INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is planning to demolish two buildings near the museum.
The former Salvation Army and Drake apartment buildings will come down in the coming months.
The museum had tried to keep the Drake Apartment Building going and even looked at turning it into a hotel, but the condition of the building had deteriorated too much.
Asbestos will start to be remediated during the next three weeks so that the demolition to follow can be completed safely. That process could take anywhere from three to five months.
Initially the lots near 31st and North Meridian streets will be used as parking areas.
In 2012, The Children’s Museum purchased the Drake Apartment Building located at 3060 N. Meridian Street in Indianapolis. At that time, the museum intended to continue to operate the Drake for the foreseeable future and worked with a prominent local property management company to operate and maintain the apartments at the museum’s expense.
In the future, the museum may use the properties to enhance exhibits and programs. Those are free to people living in the six neighborhoods surrounding the museum.