A neighborhood development association unveiled a new affordable housing project May 9 in honor of a local advocate.
Anthony Bridgeman moved from New York to Indianapolis in the early 1990s and spent most of his career advocating for comprehensive and equitable community development projects across the city. Bridgeman, who lived on the west side, was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2020 and died in 2023, the day after his 51st birthday.
His son, Grant Bridgeman, spoke to Mirror Indy at the building’s ribbon cutting. Grant, a freshman at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, said he’s proud of his father’s work.
“I’m honored to be able to even share the last name,” Grant Bridgeman said. “Even though he may not be here, he still has an impact and he’s still affecting people’s lives.”
Although Anthony didn’t work directly on The Bridgeman building, Kelli Mirgeaux, president of the Southeast Neighborhood Development organization that built the complex, said he supported the project.
“The design represents the fabric of the neighborhood while responding to the future of inclusive urban living,” Mirgeaux said. “But beyond the technical and architectural achievement, this building carries a name and legacy that means a great deal to me and our city.”
The quadruplex is in the Old Southside neighborhood at 105 E. Morris St. Each 1,100-square-foot unit includes two bedrooms and one-and-a-half bathrooms and a utility allowance for less than $1,000 per month. Rental properties of comparable size listed in the area are $1,500 and up, according to the online housing website Zillow.
One unit at The Bridgeman is already leased. Potential tenants must make 50% of Marion County’s area median income in order to lease one of the income-qualified properties. That’s around $38,750 for one person or $55,350 for a family of four, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Still, housing crisis persists
Finding affordable housing is an ongoing issue in Indianapolis.
Marion County needs 37,420 units to close its housing gap, according to last year’s data from Prosperity Indiana. Mirgeaux said she’s proud of the quadruplex, but she knows this will only make a small dent toward addressing housing needs.
“We’ve got a lot more work to do,” Mirgeaux said. “And I’m not just saying (Southeast Neighborhood Development), I’m talking about the city of Indianapolis, other affordable housing developers, our elected officials. We’ve got a lot more work to do to address this crisis.”
Part of the issue is the expense. The project cost roughly $900,000. About $615,000 was provided in 2022 by the Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development, using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act — a 2021 stimulus bill that former President Joe Biden signed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Still, Jennifer Fults, deputy director of DMD, said the complex is a step toward providing quality, high-end affordable housing.
“We have a housing crisis across this country,” Fults said. “The funds that we provided for this project, along with several other projects in Indianapolis, hopefully will produce more of this.”
The DMD also approved $1.1 million in funding for a mixed-use building in the Bates-Hendricks neighborhood southeast of downtown. It will consist of five rental units and a space for a business to operate along East Street. Southeast Neighborhood Development hopes to begin construction for the building by the end of the summer.
Additionally, the organization is building four single-family houses as part of its mission to make homeownership more accessible.
Here’s how to apply
People who make 50% of the area median income can apply for a unit at The Bridgeman online. There’s a $25 application fee, and a $500 security deposit is required.
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Mirror Indy reporter Elizabeth Gabriel covers the south side of Marion County. Contact her at elizabeth.gabriel@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on Facebook at Elizabeth Gabriel, Southside Reporter and on X at @_elizabethgabs.
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