The Near Eastside Quality of Life plan calls for substantially increasing occupancy and home ownership rates while maintaining ethnic and economic diversity as a part of redeveloping housing in the neighborhood. The area has experienced disproportionately higher rates of abandoned and vacant homes than almost any other neighborhood in Indianapolis. Yet many of these homes are historically significant and important to the fabric of this neighborhood. Proximity to downtown, public transportation, and the connectivity provided by local trail systems, combined make this neighborhood an ideal location for redevelopment.

The Housing Committee, and a newly formed entity known as Super Bowl Legacy Housing Inc., is focused on positively impacting up to 300 units of housing on the Near Eastside creating a mixed-income “neighborhood of choice” instead of a “neighborhood of last resort”. Currently, approximately 30% of the homes in this target area consist of vacant lots or vacant, abandoned, or foreclosed homes. This committee is staffed by Indy-east Asset Development, the community development corporation serving the Near Eastside. In January, a diverse and comprehensive team of partners was assembled to create a “game plan” and implementation strategy to be executed by February 2012 in order to trigger private investment. This team consists of non-profit and for-profit partners including planning and development professionals with a wealth of experience in comprehensive community development, affordable housing initiatives, new urbanism, and urban redevelopment projects. Housing Committee/Super Bowl Legacy Housing Inc. leadership co-chairs include:

• Sarah Dillinger - Board Member, Near East Side Community Organization
• Moira Carlstedt – President, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership
• Joe Whitsett – Whitsett Group LLC; Board President of the John H. Boner Community Center on the Near Eastside