INDIANAPOLIS — On Friday, April 28, city officials joined IMPD and residents of Towne and Terrace to announce the first demolition since reaching a legal settlement with the Towne and Terrace Home Owners Association (HOA).
The demolition of a City-owned vacant building on Essex Court is the beginning of a three phase process to acquire and demolish all buildings within the complex near 42nd and Post Road. Towne and Terrace is also sometimes referenced in the community as Brentwood. The development contains 258 individually owned parcels.
The City of Indianapolis plans to acquire all non-City owned properties in the Towne and Terrace complex, connect eligible residents – both homeowners and tenants – with decent, safe, and sanitary housing elsewhere, and ultimately, demolish all buildings at the site. Once demolition is complete, a community-informed redevelopment process will take place, ensuring that this property will play a role in the brighter future of the Far Eastside.
As of April 2023, the City owned 106 vacant units, and there are approximately 105 unique owners of the remaining 152 parcels. The vast majority of the 106 City-owned individual parcels in Towne and Terrace came into the City’s possession over decades after they failed to sell at county tax sales, making the City the owner of last resort.
After several years of litigation between the City and Towne & Terrace Corp., regarding demolition of abandoned and severely damaged buildings in the complex, the Indiana Court of Appeals appointed a Receiver to oversee the City’s property in the complex.
In early 2021, the Receiver presented recommendations regarding Towne and Terrace in a report adopted by the Court. Specifically, the City was directed to acquire all remaining properties in the complex and proceed with a plan for demolition and subsequent redevelopment in order to protect the health, safety, and overall welfare of Towne and Terrace residents.
In September 2022, the City agreed to a settlement with the Towne & Terrace Corp. that resolved all remaining legal disputes. Phase 1, consisting of approximately 76 properties, will begin in Spring 2023 with property acquisitions and relocation assistance for impacted residents beginning in Summer/Fall 2023.
Phases 2 and 3, consisting of approximately 76 properties, will begin in early 2024 with property acquisitions and relocation assistance for impacted residents beginning in Spring/Summer 2024.
