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INDIANAPOLIS

Turning Neighborhoods Around

In the mid-1990s, in a period of rapid economic growth, Indianapolis ’s inner city neighborhoods were losing citizens fast. A city rich in architectural history was seeing some of its prized landmarks vanish, and deteriorating properties were scaring away potential homeowners inside and outside the city. But thanks to neighborhood coalitions and public and private funding, old treasures are now being restored, and new life has come back to neighborhoods that emptied in the 1960s and 1970s.

East 10th Street Rediscovers Its Flair

One of Indianapolis ' historic entertainment and shopping districts, East 10th Street is lined with historic storefronts and boasts the famous Rivoli Theater. Until a few years ago, these buildings—some dating to the late 19th century—were abandoned and crumbling. Restoration efforts were spotty at best until the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) came along with plans to salvage these local treasures. Today business is cooperating with local residents to restore this showcase of early 20th century architecture to its former glory. Buildings are being renovated, and neighborhood coalitions and business associations have turned the area into a pedestrian-friendly historical district.

The Arts Community Regains Fountain Square

An area that two decades ago was known for its high crime rate has since become the city’s main arts district. Residents with widely varied incomes and ethnicities have chosen to call the district home, and the streets are lined with cafes, restaurants, arts galleries, and antique stores. The Fountain Square Theater, long abandoned, hosts festivals and arts events, and this once-dangerous area is now lively at night.

Affordable Housing Returns to King Park

For decades this area of historic houses, dating back to the Victorian era, was falling into disrepair. Windows were boarded up, large tracts of property were left abandoned, and brownfields of contaminated soil dotted the landmarks of the once proud neighborhood. In 1997, the Historic Landmarks Foundation, King Park Area was formed to finance restoration and renovation of architectural treasures. Not only has the area been largely renovated, but it offers affordable housing in the $30,000 to $130,000 range.

Pervasive homelessness is a problem facing city leaders and the Indianapolis business community. Although Indianapolis is one of the country’s more prosperous cities, 11 percent of the population have incomes below the poverty line, including about 3,500 individuals who are homeless. Citizen volunteers and a city task force have responded with a Blueprint to End Homelessness, an ambitious ten-year plan to house the homeless and at the same time prevent poorer families and individuals from losing their homes.