Armory Could Become Home To Herron High's Second Campus

INDIANAPOLIS -- Built in 1938, the Heslar Naval Armory in the Riverside neighborhood was a World War II training center and a place where Navy brass came to plan their war strategy.  It’s been vacant since last year when the Naval Reserves moved out, and the state turned it over to the city.

Earlier this week, the city gave it to Indiana Landmarks, which is working with Herron High School to turn it into the charter’s second campus.

Janet McNeal, the head of school at Herron High, said she’s excited about the possibility of blending redevelopment and education.

"We’ve been able to really contribute to the growth and the enrichment of our neighborhood here and that’s missional for us… to engage in the city and enhance the already great city that Indianapolis is," McNeal said.

The Streamline Moderne building that sits on the bank of the White River offers a large space that Herron would use as a gymnasium, something it lacks at its campus at 16th and Pennsylvania.

It would cost several million dollars to renovate the building as a school.  McNeal said money will be the biggest hurdle before the school could open to as many as 600 new students.