Randolph Street Campus

Randolph Street Campus Redevelopment

Site History

The Indiana Women’s Prison opened in 1873 as the first separate institution for female prisoners in the United States. The prison remained on the eastside of Indianapolis until 2009 when the Women’s Prison relocated to a correctional facility on Girls School Road on Indy’s westside. The Randolph Street facility operated as the Indianapolis Re-Entry Educational Facility (IREF) until its closure in 2017. Control of the vacant facility moved from the Indiana Department of Corrections to the Indiana Department of Administration (IDOA).

Current Status

The IDOA Public Works Division demolished some buildings and boarded the remaining buildings. The state is maintaining the site.

Future Use

IDOA is evaluating the needs of the state and no decision has been made on the future use of the Randolph Street Campus. IDOA will hold public meetings with neighborhood stakeholders to listen to their wishes on future use.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Current Status Site
   1. What was demolished?
      All buildings were removed with the exception of the following buildings: Chapel, Administration, three (3) dorm buildings, Hospital, and Powerhouse
   2. Will buildings remain boarded?
      Yes, the first floor windows and doors will remain boarded.
   3. What will happen with the ornamental fencing around the perimeter?
      To prevent theft, IDOA will remove the fencing and store it a secured state facility.
   4. Will trees be removed?
      Except where trees are touching buildings and creating a challenge for preservation, no trees will be removed.
   5. Will the labyrinth be removed?
      At this time, the labyrinth will not be removed.
   6. What happened with the demolished materials?
      The demolition contractor reused and recycled as much material as practical.
   7. What is the maintenance plan?
      Grounds will be maintained by a mowing crew. The crew will be on site every 3-4 weeks, weather dependent.
   8. If trespassers are seen, what should we do?
      Contact the police. IDOA has a trespass agreement in place with IMPD
   9. When will the correctional/chain link fencing be removed from the site?
      IDOA needs the fence to protect the public from hazards by discouraging trespassing in the remaining buildings.
2. Future use
   1. What will be the future use of the property?
      IDOA is assessing the needs of the state and no decision has been made on the future use of the property.
3. Community Engagement
   1. How will IDOA communicate site updates?
      a.How will IDOA communicate site updates?
      Updates will be posted on the webpage and sent out via e-newsletter. Sign up for the e-newsletter at the bottom of the page
   2. Will IDOA host or attend public meetings?
      IDOA anticipates attending additional meetings but have not identified the next public meetings. Updates will be shared via e-newsletter. Sign up for the e-newsletter at the bottom of the page

Updates

Progress on site clean-up, public meetings, and future development can be found on this website and will be shared via Randolph Street Campus e-newsletters. Sign up to receive the e-newsletter here. Previous e-newsletters can be found here.