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Residents and neighborhood leaders press IHPC to deny or further restrict Superjams grocery at 1010 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St.
Summary
Attorney Chris Bridal presented a plan for a 7,120-square-foot Superjams grocery with an associated 1-foot setback variance and 18 parking spaces; neighbors, Councilor Bob Osoley and preservation groups raised traffic, safety, 24/7 operation and compatibility concerns. The commission continued the case to July 1 for further design and operational commitments.
The Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission heard heated testimony June 1 over a proposal to redevelop the vacant corner at 10th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street as a 7,120-square-foot grocery with about 18 parking spaces and a requested 1-foot setback from the MLK right-of-way.
Chris Bridal, attorney for the applicant Superjams 2, LLC, said the design team had revised earlier plans to respond to staff and commission guidance, and argued the project "should now be considered compatible with other buildings in the neighborhood." Bridal outlined site features including a screened dumpster enclosure, bicycle racks, and restricted drive access: "We agreed to make Martin Luther King Junior restricted to right-in, right-out access only," he said.
Neighborhood speakers told a different story. Candace Offit, president of the Ransom Place Neighborhood Association, told the commission the opposition was not anti-development but focused on safety and context: "This intersection is one of the most congested in Downtown Indianapolis" and adding a commercial curb cut and new turning movements would "further strain an already stressed intersection." Paula Brooks and other speakers supplied written exhibits arguing the site'specific traffic counts came from 2022 (pandemic-era) data and that more recent traffic increases and the 16th Street bridge closure warranted a new traffic study.
Councilor Bob Osoley, whose District 12 includes the site, said he supported residents' objections and urged commissioners to weigh safety and livability: "Any increase in turning movements, curb cuts, or driveway access along these arterials risks compounding existing congestion," he said.
Staff told the commission that the city's Department of Public Works declined to require a traffic-impact study because the project did not meet DPW thresholds, and staff recommended approval of both the certificate of appropriateness and the variance with stipulations. DPW-related consultant testimony indicated the applicant's traffic analysis estimated the grocery would increase daily traffic on adjacent roadway segments by about 2 percent.
Commissioners raised design and operational concerns including signage, lighting, truck access and the proposal's 24-hour use. Chair Bill Brown and others said they wanted binding commitments on hours, signage and architectural treatment before approval. The commission voted to continue the COA and the variance to the July 1 meeting to give staff, the applicant and neighborhood groups time to negotiate written commitments and to allow the applicant to refine architectural details and signage stipulations.
Next step: the IHPC continued the case to the July 1 meeting and directed staff to work with the applicant on written commitments about hours of operation, signage controls and final architectural details.
