In a past life, a narrow vacant lot north of 34th and Illinois streets welcomed hundreds of moviegoers to the thriving Ritz Theater in the Crown Hill neighborhood. The site later hosted a burlesque venue, then a TV studio, then a drag show theater.
Now, a real estate developer envisions a future in which nearly 100 full-time residents call the corner home. However, some Crown Hill neighbors say they fear the proposed project would bring too many apartment units to the near-north side area.
DTM, an Indianapolis real estate developer, plans to build a 99-unit apartment complex on a handful of vacant lots at 3404 to 3444 N. Illinois St. in the otherwise dense area on the near north side. The complex’s working name, The Ritz, would nod to the theater’s history in the neighborhood.
In 2024, the same landowner, Redline Holdings XII, rezoned the lots for a four-story, 101-unit multi-family development that did not include any space for brick-and-mortar stores. City staff planners supported that plan two years ago, but Redline Holdings now needs another approval to include the 2,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space.
Nearby residents say they would like to see more space allotted for retail rather than additional apartments. In a July 9 public hearing about the apartment project, some people said the area desperately needs more commercial businesses and grocery stores to support the influx of people the units will bring.
Nearby resident Annette Maddox said at the hearing that Crown Hill had a stretch of apartment units on Meridian Street from 32nd to 38th Street that many call “apartment row,” which is not too far from the site. She argued the area does not need any more housing.
“I don’t see where there is a need for more apartments in our community when we don’t have a place to shop or to congregate with our community,” Maddox said.
The Marion County comprehensive plan, crafted by city staffers in conjunction with resident feedback, recommends mixed-use development for the land, with residential and commercial use. The site sits a short distance from the Red Line route on Meridian Street, which means the city zoning experts look for proposals that support walkability in the area and attract those who take public transportation.
The neighborhood’s own plan for the area, the Crown Hill Neighborhood 34th Street Redevelopment Plan written in the early 2010s, calls for three to four-story buildings with multi-family residences. Plus, neighbors also want to see any development incorporate the history of the Ritz Theater, which was still standing at the time the plan was written.
The city deemed the historic theater unsafe and marked it for demolition near the end of 2022 after the owner, former NBA player and IU basketball star Alan Henderson, did not comply with repair orders issued in 2018 and 2020. Shortly after Henderson bought the theater in 2017, an adjacent building partially collapsed, according to previous IndyStar reporting.
In 2022, Henderson demolished the theater himself to avoid municipal demolition fees and said he hoped the empty lot would attract development for the neighborhood in the future. Henderson transferred ownership to Redline Holdings in June 2023, property records show.
DTM leaders said their vision for 34th and Illinois streets responds to community wishes while helping fill a lack of affordable housing across the city.
“Attainable housing is getting harder and harder to find,” said Diana Burdix, the attainable housing developer at DTM. “We are here because we heard them say they want commercial space that’s why we are now here asking for the request of variance.”
DTM plans to apply for and use affordable housing tax credits to make the project feasible, Burdix said.
Judy Weerts Hall, the city’s appointed land use examiner, recommended the project move forward. The Metropolitan Development Commission, an appointed board of real estate experts, will take a final vote on the Ritz apartments on August 5 at 1 p.m. at the City-County Building downtown.
Alysa Guffey writes business and development for IndyStar. Contact her at alysa.guffey@indystar.com.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Crown Hill residents fight against housing project at 34th & Illinois
Reporting by Alysa Guffey, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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By Alysa Guffey, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
