The Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission will hold an emergency meeting at 6 p.m. Aug. 12 to request historic designation for part of Martin University’s eastside campus.
The meeting was called partially in response to an Aug. 7 wrecking permit to demolish a historic church on what was once part of Martin’s campus. That permit was submitted by a contractor, but lists a phone number for Eastern Star Church. Should the commission approve a historic designation, that would halt the demolition of the building, at least temporarily.
Upcoming meeting
Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission
The commission will consider historic status for the church on Martin’s former campus. View the agenda.
🗓️ 6 p.m. Aug. 12
📍 Room 260, City-County Building, 200 E Washington St.
Martin University closed in December 2025 and Eastern Star purchased Martin’s campus and surrounding properties earlier this year to create a community impact center on the property.
A representative from Eastern Star Church did not respond to a request for comment in time for the publication of this story. Trena Roudebush, spokesperson for the city’s Department of Metropolitan Development, told Mirror Indy that the city has not been able to reach Eastern Star to get more information about the permit.
The Aug. 7 permit seeks permission to demolish the former St. Francis de Sales Church, which is part of Martin’s campus. The church and school was founded in 1881 but closed in 1983 due to construction of the I-70 interstate, according to the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
Martin University moved into the former St. Francis church and school in 1987 from its original location at 35th Street and College Avenue and eventually expanded its campus with new construction.
At the Aug. 12 meeting, historic preservation commission members will consider whether to add the former church to the Marion County Register of Historic Places and whether to adopt a historic preservation plan for the area, according to the agenda.
If the city commission approves a historic designation in its emergency meeting, the church will not be able to be demolished until the Metropolitan Development Commission votes on whether to approve the historic area plan, according to Roudebush. The commission’s next meeting is Aug. 19.
Indianapolis community members, with the assistance of Indiana Landmarks, had previously circulated a petition to get historic status for Martin’s campus. Roudebush said over 600 Indianapolis residents submitted comments to the commission about preserving Martin University.
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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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