by Darian Benson, Mirror Indy
June 17, 2026

The former Indiana Women’s Prison on the east side is getting closer to redevelopment.

The property has been vacant since 2017 and was under the control of the Indiana Department of Administration. In 2024, the property was transferred to the city of Indianapolis.

The Department of Metropolitan Development held an information session June 16 to give residents an update on redevelopment efforts.

Here’s what’s been happening.

Neighbors have pushed for redevelopment

The Indiana Women’s Prison was established in 1873 as the first separate prison for women in the United States. The prison was relocated to the west side in 2009, and the eastside property became a reentry facility for the Marion County criminal justice system until closing in 2017.

The 15-acre property is located at 401 N. Randolph St. The property is surrounded by three near east side neighborhoods — Willard Park, Woodruff Place and St. Claire Place.

In the years the property has sat vacant, neighbors have pushed for community-centered redevelopment of the property.

The city has researched potential uses

After the city took control of the property in 2024, DMD began conducting research and community engagement for site redevelopment.

Last year, the city hired the Urban Land Institute to evaluate potential uses. DMD said the Urban Land Institute’s recommendations prioritize the preservation of historic structures, affordable housing and public green spaces.

Environmental and structural assessments of the property were also completed this year. The structural assessment found that there was no systemic structural failure and buildings were not at risk of collapse. The main issues found during the assessment were missing gutters and the deterioration of concrete and brick.

DMD said overall, redevelopment is possible, but most of the buildings would require substantial rehabilitation to meet modern standards for safety and efficiency. And because some of the buildings are considered historic, any redevelopment would have to ensure it does not damage or remove historical elements.

At the meeting, DMD shared results of a community survey the department conducted last year.

Community members said they wanted a walkable, community-focused development that includes green spaces and opportunities for recreation. Many community members also expressed the need for affordable housing that reflects the traditional character of the neighborhood.

Next steps

The city has issued a request for expressions of interest for the redevelopment of the property. This process serves as an opportunity to gather development ideas and gauge interest from developers. The information will be used to shape the planning and budget priorities for the site.

DMD said there will be more opportunities for community engagement as the redevelopment process moves forward.

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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The debate over how to pay for road repairs in Indianapolis moved one step closer to a final decision on Tuesday night.

An Indianapolis City-County Council committee voted 7-3 to recommend approval of a proposal that would increase vehicle registration-related taxes in Marion County.

Some councilors said the proposal would be the best way to secure money for road improvements. News 8 first reported on the proposal in May.

But some people at the committee meeting questioned whether they should be asked to pay when they’re already feeling financial pressure. One said, “There’s a lot of concerns out with this, there’s just too much all at once. Utility costs, everything’s going crazy, so we should not have a total eclipse of the wallet.”

Another person testified, “I have to have a ‘Mad Max’ vehicle just to drive on the roads. So, I’m just asking that you look at another way to fund this instead of raising our taxes.”

Under the proposal, most Marion County drivers with vehicles under 11,000 pounds would pay a flat $100 annual fee when registering their vehicles. Larger vehicles would be subject to the county wheel tax with a flat annual fee of $240.

The council hopes to raise $50 million, which would make it eligible to receive $50 million in state funding.

The match amount would increase each year incrementally.

Democratic Councilor Andy Nielsen said, “We’d love to see other ideas and other plans for how we do that. The entire city council and administration has known that this $50 million opportunity has been sitting on the books, and we’re the first ones to actually put forward a plan to actually get there.”

Democratic Mayor Joe Hogsett has disagreed with the proposal.

If the City-County Council passes the tax hike at its next hearing, he could veto it.

Council President Maggie Lewis, another Democrat, said of the mayor in his third four-year term, “He has not vetoed anything we put forth since he’s been the mayor of our great city, so not sure exactly how to read that, but again, he does have that ability to do so.”

Some on the council argued that if no action was taken on the wheel tax, the city would still need to manage a large transportation network, risk losing new state funding, and face higher long-term maintenance costs.

Lewis said, “At the end of the day, our colleagues believe this is the right path to ensure our infrastructure is what we deserve as the capitalist state of Indiana.”

The proposal goes to the full council for a vote on July 6. If approved, the new taxes would take effect Jan. 1.

⛈️ Interactive radar | ⛈️Download the WISH-TV weather app for localized alerts

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Much of Indiana was under a severe thunderstorm watch until 11 p.m. EDT Tuesday, the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center said.

Indianapolis and the surrounding counties were in the watch area. The watch extends into Illinois.

Counties in the watch are Adams, Allen, Bartholomew, Benton, Blackford, Boone, Brown, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Delaware, DeKalb, Elkhart, Fountain, Fulton, Grant, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Henry, Howard, Huntington, Jasper, Jay, Johnson, Kosciusko, LaGrange, La Porte, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Noble, Owen, Parke, Porter, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, Shelby, St. Joseph, Starke, Steuben, Sullivan, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Vermillion, Vigo, Wabash, Warren, Wells, White and Whitley.

WRTV Meteorologist Adam Fieck said counties farther north were expected to have more severe weather than others in Indiana, based on a prediction for the areas. Fieck said storms will begin to work into the Indianapolis metro area as early as 5-6 p.m. Storms will exit the area by 11 p.m.

Fieck and WISH-TV Meteorologist Keith Gibson said main threats will be for gusty winds and localized heavy downpours. Small hail up to the size of a pea is possible, with a low-end risk for a brief spin-up tornado farther north.

After the storms, Gibson said variably cloudy skies are likely overnight, with cool lows in the mid-50s.

After the storms, Gibson said variably cloudy skies are likely overnight, with cool lows in the mid-50s.

On Wednesday, high-end severe weather appears likely in the region as an unusually strong storm system, by June standards, was expected.

WRTV Meteorologist Ryan Morse said two rounds of showers and storms are expected, with the second being the bigger issue. A moderate risk is in place for spots northwest of Indianapolis, while most of central Indiana is at an enhanced risk.