The County Line
The aggressive Carmel Redevelopment Commission no sooner broke ground Wednesday for a major new development than it was learned the commission will likely be replacing a shopping area a few block away with yet another city-promoted project.
The Mohawk Landing strip center at 126th Street and Range Line Road has been purchased by the city for $2.8 million. The owners of the center, Mohawk Investments LLC, lost eight to 10 of their 55 parking spaces when Carmel built a roundabout at the 126th and Range Line intersection. But, the owners are going to do all right financially. The assessed value of the property is $1.13 million.
A city spokesman maintained the Carmel administration found it more practical to buy out the entire property than to pay only for the loss of the parking spots. The strip mall contains a dozen businesses and offices. Tenants who say the parking seems adequate, have not been notified when they might be vacating.
Carmel officials have not officially announced the purchase which was made on June 8, nor have development plans been released. Technically, ownership of Mohawk Landing remains in the city’s name, and interested developers, if known, have not been identified. But the city will not have a hard time finding a developer interested as the area is considered a “hot spot” for new commercial construction. Just five blocks south on Range Line, ground was broken Wednesday morning for a $60 million mixed-use complex to be named The Proscenium. It will go up at the northwest intersection of Range Line and Carmel Drive, formerly the site of an Arby’s restaurant and Partytime Rentals.
The four-story facility will house apartments, offices and retail stores. It was a Redevelopment Commission property. The sale price has not been announced.