FAQS ON KIB'S BUILDING EXPANSION

UPDATE  March 19, 2011

Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. (KIB) continues to review and refine its plans for expansion around its Fountain Square headquarters. At present, KIB intends to use a vacant home on Grove Street, and a former body shop on Shelby Street for its growing operational needs. Our neighbors and the community will see some improvements to KIB's existing building in addition to the grounds in coming months.

Further, KIB has decided to participate in a 12-month process with neighbors, historic preservationists, and the community at large to discuss our plans and needs. The owner of three properties on Lexington Avenue, which have been offered to KIB for expanding its operations, has agreed to not demolish structures on these properties during this 12-month process. Also, during this 12-month process, KIB has decided it will not accept any gift of these properties.

KIB is committed to strengthening and beautifying neighborhoods, and looks forward to working with the community in hopes we can develop a path forward that the community embraces.

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Friends of KIB:
Cities are complex and wonderful places. With that complexity and diversity come a variety of interests and issues, issues which can often make evident differences of opinion, even amongst friends who agree on so many other matters.

KIB prides itself on listening to the community, and hearing its views and its interests, and of course meeting its needs whenever possible. As you might imagine, as we consider expansion, the opinions literally vary from home to home on how best to move forward.

We respect the views of neighbors who would like to see blight removed as soon as possible, because of the safety matters they live with every day and night. We respect the views of others, who want whatever we choose to do to be done well and cared for. We respect the views of historic preservationists, who are very passionate about saving every structure in our neighborhoods. We respect the views of other neighbors, who have said that in an imperfect world, KIB’s expansion is likely a better option for neighborhood progress, than for hoped for progress in the future.

We welcome everyone to our second open house, March 3 from 12:00-1:00 pm. I guarantee that no matter the outcome, KIB will have upset some people. We hope that what people will see is that we’ve been open, honest, respectful and communicative in the process.

Thank you for your interest, and passion for the community.

David Forsell
President
 

We are holding open houses at KIB to talk with our Fountain Square neighbors and share our prospective plans for the future. 
 

Those interested should plan to attend on March 1, at 6:00 pm or on March 3, at noon.

Click here to see a fact sheet on the expansion plan.

Click here to see prospective renderings of the site.