Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 30 March 1991 — Page 2

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

SATURDAY. MARCH NL11S1 j

SPECIAL REPORT

The Meadows

City's first urban shopping center By KIM L. HOOPER Staff Writer Longtime Indianapolis residents can remember when the Meadows, 2800 E. 38th St., was a thriving retail center. But the shopping strip that once boasted two competing grocery chains, as well as several department stores, saw all of its retailers pack up and move their business out of the Northeastside community over the last 20 years, forcing many of its residents to go outride thdr community to shop. “Over foe years, it’s been interesting to watch, but kind of sad,” said Edna A. Halas, a member of the Meadows-Fall Creek Civic League. “We feel it's such a vital part of the community." Loaned at East 38th and Rural streets, the Meadows was one of foe city’s first urban shopping centers. Constructed at a cost of $2 million, foe single-level. L-shaped structure opened its doors in

1937.

Built to house 33 stores and shops, the Howard Johnson Drive-In Restaurant was foe first unit to open in the center, soon joined by the Kroger Co. and foe Colonial Stop A Shop of Colonial Stores. At its height, foe shopping plaza boasted foil occupancy with commercial facilities such as the G.C. Murphy Co., Thom McAn and Schiff Shoes, H J*. Wasson and J.C Penny Department Stores, Hook's Drags, Kay Jewelers, Standard Supermarket, Western Auto, Rkhman Bros., Diana Shop and the Suzy Hat Shop. Other once-thriving businesses at the Meadows included the Howard Johnson Restaurant, Danner Bros. Variety Store, American Fletcher National Bank and the 64-lane Meadows Bowling Alley. Also developed later within the confines of the complex was a 13acre office plaza. ' But foe Meadows began to choke during the 1970s, due in part to newly established migratory trends. Residents began to move swiftly to foe subuito and with their relocation came the building of even newer malls in these suburban areas. Also, foe interstate system was upgraded, specifically 1-465, which made shopping on the outskirts of Indianapolis accessible. Several city officials and community leaders have indicated that die top-name commercial outlets followed the people and money once they left foe urban area. “As foe income level of the residents dropped, so too did the Meadows,” said Gail Hunt of the city's Department of Metropolitan Development And as Standard, Wasson's, and others began to pack up, they were replaced in more recent years with stores such as Kum's Wigs, House of Jayne, Susan’s Ceramics and Yahweh Boutique. But even

An aerial view of the Meadows as It appears today. (Recorder Photos by Larry Johnson)

these businesses closed operations.

Then in 1979, the Pentecostal Assemblies of foe World Inc. purchased most of the property and moved their headquarters there, but nothing was done to upgrade the other existing buildings. Still, that didn’t stop longtime residents and business people from fighting to keep the Meadows alive or from pressing the city to provide the Meadows with a much needed facelift. “It's been the eyesore and focal point of our efforts to get something done. We’ve told the city that we do need the shopping

things before,’’ Halas said.

Metropolitan Development Deputy Director Carl J. Lite understands those concerns. “Demolition, then construction, will finally send a signal to the community that the city is committed to the revitalization of the Meadows,” Lite said. He explained that the Meadows’ designation as a stale enterprise zone would allow tax and financial incentives to be offered to busi-

nesses operating there.

"For instance, Cub Foods, the scheduled major tenant anchor is

center," Halas said. She and her husband Joseph — who is president going to hire 100 foil-time and 200 part-time employees. There is an of the organization — and other business people have been fighting incentive for hiring employees who live in the area. The money will

for over 10 years to have the dormant shopping strip revitalized. With the federal creation of urban enterprise zones in 1987, the city has promised to reinvest in the failed shopping center and the

surrounding area, but a few skeptics remain.

"We haven’t lost hope, but we don’t get all excited when we hear voices from downtown because they’ve promised to do so many

stay in the community,” he said.

The Marion County Health and Hospital Corporation (dans to move permanently into the old AFNB building either by October or February 1991. “We would like to be over there by October, but it depends on when they finish the construction," said Linda Doughty. Lite said there are also plans to expand the shopping center.

fon see bright future

■ 11 ™ ^ — 1™ 11 I Rv CONNIE CAINES HAYES 67.000 sauare fret Then* are three nther nrlm. .h. n

Jimmy Bawd, construction manager for tha Meadows project looks out at tht mnovauont that §m going on at tha now location of tht Marlon County Health and Hoapltal Corporation at 38tn and Rural atroota. Minority participation accounts for nearly half of renovation

By JIM NELSON hiring minorities.

Staff Writer ‘The owners of this project made a

decision to have a significant amount of

The Health and Hospital Corporation minority participation on their project, of Marion County will be moving its They hired someone like myself, who was headiparten from downtown Indianapo- committed to making that happen,” Beard

Us to an area near the old Meadows Stop- says.

ping Center, located at 38th and Rural Architects and construction managers streets. The building was formerly ~~

By CONNIE GAINES HAYES

Staff Writer

Meadows residents can look forward to a thriving shopping area in the very near future if local land owners have any say-

so.

