A national organization specializing in urban land use will guide the future of the former Indiana Women’s Prison site.
The city hired the Urban Land Institute to evaluate potential uses for the 15-acre piece of land on Indianapolis’ near east side.
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The site has been vacant since 2017 and was under the control of the Indiana Department of Administration.
Residents in surrounding neighborhoods — including Willard Park and Woodruff Place — have been calling for redevelopment of the site. They got a boost last year when the city of Indianapolis acquired the land from the state.
Now, the city is going through environmental assessments and removing graffiti from the buildings that remain.
The Urban Land Institute, which is based in Washington, D.C., will help determine what’s next for the site, which served as the women’s prison until 2009.
Piers Kirby, real estate and brownfield redevelopment administrator for the Department of Metropolitan Development, said the possibilities include affordable housing. There will eventually be a website to access an upcoming report and other updates for the project.
Kirby said the city plans to offer the site to developers later this year, potentially through a public bidding process.
The Metropolitan Development Commission voted to approve a $10,000 contract with the organization April 2.
Mirror Indy reporter Tyler Fenwick covers housing and labor. Contact him at 317-766-1406 or tyler.fenwick@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on X @ty_fenwick and Bluesky @tyfenwick.bsky.social.
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