INDIANAPOLIS — There are new developments on a story 13News has been following for years.
The state has agreed to transfer ownership of the old Indiana Women's Prison property to the city of Indianapolis.
Neighbors of the site say they've lived next to "an eyesore" for the last seven years. After the prison closed, the buildings became dilapidated and people have fought to turn things around.
"It has been sitting vacant and gradually deteriorating and having an impact on surrounding blocks, neighborhoods and streets, lowering tax values, a center of crime and safety issues," said Will Prichard of the Indiana Women's Prison Alliance.
The site has historic significance as it was the first women's prison in the country. Pritchard, along with residents and others in the IWPA, have been working for years, advocating for the state to do something with the site that's more complementary to the neighborhood.
Alexis Alexander lives near the old prison. She hopes whatever the city does, it attracts more investments to the area.
"Maybe a doctor's office or convenience store, something the community can use for people who don't have a car," she said.
Pritchard believes the announcement is good news for the community, but said there is still a lot of work to be done.
"I think there's a lot of ideas," Prichard said. "What we need to do next, in my humble opinion, is focus on trying to build consensus in the neighborhood on what we want to see there, then combine those wishes with research data and demographic economic data to see what's feasible there."
The city will obtain the site at Randolph and New York streets in Indianpolis. In exchange, the city will transfer ownership of property at Harding and Sherman to the state. That's expected to be finalized in November.