On November 17, 2022, the IPS board of school commissioners unanimously approved the Rebuilding Stronger plan. Midtown Indy’s Community Builder, Danita Hoskin, attended nine public meetings held in advance of the vote and reports on how the plan will affect IPS schools in Midtown.
Broad Ripple Facility, 1115 Broad Ripple Ave.
Starting in the 2024-25 School Year (SY), the Broad Ripple Facility (formerly Broad Ripple High School) will open and serve grades 6-8 as the new Broad Ripple International Baccalaureate (IB) World Middle school. Purdue Polytechnic High School North (PPHS) will continue to lease space in the Broad Ripple Facility. As a member of IPS Innovation Network Schools, PPHS grades 9-12 student performance data and enrollment will be included in the district schools' reporting. IPS will invest in building improvements to create a better student experience, including a new, full-size gymnasium.
Butler Lab School Eliza Baker School 55,
1349 E. 54th St.
Butler Lab School 55 will be reconfigured for grades Pre-K -5 starting with the 2024-25 SY. It will serve Zones 2 and 3. The academic program will remain Reggio-Emilia. Students in grades 5-7 during the 2023-24 SY will have a guaranteed seat at the new Broad Ripple IB World Middle School. Alternatively, students can go outside of the zone and receive one year of out-of-zone transportation. Planned renovations and new construction will include expanded academic space and parking, approximately 27,200 sq. feet.
Butler Lab William A. Bell School 60,
3300 N. Pennsylvania
Beginning in the October 2024-25 SY, School 60 will serve Pre-K -5 students in Zones 1 and 4. Students may attend the school outside of their zone and receive 1 year out-of-zone transportation. The academic program will remain Reggio-Emilia. Students in grades 5-7 during the 2023 school year will have a guaranteed seat in the new Northwest IB World Middle School.
Center for Inquiry School 70, 510 E. 46th St.
Effective 2024-25 SY, School 70 will serve students in grades Pre-K -5 in Zone 2. The academic program will be Center for Inquiry IB - Primary Years Program. Students may go outside of their zone and stay for all grades. They receive one year of out-of-zone transportation. Students in grades 5-7 during the 2023-24 SY may transfer with priority to an in-zone school and are guaranteed a place at Broad Ripple IB World Middle School.
Center For Inquiry School 84, 440 E. 57th St.
School 84 will serve grades K -5 in Zone 2. The academic program will be the Center for Inquiry IB - Primary Years Program. Beginning with the 2024-25 SY, students attending outside of their zone can stay for all grades and receive one year of out-of-zone transportation or they can transfer with priority to an in-zone school. Students in grade 5-7 during 2023-24 SY have a guaranteed slot at Broad Ripple IB World Middle School.
James Whitcomb Riley School 43,
150 W. 40th St.
School 43 will remain K-8 through June 2027. Effective with the 2024-25 SY, the school will serve students in Zones 3 and 4. The academic program is a Visual and Performing Arts school under the leadership of Edison Academic Performance. Students in grades 5-7 during the 2023-24 SY are guaranteed a seat at School 43 or can also apply to any middle school that serves their zone during fall 2023.
Phalen Leadership Academy at Louis B. Russell School 48, 3445 Central Ave.
Effective 2024-25 SY, School 48 will serve Pre-K -5 students in Zone 2. For K-5 students, no action is required. They will have a guaranteed seat at the current school or can apply to any other elementary school in your zone through the Enroll Indy lottery. Fifth graders have a guaranteed spot at the Broad Ripple IB World Middle School but must apply through Enroll Indy. If they choose not to apply, the student will be assigned to STEM @ Arlington Middle School.
Rousseau McClelland School 91,
5111 Evanston Ave.
Beginning with they 2024-25 SY, School 91 will serve grades Pre-K -5. The academic program will remain a Montessori school. Students in grades 5-7 during the 2023-24 SY have a guaranteed seat at the new Broad Ripple IB World Middle School.
To learn more about zones and middle school options for every zone, visit the IPS website.
On November 16, the City of Indianapolis Department of Public Works (DPW) hosted a well-attended public meeting at the Riviera Club for updates on flood protection for Rocky Ripple. Listen to an audio recording here.
DPW has submitted a draft Interlocal Agreement to the Rocky Ripple Town Council for review. As an “included town” within Marion County, Rocky Ripple has its own unit of local government. Therefore, the City of Indianapolis must enter into a legal agreement with the Town Council in order to undertake the project. Additionally, the City is submitting a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) to Butler University to receive permission to undertake levee construction on Butler’s campus.
Attendees were able to review engineering plans for the levee that are 60% complete, and view renderings of a replacement for the Rocky Ripple Town Hall that is slated for demolition. The Town will have to select a location for the proposed new structure.
Residents expressed concerns about the reduced public river access in the proposed plan; the number and type of trees that will be removed; what the effects on property taxes will be; as well as who will pay for internal drainage issues caused by construction. The most contentious issue is the number of homes/structures that will need to be acquired by the City in order to construct the levee.
According to DPW’s presentation, contact with affected residents to discuss appraisals are underway with acquisition offers likely in summer 2023.
Copies of DPW’s presentation and meeting exhibits/images are available here.
Mark your calendars for Thursday, December 15. The Midtown Economic Council (MEC) will host a public meeting to review a proposed subsidy for a mixed-use project on the site of the former Broad Ripple Kroger grocery store, 6220 N. Guilford Ave.
A Broad Ripple meeting location for the evening meeting has yet to be determined. Midtown Indy will send out a separate e-blast once details are confirmed. An online option will be available for those unable to attend in person.
