Revitalizing the Meadows

In the 1950s and 1960s, the Meadows area was "the" place to live, work and play. It was home to one of the first premier shopping centers in Indianapolis. The Avondale Playhouse booked nationally known entertainers during the summer months. The apartments in the area were the first Indianapolis homes of business people and professionals, many of whom subsequently assumed important leadership positions in the Indianapolis community. Then, in the 1970s, concentrated poverty became the theme in urban areas nationwide.

Since that time, the Meadows has been one of Indianapolis' most challenged neighborhoods. The concentration of poverty in five low-income apartment complexes, high crime, and the flight of quality retail businesses tracked the path of urban decline that has afflicted much of inner-city America over the past 40 years.

Today, the goal of the Avondale Meadows community redevelopment initiative is to holistically build an attractive, safe, environmentally-friendly 100-acre neighborhood and replace concentrated poverty with a mix of affordable and market-rate rental and owner-occupied homes. To bring fresh foods at reasonable prices back to an area that is over three miles from the nearest grocery store. To create a five-acre, multi-use park, ample green spaces, community gardens and a multi-purpose community center to serve an area lacking in recreational amenities and human services. Finally, to build on the extraordinary educational opportunities available to the neighborhood through two of Indianapolis' finest charter schools, the Challenge Foundation Academy and the Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School, that are located in the heart of the Meadows.

Revitalizing a Community

The goal of the Meadows Community Foundation is to build an attractive, safe, 100-acre neighborhood and replace concentrated poverty with a mix of affordable and market-rate homes.  We seek to bring fresh food at reasonable prices back to an area that is over three miles from the nearest grocery store and to create a multi-use park with ample green spaces, community gardens and a health and wellness center.  We will build on the extraordinary educational opportunities available to the neighborhood through two of Indianapolis’ finest charter schools.

• 250 townhomes and single family homes
• 600 high quality, mixed-income apartments
• 70,000 sq. ft. multi-use health and wellness center
• Full-service grocery store and commercial shops
• Five acre active-use community park
• Community gardens and green space areas
• Recreational walking, running and biking paths
• Family-focused opportunities including job training, child care and social & human services

Our goal is to create a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We seek to build brighter futures and strengthen human and physical capital. This initiative includes cradle-to-college educational opportunities, mixed income housing, youth and adult development programs, new employment opportunities and job training and health and wellness programs.  Our partner, Purpose Built Communities, has proven in Atlanta that a holistic approach can have a number of positive effects.

• Reduces crime
• Boosts employment
• Builds student achievement
• Fosters involvement and civic pride
• Benefits the local economy
• Enhances neighborhood sustainability