The obituary for downtown was premature. Hendricks just made a huge bet that proves the heart of cities will thrive. After years of speculation over Circle Centre Mall's future, Hendricks purchased the property with a bold $600M plan to reinvent it as a mixed-use village. This massive redevelopment signals downtown Indianapolis remains desirable for businesses and residents. People want convenient access to their whole lives in one place - especially millennials and Gen Z. This project will give them just that in the heart of Indy. Kudos to Hendricks Commercial Properties for thinking outside the box. Deconstructing interior corridors to build an outdoor pedestrian corridor is bold, but it aligns with how communities want to experience public space today. It will be fascinating to see what creative tenants this draws. With walkable amenities, housing, and a campus-like setup, this has the potential to reinvent retail and reinvent downtown Indy at the same time. Developers in other cities would be wise to study this case. Underperforming malls present a huge opportunity for placemaking when you think creatively. I'm excited to follow Hendricks' progress at Circle Centre. This could be a gamechanger for downtown Indianapolis' continued growth.
