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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe former General Motors stamping plant west of downtown Indianapolis is Mayor Greg Ballard's preferred location for a new criminal justice complex, his office announced Thursday afternoon.
Ballard's team chose to recommend the GM property from a list of 14 potential sites, some suggested by the administration and others identified by a consultant, Gordon Hendry of CBRE. Using city-imposed criteria, Hendry analyzed and ranked each property.
The airport property southeast of Raceway Road and West Washington Street received the top rating, and the GM site had the second-highest score. CBRE gave the airport property a perfect 10 on size, suitability for use, speed to development, and a 9 on highway and bus access. But lawyers and judges lambasted that choice because it's inconvenient to them and most Marion County residents.
The project, which will replace existing facilities in disparate locations in the southeast quandrant of downtown, might cost as much as $400 million.
Marion Superior criminal court judges previously had been scheduled to receive an update about the proposed complex Thursday. Judge Linda Borges said judges now will receive a presentation at a meeting at noon Tuesday in her courtroom in the City-County Building.
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