An organization known as the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, under the executive administration of John Hampton, has owned the Meadows bowling alley, four office buildings and the soon-to-be Cub Foods warehouse building for 10 years. “Originally our plans were to develop office space,” said Hampton, “but after studying the demographics of the area our plans have changed.” The organization now envisions plans to redevelop as the economic situation allows. A Cub Foods retail store, one of the major attractions coming to the reconstructed maU, is estimated to be the largest in the city. Space for the newoutlet will be

67,000 square feet. There are three other crime than Broad Ripple or Castteton,”

Hampton said. “With a major grocery store chain, plans of rejuvenation are

expected.”

After years of research conducted by members of PAW, studies have shown that certain revitalized possibilities of the Meadows mall can also come in time through the form of providing security, double lighting systems throughout housing and mall areas, and adding a 24-hour

private police security patrol.

“Our organization has done its home-

work,” added Hampton.

When PAW bought parcels of land in the Meadows, their main intent was to turn the shopping area into offices. Now

Orb Food Stores in Indianapolis. There is also another Cub Food store under con-

struction on West 10th Street

“The new Cub Foods store will have adequate space for mall shoppers,” said

Hampton.

Other parcels of land owned by the Pentecostal Assembliesof the World, now divisionsof PA W, include the Aenon Bible College, Christian Outlook, a Sunday School publication, and the PAW local headquarters, all housed on Meadows

Drive.

Hampton, however, said that although for years the Meadows has received a lot of negative publicity about crime and

violence in the apartment complex and the plans of the group have changed. Their shopping area, these concerns are unwar- major goal is to see a hardware store, drag ranted- store, a laundromat, dry cleaners and the The PAW administrator sees a positive Cub Foods retail store thriving once again

future. With a major grocery store chain in in the Meadows,

the area, plans of drawing a community “We are excited about the future of the

atmosphere is hopeful, he said. Meadows,” said Hampton.

“The Meadows doesn’t have any more

Businesses hope to locate in the new-look Meadows By JIM NELSON Other shops will be included, with Cub Foods servins as i

Staff Writer

ity participation. The project currently has a 44.9 percent minority participation on the multi-million dollar construction

project.

The Meadows area is inhabited primarily by African Americans, and the current

managers in Indianapolis.

“It’satoughjob. It’s not easy and that’s why not many people warn to do it,” he

says.

Beard also says that in order for a

Other shops will be included, with Cub Foods serving as the main anchor. Many of the potential projects are in the preliminary discussion stages with the city, but the project calls for the

^ curaent renovation underway at the Meadows, demolition of some of the existing buildings in the area. dim f °™ c . y m *** ^sponsible for writing specific re- several businesses are now hoping to relocate to a part of the city “This shopping center is going to make a big difference in our

Indiana Beu Admimstration building quirements for projects. This is especially that has been abandoned and neglected for a long time. whole area over there,” Lite says. “Developers were calling

tno<t ramataMc aspect of the true when it comes to minority participa- The new businesses will be surrounded by both the Mozel when they first heard Cub Foods was going in a year and a half

Meadows renovation is its level of minor- tion and Beard says there is a definite need Sanders Homes and the Marion County Health and Hospital ago. 1 had a fast food outlet call me and said we closed our store

for more African-American construction Corporation’s new headquarters and according to city officials, but if the Meadows Shopping Center reopens, we may consider

it’sjust the beginning. coming back and reopening.”

Carl Lite, deputy director of the Department of Metropolitan Development, says future business programs for the Meadows will include Cub Foods and a series of shops that will locate in the Meadows Shopping Mall area as a result of the renovation. “That area has been neglected for years. I mean there is no doubt about it,” Lite says. “They have been told a lot of things over the years and none of them have crane to fruition." In January of 1990 the area was designated as an Enterprise

having minority participation on the proj- Zone, a state business incentive program which provides tax ect, and the second is to get a construction credits for businesses that hire people who live within the manager who knows how to get minority designated zone area. The Cub Foods store will receive a tax participation hi the projea and will follow credit for every individual lured by Cub Foods who lives in the

through with it to the end. enterprise zone area.

“In aU of the projects I have been asso- The businesses that are relocating into the Meadows will be dated with, there had been a significant able to take advantage of the increase in available affordable

minority partidpoion,” Beard says. housing that will be in the area.

' Beard has been able to reach high lev- "Their concept is to make this a total community. Not just eb of minority participation on the reno- give you a place to sUy and leave you alone,” Lite said, vation of the Walker Theatre, with 25 Meadows Revival Inc. and The Pentecostal Assemblies of percent portidpation, foe Forest Manor the World arc still in negotiation with Cub Foods about foe final Community Censer, with 60 percent mi- details of the project, but it is expected the store will bring at least

level of minority participation on the project to successfully reach high levels pntfect exceeds goals which are set by the 0 f minority participation, a few things dty of Indianapolis, which has a recom- must happen. The first is the company

—ranted 10 percent participation level, must have an owner who is committed to

j—»

natty participation and the project at the 300jobs to the area in addition to mot than 200jobs that will Sorvtcao puts i

be transferred in when the Health and Hospital Corporation s Lab locatad hi the bottom of tha nawty romodslsd Marion

offices open later this summer.