By Dave Stafford, www.theindianalawyer.com
Three groups chosen to design proposals for a Criminal Justice Center on the former General Motors stamping plant site west of downtown Indianapolis will have until the end of June to submit their plans, a city official said Friday.
Indianapolis Director of Enterprise Development David Rosenberg told judges of the Marion Superior Executive Committee the city sent out requests for proposals last week. Development teams have a month to comment or ask questions before the June deadline.
The project envisions a complex costing several hundred million dollars that would combine new facilities for the Marion County Jail, Marion Superior criminal courts and various other court functions.
Judges asked if there were any environmental remediation concerns regarding the former industrial site, and Rosenberg said the RACER Trust, which owns the property, is responsible for any remediation needed to return the property to use.
Rosenberg explained the successful developer will purchase the property from the independent trust that owns the property as the result of GM’s bankruptcy. The trust has an obligation to sell GM’s legacy properties at prices that approximate fair market value.
The successful bidder would arrange financing for the land purchase and construction, and the city would sign a long-term lease for the facility under the plan championed by Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and Marion County Sheriff John Layton.
The chosen development team also would acquire the balance of the 110-acre site on the west bank of White River south of Washington Street. The Criminal Justice Complex is planned to occupy only about one-third of the western portion of the site.
Officials have said savings realized by eliminating inefficiencies and office rent would fund the project and that no tax increase would be required.
Groups chosen to respond to a request for proposals are:
- WMB Heartland Justice Partners, led by equity members Meridiam Infrastructure Indy Justice LLC, Balfour Beatty Investments Inc. and Walsh Investors LLC with major non-equity contributions by Walsh Construction Co. II LLC, Heery International Inc., Cofely Services Inc., Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP; and Dewberry Architects.
- Indy Justice Partners, led by equity members Fengate Capital Management Ltd., AECOM Global Fund I LP and Shiel Sexton Co. Inc., with major contributions by W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Co., Tishman Construction Corp. and Johnson Controls. Frost Brown Todd LLC attorneys are non-equity members.
- Plenary Edgemoor Justice Partners, led by Plenary Group USA Ltd. and Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate LLC. Major non-equity members are Clark Construction Group LLC, F.A. Wilhelm Construction Co. Inc., HDR Architecture Inc. and CBRE. Krieg DeVault LLP is a non-equity member.
According to the city’s timeline, a favored proposal will be chosen and introduced to the City-County Council in September.
