Donnelly wins crime fighting grant for Indy neighborhood

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The neighborhood in the vicinity of 29th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive on the northwest side of Indianapolis is one of the most dangerous in the city.

It’s where a local minister recently camped out for 30 days to draw attention to the crime problems there.

Other community leaders are now trying to encourage economic development as a way to improve the area.

Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Indiana) spent a good portion of Monday morning strolling through the neighborhood.

“So what we’re trying to do is put a plan together,” he said, “and then implement that plan to make it safer here.”

He was joined by a number of the people who live here who pointed out trouble spots, including an abandoned grocery store.

“That is a place that people did come and congregate at,” said Eddie Owens.

They discussed the core problems that have led to vacant houses and criminal activity.

But more than anything they expressed hope.

“But we have a plan to possibly redevelop this whole corridor,” said Tyrone Chandler of Flanner House, “with a grocery store, multi-unit housing and some retail as well.”

And Donnelly explained how a federal grant will help develop that plan.

“Our goal,” he said, “is to make sure that everyone in this city has a chance to feel safe.”

“And this grant is to help us firm up that area where the criminal activity is not happening,” said Indianapolis Public Safety Director David Wantz.

It’s a start but more money will be needed to make the plan work.

The federal grant is for $155,000, a relatively small amount. Yet part of it has been earmarked for the first, so far unidentified, neighborhood improvement project.

Plans call for it to begin around the first of the year.