INDIANAPOLIS - As the City of Indianapolis decides whether a dilapidated east side motel is an eyesore or a landmark, the fate of an $8.7 million development is on hold.
The Irvington Development Organization recently gained control of the Indy East Motel, 5855 East Washington Street with plans to demolish it. IDO agreed to partner with a developer on a mixed-use project involving affordable housing and some retail.
But the plan hit a snag after Indiana Landmarks recently argued against demolition, citing the motel's historical value.
John Crispino who works for an insurance agency across the street from the motel said he's been looking forward to seeing the building come down.
"It's become so dilapidated, I don't think there's any advantage to keeping it the way it is. It would be nice to finally get the ball rolling as it's just been sitting there vacant," he said.
Longtime Irvington resident Mary Ethel Stahl agrees.
"I remember when it first was there. My sister had her wedding night there. It was a beautiful place, but time goes on," said Stahl.
In latter years the motel became known for drugs and prostitution with the city finally shutting it down in January 2009.
"For the last two years it's been a nasty vacant building," said Amandula Henry.
But Henry has hoped for not much longer. Henry heads the IDO, which considered several proposals for the site and decided on the affordable housing project.
"We've got a lot of things happening on the street," she said. "This is the next step to making a solid community and bringing Irvington back to the face of Washington Street."
Last week, the IDO went before the city's Historic Preservation Commission to get approval for a zoning change and demolition, two items they thought would be fairly routine. While the commission approved the zoning change, they continued the demolition petition until October after Indiana Landmarks objected.
Landmark's Chad Lethig said the motel is an example of mid-century modern architecture and has historic significance.
Landmark's Facebook page reads, "While the Indy East Motel may not raise to the level of a 'must save,' Indiana Landmarks views it as contributing to the historic character of the National Road, emblematic of the pre-interstate period when such motels dotted the first cross-country highway, now more commonly recognized as US 40."
Elizabeth Mork, who lives behind the motel in a 1910 house she's renovating, sees otherwise.
"I love historic buildings, but honestly this is not a historic building. If it was, I'd be the first to stand up an save it," she said.
Mork, who also has background in historic preservation, said she's baffled by Indiana Landmark's position.
"It doesn't fit the character of the neighborhood, it's not a historic building and it's in very poor condition and obviously there's the question of who would pay for it," she said.
Lethig said there is a developer with a proven track record of saving and restoring historic structures who has a plan for the site. He wants to turn it into an artist colony. But it's not the plan Henry's group chose.
While Henry said she's "disappointed" by the opposition to demolition, she doesn't see it as a setback. She said there's still time to work things out and keep the project on schedule.
If the plan wins approval from the preservation commission, it still needs final approval from the Metropolitan Development Commission. Henry said the goal is to break ground in October of 2012.
