Simon Property Group, the Indianapolis-based developer that ownsthe property, is asking $25 million for the site located on thesouth side of Northgate Mall, a popular north-end shopping centerowned by Simon Property.

The land has attracted the attention of environmentalpreservationists because of a long-buried creek running under oneend of the property. Members of the Thornton Creek Defense Fund hadasked that the creek be brought to the surface as part of thedevelopment. Developers, insisting that the creek is nothing morethan a drainage ditch, refused.

The property, listed by C.B. Richard Ellis, has receivedinterest by some local developers, although potential buyers willhave to be prepared for plenty of public input. In addition to theunderground creek, the property is zoned for a mix of uses and hasbeen the focus of intense community planning discussions. A portionof the property has already been tentatively slated for transitdevelopment and some Northgate residents are pushing for theproperty to be the site of a proposed library, community center andcity park.