City of Indianapolis Outlines Next Round of Demolition

Trinity Body Shop demolition. (photo courtesy city of Indianapolis)

The city of Indianapolis has announced its second list of abandoned and vacant buildings to be demolished this year. The city’s Department of Business and Neighborhood Services has included 25 structures in this round, comprised of single-family homes, detached garages, duplexes and commercial properties.

The first round of demolition included 32 buildings including seven owned by the city in Towne and Terrace near East 42nd and North Post Road, along with the Trinity Body Shop on East Washington Avenue. Many of the buildings have been removed, with the rest expected to come down in the next couple of months. 

“With the assistance of agencies like the Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD) and Renew Indy, BNS is better equipped to address abandoned and vacant structures which have long posed safety concerns for residents,” said BNS Director Brian Madison.

The city is expecting four separate bid packages for each quarter of 2019, with an estimated cost between $275,000 and $350,000, with each bid package containing 20 to 30 buildings. Structures can be removed from the bid package if owners comply with ordinances.

“Although demolition is not the primary goal of BNS when addressing abandoned and vacant structures, it can be a necessary action when an emergency arises, rehab and repair are not viable options, or if the structure is found to be an imminent danger to the public,” said director Madison.