Upcoming 2023 Quarterly Meetings are IN PERSON

August 3

November 2 

Latest on Website!

Lasting Impact of City Bicentennial + New Digital Encyclopedia of Indy (under Featured Info & Groups below)

Free Walking & Biking Tours of 13 Indy Historic Neighborhoods

Tips and resources for researching your Home.

Want some fascinating reading? Check out HUNI's Resources Page for lots of links to cool history.

Preserve Greater Indy Advocacy Group for Young Preservationists (under Recent News)

We've added HUNI minutes to the website. If you missed a meeting, you can review minutes from 2013 to the most recently approved minutes. Visit the HUNI Minutes page.

Researching the history of your home? Check out our Researching Your Home page.

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2019 Mayoral Forum on Neighborhoods

Mayoral Forum on Neighborhoods Set for September 26 2023

HUNI is once again hosting its traditional Mayoral Forum on Neighborhoods in which candidates will present their views across a broad range of issues relevant to those living in historic neighborhoods. This FREE event is open to the public and HUNI hopes to see neighbors from ALL HUNI neighborhoods at the Forum. It will be held in person only at Indiana Landmarks, 1201 N. Central Avenue (46202). The evening begins at 5:30 P.M.

Featured Speakers Jordan Ryan & Lourenzo Giple

HUNI Quarterly Meeting Features Insightful Review of the US's National Housing Crisis & the Lack of Local Middle Housing

HUNI's second quarter meeting took place in person on May 4 at Indiana Landmarks. Jordan Blair Ryan, Architectural Historian and Archivist, was our featured presenter on the topic of "Middle Missing Housing." Her co-presenter was Lourenzo Giple, Deputy Director, Dept. of Metropolitan Development, City of Indianapolis. Missing middle housing – or all housing types between single-family homes and mid-rise apartments – was once common throughout the country, particularly in cities. However, early zoning ordinances, which favored single-family zoning, have had a detrimental impact on our housing options, density, affordability, and attainability. Jordan and Lourenzo offered several examples of historic-missing-middle-housing to enable attendees to better understand the scale, type, footprint of these structures. Present-day critiques of the lack of new missing middle housing center on local zoning ordinances. The duo highlighted the actual obstacles in cities like Indianapolis where zoning ordinances have largely been corrected in recent years. The presenters also offered comments on current challenges and how we can incentivize missing middle housing during a national housing crisis.

Indy coalition addresses short term rentals

Coalition to Address Short-Term Rentals (CASTR) Invites Interested Neighborhoods and Individuals to Join in Forum

The Old Southside neighborhood's Short Term Rental (STR) efforts have formalized and been named the "Coalition to Address Short-Term Rentals (CASTR).” All organizations, neighborhood associations and individuals are welcome to join. The CASTR link is ready for distribution www.ShortTermRentalReport.com and provides a form to report nuisance properties. CASTR held a May 2023 forum at which IMPD Captain Christopher Boomershine (head of IMPD Nuisance Abatement) introduced attendees to two of his team’s analysts responsible for building a database of issues with short-term rentals. If you have issues not represented in the list below, please submit them to info@shorttermrentalreport.com. HUNI encourages you to keep this link handy.

Below is the list of priorities gathered from previous meetings with neighbors:
1. Registration with City
2. Annual renewal fee
3. Business permit from State of Indiana
4. Principal renter must be 21 years of age
5. Owner’s name and contact information must be posted inside the residence and with contiguous neighbors
6. IMPD must have immediate access to the owner’s contact information
7. Inspections required – at the owner’s expense
8. New permits not allowed in residential areas
9. STR permits are not transferable when a property sells
10. Occupancy rate established of how many people can be in the residence
11. No large parties
12. No food trucks
13. Two-night minimum stay
14. No recreational vehicles, buses, or trailers are allowed
15. Must obey all local ordinances including noise and trash ordinances

Presently, there are zero restrictions on STRs currently, Councilors Jones and Adamson drafted an ordinance that they introduced at the June 5th Council meeting; the ordinance has been assigned to committee, and hearings are the next big opportunity for public input. STR owners have also organized, forming the Short Term Rental Alliance. Jim Borthwick, President, was on the panel to express support for the ordinance efforts. Responsible STR owners are also concerned about the bad apples.

