Case 2026DV3016A: Dutch Bros at Washington Square
The case 2026-DV3-016A concerned redevelopment of the former Golden Corral site at 10220 East Washington Street, beside Washington Square and the future IndyGo Blue Line. The petitioner requested a variance from Transit-Oriented Development zoning standards to allow a drive-through to be accessed from the private Ring Road instead of an alley.
The original site plan is shown below:
The Transit Riders Union, a program of Central Indiana Cycling, successfully negotiated with the petitioner to include:
- Expanding the sidewalks to the West and South (along Washington Street) to trail-width.
- Creating new sidewalk connections along the East and North side of the property to connect with the Target pedestrian network.
- Significantly improved landscaping, two public benches, and bicycle facility signage.
- A potential raised crossing across Ring Road, subject to approval from Target.
- Improved pedestrian circulation by adding specific sidewalk connections.
These changes are highlighted below.
Case Timeline
- The case was originally set to be heard July 21st.
- Central Indiana Cycling filed an automatic continuance that was not compliant because we are not a Registered Neighborhood Organization with the Department of Metropolitan Development.
- Advocacy Chair Jakob Morales filed an automatic continuance through his Councilor Jesse Brown (D13) to move the hearing to August 18th.
- The BZA heard the case on August 18. The Board split 2–2, resulting in the petition being continued to September 15, 2026.
- In early September, Central Indiana Cycling and The Far Eastside Community Council teamed up, and the petitioner made several meaningful changes.
These improvements demonstrated that public participation could improve development without preventing investment.
The Missing Link
We pushed hard for a direct, detour-and-conflict-free path through the site. At the August hearing, we demonstrated that the geometry of the property allows a much more direct north-south connection through the site. For example, the current indirect route between the Target area and the local bus stop adds approximately 269 feet compared with the direct route we proposed. The route toward the Blue Line is shorter but requires users to pass through multiple drive-through conflict points.
The BZA specifically asked what work Central Indiana Cycling hoped could occur during the additional month. We identified a direct connection through the property as our principal remaining request. In September, the petitioner noted tenant objections, so we adjusted our asks to focus on trails and raised crossings.
Why This Matters for Washington Square
The recently released Washington Square Vision Plan identifies multimodal connectivity as a central requirement for successful redevelopment.
The plan found that 95% of survey respondents currently arrive by automobile, while also noting that residents who would like to walk are discouraged by the lack of safe sidewalk connections.
Its key findings state:
“Multimodal connectivity is a prerequisite, not an afterthought.”
The plan calls for improved pedestrian and bicycle access, stronger transit connections, and links toward the Pennsy Trail and surrounding neighborhoods.
This is evidence of what residents, community organizations, Warren Township stakeholders, the Town of Cumberland, and local leadership have said they want Washington Square to become.
2026-DV3-016A was an early opportunity to turn that vision into physical connections on the ground.
Public Positions
Supportive of Our Requests
- The Far Eastside Community Council partnered with us and was instrumental in creating the political leverage to succeed.
- Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Organization (IMPO) supported our requests and sent a letter of remonstrance.
Neutral Parties
- IndyGo stood down from their earlier remonstrance and did not flip to support our requests.
Unsupportive of Our Requests
- Warren Township Development Association did eventually support our requests for sidewalk connections but was generally unsupportive of our requests. WTDA board members mentioned that the two months of delays was not worth the sidewalk connections.
- Councilor Michael-Paul Hart was generally unsupportive of our requests.
Councilor Michael-Paul Hart’s Stance
Councilor Michael-Paul Hart represents the district containing Washington Square and helped convene stakeholders for the Washington Square Vision Plan. At the public unveiling of the plan, Councilor Hart expressed a commitment to work with the developer to bring this property more closely into alignment with the Washington Square vision.
We did not feel supported by Councilor Hart in our requests. Following the August hearing, Central Indiana Cycling and the Far Eastside Community Council asked Councilor Hart to help facilitate agreement on the remaining pedestrian connections before the September 15 hearing. Councilor Hart still publicly supported the development, and publicly stated that we are “trying to stop the Dutch Bros.” This was an inaccurate characterization because our intentions were to create a safer site plan.
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