We Still Love You, Girls!

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Senior Kelsey Hall paced the Hoosiers with 13 kills on `Senior Night' inside University Gym Friday evening. Her Hoosiers (15-16, 4-13) came up short, however, dropping a 3-1 decision to Ohio State (22-9, 10-7). The final scoreboard read 16-25, 20-25, 25-20, 22-25.
In Indiana's second-to-last home match of the 2009 season, Ashley Benson continued to post gaudy offensive numbers just as she as has all season long. Versus the Buckeyes, the Bloomington, Ind., native hit. 409 with 11 kills. Jordan Haverly also tallied double-digit kills, putting away 10 balls on the night. Kelci Marschall was Indiana's most efficient attacker, blasting six kills on 10 errorless swings (.600).
Defensively, Caitlin Cox led the way in the backcourt with her 13 digs, followed closely by Hall's 10 digs. Combine that with her 13 kills, and Hall recorded her third consecutive double-double. Taylor Wittmer and Benson each picked up four blocks.
Haverly's three kills and .400 hitting efficiency were not enough to put IU on top in the opening set as the Cream and Crimson fell, 25-16.
Indiana trailed early in the second set as well, but made a pair of three-point runs late in the set to force two Buckeye timeouts. The Hoosiers narrowed the gap to four points at 23-19 following a kill by Haverly. Ohio State responded though by snagging two of the next three points and taking the set, 25-20.
The Hoosiers found themselves in a two-sets-to-none hole for the second match in a row; and for the second straight contest they came out of the locker room an inspired group. Set number three was one of back-and-forth long runs by each squad with the lead exchanging hands three times in the early goings. Indiana would not relinquish the lead after jumping ahead 14-13 though. Wittmer was the key cog in IU's third-set victory, coming up with numerous clutch plays both offensively and defensively. Benson also performed well in the third frame, connecting on four kills and rejecting a pair OSU attack attempts. Her fourth termination of the set sealed the deal, 25-20.

The fourth set saw several Hoosier step up their game, including Hall with four kills on 12 swings (.333). Even more impressive was Benson as she finished off four of five attacks for a .800 attacking pace. Despite the stellar individual efforts, Ohio State took the set and match, 25-22.

Indiana hits the University Gym floor one last time in 2009 on Saturday, playing host to the two-time defending national champion and top-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions (29-0, 17-0). That match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. first serve.

Speedway breaks ground on redevelopment project

Scott Olson November 19, 2009

Speedway officials broke ground Thursday morning on the first phase of a $500 million redevelopment project they hope will transform the small town into a year-round racing-themed destination.

Initial work involves $6.7 million in road improvements to Main Street that should be finished by May 2011, laying the foundation for redevelopment to follow.

Though completion is roughly 18 months away, the project is generating interest from dozens of prospects who could locate along the aging thoroughfare plagued by vacant buildings and deteriorating façades.

Indianapolis-based Mansur Real Estate Services and Greenstreet Ltd., the master developers in charge of identifying tenants, said they’ve fielded calls from about 40 businesses, including restaurants, retailers, and motorsports companies.

“I think people get it,” Mansur President Chuck Caagan said. “They understand how this type of program could be a major draw.”

Dubbed the “Speed Zone,” the entire plan calls for new roads, parks, retail, restaurants and entertainment attractions to spruce up the Main Street business district and surrounding neighborhoods.

The ambitious redevelopment includes more than 350 acres from Main Street to Holt Road and from 16th to 10th streets, just south of Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

In all, 2.5 million square feet of new development could be constructed, which could return a 10-year economic impact of up to $5.2 billion and more than 2,000 jobs, officials say.

Work on the project began in July 2005, when town officials created the Speedway Redevelopment Commission to begin drafting a master plan for the redevelopment.

Scott Harris, executive director of the commission, is confident the redevelopment will come together as planned.

“It’s obviously picked up a lot of momentum, because we’re actually doing something,” he said. “It’s going to recreate what was a very historic Main Street.”

In the 1950s and '60s, the seven-block Main Street served as the vibrant center of town, with a grocery store, two barbershops, a pharmacy and a cinema. But as factory work shifted and new shopping centers opened across town, Main Street suffered.

The Speed Zone project calls for widening Main Street, building an interactive “racing wall of fame” in front of the Praxair Surface Technologies plant that lines the east side of the thoroughfare, and adding mixed-use retail and condominium space on both sides of the street.

Area manufacturers such as Praxair and Allison Transmission employ about 3,500, which makes the area attractive to retailers as well, said Jeff Kingsbury, managing principal of the Greenstreet real estate development firm.

“Given the state of the economy and the overall real estate market, I think the level of interest we’ve had so far is really encouraging,” he said. “But I think it also points to the fact that we’ve got some exceptional assets to build upon.”

As part of the project, Allison and the Speedway Redevelopment Commission are seeking the closure of a 1,354-foot section of Grand Avenue, just south of West 10th Street.

Another part of the 10-year project includes rerouting 16th Street south, away from the track to create a pedestrian zone near the racetrack.

Planners also want to close Georgetown Road south of 25th Street to create a park and pedestrian promenade beside the track. Traffic would be diverted to Lynhurst Drive.

Two multi-lane roundabouts are planned—one at the junction of Crawfordsville Road, 16th Street and Main Street, and one where an extended Holt Road would cross the new 16th Street.

The town will pay for the proposed infrastructure changes and the Main Street façade and streetscape enhancements through a series of bonds paid off by revenue from the town’s 350-acre tax increment financing district. The rest of the funding will come from public-private sources, planners said.

The improvements to Main Street should be finished by May 2011, in time for the Indianapolis 500’s centennial celebration. Whitestown-based Calumet Civil Contractors Inc. is the contractor for the Main Street road improvements.