Historic Neighborhood Tour Digitization Initiative Catches Eye of Bicentennial Commission

As the Weather Warms, Consider Taking a FREE Digitization Tour of an Indy Historic Neighborhood

Tours endorsed by Bicentennial Commission as an Official Bicentennial Community Project 

In honor of Indianapolis's Bicentennial, HUNI partnered with various neighborhood associations to digitize initially 15 historic neighborhood walking and biking tours covering 13 of Indy's historic neighborhoods during 2020. It has recently added a 16th tour of Woodruff Place.  In addition, HUNI's founding webmaster Jay van Santen developed a companion website -- Tours.HUNIindy.org -- specifically highlighting these neighborhoods and their tours. The tours talk about significant architecture as well as prominent business and civic leaders within these neighborhoods who have shaped our community over the past 200 years. Lorraine Phillips Vavul, digitization project coordinator noted, "HUNI was especially appreciative to receive recognition as one of the city's official bicentennial community projects giving a nod to the value of preserving our shared architectural fabric found in these historic neighborhoods."  She added, "Our sincere thanks to Indiana Humanities and Indiana Landmarks for their assistance with a Historic Preservation Education grant and a Marion County Historic Preservation fund grant. Without these two grants we would not have been able to hire summer intern Kara Chinn as well as secure the web architecture services of van Santen Consulting to coordinate this exciting project." 16 tours are currently available online via PocketSights -- a free GPS-guided tour app and website.  If your historic neighborhood has an existing tour, please contact Lorraine Vavul at LVAVUL@AOL.COM. List "HUNI Neighborhood Tour" in the subject heading. 

Walking tours currently available, unless noted as biking tour: 

• Fort Harrision
• Fort Harrison (biking)
• Garfield Park
• Herron-Morton Place
• Holy Cross
• Irvington
• Irvington (biking)
• Lockerbie Square
• Meridian Park
• Old Northside
• Old Speedway
• Ransom Place
• Riverside-(Biking/Driving)
• St Joseph Place
• Watson Park
• Woodruff Place (on PocketSights coming soon to Tours.HUNIindy.org)

Irvington Nudges out Woodruff Place for Preserve Greater Indy  Arch(itecture) Madness 

For the third year Preserve Greater Indy held its Arch(itecture) Madness bracket competition. This year's match-up was based on Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission local districts. By only six votes, Irvington beat Woodruff Place for 'favorite' neighborhood in a 51% to 49% victory.

To learn about the many IHPC district neighborhoods, check out past tweets and Insta posts on PGI's Twitter and Instagram accounts via Twitter: https://twitter.com/PreservIndy and Instagram: @preservindy. Congrats to Irvington, the city's largest historic district.

New 2023 HUNI Leadership Team (L to R) Paula Brooks, Tom Abeel, Jordan Ryan and Glenn Blackwood

HUNI Elects New Officers at 2023 Annual Meeting

At its 2023 Annual Meeting, the HUNI Membership affirmed a new leadership slate including President Tom Abeel, Vice President Paula Brooks, Secretary Jordan Ryan, Treasurer Chad Lethig,  Immediate Past President Glenn Blackwood, and Membership Chair Sharon Butsch Freeland.

2023 Marks First In Person Annual Meeting in 3 Years

HUNI Holds First In-Person Annual Meeting Since 2020

The HUNI membership celebrated the stewardship and guidance of HUNI President Glenn Blackwood over the past three years during the 2023 HUNI Annual Meeting held at 16 Tech Hq2 on February 4, 2023. Sibeko Jywanza, 16 Tech's Director of Community Access & Engagement, welcomed attendees to the Innovation District and Glenn Blackwood conducted the meeting. Paula Brooks led a discussion on pressing issues facing various neighborhoods; Lorraine Vavul and Scotty Wilson highlighted developments for a revamped website. Featured Speaker Meg Storrow discussed the current status of Rethink 65/70 with assistance from Charlie Richardson.  The HUNI Membership affirmed a new leadership slate, and Neighborhood reps recapped activity occurring in their historic communities across the city.

