Residents of the Bates‑Hendricks neighborhood on Indianapolis’ south side have long endured illegal fireworks, break‑ins and trash spilling onto the streets from the vacant former Abraham Lincoln Public School 18. The building, located at 1001 E. Palmer St., has become a safety hazard, prompting the Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP) to move toward demolition within the next three to four months.
Background and ownership
INHP, a local nonprofit that focuses on transit‑oriented affordable homeownership, purchased the school in February 2021. A developer was initially under contract to convert the structure into 151 affordable housing units by the end of 2023, but the developer withdrew in 2023, citing the high cost of preserving the aging building.
Since the developer’s exit, the school has sat empty, attracting trespassers who have vandalized the interior, left human waste, discarded needles and caused other safety hazards. The nonprofit has spent more than $150,000 on security measures, including twice‑weekly site checks, security cameras, and boarding up windows and doors.
Safety concerns and demolition plan
Gina Miller, CEO and president of INHP, described the building’s condition as “poor,” noting ongoing issues with human waste, used needles and repeated break‑ins. In November 2022, frozen pipes burst, flooding the gym and rendering the space unusable. By the summer of 2023, the partnership was dealing with a constant flow of unauthorized entry, requiring the staff to re‑board windows multiple times each week.
INHP has also partnered with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department since June 2023, allowing officers to remove trespassers. However, without full‑time security, the partnership says it remains difficult to deter illegal activity.
Community response
Neighbors are divided. Long‑time resident Nathan Scroggins says the building has hurt quality of life and even made it harder for some to sell their homes. Others, like Toni Rhoton, who participated in the faith‑based K.I.D.S. Inc. program in the 1990s, argue the school shaped an entire generation of children and should be saved.
David Steele, a former student, launched an online petition in December 2022 that has gathered over 1,100 signatures, accusing the nonprofit of deliberately allowing water damage to accelerate demolition. INHP refutes those claims, stating the building has not suffered water damage from open windows and that their maintenance efforts are thorough.
Preservation possibilities
INHP staff are working with residents to identify historic elements—such as limestone plaques, stained‑glass windows and other artifacts—that could be salvaged before demolition. A demolition contractor warned in early October that asbestos present in the structure makes interior access unsafe until remediation is completed.
Community advocate Gina Christofaro suggests the partnership explore grants and collaborate with Indiana Landmarks to assess preservation options. She cautions that while some older buildings must be removed, due diligence is essential before making a final decision.
Financial outlook
The partnership anticipates losing more than $1 million on the property, factoring in debt, demolition costs, security expenses and the loss on sale. Despite the financial strain, INHP says the demolition will open the site to developers who can build new affordable housing, aligning with their broader mission of creating transit‑oriented, family‑friendly neighborhoods.
Next steps
INHP plans to begin demolition work in the coming months, pending asbestos remediation and final approvals. Residents who wish to retrieve personal or historic items from the building are being notified to do so before demolition begins.
The fate of School 18 remains a point of contention, reflecting a broader conversation in Indianapolis about balancing historic preservation with the urgent need for safe, affordable housing for families.
Original reporting: Mirror Indy — read the source article.
