Special to Recorder Newspaper
Community and business leaders have announced a multi-million dollar investment that will transform the former Eastgate Consumer Mall on the city’s Eastside into a high-tech data hub and office center.
Lifeline Data Centers LLC, a local high-tech company specializing in securely hosting and maintaining data and applications for businesses and government clients, will purchase the Eastgate property and invest nearly $23 million to transform the site into a state-of-the art facility to house its expanding business.
“Together, the City of Indianapolis and Eastside community leaders have made tremendous progress in bringing business and investment back to the East Washington Street corridor,” Mayor Bart Peterson said. “Eastgate has always been a challenge in this vision for a revitalized Eastside, but this major commitment by Lifeline will open the floodgates for more investment and even greater progress.”
Once a neighborhood shopping center, Eastgate Consumer Mall has remained vacant since closing in 2004. The location remained privately owned and presented challenges for revitalization, ultimately falling into disrepair and becoming an eyesore for the surrounding community.
“We believe our investment is good for the Eastside, good for the city and good for the state,” said Alex Carroll, co-owner and president of Lifeline. “This data center will put Indianapolis on the map as an ideal technology location for Indiana businesses and companies worldwide.”
Because the former Eastgate property is located within the Eastside Revitalization District (ERD), Lifeline will be eligible for a five-year tax abatement worth approximately $1.4 million. The ERD was proposed by Mayor Peterson and initially established by the Metropolitan Development Commission in 2003 to help redevelop vacant, “big box” retail locations, attract new businesses and spur new investment along a portion of the East Washington Street corridor that had faced challenges in the past.
The revitalization district allows for partial tax abatement for a minimum of five years on properties that are 60,000 or more square feet, have been vacant for at least nine of the past 18 months and are located within the boundaries of Sheridan Avenue to the west, German Church Road to the east, 10th Street to the north, and the Pennsylvania Railroad to the south.
