project.

Cornerstone Companies and GCG Investments backed out of the development project they had been working on for a year. They cited the overwhelming opposition from residents and advocates as the reason why.

Jeff Stant is the executive director at the Indiana Forest Alliance, one of the organizations that came out in opposition to the project. He said he is thankful that the developers pulled plans, but city officials need to do more to protect greenspaces in Indianapolis.

“You saved this forest for now,” he said. “But if we want to permanently protect the valuable forest and green space, this has to be the start of a continuing discussion with the city's leaders about how to save important forest and green space that remains in Marion County.”

The proposed project would have transformed over 200 acres of land at and around Eagle Creek Park into a commercial area. This includes forests and wetlands.

In a press release, the developers said the project would have generated more than $4 million in tax revenue and brought about 8,000 jobs to Pike Township.

Since 2021, Indiana has lost more than 260 acres of wetlands since lawmakers removed protections.

The rezoning petition was approved by the Indianapolis City-County Council Metropolitan Development committee in August. A final hearing was set for next Oct. 16.

Contact digital editor Abriana Herron at aherron@wfyi.org.

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