INDIANAPOLIS — When the Indiana Women’s Prison opened at the intersection of New York, Randolph and Michigan streets in 1873, it sat south of Indianapolis’ first “suburb”: Woodruff Place.
It was America’s first prison exclusively for female offenders and its gates were open until 2017, when the site was abandoned to be used only occasionally in the years after as a transitional facility for men leaving incarceration. Ever since then, neighbors and city planners have looked at the location and wondered, “What if…?”
City of Indianapolis to acquire former Indiana Women’s Prison
Now they have a blueprint.
The Urban Land Institute, with input from the community, has developed a report to guide decision-makers on how to reimagine the 15-acre site, which would be a once-in-a-century-and-a-half opportunity to remake a large tract of land on the near east side…