$15 dues payments can still be sent to Chad Lethig C/O Indiana Landmarks, 1201 N Central Avenue (46202).) Click here for a membership dues form. (Checks should be made payable to Indiana Landmarks with HUNI noted in the memo field.) 

Journey to new sign ordinance starts in 2014 and concludes in 2019. 2022 State Legislative bill jeopardizes ordinance

DIGITAL BILLBOARDS -- Please be aware of SB 142 initiative moving through 2022 Legislature threatening the Marion County Sign Ordinance

There is proposed state legislation to subvert existing regulations established to protect the scenery, culture and vehicular safety of our community. For many years, HUNI, alongside fellow neighborhood organizations, has served at the forefront of the fight to keep Indianapolis free of the clutter and vehicular safety concerns posed by too many billboards and any digital billboards.

Currently, before the State Legislature is SB 142, which would allow an exception to our Sign Ordinance for the County Fairgrounds, and usurp local control of zoning ordinances in Marion County. This disregards the widespread community effort put into our Sign Ordinance as well as disregards our City’s right to establish its own laws. This comes from an organization that each year gets $100,000 of taxpayer funds from the City budget. They are not a transparent group and yet the bill calls for them to simply hold a public hearing before signing a deal with a billboard company. There are no criteria for a decision and no way to appeal a decision. 

Latest News on I-65/70 Reconstruction

On February 28, 2023 Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, Congressman Andre Carson, the Rethink Coalition, and the Indy Chamber announced a $2 million (with local matches bringing the amount to $2.75million) US-DOT grant for a planning study around the southeast leg of I-65/I-70 of the downtown Inner Loop. [Press Release Link] The study, kicking off later this summer and lasting for a year, will look at how we reconnect neighborhoods at our southeast gateway divided by the original interstate pathway. Rethink partnered with the City on the application and collected letters from 65 Supporters, including HUNI, representing the diversity and depth of community interest in the study.

The federal grant study will parallel IN-DOT’s ProPEL Indy study announced last summer and kicking off soon. That study will involve community discussions about what will happen with our highway infrastructure inside I-465 over the next generation, including the Inner Loop. HUNI’s voice—all voices—need to be part of both conversations. Rethink Coalition will be working to facilitate your involvement, ensuring everyone knows how to participate in these two key initiatives.

It’s time for new thinking as cities like ours all over the country are figuring out how best to knit urban areas divided 50 years ago back together and release amazing potential for future generations. Recessing the interstates and eliminating the walls and barriers the Inner Loop has created is the best way to do that. We must make Central Indiana a place people want to live, work, and visit. For background and detail, go to www.rethink65-70.org.

For more information on North-Split traffic updates, and project schedule or to sign up for weekly informational email,  visit northsplit.com. 

Indianapolis Propylaeum Starts 2023 with Feature on Delaware Street in 'Historic Neighborhoods of Indy' Series

The Indianapolis Propylaeum hosts a variety of women’s education as well as leadership programs along with various community events throughout the year. The Indy Prop continues its focus on the historic preservation component of its mission in a virtual series entitled "Historic Preservation Series" featuring Historic Architecture in Indy and beyond.  For its quarterly kickoff of 2023, architectural historian Deedee Davis presented a virtual tour entitled "Old Northside Architectural Tour of Delaware Street—a stroll through time highlighting this iconic Indy street’s historic fabric." It's second feature discusses architecture and history in one of Indy's original suburbs-- Woodruff Place.

