Franklin Business Park, Franklin, is one of 13 sites across Indiana that has earned the title of 'shovel-ready' today, paving the way for businesses to quickly locate new operations on property ready for development, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation announced today.

South siders bring back the popular Beech Grove chocolate drink

By Elaine Whitesides

Last summer, Beech Grove native, Dan Iaria, spent a lot of time reminiscing about his childhood. Not just daydreaming, Iaria had a purpose. He and partner, Greg Codozor, had just purchased the Rock-Cola Café on Brookville Road. “I was looking for something unique for the Café, something with retro appeal, something (people) loved as a kid,” Iaria said.

Of course, since he grew up in Beech Grove, it was natural that his reminiscing included thoughts of icy cold Choc-Ola. The brand was a local mainstay. It had been invented by Harry Normington, Sr. in Indianapolis in 1944 and was bottled on Churchman Avenue just south of Raymond from 1944 until 1985.

Iaria had no recollection of what ever happened to it. “It was perfectly positioned and I discovered it had disappeared,” said Iaria. With a little research, he found that the company had been bought and put out of business by a competitor.

Franciscan Alliance, a multi-state health care system, announced today that it will consolidate its physician billing operations to a new facility in Greenwood, adding up to 84 new jobs by 2015.

The Mishawaka-based Catholic health care system plans to invest $8.3 million to purchase, remodel, and equip a 96,505 square-foot office building located at 1040 Sierra Drive that will house all physician billing operations for the organization's 13 hospitals in Indiana and Illinois.

The Indiana Association of REALTORS ® (IAR) recently released its monthly “Indiana Real Estate Markets Report” as a continuation of its “Indiana is Home” project. Statewide, when comparing February 2011 to February 2010:

• The median sales price of homes increased 2.0 percent to $100,000;
• The average sale price of homes increased 0.3 percent to $122,052; and
• The number of closed sales decreased 7.1 percent to 3,212.

“We’re not surprised that the number of closed sales is down year-over-year,” said Karl Berron, Chief Executive Officer. “There was quite a bit of activity in the marketplace this time last year as the federal home buyer tax credit loomed.

“Until the impact of the tax credit recedes, it’s best to review housing data in a long-term,” he continued. “Those trends are very positive and point to a potentially good spring and summer with regard to activity.

To Berron’s point:

• The median sale price of homes, statewide, has increased 15 out of the last 17 months;
• The inventory of homes for sale has steadily trended downward since the latter part of 2007, getting closer to a normal or neutral market.

“Of course, the linchpin to an improved market is consumer confidence. Buyers must have confidence in their ability to obtain and repay a mortgage before the number of closed sales will rise in a meaningful way. And that means job.” Berron concluded.