The team of Gershman Partners, Milhaus, and Citimark are proposing a $72 million redevelopment project that will consist of 232 multi-family units with 245 parking spaces and approximately 3,600 sq. ft. of of retail space for an as-yet-unnamed restaurant tenant.
On October 5, the Metropolitan Development Commission (MDC) adopted a Declaratory Resolution to remove the Kroger parcel from the North Midtown Economic Development Area and to create a single site TIF, the Guilford Midtown Economic Development Area and Allocation Area. The project will now receive scrutiny from the City-County Council's Metropolitan & Economic Development committee.
The development team argued that the move was required since the Midtown TIF expires after 25 years, as stipulated by the Indiana General Assembly. With seventeen years remaining in the Midtown TIF lifespan, and high interest rates, the development team needed more time to finance such a large deal. Creation of the single-site TIF will allow for a 25-year financing window.
An analysis conducted for the City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD) found that removing the Kroger site from the Midtown TIF would not have adverse affects on current bond obligations. The MDC resolution capped the single-site TIF at $7,500,000. After additional review of the subsidy by the public and a vote by the City-County Council, the measure will return early next year to the MDC for a Confirmatory Resolution.
The MEC was established by the City-County Council when it approved the Midtown TIF in March 2013. The first project bonded was The Coil on the Central Canal in 2015 which started the 25-year countdown.
ADVOCATING FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
Earlier this year, Midtown Indy staff spent a Friday afternoon conducting an inventory of all pedestrian crossings on 38th Street through Midtown, from Woodstock Drive to Fall Creek Parkway.
Our findings included broken or missing hardware, lack of sound at almost every intersection, and stretches of road with no pedestrian crossings for several blocks.
Complete streets should be safe for all whether you're driving, biking, riding the bus, or walking. We are actively compiling our findings and presenting them to the Department of Public Works in hopes that the issues noted will be addressed.
SUPPORT MIDTOWN INDY ON GIVING TUESDAY
You subscribe to My Midtown News. Maybe you receive the Midtown Indy magazine or attended the Holiday Home Tour, Movie Night at Tarkington Park, or our annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration.
None of these initiatives would be possible without your financial support.
When you give to Midtown Indy, you're helping us cultivate an equitable, healthy, and sustainable community in which stakeholders of all incomes, races, and ethnicities have access to the opportunities, services, and amenities needed to thrive.
Please consider making a tax-deductible gift this Giving Tuesday. Every dollar makes a difference to those who live, work, and play in the district.
Deadline for advertisements and announcements for the January/February issue of Midtown Indy Magazine is December 20. To reserve space or for more information, email tom@midtownindy.org
View or download flipbook versions of all 2022 issues here.
Learn about the development of a new greenspace that will be developed at the dead end between Congress Avenue and 32nd Street. Share your ideas and see how you can get involved.
5:30 p.m., Midtown Indy, 3965 N. Meridian Street Suite G. or Zoom
Join neighbors and stakeholders as we work towards a community planning process. Stay up-to-date on the effort by joining the Keystone-Monon Planning list.
3-5:30 p.m., Guilford Avenue north of Westfield Boulevard
Visit Santa Claus and his live reindeer, make some free holiday crafts, and listen to live music. While the kids craft, you can enjoy local food trucks.
VISIT WITH SANTA
Tuesday, Dec. 6
5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Hoagies & Hops, 4155 Boulevard Place
Bring a non-perishable item to donate and take photos with Santa. Ten percent of food and beer sales will go to St. Vincent de Paul pantry.
Join local farmers, bakers, and artisans indoors at the former Macy's location inside the Glendale Town Center.
PUBLIC HEALTH
COVID-19 vaccine clinics are available at four library locations including the College Avenue Branch.The CDCrecommends that people ages 12 years and older receive one up-dated (bivalent) booster if it has been at least 2 months since their last COVID-19 vaccine dose.
Enroll Indy's first round of OneMatch applications began Nov. 2 and will close on Jan. 25. If you have a new student, a student in a terminating grade that is not part of a feeder program, or a student who wishes to attend a different school in the 2023-24 school year, you must complete a OneMatch application. Need help? Call 317-426-3234 Mon.-Fri. from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. for assistance.
The Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center is seeking neighbors and organizations to share your stories of community building. Submit a video proposal by Dec. 5.
THE MARION COUNTY HATE CRIMES HOTLINEprovides a reporting mechanism for people who believe they have experienced or witnessed a potential bias-motivated crime. 317-327-5314.
Complaints can include speeding and hazardous driving, Illegal turns, drivers not obeying traffic signs, illegally parked vehicles, or drivers running red lights. IMPD will review each complaint and determine the best way to respond.
CRIME STOPPERS
Have information about a crime? Call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana, 317-262-TIPS (8477) or download the mobile P3tips app for Apple or Android phones, or submit a web tip.You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1000 if the information leads to a felony arrest.
IDEM's 24-HOUR EMERGENCY SPILLLINE.
Report hazardous spills by calling 888-233-7745
MAYOR'S ACTION CENTER
Report potholes via the Request Indy website, the mobile app on iPhone or Android, or by calling the Mayor's Action Center at 317-327-4622.
Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Our mission: to cultivate an equitable, healthy, and sustainable community in which stakeholders of all incomes, races, and ethnicities have access to the opportunities, services, and amenities they need to thrive.
Midtown Indianapolis, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the economic growth and revitalization of a 12-square mile region known as Midtown Indianapolis. Our focus is on making things happen by creating connections and advocating for projects and programs that positively impact quality of life and economic vitality in Midtown Indianapolis.
To learn more about how you can support our work, contact Krista Bozacki atkrista@midtownindy.org.
Midtown Indianapolis Inc. | 3965 N. Meridian Street, Suite G | Indianapolis, IN 46208