Series History

The FREE series kicked off in December 2020 with HUNI member Lorraine Phillips Vavul highlighting Historic Meridian Park and overviewing HUNI and HUNI's bicentennial initiative to digitize several of Indianapolis' historic neighborhood walking & biking tours.   In January 2021 North Square’s Jordan Ryan discussed Indy’s Bicentennial architecture, Lockerbie’s Marjorie Kienle highlighted the history of Lockerbie Place in February, Cottage Home’s Joan Hostetler spoke on The Indiana Album in March, Ransom Place rep Paula Brooks highlighted Lost African American Landmarks and Forgotten Neighborhoods in April. Speedway rep Barb Hellyer fittingly delighted audiences in May with a talk about Old Speedway City serving as home to the community of workers and inventors transforming and fine-tuning America’s primary mode of transportation throughout the 1900s. June's presentation featured longtime Garfield Park residents John Hornberger and Ed Berry speaking on the history of Garfield Park followed by Dr Susan Hyatt in July recounting stories of the Interracial Cooperation on Indianapolis’ Near Southside. Garry Chilluffo highlighted the history of St Joseph Place in August. In anticipation of Halloween State Assistant Director of Preservation Services Paul Diebold conjured Irvington's Halloween festivities with Freaks and Strange Things Generally…Irvington, A Place History in September. Two programs finished the year with Scotty Z Wilson's update on the Holy Cross Neighborhood in October and A Beginners Guide to Indianapolis Neighborhoods with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful President Jeremy Kranowitz in December. In 2022, highlights included Mark Patty discussing New Augusta: A Hidden Gem on Northwest Indy and an insightful tour by Dolores Wisdom on the Kennedy King Neighborhood as well as a tour on New Harmony. 

The Indy Propylaeum, situated in a historic home located at 1410 N Delaware Steet, near the Old Northside Neighborhood in Downtown Indy, offers daily lunches in their charming, cozy café Monday thru Friday from 11am-2pm. Here’s more information about events, membership and history of the suffrage movement.

Check it out!

Digital Encyclopedia of Indy has Something for Everyone but Especially for Historic Neighborhoods

For the first time since it was published in print in 1994, the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis has been expanded and updated and is available in a digital format. The free-access, web-based encyclopedia, published at indyencyclopedia.org, builds on the information featured in the 1,600-page print encyclopedia created by The Polis Center in 1994.

The updated digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis provides comprehensive social, cultural, economic, historical, political, and physical descriptions of Indianapolis while shedding light on the events, people, and organizations that shaped the city’s past and present. Visitors can research historical figures such as Madam C. J. Walker, learn what Indianapolis was like during WWI, and find timelines of current events such as the Covid-19 pandemic. Subject matter experts from all walks of life have authored the 1,900 entries. A search box allows users to enter a name, term, or phrase to begin a direct inquiry. Historic Neighborhoods can use a function to access neighborhood data via the Polis Center’s mapping feature.

Heralded as a national model for urban encyclopedias when it was released in 1994, the publication now includes image-rich interactive content. David J. Bodenhamer, executive director of the Polis Center, directed the process of updating the encyclopedia. Now, the Indianapolis Public Library has assumed responsibility for the encyclopedia to ensure the ongoing updating of this valuable interactive resource.

The updated Encyclopedia of Indianapolis was created in partnership with The Polis Center, Indiana Historical Society, SAVI, University of Indianapolis, IUPUI University Library, Indiana State Library, The Indiana Historical Bureau, Indiana Landmarks, Butler University, Indiana Archives, and Indiana Humanities. Major funding for the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis was provided by Lilly Endowment Inc., Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, R.B. Annis Educational Foundation, The Indianapolis Foundation Library Fund, Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr. Memorial Foundation, M. Jacqueline Nytes, and an anonymous donor.

Preserve Greater Indy

Connecting Engaging, Educating and Empowering Preservation Advocates

Preserve Greater Indy (PGI) is a volunteer-run organization comprised of young and young-at-heart lovers of architecture, preservation, history, urban planning, and design. Its mission? Connect, engage, educate, and empower advocates of preservation. Since its inception in 2015, PGI has developed the #beersavesplaces social media campaign, organized architectural scavenger hunts and annual “heart bombs,” and coordinated – in partnership with the Indiana Medical History Museum – “Painting for Preservation.” More recently, PGI hosted the Rust Belt Takeover of Indianapolis, a three-day event that showcased the city and united the Midwest’s growing young preservationist movement. Interested in partnering with PGI? Contact them at preservegreaterindy@gmail.com. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Look for their monthly newsletter.

