Traction Yards isn’t just a name. It’s a movement — of ideas, of people, of the city itself. It anchors this new district in a place that has always been about forward motion and bold ambition. The name evokes both physical momentum and cultural pull. It’s about gaining traction — building energy and not letting go. Just like the railcars that once passed through these blocks, this place is built to move people.
CREATING TRACTION
In the early 1900s, Indianapolis was one of the most connected cities in America – thanks to its extensive electric rail system. At the center of it all stood the Traction Terminal Building, a monumental structure that served as the hub for interurban travel across the region. The word “traction” comes from the electric railways themselves – where power delivered directly to the wheels created the grip, or traction, needed to propel the cars forward.
AT ITS PEAK, THE TERMINAL WAS the world’s largest interurban station AND saw over 7 million passengers, linking neighborhoods, towns, and ideas across the state.
Though the building no longer stands, its legacy remains – in the street grid, in the spirit of movement, and now, in the name Traction Yards. This new neighborhood sits just blocks from where the Terminal once buzzed with activity. By invoking “traction,” we connect past to present. It reflects both the literal tracks that shaped the city and the cultural momentum we’re building today – through art, business, hospitality and everyday life.
The word “yards” nods to both the industrial roots of the site and its reimagined purpose: a layered living space where people gather, create and recharge. This is where grit meets design, where old meets new, and where the next chapter of downtown Indy gets written – on the same ground where generations once moved the city forward.
ABOUT THE DEVELOPER
7+ Million
Square Footage
150+
Properties
$1.6B+
Real Estate Portfolio Valuation
Hendricks Commercial Properties is a full-service real estate investment and development group known for transforming underutilized districts into high-performing mixed-use destinations. Guided by a long-term ownership philosophy, Hendricks reinvests in communities with projects that blend historic preservation, adaptive reuse and ground-up development across mixed-use, industrial, office, retail and hospitality.
Over the past several decades, Hendricks has assembled and managed a diverse, multi-state portfolio featuring major destination developments such as Ironworks Keystone and Bottleworks District in Indianapolis, and a growing collection of boutique hospitality assets under the Geronimo Hospitality Group umbrella. The firm’s portfolio spans millions of square feet across commercial, industrial, residential, entertainment and hotel properties, driven by a strategy that prioritizes placemaking and long-term economic vitality.
IN THE HEART OF INDY
Traction Yards sits at the center of Downtown Indy, connecting directly to the city’s busiest corridors and cultural hubs. The property anchors a walkable district that links Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Georgia Street, the Convention Center, and Lucas Oil Stadium, positioning it as a natural gateway into the city’s entertainment core and nearby dining and hospitality destinations.
The site is steps from Monument Circle, consistently recognized as one of the country’s premier civic spaces and a focal point for public events, placemaking, and year-round programming.