8/30/2005
Media Contact:
Justin Ohlemiller, [317] 327-6709 |
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Meadows revitalization reaches major milestone as residents begin moving in to new townhomes
Deputy Mayor, community join together to help former Parkwood resident move in to her new home Indianapolis – Ms. Luraline Anderson has resided in the Meadows area for decades. Living at the former Parkwood Apartments, she witnessed the decline of that public housing complex, which became an neighborhood eyesore and a haven for blight and crime. Now she will have a front row seat to witness the area's rebirth.
With the help of Deputy Mayor Steve Campbell and community partners, Ms. Anderson today moved in to her brand-new townhome, part of the multi-million dollar extensive redevelopment effort taking place in and around the former Parkwood site, which will create hundreds of quality, affordable housing opportunities for residents.
The new development, known as the Villages of Mill Crossing, will consist of three phases: 1) the construction of 54 new townhomes just east of Parkwood; 2) the rehabilitation of 137 rental units at another nearby apartment complex; and 3) the construction of 200 new, affordable rental townhomes and flats on the site of the former Parkwood Apartments. In total, the three phases will create or revitalize nearly 400 units and spur more than $35 million of investment in the Meadows area.
"Welcoming Ms. Anderson back to the Parkwood area is an important sign of things to come for the entire Meadows community, which has seen its share of challenges," said Deputy Mayor Steve Campbell, pointing out that improving the quality of housing in the Parkwood area was a goal outlined in Mayor Bart Peterson's Peterson Plan II. "After years of witnessing the blight, crime and disinvestment that plagued this area, the future is bright for Ms. Anderson, her neighbors and all of the Meadows."
The multi-million dollar redevelopment of Parkwood, headed up by The Community Builders, Inc. in partnership with United Northeast Community Development Corporation and the city, was made possible by an $8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and more than $2.6 million in federal grant funding from the City of Indianapolis. Other project contributors include the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana, and United Way of Central Indiana.
The majority of the new housing opportunities at Villages of Mill Crossing will be priced below market rate and will be affordable to a mix of low and moderate income working families. Residents will have access to a variety of services including child day care, after-school programs and career advancement opportunities with area employers.
Last May, U.S. Senator Evan Bayh and Congresswoman Julia Carson – both of whom played an integral role in securing the federal funding for the development – joined Mayor Peterson to kick off the revitalization of Parkwood with the start of site demolition. The entire Villages of Mill Crossing development is slated for completion by Spring 2008.
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