INDIANAPOLIS — A partnership between neighbors — a developer and a nonprofit — will help build community in a rapidly changing downtown historic district while providing substantial savings to the nonprofit’s expansion. Milhaus Development, LLC has offered to assist IndyFringe with the upcoming expansion of its headquarters/performance space at 719 E. St. Clair St., “on the fringe” of the intersection of St. Clair, Massachusetts Ave., and College Ave.
Just south of this intersection in the Chatham Arch Historic District will be Circa, Milhaus’s most recent development project that begins construction in August. With Circa, Milhaus will blend modern and historic by renovating the historic Mitchel & Scott Machine Company building and add four new buildings to create a 235-unit community that will also include live-work spaces.
Milhaus and IndyFringe struck an agreement that would provide benefits to the nonprofit, as well as help provide an expanded attraction for those who will be renting the apartments in the nearby community. During the construction of the Circa property, Milhaus will lend its expertise to the construction of the 2,100-square-foot IndyFringe addition.
In return, Milhaus and one of its properties will be a lead sponsor of the IndyFringe Festival (August 15 – August 25 this year) for three years. Artistry, a Milhaus project at 451 E. Market St., is a sponsor this year, Circa will serve in that role for the 2014 festival, and a property to be named will be a sponsor in 2015.
Over the past eight years, IndyFringe has averaged 10 percent growth, 114,000 have attended shows at the festival and the IndyFringe Basile Theatre. IndyFringe purchased the property in 2012 and upgraded the alley and parking to ADA specifications. The second phase of the Capital Campaign is the Trailhead Community Centre. $100,000 remains to be raised and will be matched by the Herbert Simon Family Foundation.
The addition will include a 65-seat multi-purpose space for size-appropriate performances and an additional festival stage to complement the 100-seat Basile Theatre. Between the two performance spaces will be a central court, named the Trailhead to denote its proximity to the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. It will contain an elevator, ticket office, foyer, restrooms, and green room for performers.
