David Flaherty

Whole Foods Market to anchor Market Square Mixed-Use Development

Market SquareFlaherty & Collins Properties announced Tuesday that a 40,000 square foot Whole Foods Market will anchor the forthcoming Market Square Mixed-Use Development.

“This will be one of the finest mixed-use towers in the Midwest, if not the country,” says David Flaherty, CEO of Flaherty & Collins Properties. “With the tremendous value Whole Foods Market will add to future residents and to downtown, this is truly a great win for the city of Indianapolis.”

Flaherty & Collins was selected by the City of Indianapolis to redevelop the north parcel of the former Market Square Arena site last July. The 28-story residential luxury apartment tower will feature 300 luxury apartment units, ranging from studios to two-bedrooms. In addition to Whole Foods Market, the project will have 2,500 square feet of retail space and a 525-space parking garage. The apartments will feature floor to ceiling glass, balconies, wood flooring, stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops. Residential amenities will include a resort style pool and deck, state of the art fitness and amenity spaces.

“Great, convenient shopping is a must-have for thousands of people moving to downtown Indy,” said Mayor Greg Ballard. “The addition of Whole Foods Market to the MSA residential tower project provides another great shopping destination for people living and working downtown, and is another reason why so many people are choosing to Live Indy.”

Whole Foods, which will be located on the southwest corner of the site, has stores in mixed-use developments in larger cities throughout the nation, including Boston, Chicago, Washington DC and New York City. Now, Indianapolis can be added to that list. Whole Foods Market stories feature fresh selections of natural foods, free of artificial flavors, sweeteners and preservatives. Stores offer shoppers high quality, fresh foods in an inviting setting. Each store is unique and designed to meet the needs of the neighborhoods they serve.

This new location will offer downtown residents and workers alike, fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, specialty items, high-quality meats and poultry, everyday pantry staples and sustainable seafood –appealing to the health conscious as well as devoted food enthusiasts. From the scratch bakery, shoppers will have a vast array of delicious breads and pastries, made fresh daily, to choose from.  The coffee bar will give the needed java jolt for busy shoppers. For kids of all ages, the gelato station will have the creamy, Italian treat by the scoop or by the pint. Downtown residents and workers will delight in the extensive prepared food options for lunch as well as the quick-and-savory meals for dinner.

In March, the Indianapolis City-County Council voted to move forward with the $81 million project that will change the skyline of the city. Jim Crossin, Vice President of Development at Flaherty & Collins, said that construction will begin this fall and will take just over two years to complete.

“We are looking forward to starting the project,” said Crossin. “We believe it will take downtown living to a new level, which is befitting the growth, activity and enthusiasm happening around the city of Indianapolis. What a great time it is to be in and around downtown.”

“With this new centrally located store in Indiana’s capital, Whole Foods Market will increase access to healthy and organic options to downtown residents and workers,” says Michael Bashaw, Whole Foods Market Midwest Regional President. “Located just down the street of the historic Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, this new store will allow us to share our passion for food with the vibrant community in and around the Market East district.”

Flaherty & Collins Properties are completing three new mixed-use developments in 2014. Axis, located in downtown Indianapolis, will open this summer and features over 300 luxury apartments and more than 25,000 square feet of exterior amenity space. The Heights Linden Square in Gladstone, Missouri, just outside of Kansas City, will open later this summer, while The Depot at Nickel Plate in Fishers, Indiana will be completed this fall.

F&C Gives Thanks by Giving Back

Mozel Sanders Donation

Last week, we celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday by giving back. Thanks in large part to the fine leadership of our President, Jerry Collins, our CEO, David Flaherty and our Vice President of Asset and Property Management, Jill Meals-Herron, community involvement is a big part of our company culture. We put together a food drive with an incentive: the community to gather the most canned goods would receive an extra paid vacation day!

On Tuesday, Nov. 26, Flaherty & Collins Properties donated over 2,600 canned foods to the Mozel Sanders Foundation for the organization’s annual Thanksgiving Day campaign, in conjunction with a $3,000 donation from Vision Communities, Inc., a not-for-profit organization. Many of Flaherty & Collins managed properties participated in the food drive, and those not located in the Indianapolis area are working with local food pantries throughout the holiday season and into 2014 to ensure that families in need receive food and non-perishable items.

These properties include: Dunedin, Millennium Place (Muncie), Vision 1505, Steeplechase at Parkview, The Reserve at Dawson’s Creek, Westwood Crossing, Westlake, Amber Woods, Black Bear Creek, Island Club, and Greenfield Crossing. Several communities are also participating in Toys for Tots, which is organized by the US Marine Corps. Westlake, our contest winner, collected over 1,600 canned goods alone.

Westlake

“We feel it is important to support our communities and the greater Indianapolis community,” said Jill Meals-Herron. “We’re so proud of the effort of our team to give back to the communities we live and work in.”

In 2012, the foundation served more than 40,000 hot meals to families in need on Thanksgiving Day, in addition to 400,000 pounds of staple goods and groceries. During the Annual Thanksgiving Day campaign, Mozel Sanders solicits help from roughly 3,000 volunteers and 45 satellite sites, which make the mission of providing food and goods to families in need possible.

Amber Woods

In addition, nearly 50 Flaherty & Collins employees volunteered Tuesday evening at Amber Woods, located on the far east side of Indianapolis, to help distribute over 900 bags of groceries to those in need. The distribution was in conjunction with Hazel Dell Christian Church in Carmel, which donated the goods and assisted in delivery. It was a great experience, as many volunteers battled a cool night to unload trucks, sort bags of groceries and household items and then assist residents by helping take the bags back to their apartments.

Now, as the calendar has turned to December and with the holidays just around the corner, our communities are working with Toys for Tots to help find some good toys in need of a good home. Thanks for all of our wonderful staff for their giving of time, talent and treasure.