Indy to take control of historic women’s prison site, community hopes for more involvement

The City of Indianapolis will take control of the site of Indiana’s first women’s prison which has sat abandoned for years. A property exchange agreement between the city and the State of Indiana includes the 15-acre, historic site that has been fenced off and mostly neglected since 2017.

Demolition on a number of historic buildings on the site alarmed many neighbors in 2022 including Joey Newsom. Now he hopes new city ownership of the site will improve communication about preservation, security and redevelopment ideas.

“Let's start on the right foot,” Newsom said, “Let's start with transparency and start with a clear plan for community engagement.”

Newsom has been involved for years in local efforts to have a voice in redevelopment plans but the state has offered limited engagement.

The State of Indiana will receive two properties in the exchange deal. One of the sites includes 7-acres of Sherman Park, another near east side neighborhood where redevelopment is underway with ongoing community involvement.

Newsom said he hopes the state takeover of part of that property doesn’t hinder current community involvement because Sherman Park has been a model for local-led redevelopment.

“That's really what we're looking for for the Indiana Women's Prison. And so we want to see the positive model replicated and the positive engagement,” Newsom said.

The swap also includes a west side site where the current animal shelter is. Indianapolis Animal Care Services plans to move operations to a new building in 2026.

There are at least two historic buildings on the prison site that some community members are interested in saving including the chapel. The prison was opened in 1873 as the first all women's correctional facility in the country.

The near east side neighborhood is undergoing change and the site is ripe with development possibilities. City-County Councilor Jessie Brown said in an email that the city's Department of Metropolitan Development needs to work closely with neighborhoods to determine the best path forward.

“I'm confident that together we can turn the site of historical and present misery and decay into a positive anchor for the entire community,” Brown said.

Suggested priorities include recognition of the site’s importance, the development of a community-backed master plan and security of the site.

The ownership deal will go into effect in November.

Contact WFYI City Government and Policy Reporter Jill Sheridan at jsheridan@wfyi.org.