City of Indianapolis Constructing Community Justice Center on Former Citizens’ Coke Plant

The City of Indianapolis is constructing a widely publicized three-story jail and 11-story courthouse project on the site of a former manufactured gas plant that is undergoing remediation; the project broke ground in 2018 and the campus officially opened in May 2022. A cross-practice group of attorneys from Faegre Drinker’s Indianapolis office is leading the novel transaction, which sought to realize cost savings through the synergy of the construction and remediation projects. The matter has involved advising the City of Indianapolis on environmental liability issues, securing necessary permits, negotiating the environmental contractual provisions and helping to plan the construction to maintain consistency with the ongoing remediation. Additionally, our environmental practice negotiated a significant pollution liability policy for the site, and assisted with community outreach, including conducting TV and newspaper interviews regarding the ongoing remediation and construction.