A long vacant lot on North Meridian St. will be home to the new Central Indiana Regional Headquarters of the Red Cross.
The Red Cross broke ground on a new $9.9 million, 23,000 square foot facility Wednesday morning. The move is part of a land swap deal that includes the Indianapolis Fire Department moving into the Red Cross’s old space near 10th and New Jersey streets and a new mixed-use development on the old fire station site along Mass Ave.
David Greene, Central Indiana Red Cross board chairman says the new building will also provide greater visibility for the organization.
"You don’t want somebody to say 'well I can't find the Red Cross,' now they will be able to drive up and down Meridian St. and easily locate us," says Greene.
The headquarters will be built the site of a car dealership that vacated the property just south of Meridian and 16th in 2007.
The Red Cross scaled back original plans after changing architects last year. The new headquarters will be in line with a national design standard that takes into account a more mobile and cooperative organization.
Last year theRed Cross helped over 2,000 Hoosier families with immediate emergency needs.
