INDIANAPOLIS — The city of Indianapolis has started “pre-demolition” work on the former Jail I building downtown.
The vacant building sits right next to the Julia M. Carson Transit Center at Alabama and Maryland streets.
On Friday, 13News watched crews add new fencing and concrete barriers around the two-acre site.
"It's old and it feels pretty bleak,” said Jacob Bryan, who owns Masterwork Tattoo.
Bryan’s business is just steps away from the old jail, saying he’s curious to see what the property will become.
"I mean we are a few blocks away from the circle and there should be something that adds to the culture of downtown opposed to just sitting vacant and dirty,” he said.
In September, the city got the green light to demo the decades-old building from the Metropolitan Development Commission’s regional center hearing examiner.
The former jail opened in the 1960s with the last inmates leaving in 2022. That's when services shifted to the new Criminal Justice Campus.
Until last month, the building was still occupied by the Indianapolis-Marion County Forensic Services Agency. They have since moved to a new facility at the CJC.
As for what will replace the jail? That's still unknown.
The city is pushing to build a soccer stadium at the nearby downtown heliport. Over the summer, a professional sports development area (PSDA) was approved by the City-County Council in hopes of wooing a Major League Soccer team.
Plus, Gainbridge Fieldhouse is right across the street with many wondering if the Pacers or Fever will expand their downtown footprint.
13News reached out to Pacers Sports & Entertainment to see if they are interested in the property. We are told the organization is thinking about the Fever's future and is in the early stages of exploring options to enhance the training facilities of the team. But at this time, they do not have a time frame or location to announce.
Currently, the city said they have not started a request for proposals for redevelopment bids.
Once pre-work is complete at the site and the proper permits are approved, a demolition date will be scheduled.