FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Next Steps for Indianapolis City Market Redevelopment
Whistler Plaza Construction and Phase 2 Planning is Underway
INDIANAPOLIS, IN, May 28, 2026 – This summer will mark the start of visible construction activity on the transformation of City Market. Phase 1of the City Market Redevelopment will focus on Whistler Plaza, which will integrate historic elements of the site’s underground components with new public space. Since 2025, significant planning and stakeholder engagement for the redevelopment of the City Market block has been underway. This has been an ongoing partnership between the City of Indianapolis and the City Market Corporation Board.
While work currently happening on the site is underground (see attached pictures), upcoming work will lead to the closure of parking spaces along Delaware and Market Street adjacent to Whistler Plaza to make space for construction equipment.
The Whistler Plaza project will create a terraced public space that reveals and highlights portions of the historic elements beneath the plaza, connecting visitors to the site’s deeper history while providing new green space, seating, and pedestrian amenities. The project is expected to be complete by the end of 2027.
“Developments involving our city’s historic assets like the City Market and Whistler Plaza must be undertaken with care and intentionality. I am grateful to the City Market Corporation for their partnership with our Department of Metropolitan Development to advance this transformative project,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “I look forward to seeing this new public space come to life in the heart of Indianapolis amid the billions of dollars of investment underway in our downtown.”
Over the next several months, the City Market Corporation Board of Directors and the Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD) will facilitate roundtable discussions and planning sessions with civic leaders, neighborhood associations, preservation experts, prospective operators, vendors, and downtown partners. These dialogues will inform Phase 2 planning, which will focus on the restoration and reopening strategy for the Market House proper.
“Blue sky conversations are ongoing, and we’re actively working toward a plan of restoration that honors the history of the Indianapolis City Market House for a thriving future,” said Craig Mince, Board Chair of the Indianapolis City Market Corporation. “The Whistler Plaza groundbreaking this summer will represent a visible first step — and we look forward to sharing more details on Phase 2 and the eventual Market House re-opening as plans solidify.”
Phase 2 will include detailed restoration design for the Market House, operational planning toward a sustainable owner/operator model, and further community engagement over the coming months.
New signage honoring our past generous supporters will be installed during plaza construction. If you’ve donated in the past and would like your brick pavers, they will be available for pickup before June 30, 2026. Reach out to Aminah Coyne, Programming and Public Use Project Manager, at aminah.coyne@indy.gov or 317-327-5829 to schedule. We warmly invite past and future donors to help support this new milestone at Whistler Plaza. Please contact the City Market Corporation at info@indycm.com to make your contribution towards the continued enjoyment of Whistler Plaza and the City Market House for decades to come.
For more information on the redevelopment and to sign up for project updates, visit www.indycm.com.
###
About DMD:
The Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD) plans the future of Indianapolis with a community-focused approach. Through community collaborations and comprehensive planning, DMD works with residents, developers, businesses, and non-profits to bring additional investment, housing, and jobs to the city. By guiding projects through pre-development, zoning, land use planning, and redevelopment, DMD is committed to envisioning a city where people and businesses thrive.
About City Market:
The Indianapolis City Market’s history is as rich as the promise of its future. When opened in 1886, the market ushered in a new tradition: an open space for the sale of meats and produce, The Original Gathering Place, if you will. The market closed to the public on Friday, March 1, 2024. The closure ushers in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for redevelopment of this historic institution and its place in downtown Indianapolis. Indianapolis City Market is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
