Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis begins demolition of long-troubled Towne and Terrace housing complex

Published

6 months ago

December 17, 2024

Indianapolis begins demolition of long-troubled Towne and Terrace housing complex

The city of Indianapolis has started tearing down eight vacant buildings at Towne and Terrace, a blighted housing complex on the far east side, and has paid to relocate a total of 120 households to allow for demolition of the entire site by early 2026.

Built in the 1960s, the townhome complex near 42nd Street and Post Road devolved into a hotbed for drug dealing and crime in recent years, in part because of mismanagement by prior homeowners association leaders, the city says. City officials began buying up the complex’s 32 buildings following a 2022 settlement that ended a nine-year legal battle with the HOA, Towne and Terrace Corp.

The city has set aside $14.4 million to buy and demolish 32 buildings and relocate about 120 households at Towne and Terrace. Demolition started Monday on eight buildings, and 23 remaining properties will come down throughout 2025, according to Aryn Schounce, senior policy adviser to Mayor Joe Hogsett. The first building was demolished in 2023.

“This demolition is more than just removing buildings,” State Sen. La Keisha Jackson, whose district includes the Towne and Terrace site, said at a press conference Monday in nearby Mt. Carmel Church. “It’s about restoring hope and assuring safety for the families who lived here.”

Once the complex is razed, Schounce told IndyStar, officials will plan the future of the site in tandem with the neighboring Oaktree Apartments, another property the city acquired and demolished. Schounce said the two sites work better together as one 38-acre mixed-use redevelopment project, rather than two separate smaller ones.

Hogsett said police have received fewer calls for service to the housing complex since the city demolished one building last year. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department also installed four surveillance cameras at the site and increased patrols of the area.

“We look forward to continued improvements in public safety as more buildings come down over the coming months,” Hogsett said.

How the city is relocating Towne and Terrace residents

Officials expect the 20 households remaining on the site to find new homes by this spring, with the help of employees in the Department of Metropolitan Development.

Under the federal Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Act, the city offered subsidies to tenants so they could pay the same monthly rent as they did at Towne and Terrace for the next three and a half years. For owner-occupants, the city had to pay the difference between the cost of any new comparable home and their home at Towne and Terrace. The city also reimbursed moving expenses.

Liz Durden, a Towne and Terrace resident since 1989 and the current HOA president, said she was reluctant to leave when the city first shared plans to raze all 32 buildings last April.

In the following months, however, Durden found a more expensive single-family home on the far east side, and the city paid for the difference. Now, the 62-year-old grandmother said she owns a better home without any monthly mortgage payments.

Although the process was stressful and she’s sad to see the place where she made so many memories destroyed, Durden has embraced the change.

“I’m real emotional about it, but it gets better and better and better,” Durden said, “because when I walk through the door of my new home, I love it.”

Email IndyStar Housing, Growth and Development Reporter Jordan Smith at JTsmith@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @jordantsmith09

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Indianapolis, IN

Colts’ Anthony Richardson Nearing End of the Road

Published

6 hours ago

May 31, 2025

Press Room

Colts’ Anthony Richardson Nearing End of the Road

The Indianapolis Colts are heading full-bore into the 2025 offseason as they’ve started OTAs and dedicated success to late owner Jim Irsay. However, everything rides on the quarterback’s success for nearly every NFL team.

If the quarterback position is in flux or has inconsistencies, it’s hard to win in the NFL, plain and simple.

For the Colts, it’s not looking good thus far for their fourth-overall pick from 2023, Anthony Richardson. Richardson must win the starting job over former New York Giants signal-caller Daniel Jones.

Richardson seemed to get in his own way. He struggled horribly as a passer in 2024, falling to the depths of efficiency. Now, it’s time for him to answer or the consequences for his future may not fall in his favor.

Bleacher Report‘s Brad Gagnon highlights Richardson’s biggest obstacle as…. everything.

“Including Daniel Jones, but let’s hone in on Richardson’s sloppy play. If you can’t get that under control, you stand no chance, and he committed a turnover-worthy play on 4.7 percent of his snaps in 2024, per Pro Football Focus. That number has to drop dramatically or he will be toast as an NFL starter.”

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It’s been hashed over and over, but Richardson has to elevate his play from year two or he’s likely done as a Colts starting quarterback.

This would be a back-breaking occurrence for the Colts’ franchise, which has been desperately searching for the heir under center to former star Andrew Luck since his retirement in 2019. The Colts have started a whopping nine quarterbacks since Jacoby Brissett handled the duties post-Luck (Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger, Nick Foles, Richardson, Gardner Minshew, and Joe Flacco).

If Richardson remains mediocre or, worse, takes a step back as a starter, expect Jones to be given a chance during the regular season. This is if Jones can’t outright win the gig during the offseason before the season starts.

All eyes and analysis are on Richardson for the Colts. Richardson has never been under so much pressure and has to juggle many expectations despite being in the league for a short time.

If Richardson wants to be taken seriously by the Colts, it’s on him to answer the call. He must smash the notion that he’s already a bust and handle immense factors from last year that held back the offense and gave the impression he can’t be a passer.

We’ll see how the youngster moves forward with OTAs and a huge offseason ahead.

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Indianapolis, IN

Fatal shooting on the eastside of Indianapolis, one person detained

Published

22 hours ago

May 30, 2025

Press Room

Fatal shooting on the eastside of Indianapolis, one person detained

INDIANAPOLIS — One person has been detained following a fatal shooting on Friday evening, IMPD said.

According to police, IMPD officers responded to 39 Burbank Road on a report of a person shot just after 6 p.m.

A victim was found with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds. IMPD confirmed the victim was pronounced deceased.

IMPD has not released any information about the victim or the person detained.

This investigation is ongoing.

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Indianapolis, IN

PHOTOS | Pacers Watch Party at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Game 5 vs. Knicks

Published

2 days ago

May 30, 2025

Press Room

PHOTOS | Pacers Watch Party at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Game 5 vs. Knicks

Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 29, 2025, hosted a Watch Party that filled the main level and the 100 Level of the arena in downtown Indianapolis during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals. The team provided free tickets for the event, where fans watched the Pacers-Knicks game, played at Madison Square Garden in New York, on the jumbo scoreboard screen. (WISH Photo/Blake Williamson)

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