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Town breaks ground on upscale residential, retail development in Speedway

1300 Block should be completed in time for next year's Indy 500.

SPEEDWAY, Ind. — A ceremonial groundbreaking was held Tuesday at a new upscale development planned along Speedway’s Main Street.

1300 Block is a downtown project with an uptown feel.

On the 1300 block of Main Street, the project includes penthouse condos, loft apartments, restaurant and retail space along with a public plaza.

“So it's highly visible, a lot of traffic in the shadow of IMS,” said Tim Gropp, Speedway's economic development director. "This is the project we wanted to make sure we got right, because it's going to be the centerpiece for years to come.”

The owner of Charlie Brown's at the south end of Main Street is glad to see the changes. Liz Glover recalls the days when Main Street wasn't the place to be.

“It looked like a bombed-out Beruit. I thought it looked terrible, I mean, the trash."

But in the last decade, Main Street has turned, drawing new businesses - several related to racing - along with new restaurants, breweries and the Wilshaw apartments.

“Anything that can enhance Speedway I'm for, as long as it's in reason and kept with the way Speedway is,” said Janet Cotton, a Speedway resident.

Glover said Main Street may look different, “but it still has the same heart and soul. The people of Speedway love Speedway.”

Town officials hope they'll love this new project as well. Construction will begin sometime after race day, and the new development will be open in time for next year’s Indy 500.    

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