CARMEL, Ind. -- The city of Carmel wants to acquire an antique carousel, six new roundabouts and new walking paths as part of a $100 million investment into more than a dozen new projects.
The city plans to issue new revenue bonds to finance the projects.
The carousel the city is looking at acquiring is an antique, hand-carved Dentzel carousel built in 1907; one of only about 150 left in the world. It has been operating at tCenterville Island, Toronto, Canada since 1966.
It contains 52 hand-carved animals, of which 36 are “jumpers” that move up and down brass poles. There are also two ornate bench seats and an antique Welte-Mignon/Wurlitzer band organ.
The city would install the carousel in a central location in its own building where they say "families, especially children, can enjoy taking a ride." A specific location has not yet been determined, but it is likely to be in the Arts & Design District, Midtown or City Center.
Here's a look at the carousel:
“Strategic investments in our quality of life in Carmel have proven successful to our economic development strategy of attracting new businesses and corporate headquarters, whose contributions help keep our local property tax rates among the lowest in the state of Indiana,” said Mayor Jim Brainard in a release sent Monday. “It is important for us to continue investing in our future and we can do this without raising taxes because we have a robust and diverse local economy and have demonstrated strong fiscal management, as was made clear during our most recent bond rating.”
The investment will be put in front of the Carmel City Council for approval.
Below is a list of what the rest of the proposal calls for:
ROUNDABOUTS
106th Street and Hazel Dell Parkway
3rd Avenue and Carmel Drive
3rd Avenue and City Center Drive
Medical Drive and Carmel Drive
East 4th Street and Main Street
6th Street and Range Line Road
PATHWAY PROJECTS
Gray Road
Monon Greenway expansion near City Center
136th Street from Range Line Road to Keystone Parkway
MISCELLANEOUS PROJECTS
Antique Carousel, including building and land
New autograph hotel at City Center project
Civic Square storage and maintenance buildings
Duke Energy transmission lines burial project (116th & Range Line Road area)
Brookshire Golf Club improvements (new clubhouse)
Range Line Road streetscape (Phase 2)
River Road from Community Drive to 146th Street
Completion of Cherry Creek Boulevard from Mississinewa to James Dean
Legacy public site work (bike promenade, storm-water park, new intersection)
2nd Avenue NE from Main Street to 1st Street NE
3rd Avenue from Carmel Drive to City Center Drive
Office Suites on 1st Avenue near Monon Greenway
