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Woodruff EID initiative recognized for Livability Award

The Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) Indianapolis celebrated its 25th Anniversary on April 27th by awarding $25,000 to five community game changers in the Indy region that have made outstanding progress in developing their neighborhoods as desirable places to live, work, learn and play. The awards gala took place at the Indiana War Memorial with more than 400 people in attendance. The awards were divided into four categories: Livability, Opportunity, Vitality and Education (LOVE) as well as a people’s choice award decided that evening. A $5,000 award was made in each category and the Woodruff Place Economic Improvement District (EID) was selected as the Livability award recipient as the only successful initiative of its kind in our region.

LISC solicited applications for LOVE awards beginning late 2016. The over 30 applicants were narrowed down to a group of three finalists for each category for which each had a short promotional video made. In addition to vying for a cash award, each finalist had the benefit of having access to these videos which will serve as great tools for spreading the word about their organizations in the future. The Woodruff EID was up against two great Livability finalists, each having their merits. Finalist projects were encouraged to rally supporters to attend the event on the 27th and Woodruff had a robust crew in attendance when the award was announced. The $5,000 will be added to the balance of the EID funds to support additional renovations and preservation of the historic Woodruff Place features.

Photo
Left to Right:
First Row: Jennifer Vines, Missy Ellis, Sally Cook, Tom Abeel, Linda Gilkerson, Tessie Lloyd-Jones, Jim Leich, Suzanne Pritchard, Greg Staab
Back Row:
Will Pritchard, Kimball Lloyd-Jones, Jason Eberl, Emily Scott

Residents Darala White Barnett, Charles Neil, and James Ryan also attended (not pictured).

Creative Mornings crowd brings energy to Town Hall

The Woodruff Place Town Hall saw a packed house on the morning of April 21^st as part of a worldwide Creative Mornings event series. Creative Mornings organizers designate a monthly theme that is explored in 170 cities throughout the world. Participants enjoy fresh coffee and friendly people while highlighting a city’s creative talent, but also promoting an open space to connect with like-minded individuals.

Mat Davis and Woodruff Place resident, Meredith Brickell, were the featured speakers of the April 21st gathering. Having worked together through the House Life Project, a grassroots, arts-focused initiative based in an abandoned house on the Near Eastside of Indianapolis, Davis and Brickell explored ideas around suburban and urban living, artists’ role in community revitalization and the concept of ‘place’. “Artists act as a monitor to test the temperature of the housing market” said Davis, who has been a leader of several community-based arts initiative in Indianapolis. As these initiatives grew and attracted new types of people to the neighborhood, changes in the desirability of the real estate followed.

Davis and Brickell skillfully and humorously wove their diverse personal experiences living and working in different environments into an evolving story about preferred lifestyle environments throughout recent history in the United States that have shifted from urban, to suburban and circling back again. “Gentrification and displacement get lumped together but they’re not exactly the same thing” said Davis. The exploration of this topic at an event in Woodruff Place was especially interesting given the housing revitalization that is quickly taking hold in many of the surrounding neighborhoods. To learn more about the Creative Mornings series, visit https://creativemornings.com/cities/ind