“It’s so important to see areas of the community grow, renew, and be reborn. In a time of intense debates about budget cuts to government spending, it’s great to see in Trailside the effect of a little government spending.”
– Congressman Andre Carson, Indiana’s 7^th District

“Twelve years ago when I was elected to the City-County Council, my predecessor Susan Williams said ‘Your job is to get another 10,000 people to move downtown.’ Our goal is to provide downtown living options for residents at all income levels, from the clerk at CVS to the lawyer at one of the big firms. With Trailside, we’ve made another step in the right direction.”
– Jackie Nytes, City-County Councilor, District 9

“You may think that the vibrant Mass Ave District has been here for a long time, but I will tell you that it took 20 years – and longer – and the combined efforts of the city of Indianapolis, Riley Area Development Corporation, property owners, and entrepreneurs to create the thriving community you see here now. With Trailside, we’re that much closer to our goal of 40,000 people living downtown by 2020.”
–Maury Plambeck, Director of the Department of Metropolitan Development for the City of Indianapolis

“So many hours have been spent over the years to get to this point. It’s delightful to be in a city that’s all about neighborhoods – it’s what makes Indianapolis great!”
–John Kinman, Vice President, Not for Profit Services, The National Bank of Indianapolis

“In 2001, Julia Carson helped dedicate the Davlan, and she challenged Riley Area Development to do for other blocks of Mass Ave what the Davlan did for its section of the avenue. She urged us to bring more affordable housing to our neighborhood, and she started us on a course of feisty debate. Over the years, we’ve turned that debate into partnering – partnering is our ‘go’ word, and Trailside is the newest proof that it works.”
–Bill Gray, Executive Director, Riley Area Development Corporation

Around 60 people braved the raw and damp weather to turn out for the Trail Side on Mass Ave Groundbreaking, Thursday, February 24, 2011. Several speakers, including Representative André Carson and Councillor Jackie Nytes, spoke of the progress of the Mass Ave corridor, praising Trail Side as a development that furthered the goals of building an exciting and diverse urban landscape. The event culminated in the unfurling of a 30 foot banner by several attending dignitaries.

Trail Side will have 69 affordable apartments on the upper three floors and 11,000 sq. ft. of retail space on the first. Tenant parking will be in an underground garage. Projected opening time is in the first quarter of 2012. The developers are Riley Area Development Corporation and Monument Realty. Monument Construction is the construction manager.

The Santaland Diaries

IndyFringe 719 E. St. Clair St

THURS., DECEMBER 9, 2010 TICKETS: $30.00

Free appetizers & wine.

DOORS OPEN AT 6:45 PM SHOW STARTS AT 8:00 PM

Gold Sponsors

$1,000: 6 tickets, logo on materials, & complimentary bottle of wine

Silver Sponsors

$500: 4 tickets and logo on materials

Bronze Sponsors

$250: 2 tickets, company name on materials

Please reserve your sponsorship or seats at the Riley Area Development Corporation office.

Great video from construction owner Steve Keller on the progress on the Willard Park Resource Center.

• $50,000
• 1184 Square feet
• 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths
• Kitchen with tons of counters and cabinets, appliance package
• Large closets
• Upstairs laundry
• All new mechanicals
• New roof, windows, siding
• Deck, off-street parking
• Beautiful hardwood floors
• Check out www.indyeast.org for redevelopment area info!
• Take a look at the real estate listing at Remax if you’re interested in purchasing

PROJECT & UNIT DESCRIPTION

Creates 69 units of affordable housing with common areas for services and meetings. The development is located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis.

The rent levels for the project will be as follows:  thirteen (13) units set aside for households at 30% area median income (“AMI “); sixteen (16) units of 40% AMI rent level; sixteen (16) units of 50% AMI rent level, and twenty-four (24) units of 60% AMI rent level.  All sixty-nine (69) unit sizes are one bedroom units. Project also includes first floor retail and office spaces.

RADC and Monument Realty and Management (“Monument”) serve as co-developers.

AMENITIES Quality components such as underground parking for building tenants, lot lighting, energy efficient appliances, and other support services were designed into the project to meet development quality issues.

The resident activity room and community services space serve as the focal point for the multitude of services. All of the services and amenities of downtown Indianapolis are within close proximity to the project site. Located within walking distance of the development are state and local government and other major employers, grocery stores, restaurants, beauty and barber shops, service stations, places of worship and community parks, the Colt’s and Pacer’s stadiums and IUPUI campus.

AREA NEEDS This project engages the Boner Center, Mental Health America of Greater Indianapolis, and the Center Township Trustee to assist residents to address barriers to their own economic well-being.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Trail Side on Mass Ave supports the economic progress already made in Marion County by creating jobs during the construction phase, in the operation of the building and in adding 69 units of quality affordable housing.  The project also secures several key service providers, the Boner Center, Mental Health America of Greater Indianapolis, and the Center Township Trustee.

UNIQUE FEATURES

• Location Offers the opportunity to access the exciting multitude of services and amenities of downtown Indianapolis by stepping out your front door. The new Cultural Trail is right out your front door, restaurants, shopping, entertainment, the Colt’s and Pacer’s stadiums, museums, IUPUI, grocery stores, services, restaurants, shopping are all within walking distance.

• No need to rely on transportation The proximity of this downtown location, combining affordable housing and access to support services, offers a unique opportunity in this prime setting.  All residents, in particular very low income residents, can access via walking or a bicycle, thousands of entry level jobs. Dependence on a car or public transportation, in arriving for an early, late, split shift, or even multiple part time jobs that many hospitability and entry level jobs require, is much easier at this location.

• Partnership with the Center Township Trustee This marks the first time the Center Township Trustee, charged with helping those in dire need in Center Township, has directly partnered in developing affordable housing.

• Access to the Cultural Trail Another truly unique amenity, the Cultural Trail is right out the front door of Trail Side.  The City of Indianapolis is spending over $25 million to construct the Cultural Trail.  This trail connects the city’s six cultural districts and the Monon Trail.  People can walk, bike, and run on this trail to get anywhere in the city.  The trail offers safer bike and foot travel downtown because of the creation of paths for bikes and pedestrians.  It encourages exercise because of its availability and proximity.

• Catalyst for Development on the Eastern portion of Mass Ave Spurs the development of this under developed eastern end of Mass Ave.  Clearly the Davlan has become a vibrant center of economic and housing activity.

The rehabilitation of the resource center was extensive, yet very worthwhile.  The home was donated and renovated with NSP Funds.

The resource center is a centerpiece of the neighborhood’s new supportive housing development for foster youth and will include a job search lab with online access to job listings, referral services, job fairs and training seminars. Youth can also use the center’s computers to create resumes, complete online applications and use the telephone, copiers and fax machines in their job search.

The computer lab will also help youth meet educational goals including preparing for high school equivalency testing and planning for post secondary education or training.

Other on-site services planned include a visiting nurse to assist youth with health-related needs including immunizations and checkups, quarterly legal advice, bi-weekly transportation services, and laundry and storage facilities.

RADC has partnered with the Connected by 25 initiative to coordinate services for the youth.  Connected by 25 began in April 2005 in recognition of the struggles this population had to overcome to prosper after leaving foster care and trying to be self-sufficient.  The target population is individuals age 25 years and younger who have aged out of the foster care system.  Connected By 25 will partner with three primary agencies to provide the direct services – the Children’s Bureau of Indianapolis, Adult and Child Mental Health Center and Villages of Indiana.  These agencies will provide supportive services to youth residing in the new housing units in Willard Park and will provide these services from the new resource center.