INDIANAPOLIS — Neighbors on the east side of Indianapolis are asking the state to listen to their concerns on the future of a former women's prison.
The property on Randolph Street has been vacant since 2017, with neighbors saying that's far too long.
"Whatever happens here is going to impact the entire near east side," neighbor Melissa Benton said.
Benton lives less than a mile from the former women's prison. Built in 1873, the property was the first women's prison in the country.
"This one is also unique in that it's in the middle of this urban neighborhood. That's not where you typically find prisons," Benton said.
Now, the site sits empty and partially demolished. Neighbors who live nearby believe the state has had plenty of time to decide what they want to do with it. But before anything is decided, they want the state to listen to their input.
"I think the next generation of this space can really find a way to honor that history but create something that serves all the neighbors," Benton said.
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Community members want to see something that would serve the community.
"What we don't want to see is if this would turn into 500,000 townhomes. That doesn't serve the neighborhood," Benton said.
The Indiana Department of Administration website says they are evaluating the needs of the state and no decision has been made for the use of the Randolph Street Campus. It also said it will hold public meetings with neighborhood stakeholders to listen to their wishes on future use.
But Benton said she and other neighbors are frustrated after reaching out to the state with their input and concerns and feeling ignored.
"We also don't believe that engagement that they're doing is authentic and real and that they will take into account what neighbors want to see," Benton said.
The future of the former prison is important to Benton because in 1995, that was her home when she was incarcerated there for four years.
"I hope that my being here can really give shape and voice to the neighbors to have it be something that is really going to serve neighbors," Benton said.
She also wants to help improve the quality of life in the neighborhood and give neighbors a voice.
"It's really important that neighbors who have lived through the worst of times are able to have a say in what happens next," Benton said.
13News reached out to the Indiana Department of Administration about when they plan to host the next public meeting and what they plan to do with the feedback, but have not heard back yet.