Kris Schubach/Eyewitness News
Indianapolis, Oct. 21 - Long before the condos and the office buildings, Buggs Temple made its home on the canal. One of the first African-American churches in the city, soon to become one of the canal's most popular destinations.
Kathleen Haberthy says she is "all for it."
Visitor's to the canal enjoy the scenery, but say despite the beauty, something's missing. "I've always wished they could put restaurants here," says Haberthy, a visitor to the canal.
Plans are in the works to turn the century old temple, vacant for 10 years, from an eyesore to an asset as a place for public consumption.
"We're gonna provide a neat atmosphere from 5:30 a.m. to midnight." John Bales is one of a group of local developers who plan to turn the rundown old building into a restaurant, coffee shop and ice cream parlour.
Moe and Johnny's, a popular Broad Ripple pub will make a home inside the two-story building as will locally owned Ritters Frozen Custard and an unnamed coffeehouse chain.
The building is in bad shape, but developers hope to make it a place people want to visit, with indoor and outdoor dining and an atmosphere reminiscent of its history.
Dorothy Jones is with a neighborhood organization. "We have nice new buildings, but to have building to remind us that once upon a time, that's the whole idea."
Sandwiched between the Clarian People Mover and the new home of the Indiana University School of Medicine, the venue should draw plenty of business. But it's not expected to start a restaurant chain reaction along the canal. Only a new life for an old building many left for dead.
The project is pending approval from the city's metropolitan development commission. That's expected in a couple of weeks. Construction will take about 12 months to complete.
And all it cost the developers to buy the building from the city was $1. But they'll spend $1.3 million on work.
One more amenity, it will also have public restrooms, relief for those who walk or jog along the canal.
