Eastern Star Church confirmed it is in the process of purchasing Martin University’s eastside campus in an April 10 statement to Mirror Indy.
Church leaders first announced their plans to purchase the property in a members-only meeting March 29. Should the sale go through, Eastern Star plans to use the property to expand its ROCK Initiative, a community development effort in the eastside Arlington Woods neighborhood.
In the April 10 statement, Eastern Star representatives said the acquisition is not yet final. Church representatives also said the church is only looking to purchase the Martin property, not the university.
All acquisitions, including at the Martin property, will focus on affordable housing, education, financial literacy and community engagement, the statement said.
“Eastern Star Church’s ROCK Initiative is constantly examining ways to help improve our community in significant ways to improve the quality of life of others,” the statement said, in part. “We are blessed and enthusiastic about extending the ROCK Initiative from Arlington Woods to (the) Martindale Brightwood neighborhood where Eastern Star Church started in 1920.”
Martin University closed in December and the property was listed earlier this year for $3.5 million. In addition to the university buildings and parking lot, the listing includes a handful of smaller lots adjacent to the campus.
No sale has closed.
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Claire Rafford covers higher education for Mirror Indy in partnership with Open Campus. Contact Claire by email claire.rafford@mirrorindy.org, at 317-759-0249 or on most social media @clairerafford.
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