Opponents seek to end a bungee-jumping venue, citing environmental and safety concerns
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — If you’ve ever heard one of the popular “bungee-jumping” venues of the Indianapolis area, you now know what they have in common.
Opponents plan to try to block a proposed $7.5 million project that would turn the site of the former Dixie Beverage Co. into a sports complex.
The city is preparing to spend about $5 million to acquire the site for the 1,000-seat complex, including more than $2.3 million for environmental studies.
The sports complex at 1201 W. Southport St., which is next to IUPUI and about a mile from IU Health South Bend’s Health & Medical Center, proposes to build a 300-seat stadium, 500-seat multipurpose arena and 100-seat indoor arena.
The Indiana Professional Hoops League is a non-profit group that is seeking another permanent home for its youth basketball and hockey programs at a site outside Indianapolis.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on Tuesday announced that he signed a bill that will help keep IUPUI’s Health and Medical Center from becoming a potential competitor for IUPUI’s football and basketball stadiums. Pence signed the bill before the Senate approved it on a 25-12 vote. The bill will now go to the House before it can be signed.
The board’s three-hour meeting Wednesday starts at 4 p.m. and goes into overtime until 7 p.m. as it considers the health and safety of staff and students. The meeting is about more than the potential impact of the sports complex.
The board could decide to remove IUHealth South Bend’s Health and Medical Center from the plan, which could lead to the hospital moving “as a standalone medical center” or being absorbed into IUPUI Health and Medical Center.
The IUPUI Health and Medical Center has been the school’s top employer for the past 20 years. The school’s president and CEO, Mike Moritz, said Tuesday that the school is not ready to consider closing Health and Medical Center for two
