INDIANAPOLIS -- Some neighbors are upset that a former Indianapolis Starbucks store is still vacant more than a year after it was closed.

The shop at Fall Creek Boulevard and College Avenue, which opened in 2005, was one of a string of stores part of a venture with NBA star Magic Johnson aimed at revitalizing struggling urban areas.

The location was closed as part of larger cuts across the coffee corporation in 2008, although Starbucks continues to pay rent.

Since then, the boarded up building has sat vacant, despite attempts to replace the business, City-County Councilor Jackie Nytes told 6News' Joanna Massee.

Jay Wheeler of Midwest Espresso Supply in Noblesville said he inquired about opening a new shop in the building, but was told that, due to a lease arrangement with Starbucks, they would not allow another coffee shop to go into that location.

Nytes said the property owner, Edward Pearl, and Starbucks, are stonewalling local efforts.

"I've got a person … who is prepared to offer a service to this community and to have a business endeavor, and we have two parties who are not the least bit motivated to make that happen," she said. "We've got an eyesore there that seems to be frozen in time and just a lot of road blocks to try to get anything done about it."

Nikki Moore, who manages a new senior community across the street from the vacant store, said she wants to see the boards come off the windows.

"I have 47 new people that live across the street that would love to have a little coffee shop or a little something that they can walk to," she said.

Pearl told 6News he could not discuss his arrangement with Starbucks.

A Starbucks representative said there are no plans to reopen at this time, and refused to discuss details of the lease agreement.