The Piccadilly - 16th and Pennsylvania
The Piccadilly, 28 E. 16th (note: it now has fancy, new sign)
My friend and I walked four blocks from our house to the corner of 16th and Pennsylvania St. It was one of those bizarre Indiana nights where the weather was tolerable for early February - we walked briskly nonetheless. I had never been inside the Piccadilly.
Nine stories tall, the Piccadilly apartment building, built in 1928, houses 58 units and a 2000 sq ft penthouse. It was recently renovated by Reverie Estates, a local development and property management group. On this particular night, Reverie, in conjunction with raising support for the Tinker Street Committee, was unveiling the updated Whistler Penthouse - exactly where we were headed.
We were greeted in the lobby by the friendly concierge; the lobby itself was warm and intimate, retaining its historic and original features. After waiting a few minutes in line for the four person elevator, we opted for some exercise and scaled the stairs.
We pit stopped on the sixth floor to check out one of the apartments Reverie had opened for tour. The wood floors, view of downtown, updated kitchen (stainless appliances), subway tile backsplashes, and the affordability of these apartments all made it really attractive. Reverie's mission is to embrace the history and integrity of the historic buildings they develop - approaching apartments as if they were to live in them. Our next stop was the penthouse.
As we continued upward the sound of a string trio began to fill the stairwell. We arrived at our final destination, and much like the warm concierge downstairs, the charm and elegance of the penthouse first greeted us. The cathedral ceilings, the exposed beams, and many of my neighbors who were there made this a fine how-do-you-do.
The view from the Whistler Penthouse
The penthouse was breathtaking. No different than the apartment we saw on the sixth floor, the penthouse, too, has its historicity preserved with a few modern updates. The kitchen, for instance, (bigger than my personal bedroom) has gorgeous countertops and stainless steel appliances. A few new light fixtures were stationed throughout. The subway tile in the bathrooms remained. The hardwood floors were immaculate. On both east and west sides were access to balconies. Because it was a warm night I was not only delighted to lean against the edge to stare at Indianapolis' skyscrapers down the road but I was delighted to see the balcony doors open to let in a cooling breeze to the neighbor filled room.
As it stands, the apartments are 100% leased - that's fantastic for Reverie. The Whistler Penthouse is getting it's own website shortly. It will become an executive suite and event rental space. I've begun to imagine all the parties I would throw here.
The party, too, was a fundraiser and awareness opportunity for the Tinker Street Committee. They introduced their mission and passion for the corridor along Herron-Morton and Old Northside Neighborhoods on 16th Street, spearheading improvements and aesthetics for the street. The committee gets its name from the original name of 16th Street - Tinker Street. It was encouraging that night to see and hear others' visions to make Indianapolis even better.
The evening began to wind down and I took the opportunity to hop into the penthouse's private access elevator (because how often am I going to do that?). The 0riginal elevator required that you close the gate before operating - nothing automatic here. What impressed me most was not the gold lined details or the wood paneling but the fact that I could see the actual floors as we passed each level. I know, I need to get out just a little more.
It was a successful event and I am eager to see what Reverie has next up their sleeves.
To find out more about the Piccadilly or new developments by Reverie Estates, visit them online at http://www.reverieestates.com/
Jonathan Frey is a filmmaker and photographer in Indianapolis. You'll most likely spot him walking or biking around the city.