The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page A3

INDYSTAR FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014 A3 METRO City joins GM site suitors Old stamping plant is best spot for justice center, mayor says By John Tuohy john.tuohyindystar.com pic MONON USERS It was like swapping an ugly duckling for a homecoming queen. City planners Thursday scrapped an unpopular location for the new criminal justice center for one much closer to Downtown. In picking the shuttered General Motors stamping plant at 340 S. White River Parkway West Drive, they rejected a consultant's recommendation that the judicial center be built near the old Indianapolis International Airport. But it's not a done deal the site alongside the White River has many suitors.

Judges, lawyer groups and community activists had said that the airport area was too difficult to get to for people who have to appear in court. Mayor Greg Ballard agreed. "It's clear that the land previously occupied by the GM Stamping Plant is the best choice in terms of cost, accessibility and available space needed for this project," Ballard said. But just because the city wants to erect the courthouse and jail at the stamping plant site doesn't mean it's a done deal. Five other offers, including one for a music amphitheater, already have been made to the property owner to develop the 100-acre site along the White River and more are expected.

The land is owned by RACER Trust, the entity established to sell and clean up the land after GM went bankrupt in 2008, and officials said the city's bid will be considered without favorit FACE DETOURS Angelique Peck, Indianapolis, ran on the Monon Greenway near the 116th Street bridge on Thursday, mattdetrich photosh-he star Carmel will close southern portion of popular trail for repaying clist. "That part of the trail gets used by runners a lot, too." Parks spokeswoman Lindsay Labas said project officials are hoping to minimize the inconvenience; the trail gets more than 1 million users each year. "We are in the midst of kind of figuring out how we're going to make that work," Labas said, noting that officials may try to schedule the construction for times that won't affect the public. The construction plan primarily will depend on costs, but likely will include detours of some kind, said Councilman Ron Carter, a cycling en thusiast. "Now, will cyclists be happy? Probably not," he acknowledged.

"But I know the parks will try to get it done as rapidly as possible." While detours will help many riders, Carter said some will just turn around, and others may ignore them entirely and ride past the barricades. "It's a hard thing to be able to work with bicycle riders as far as detours are concerned," he said. Cook, who often commutes to Indianapolis along the trail, is taking the inconvenience in See MONON, Page A7 By Brian Eason brian.easonindystar.com The next time the mercury hits 60 degrees, Carmel residents may want to take advantage of the Monon Green-way. As early as next month, the southern portion of the popular path could be closed for repaying. The Carmel Clay Parks Board this week agreed to solicit bids on the project, and hired a consultant, the Schneider to do the design work.

Construction will stretch from 96th Street north to 116th Street, but until the project is designed, parks v- jit The repavmg work will shut the southern portion of the trail as early as next month. officials can't say how long the path will be closed or how the closures will be staggered. "If they do that, they better do it quick," said Fishers resident John Cook, an avid cy ism. "RACER is not a proponent of any use," said Bruce Rasher, the trust redevelopment manager. "We have five proposals and are open to accepting additional offers." All the bids are sealed, and Rasher declined to characterize them.

But the waterfront property appears to be in high See GM, Page A16 This time, neighbors hope bar stays shut for good Lack of transparency contributed to IPS' budget surprise Jp Matthew Tully Columnist Sit By Justin L. Mack usti n. macki ndystar.com Neighbors said the small Eastside bar often attracted trouble. A 17-year-old boy was fatally shot in the parking lot. Women working inside illegally danced topless.

Police were called to the business dozens of times. The community rallied against the bar as citations and accusations mounted. The local liquor board eventually voted to strip the tavern of its liquor license, but an appeal a few months later restored it in a move that stunned residents. That all began in 2010. Now, a few years later, El Bohemio once again has become a magnet for trouble.

Police have launched in- A court hearing today could determine whether El Bohemio, 4002 E. Washington remains closed or is allowed to reopen. MICHELLE PEMBERTONTHE STAR First, it felt more than a bit strange to create a file for this column titled, "The IPS Budget Surplus." Talk about something I never expected to write. Second, it appears we are still in the fact-finding stage of this story and it probably will be a while before we have the complete picture of the district's budget one marred for years by a lack of transparency. As a friend who spent years working in government budgeting offices told me in an email Thursday, "Even actual revenue versus expenses can produce misleading conclusions if you don't fully understand the enterprise's financial structure." And IPS' financial structure is obviously complicated.

Nonetheless, what a remarkable, potentially game-changing development this is. As new IPS Superintendent Lewis Ferebee tells it, the dire $30 million budget deficit storyline he inherited was at best smoke and mirrors. The reality, he announced this week, appears to be a pattern of overestimated expenses that See TULLY, Page A4 vestigations. Employees have been charged with prostitution and drug dealing. Last weekend, a temporary court order closed the bar.

A court hearing today may decide whether the bar stays closed, and many neighbors are hopeful that El Bohemio has run out of chances. "(El Bohemio) has not been a positive influence on this neighborhood whatsoever," said Tom Jackson, See BAR, Page A16 FLYING TOASMRS OKI My Yellow Rickshaw, 2 5 The Flying Toasters, 7 -10 STREET UTMIII Jklndianapolis Downtown he" MM GEORGE KILLIANS SKlfYVODKA.