IHPC's Preserve Indy Initiative Strives to Update our City's 17 Historic Area Plans

The Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission Administrator Meg Purnsley highlighted IHPC's comprehensive initiative -- Preserve Indy Initiative -- designed to update all 17 of IHPC's historic area plans.    The initiative calls for neighborhood plans to be updated thru 2024. All IHPC neighborhoods should ensure their neighborhood's input is included in their plan's update by contacting the IHPC at 317.327.4406. 

IndyGo Purple Line Begins Construction

IndyGo Breaks Ground on Purple Line. Community Pushes Back on Blue Line Legislative Threat

Ground was broken on Friday, February 25, 2022 for the Purple Line, a 15.2-mile Bus Rapid Transit project connecting Indianapolis to the City of Lawrence. Major infrastructure improvements will include nearly 10 miles of sidewalks, more than 350 ADA curb ramps, new street paving, a multi-use path, storm sewer separation and much more to advance the community. Construction is anticipated to begin in early March, with the line expected to open for service in 2024. Earlier in February 2022, proponents for the Blue Line rallied at the Indiana State House amidst an amendment added to an Education Bill which would have slipped in criteria making it financially infeasible to move forward with the Blue Line. The IndyStar and IBJ discuss the eleventh-hour situation and the response of the community to keep the Line alive.  Still not sure what transit means to our community? IndyGo wants you to understand the significant impact on employment, transit reliability, economic development and infrastructure improvements that an integrated bus system brings.They have created this video.  

If residents in your neighborhood depend on transit and/or the future Blue & Purple Lines, reach out to your Indiana State Representative to tell them Transit is important and needs all the tools in the arsenal.  Find your Congressional Rep by clicking here. For the latest IndyGo updates, click here. General information on transit routes, transit passes and tracking your bus, visit the IndyGo website.

Indianapolis Bicentennial: Wraps Up & Leaving Lasting Legacies

The Indianapolis Bicentennial wrapped at the end of 2021. The City’s Bicentennial Commission celebrated the bicentennial from June 2020 through December 2021. Despite the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic a few months before the official community-wide kickoff, the City and numerous cultural institutions and organizations accomplished many bicentennial-related projects and events. The launch of the Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis was a great finale and appropriate end to the bicentennial celebration. Explore the Digital Encyclopedia online for more information on historic individuals, buildings, neighborhoods and more here.

Some projects highlighting the history & planning of the city:
• Indianapolis Founders Day Project, a lesson for students to learn about how the city was planned (sponsored by Indiana Humanities)
• Hoosier History Live show with Deputy Mayor Jeff Bennett
• Hoosier History Live show with archivist Jordan Ryan

A few bicentennial-sponsored projects that highlight historic neighborhoods & architecture include:
• HUNI’s Pocketsight tours with free walking & biking tours of HUNI neighborhoods
• Indiana Humanities Bookmark Indy project, an exploration of literature & place (should continue in 2022)
• BELT Publishing’s Indianapolis Anthology, featuring essays & poems related to Indianapolis

Thanks to everyone who has participated in bicentennial celebrations! The new resources and collections generated through bicentennial efforts will inform and inspire Indianapolis citizens for many years to come.

2019 HUNI Editorial Board

HUNI Editorial Board

Hats off to our amazing HUNI Editorial Board who work diligently bringing news and resources of interest to those living in -- or who follow -- Indy's historic neighborhoods. If you are interested in having an event posted on our website or Facebook page, please reach out to your designated Editorial Board member with the info to post. Here's a list of Editorial Board members and the neighborhoods they represent. Please keep in mind that HUNI posts events open to the entire community. Please allow your Editorial Board rep two weeks to post the information. Members of the current Editorial Board include (L to R) Front row: Lorraine Vavul, Marjorie Kienle, Sharon Butsch Freeland, Julia Pratt, Glenn Blackwood. Row two: Jay van Santen, Jordan Ryan, Paula Brooks, Garry Chilluffo. Not pictured: Britta Anderson 

I-65/I-70 Reconstruction 

Indiana's much-needed reconstruction of Downtown Indy's interstates in the upcoming decade became a major focus for HUNI's leaders and many member neighborhoods starting in Fall 2017. HUNI--along with a handful of other significant institutions--led the effort responsible for creating the I-65/I-70 Rethink Coalition. To streamline our HUNI landing page, we moved several historic documents, news clippings, position papers to a Rethink 65/70 Archives page. We will continue to bring you the most up to date information, post pertinent articles and vow to keep fighting to have your voices heard. 

