Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Higher Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Developer outlines plan for Franciscan Alliance College of Medicine; commissioners raise housing and access questions
Summary
Ton and Blank/Franciscan Alliance presented a workshop on a proposed College of Medicine at I‑65/SR‑231; developers described phased enrollment, student housing and a $300 million investment while commissioners pressed on apartment ownership, traffic and roadway extensions.
At a workshop presentation April 27, John Gilmore of Ton and Blank, representing Franciscan Alliance, described a concept for a new College of Medicine on a 116‑acre parcel at the northeast quadrant of I‑65 and SR‑231.
"What we'd like to present to you today is a very exciting project. It's a new uh college of medicine to be built across the street from the hospital," Gilmore said, outlining early site plans that include phased classes starting about 2030, an eventual enrollment of four classes (roughly 800 total students), and a proposed 400‑unit apartment component for students and the surrounding medical campus.
Gilmore said the Franciscan board has approved $300 million for the venture and that the project team has already filed for osteopathic accreditation and begun hiring deans. He described plans to extend Mississippi Parkway north to service the campus and to negotiate a roundabout connection with INDOT at the hospital access roundabout.
Commissioners welcomed the prospect of a new medical school but repeatedly pressed the presenters on housing ownership, traffic and local controls. Several commissioners said apartments open to the public would be a “dealbreaker” for Crown Point without guarantees limiting occupancy to students or design commitments to prevent long‑term rental conversion. Gilmore said developers would pursue covenants and other tools and work with the city: "We will do everything in our power to control that, and we're happy to work with you to put some covenants in place." (John Gilmore)
The board also focused on transportation and infrastructure: commissioners asked whether the developer would fund a Mississippi Parkway extension and a crossing over a regulatory ditch near 107th Avenue, and staff noted the bridge/crossing would likely cost several million dollars and require coordination with county and state agencies. Developers said they expected to coordinate with city staff and with INDOT on access and that the hospital and mayor have signaled support.
The presentation was a workshop (no vote) intended to collect feedback before formal petitions and zone changes; commissioners asked the petitioner to return with more detailed design work, firm commitments on housing controls and a clearer infrastructure funding plan when the project moves from concept to formal filing.
