The Sunday Post - July 5, 2026: DC Blox Sound Study, Dutch Bros & OPHS Update
- Michael-Paul Hart
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
A weekly report from Councilor Michael-Paul Hart — Building the Smartest City in America.
Volume 2, Issue 27
DC Blox: What the Sound Study Actually Tells Us
The most important DC Blox update this week is a new baseline sound study.
This is not a prediction of how loud the completed data center will be. It is a snapshot of what the area sounds like today, before the project is operating.
The study took 20-minute sound readings at four locations around the site during the morning, afternoon, evening, and nighttime. That creates a record that can be used later to compare actual operations against existing conditions.
When looking at the table, focus first on the dBA columns. That is the measurement most closely aligned with how people hear sound. L90 is the normal background noise level, Leq is the average sound during the 20-minute test, and Lmax is the loudest individual moment, such as a passing truck, siren, aircraft, or construction activity.
The dBC columns help engineers identify deeper, lower-frequency sound, such as a rumble. A larger difference between dBC and dBA can indicate more low-frequency noise.
The important point is that a high Lmax reading does not mean that level was constant. It captures the single loudest moment during that test period. The study provides a baseline so future operations can be measured against what residents experience in the area today.
Dutch Bros Planning a location near Washington Square
A Dutch Bros Coffee drive-thru has been proposed at 10220 East Washington Street, near the
front of Washington Square Mall, west of LongHorn Steakhouse and east of Jimmy John’s.
The project is seeking a use variance for a drive-thru within the Transit-Oriented Development overlay. It is scheduled for the July 21 Board of Zoning Appeals meeting.
This is the second time this proposal has come forward, and I am more optimistic about it this time. Washington Square needs visible signs of investment, activity, and new commercial momentum. A coffee drive-thru in this location would be a practical addition to an area that needs more positive development.
I will be there to make sure the Board understands the importance of this opportunity.
Would you like to see this development move forward?
Please send me a short note by July 21st, 2026 with your name, neighborhood or address, and why you support Dutch Bros at Washington Square.
Email: planneroncall@indy.gov Subject line: Dutch Bros Support - 10220 East Washington St.
I will share resident feedback with planning staff before the hearing so decision-makers understand the community support behind this proposal.
OPHS: Accountability Requires Follow-Through
Earlier this year, an audit raised concerns about contracts, invoices, documentation, vendor compliance, ethics, training, and internal controls within the Office of Public Health and Safety.
This week, OPHS provided Councilors with its first regular monthly update. That is a necessary step, but it cannot be the finish line.
On Monday, the full Council will vote on the accountability resolution I introduced. It calls for common-sense reforms including centralized contract and invoice tracking, ongoing staff training, ethics training, and stronger financial controls.
The committee did not include every enforcement measure I initially requested. That makes ongoing reporting and Council oversight even more important.
The work OPHS oversees matters deeply to Indianapolis, including violence reduction, homelessness response, behavioral health, and reentry. Those programs deserve support, but residents also deserve proof that public dollars are being managed responsibly.
This is what smarter local government should look like: clear expectations, transparent reporting, measurable progress, and leaders willing to ask hard questions.
Happy Fourth of July, Indianapolis
This Fourth of July is especially meaningful as our country marks America250, the 250th
anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Our system works best when people are involved. Strong communities, engaged residents, and accountable local government are not separate ideas. They are all part of the same responsibility.
Building the Smartest City in America will take more than technology. It will take residents who
ask questions, share ideas, volunteer, serve on boards, support their neighborhoods, and stay engaged in the issues that affect their lives.
Thank you for reading and staying involved. If you want to find a way to contribute, whether through your neighborhood, a public board, a volunteer effort, or another non-political opportunity, reach out to me. I will help point you in the right direction.
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Accountability, Transparency and Local Leadership
See you next week with more updates from the Neighborhood.
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