INDIANAPOLIS – This week, the City-County Council unanimously passed two fiscal ordinances that will fund $80 million in neighborhood-level investments in infrastructure, public safety and quality of life.
$3 million of that will go toward demolition of longstanding nuisance properties in the city including some of the buildings in the long-troubled Towne and Terrace complex near 42nd and Post Road.
“This area really has just been a hub of different activities,” said Aryn Schounce, a senior police advisor for Mayor Hogsett’s office. “Whether that’s drug trafficking, violence, it’s just really been a lot of activity there that it’s not ok. The people who are living in Towne and Terrace, those folks they just want to live in a safe place and this is not the fault of the residents. We just want to make sure they have a safe place to live.”
Demolition began in April 2023 in the largely dilapidated and crime-ridden complex that’s seen at least seven homicides in the last five years.
The demolition was on hold for nearly 10 years as part of a lengthy legal fight.
“With this new funding, the City can improve roads and pedestrian infrastructure, invest in new and better facilities for our public safety professionals, and address nuisance issues such as blighted buildings – some of the top priorities of our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “I especially want to thank the members of the City-County Council – their partnership is the reason we can continue to make key investments that impact our community for the better.”
Now that that’s settled, the city said it will demolish every building there, and the latest amount of funding will help get that done.
“This has been a challenging and much more complex process,” said Schounce. “And it’s also part of why it’s been able to really deteriorate in the manner that it has because of the individual ownership and that makes things a lot more complicated for the city from an acquisition standpoint.”
FOX59/CBS4 crews went to Towne and Terrace and spoke to people who live there.
A few people who didn’t want to go on camera said they were happy to see the eyesore of a complex come down.
Others like Lewis Pace said he understands why the city would want to tear it down, but fears the same problems may always plague the complex.
“You can probably clean the crime up here, but you’re still going to have next door and on down further,” said Pace. “It doesn’t stop here. It’s just going to come back around. Whatever you put over here.”
As for what will eventually go there once demolition is complete, the city said it will ask residents for their input.
“It won’t be another Towne and Terrace, it’ll be something else. But whatever they put over here, I can think of nothing that’s going to be really good,” said Pace.
The city hopes to have acquired all the units in Towne and Terrace by the end of 2024 or early 2025, and have everything torn down sometime in 2025.
Notable investments funded through Proposals 133 and 174 include:
• $23 million to support capital infrastructure projects
• $5.2 million toward the construction of a new Solid Waste Garage for Indy DPW
• $2 million for the design of a new headquarters for IMPD’s North District
• $6 million for the construction of IFD Station 32 at 6355 North College Avenue and IFD Station 20 at 1330 N. Emerson Avenue
• $500,000 for pedestrian upgrades to intersections near schools. Upgrades could include features like crosswalks, bump outs, ADA ramps, signals, signs, and markings
• $1 million for pedestrian lighting improvements in school zones
• $3 million for the demolition of longstanding nuisance properties including some of the buildings in Towne and Terrace.
“The unanimous passage of these fiscal ordinances is a testament to our shared commitment to enhancing the quality of life in our neighborhoods in all 25 council districts,” said City-County Council President Vop Osili. “These investments will not only improve our infrastructure and public safety but also help create a more vibrant and resilient community.”
Proposals 133 and 174 were passed unanimously on Monday, June 3, after being heard by council committees throughout the month of May. Footage from Monday’s meeting as well as Council committees can be found on the Channel 16 page on Indy.gov.
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