Hello Neighbors,
It’s May in Indy - one of the best months of the year! The weather is warmer (although this weekend was quite the exception) and every weekend is full of events and opportunities to get outside and explore the city. Plus - it’s nearly primary election day!
If you haven’t already, now is the time to make a plan to vote in the primary election TOMORROW (May 5th). There are a lot of important races on the ballot, and it is important (especially in Marion County, when many of the races are essentially decided in the primary) that you get out and make your voice heard. You can find voting locations and all of the information you need to prepare to cast your ballot here: https://vote.indy.gov/
Yours in service,
Andy
Thank you to everyone who came out to the District 14 Community Forum last week to discuss the proposed DC Blox data center, and thank you to Downey Avenue Christian Church for hosting us. I appreciated everyone’s thoughtful engagement in the process, and to those of you who submitted questions before and asked questions during the forum.
For those who were unable to attend, you can see the recording of the discussion here. Additionally, DC Blox provided written responses to many of the questions submitted ahead of time, which can be found here.
Next steps for engagement and public input
District 14 Survey: I appreciate all that have sent in additional questions and feedback via email to date. As promised, I have created a survey to collect feedback from neighbors on the proposed development. This survey is intended to inform my position on the use variance request that DC Blox has submitted to the Metropolitan Development Commission (MDC), as well as my engagement and position in discussions surrounding commitments, community benefit agreements (CBAs), and proposed tax incentives. I encourage you to take the survey and to share with neighbors and friends in District 14.
May 21 Community Meeting: District 20 Councilor Michael-Paul Hart is hosting another community meeting on the proposed data center on May 21st at 6:30pm at the Warren Township Government Center (doors open at 5:30pm). While the data center falls within Councilor Hart’s district, it is directly adjacent to and will have more direct impact on District 14 neighbors. I encourage neighbors who are interested to attend the forum, and appreciate Councilor Hart hosting a second discussion in District 14.
June 11th Hearing Examiner: The first public hearing on the proposed use variance for the data center has been continued to June 11th at 1pm at the City-County Building. During the hearing, there will be opportunities for community members to provide public testimony on the proposed project.
I am deeply grateful for the continued engagement of the community on this issue, and will continue to keep you all updated as I learn more. In the meantime, please take the survey and share your feedback and concerns directly.
The ongoing infrastructure challenges our City currently faces is no secret to residents or visitors. As your Councilor, addressing this issue has been my top priority. The solution requires new revenue, reallocation of existing funds in the budget, innovation that delivers more efficient public services, growth in existing resources targeted directly toward infrastructure, and partnership with state and federal officials on ways we can work together to achieve a common goal.
In 2025, the Indiana General Assembly provided the City of Indianapolis with the opportunity to receive $50 million from the state, subject to a local match with new revenue to address the City’s growing infrastructure backlog. The match is all or nothing, meaning we cannot receive less than $50 million, and the first year the City cannot match the funds, it cannot receive it in the future. Therefore, a reliable source of revenue is required to provide any certainty in the budget and to plan for the future.
Speaking of roads, construction season is upon us! I’m excited that many of the most frequently complained about roads will be getting some much deserved love this year. I’m waiting on final timing updates from DPW before I share exact detail, but more to come soon!
In late March, I joined a bipartisan group of my colleagues to raise concerns about plans related to the LEAP District in Lebanon to potentially discharge wastewater within Eagle Creek Park. This week, we received welcome news from Lebanon Utilities’ decision to move the proposed LEAP discharge out of the boundaries of Eagle Creek Park. This is a positive step, but important questions remain and additional progress is needed.
Please see below the statement from the Council leadership team on the decision.
It’s officially spring, which means it is spring clean up season across District 14. I was proud to once again sponsor this year’s Warren Township Clean Up (hosted by MSD Warren Township PTSA), and I am incredibly grateful to Arbuckle & Sons Landscaping for hosting the Irvington Streetscape Clean Up this past weekend and to the Irvington Historic Landmarks Foundation and Irvington Garden Club for hosting the Arbor Day Kile Oak clean up in late April. If you missed all of these opportunities but are looking for ways to help out, you’re in luck:
Irving Circle Park Clean Up: Saturday, May 9th at 9:30am. Help Friends of Irving Circle prepare our beautiful Irving Circle Park for the summer! Please bring your own tools and gloves. Children are welcome!
Community Heights Neighborhood Clean Up Day: Saturday, May 30th at 9:00am. Help Community Heights Neighborhood Organization clean up litter and debris around the neighborhood. Free donuts and coffee for all who volunteer their morning
Check out these upcoming Eastside events!
Primary Election Day! Tuesday, May 5th from 6am to 6pm. Get out and vote between 6am and 6pm. Marion County voters can vote at any polling location across the city.
Irving Circle Clean Up. Saturday, May 9th at 9:30am.
SNUG Whiskey Fest. May 15th - 17th. Join SNUG for its first ever Whiskey Festival this month!
Irvington Development Organization Monthly Meeting. Monday, May 18th at 6:30pm. (Irvington Lofts, 5855 E Washington St).
Irvington Community Council Monthly Meeting. Tuesday, May 19th at 7pm. (55 Johnson Ave).
Far Eastside Community Council Monthly Meeting. Tuesday, May 26th at 6:30pm. Check Facebook for Zoom link to join. (3039 N Post Rd).
Community Heights Clean Up Day. Saturday, May 30th at 9am.
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