In late Spring 2019, the Rethink Coalition realized no one entity controlled this massive reconstruction project and thus the opportunity to engage in a comprehensive best practices solution benefiting all stakeholders had passed years ago. INDOT did listen to the voices of the community and was able to lower the Northsplit's sound barrier walls and reduce its footprint. The organizations involved with Rethink will refocus efforts on impacting the next phase of the interstate's reconstruction to create economic development opportunities and reconnect the grid that Alexander Ralston created when he laid out the city 200 years ago. Paul Knapp provides an excellent outline of Rethink's future efforts which calls for embracing Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS), a method planners use to educate residents and encourage them to think about possible designs for urban interstates and accompanying urban bridges. The process embraces citizen feedback to guide suggested treatments of (in particular) bridge, interstate embankments and interstate footprints in a more aesthetically-pleasing, neighborhood-friendly methodology. The Rethink Coalition website will continue to be updated with the most timely developments.

Recent local or national articles of interest

Aug 14, 2019 StreetsBlog USA "Federal Program Would Help Cities Tear Down Highways"

Sept 6 2019 CityLab University "CityLab University: Induced Demand"

Downtown Indy Patron Program 

Are you a Downtown Indy enthusiast? Make it official. The Downtown Indy, Inc. Patron Program is a unique individual engagement opportunity, designed for ALL Downtown enthusiasts - residents, students, visitors and champions. Your $35 investment will continue to move our Downtown forward (and as a bonus, you'll get some perks that give you access to the people, places and events that make our Downtown special). Become a patron today.

Shining a Light on Indianapolis

Downtown Indy and the Indiana War Memorials Commission jointly received a $7.6M Strengthening Indianapolis Through Arts & Culture grant from Lilly Endowment to create and activate Monument Circle nightly with the introduction of multi-media 2-minute sound and light video production paying tribute to Indiana's veterans.

Nightly 'Shining a Light on Indianapolis' High Tech Multi-media Sound and Light Show on Monument Circle

Several thousands Hoosier families and friends from all around the world joined the inaugural 'Shining a Light on Indianapolis' patriotic sound and light show on November 9th. This event kicked off a new era of nightly Downtown celebration honoring Indiana Veterans and Patriots at our Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Every evening at 5:30pm (during winter months) and dusk (during summer months) this three-minute free nightly Signature Salute recognizes our state's brave men and women who have served -- or are serving -- our great nation. The multi-million dollar high tech tribute is open to the public through the generous support of Lilly Endowment.

Check out the new Shining a Light Video in Downtown Indy's 'Illuminating love and hope to the world from the heart of #DowntownIndy." 

Image courtesy of photographer Garry Chilluffo

Lockerbie Neighborhood's St. Mary Church Fundraising to Save Historic Church

On April 28th, St. Mary Catholic Church in the HUNI neighborhood of Lockerbie kicked off a significant capital campaign to raise $2.1 to repair the historic, iconic church from the ravages of time and weather on its historic facade. WISH-TV Channel 8 covered the campaign. As of August 2019, 50% of the funds needed to save this treasure have been raised, with $1M still to go. If you are interested in donating, here is a link or contact St Mary's. 

Downtown Indy shares Historic Neighborhoods within its new city map

Downtown Indy recently updated its map of downtown cultural amenities, parks, hotels, and restaurants. The new map features more than a dozen HUNI neighborhoods within the urban core. For additional information on Downtown Indy projects or to access their extensive events database, visit their website. Here's a direct link to the Neighborhood portion of the website.