A previous version of this newsletter incorrectly stated the address of the MLK Center 50th Celebration Block Party. The event has been updated below to reflect the correct address, 40 W. 40th St.

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MIDTOWN INDY NEWS

Save the Date: Juneteenth Freedom Celebration Set for June 17, 2023


The third annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration in Tarkington Park, 45 W. 40th St., is scheduled for 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on June 17.


Midtown Indy is proud to partner with Catch the Stars Foundation to hold a youth basketball clinic. Neighbors are invited to view performances from Arts for Learning Indiana artists, visit community info tables, enjoy local food trucks, and schedule an appointment to give blood with Versiti of Indiana. Stay tuned for details.


Interested in sponsoring this community event? Email info@midtownindy.org by May 25.

NEWS AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS

Versa Project Breaks Ground in Broad Ripple


On May 11, Mayor Joe Hogsett joined elected and appointed City officials as well as the development team of Gershman Partners, Milhaus, and Citimark for a groundbreaking ceremony on the site of the former Kroger grocery store in Broad Ripple, 6220 Guilford Ave. The $70 million mixed use project, named Versa, will feature 232 multi-family residential units and 3,600 square feet of retail space.


Versa will replace a Kroger that closed in November 2020. At the time of the announcement, Kroger's Central Division said the decision came after “extensive analysis of its financial performance.” Prior to its closure, the Kroger parking lot had become a late night nuisance spot that generated many police runs.

 

In brief remarks, Mayor Hogsett said the redevelopment will improve public safety. “Increasing economic and pedestrian activity in a vacant spot is not only good for business, it naturally promotes safer streets at all hours of the day.”

 

The City helped subsidize the project by creating a single site tax increment financing (TIF) district and supporting a developer-backed bond of up to $7.5 million that will underwrite some of the public infrastructure improvements including a repaved alley, wider sidewalks, and landscaping along Guilford Ave. In return, Gershman Partners will contribute 1% of the TIF amount towards public art and $500,000 to the Indianapolis Housing Trust Fund to build affordable housing in the City. 

Join the Free Communi-Tea Book Club


Catch The Stars Foundation, Tea's Me Community Cafe, and The Indy Learning Team have partnered to launch a free Communi-Tea Book Club.


Each month features new book selections, videos with Tamika Catchings and Professor Watermelon, and writing activities. Stop by Tea's Me in Tarkington Park, 3967 N. Illinois St., to grab the following May picks from the Communi-Tea bookshelf:


  • Stacey’s Extraordinary Words by Stacey Abrams
  • Ruby and the Booker Boys #2: Trivia Queen, 3rd Grade Supreme by Derrick D. Barnes
  • Love Is a Revolution by Renee Watson

UPCOMING EVENTS

Great Decisions Series: Global Famine

May 17 | 11 - 11:50 a.m. | North United Methodist Church, 3808 N. Meridian St.

Lixin Wang, Ph.D., examines how global famine differs from food shortages and discusses possible remedies. Free and open to the public. A lunch is available following the program for $7.

Bike to Work Day 2023

May 19 | 7 - 9 a.m. | Richard G. Lugar Plaza 200 E Washington St.

Bike Indianapolis, Commuter Connect and the City of Indianapolis encourage you to join a bike train, head downtown, and meet at Lugar Plaza to celebrate bike commuting. The Broad Ripple bike train departs from the intersection of the Monon Trail and Broad Ripple Ave. at 7 a.m. Can't make it or don't work downtown? You can still participate by riding to work, grabbing a picture, and posting with the hashtag #BTWDIndy.

MLK Center 50th Celebration Block Party

May 19 | 4 - 7 p.m. | MLK Community Center, 40 W. 40th St.

Come out for an evening of food trucks, music, games, and more to celebrate MLK Center’s historic 50th birthday.

BTNA Great Indy Cleanup

May 20 | 9 a.m. | Ramsey Park, 310 W. 42nd St.

Join the Butler-Tarkington Neighborhood Association for its annual neighborhood littler clean-up in partnership with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful.

SoBro Summer Farmers Market

Wednesdays | 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. | Upland Brewing Co., 4842 N. College Ave.

The 2023 Summer SoBro Farmers Market opened on May 3 and runs every Wednesday through September 27. Shop fresh produce, prepared food, and more.

Free Friendly Saturday Yoga with Indy Community Yoga

Saturdays | 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. | 100 Acres Art & Nature Park, 4000 N. Michigan Rd.

Bring a mat if you have one and enjoy free, beginner-friendly yoga at a relaxed pace. RSVPs are strongly encouraged and a Zoom option is available. Yoga is followed by meditation and mindful dialogue at 10 a.m. except on the third Saturday of each month, when the group conducts a mindful nature walk.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

  • Second Helpings is hiring a full-time driver to transfers excess prepared and perishable food from donor food service operators to Second Helpings and redistribute as directed to nonprofit social service agencies. Learn more and apply online.
  • Entrepreneurs of color can find free business classes, peer networking, coaching, and more in Verizon's Small Business Digital Ready program through a partnership with the Kheprw Institute.
  • Indiana Legal Help provides Hoosiers assistance in finding housing related resources, legal forms, assistance events, and legal assistance organizations. Individuals may also email licensed pro bono attorneys for free legal advice.
  • Report street and alley maintenance concerns, missed trash pickup, or animal care concerns via RequestIndy.
  • If you've experienced or witnessed a potential bias-motivated crime, report it to the Marion County Hate Crimes Hotline at (317) 327-5314.
  • Submit traffic complaints including speeding, illegally parked vehicles, and running red lights to IMPD online.
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Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Our mission: to cultivate an equitable, healthy, and sustainable community in which stakeholders of all incomes, races, and ethnicities have access to the opportunities, services, and amenities they need to thrive.


Midtown Indianapolis, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the economic growth and revitalization of a 12-square mile region known as Midtown Indianapolis. Our focus is on making things happen by creating connections and advocating for projects and programs that positively impact quality of life and economic vitality in Midtown Indianapolis.


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