It appears that the steel skeleton at 65th and College will remain as is for longer than expected. The zoning variance by Gary Thrapp required to develop the property into usable space was denied by the Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD).

Gary has been in the Broad Ripple area for many years. Most readers know him from his 20 years at Thrapp Jewelers, located at 56th and Illinois Street. "I have been a member of the community for a long time," said Gary. "I was taken aback by the personal nature of the remonstrator's remarks at today's hearing. I had tried many times over the past few months to contact the project's neighbors to get their opinions. No one would discuss the project with me."

The petitioner Gary Thrapp and remonstrators Carolyn and Rob Grant, Ann McKee, and Alice Roth presented their sides of the issue at the hearing. The Broad Ripple Village Association (BRVA) and the DMD staff each asked Thrapp to agree to a list of project restrictions that were intended to reduce the impact on the neighborhood. Although he agreed to the conditions, the board voted three to two against the variance.

The planned use of the property was office space in the upper floors and a coffee shop/small café on the ground floor. When we asked Gary if he would be working with the remonstrators to develop a new plan, he replied, "Not at this time. We are examining our options. The property will remain in its current state for a while."