The Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals Division 3 unanimously approved a special exception for an 11‑story mixed‑use structure at 21 Virginia Avenue that will add an enclosed parking garage, retail space and residential units adjacent to the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.

Virginia Street Capital LLC, represented by attorney Kyle Russeteritz of Dentons, sought the special exception to allow a multi‑level parking garage with vehicular access from Maryland Street. The project as revised calls for roughly 290 parking spaces (including three van spaces), 90 residential units and multiple retail storefronts; the design also includes a subterranean level and a pedestrian tunnel connecting 21 Virginia to 1 Virginia.

Petitioners and project architects emphasized design measures to improve the building’s pedestrian fronting along the Cultural Trail and said the plan had been revised to remove a curb cut on Virginia Avenue and reduce vehicular access conflicts. "We have already incorporated those [commitments] into the design that will be considered," petitioner counsel said, noting the project had been revised following staff review.

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail, represented by executive director Karen Haley, said the organization supported the staff report and asked that the staff‑recommended conditions and commitments remain in place to ensure coordination during construction and restoration and to protect trail standards. Staff recommended approval after the petitioner revised the plans to eliminate the Virginia Avenue curb cut, reduce parking slightly (from 306 to 290), and add a fifth residential floor (raising units from 78 to 90). Staff emphasized that facade details and final materials remain subject to the Regional Center design‑review process.

After sidebar discussions among staff, petitioner and the Cultural Trail representatives, the parties agreed to a set of commitments: (1) architectural treatments and artistic screening where the garage is visible would be made a condition of approval and (2) any rebuilding of any portion of the Cultural Trail or plaza construction shall be coordinated with the Indianapolis Cultural Trail and follow the Cultural Trail standards applicable to this block; the parties also agreed to include a clause that the commitments are subject to modification by the Regional Center hearing examiner if necessary.

The board voted 5–0 in favor. The approval notice recorded Percy Bland, Brian Hannon, Joanna Taft, Rhianna Bender and Rod Bohannon voting yes. The board’s action was subject to the agreed condition and the commitments to coordinate with the Cultural Trail entity.

Next steps: The project is scheduled for Regional Center design review (public hearing) later this week; facade details and final materials will be resolved there and may be modified from the renderings included with the BZA filing.