The Survey Says…

The Survey Says…
In August, a survey was circulated to Woodruff Place residents through the newsletter and Facebook seeking input regarding the wonderful $5,000 award received from Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) Indianapolis as part of its 25th anniversary program. The Woodruff Place Economic Improvement District (EID), the only successful initiative of its kind in our region, was selected as the Livability award recipient.

The EID board, which is responsible for determining how the money will be used, reviewed the survey results in September. The clear favorite, chosen by 65% of respondents, was the option to install existing statuary for one of the smaller fountains. It is currently stored in the Town Hall basement.

The EID board voted to use the money for this purpose. Many steps need to be taken before it can be accomplished: installation and additional components costs need to be determined, and additional funding may be needed. Research is underway to determine if a grant can support this effort.

We would like to thank all of the survey participants for their input.

Fence Gets Rebuilt

Piece by Piece, the Fence Gets Rebuilt

This summer and fall will see the installation of six more mini-sections of the 10th Street fence. A mini-section is comprised of five balusters, two half-rails placed between two medium posts and two caps, bolted on the original foundation. Volunteers lift the concrete, 200-pound half rails into place directed by long-time chairman Charlie Neill, who has developed special tools and methods over the years.

It’s a project for a turtle, not a hare. The August 1988 edition of the Woodruff Place Post reported the frustration of neighbors watching the “crumbling relic” deteriorate and whole sections disappear. That year, property owners voted to proceed with a plan to have molds constructed so fence pieces could be made by volunteers in the basement of the town hall. Five years of casting would be done before the first piece is installed on 10th Street. Since then, 45 mini-sections have been built or secured and 15 large posts have been cast on-site at the original entrances on 10th St. as well as Michigan Street. Many Woodruffians have given their time and energy to this project over the years and the tradition continues. “Thanks to everyone who has helped in one way or another,” said Charlie. “We’ll just keep making progress, piece by piece.”

(For UT September 2017)

Annual First Day of School Gathering

Annual First Day of School Gathering

The demographics of Woodruff Place have changed dramatically in the last ten years as many families with young children have made Woodruff their home.  This exciting development has led to a new annual event – the first day of school gathering of the elementary school students.

These gatherings have been growing and for 2017, the gathering included 40 students posing in front of the Middle Drive/Cross Drive fountain for photos. Like the paparazzi at a Hollywood opening, scores of parents snapped photos and shared hopes for the coming school year.  This group doesn’t include the 10 or so high school neighbors or the many preschooler, toddlers and infant Woodruffians.

President’s Message – August 2017

President’s Message

Jim Leich

Woodruff Place is unique among Indianapolis’ historic neighborhoods in that it was not only Indianapolis’s first suburb but was a separate town for almost 100 years before being absorbed into Indianapolis in the early 1960s.  As master planned by James Woodruff in the early 1870s, the Olmstead influenced development included esplanades filled with statuary and urns, nine fountains, historic streetlights, an ornate concrete 10th Street wall, and eventually a large town hall.

After Indianapolis annexed Woodruff Place, the city maintained this historic infrastructure over the years with a steadily declining amount of effort and care.  Woodruff residents began assuming responsibility for this maintenance through extensive volunteer involvement and successful fundraising events like the annual flea market and biennial home and garden tour.  However, it became increasingly clear that the level of maintenance, repair, and improvement of this infrastructure was well beyond the scope of these fundraising activities.

It is interesting to watch Downtown Indy pursue an Economic Improvement District since Woodruff Place successfully created an EID in 2016.  Through an EID, property owners agree to be “taxed” a relatively small amount per year to be directed toward a specific purpose overseen by the City Council and a locally appointed EID board.  For Woodruff, this is our historic infrastructure. The Department of Public Works has promised to match the EID money for five years.

For Woodruff, this has been a godsend since we have had to replace the Town Hall roof and redo the back wall and run new electrical service to the West and Middle Drive fountains in the last two years.  These projects have cost tens of thousands of dollars.  However, EID funding is restricted to certain types of projects.  Foundation funds pay for important projects that the EID cannot fund.  In 2017, that has included treating more than 50 public ash trees, part of the Town Hall stucco restoration, and a new section of the 10th Street Fence restoration.  Funds raised this fall will be pay for similar projects in 2018.

This is why Foundation fundraising is so important. We urge residents and interested nonresidents alike to make tax deductible donations to the Historic Woodruff Place Foundation.  These can be made online at http://www.woodrufplace.org or by check made to “Historic Woodruff Place Foundation” and sent to Town Hall at 735 East Dr. (or dropped in the mail slot!).  Thank you for supporting the neighborhood generously with your time, money, and spirit!

Annual 4th of July parade

Annual 4th of July parade

The annual 4th of July parade in Woodruff Place featured a variety of local resident with props, small floats and performances. The parade line up began at 10a.m. at the corner of West and Cross Drive and was led by grand marshals, Matt Settimi and Jessica Stenz. The parade had a representation of pets, fancy cars and patriotic décor including annual favorites, the lawn chair brigade and umbrella chicks. The parade was followed by a flag-raising ceremony at town hall as well as a watermelon seed-spitting contest, wheelbarrow race and refreshments.

Photos:
Umbrella chicks: Amy Peterson and Tessie Lloyd-Jones

Flag Ceremony: Tessie Lloyd-Jones and the Woodruff Place kids’ color guard

Grand Marshalls Matt Settimi and Jessica Stenz
Civic League president, Jim Leich, addressing parade attendees