Letter #2 Dave Gagliano
Butler, Bric
From:bbutler@carmel.in.gov
To:Keeling, Adrienne M
Subject:RE: Great Job--Elevate Carmel
From: Finkam, Sue <sfinkam@carmel.in.gov>
Sent: Saturday, March 9, 2024 12:42 PM
To: Hollibaugh, Mike P <MHollibaugh@carmel.in.gov>; Keeling, Adrienne M <AKeeling@carmel.in.gov>
Subject: Fwd: Great Job--Elevate Carmel
For task force
Begin forwarded message:
From: Sue Finkam <sue@suefinkam.com>
Date: March 9, 2024 at 10:35:03 AM GMT-7
To: "Finkam, Sue" <sfinkam@carmel.in.gov>
Subject: Fwd: Great Job--Elevate Carmel
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From: david gagliano <dave.a.gagliano@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 9, 2024 8:19 AM
To: Sue Finkam <sue@suefinkam.com>
Cc: david gagliano <dave.a.gagliano@gmail.com>
Subject: Great Job--Elevate Carmel
Good morning Sue,
I hope you are doing well and getting settled into your new role. We appreciate you asking for everyone’s input via
Elevate Carmel and for continuing to push for participation. At this point, if people don’t respond, it’s kind of their own
darn fault.
I watched the entire Carmel Housing Task Force meeting and again, happy to actively participate. I have two
observations I would welcome you considering….
Apartment Complexes — Hopefully you’ve heard loud and clear Carmel’s feelings on Apartments but I offer a
suggestion — why not turn one of the apartment complexes that are planned along the Monon in Midtown a
55+ apartment? It would provide older residents an option to enjoy the walkable City; transition from
relationships (divorce / death); snow bird; have a viable option to take cash out of their home to position
themselves for a future home purchase; feel safe and secure and age in place as needed. It solves for the
“missing middle” while giving residents a feeling of safety and security, especially if extra noise requirements
could be mandatory. It would also free-up housing inventory for younger purchasers. I hear over-and-over
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again from old farts like me that the thought of moving into an apartment, despite it being newer and nice,
makes them want to vomit at the thought of dissimilar renters, constant turnover and the risks of neighbors
who party hard, play loud music at 2AM and treat the place like a fraternity house.
Missing Middle Housing — The thinking and comments I heard from some seemed to be tactical, sophomoric
and frankly opportunistic — essentially equating to The City supporting guerrilla warfare and Wild West
mentality versus having a strategic vision. Allowing duplexes in established neighborhoods will irritate
residents; cause massive remonstration for little gain; and create a non-appealing visual for of any existing
neighborhood. Carmel should not use excuses like “it’s just in the Central Core” but rather ask “what would we
do if this idea / Variance was in Brookshire or Woodland Springs”. Please know those residents which is where I
grew up are absolutely concerned about these approvals moving east and west. Without controls, someone
could buy property in those areas and use and approvals as precedent for their request.
o RATHER — why not do the following — carve out some of the huge parcels of land like what Pedcor
owns by the Winter Farmer’s Market and other areas from future teardown locations east/west of the
Monon. Have the City become the developer much like private developers did at Village of West Clay,
Bahill / Waterstone, and Bridgewater Club / Chatham Hills more recently and what Brookshire,
Woodland Springs and Cool Creek did in years past. Get reputable builders to take ‘sections” of that big
parcel and take ownership for developing duplexes / triplexes etc much like Brookshire Village and sell
to buyers interested in no maintenance and walkability.
o The tax $$$ per square foot would be much higher than what exists today and the area could be
planned (probably much more like the Speck Plan had originally proposed). Ask homebuilders like
OTDG, Wedgewood and Drees / Lennar and others even better than these to take ownership so to
speak for their sections. It will take a little time, but the City would now have a product that is for the
Missing Middle. One might be a gated section for those that simply want even more security as they
live in Carmel part f the year.
o I remember how much people originally didn’t want the Epcon Community —The Courtyards of Carmel
just east of Keystone on Smoky Row. That place has done an very nice job in creating detached,
maintenance free courtyard homes for the 55+ population. A concept like that on one of the parcels of
land would look nice and provide solutions for residents — young and old. It could be a large number of
duplexes with no community clubhouse/pool that do not impact neighboring residents since it is placed
on a fresh piece of property (e.g., Pedcor area; Industrial Drive; Places like where UBC is located
now). Carmel could achieve the scale without sacrificing a neighborhood’s original planned design.
Sorry for providing detailed suggestions. I believe it’s a lot better to not gripe and complain but to offer viable solutions
to the issues surfaced for consideration. I’d welcome your thoughts and happy to discuss further.
Thanks Sue for your time and leadership!
Dave
David Gagliano
317-372-9277
Begin forwarded message:
From: "City of Carmel" <CityofCarmel@public.govdelivery.com>
Subject: News Release: Community Survey Reminder
Date: March 9, 2024 at 9:31:08 AM EST
To: dave.a.gagliano@gmail.com
Reply-To: CityofCarmel@public.govdelivery.com
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NEWS RELEASE
Date: March 6, 2024
Contact: (317) 571-2474 or media@carmel.in.gov
Release: Immediate
Have we heard from you yet?
TAKE THE COMMUNITY SURVEY
YOU can help Elevate Carmel
CARMEL, IN - The City of Carmel Community Survey is still open and scheduled to close
on Wednesday, March 13 at midnight. Whether you live or work here, or just love to visit
Carmel, you are welcome and encouraged to participate. Your voice matters.
Data from the survey will be collected and analyzed to help inform the new administration
what is top of mind in the community.
Your input is anonymous. You will not be asked to provide your name, so share your
thoughts freely and be sure to share this survey with your friends, family, neighbors and
colleagues. The survey includes 29 ranking and/or scaling questions and should take
about 15-minutes to complete.
Now is your chance to be heard.
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