Update on UIndy Construction

Contractors will be starting work at 6:00 AM tomorrow, Wednesday (11/19), and Friday (11/21) and during the week of December 1^st to pour and finish concrete slabs.

Also, with the cold weather coming early, the contractors have to wrap the entire building in plastic to heat the space for concrete slab pours.  The heaters will have to run overnight in order to keep the steel structure at a warm enough temperature to facilitate concrete pours, which could create some noise.  The contractors currently do not plan to pour any slabs during the week of Thanksgiving.  

Contact David Wantz (wantz@uindy.edu) or 788-3384

UHNA Events - Enjoy the fall season in University Heights

We have a lot going on this week in University Heights.  The University of Indianapolis is hosting their homecoming football game with a lot of exciting events and a jam-packed Saturday itinerary. Also, the University Heights Neighborhood Association is hosting its annual Halloweenie Roast this Saturday (October 25th) from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm.  We will be meeting at the University Heights Community Park at the corner of Mathews and Edwards.

UIndy Homecoming Road Closures

Landscaping/Flower Bed Photos Wanted

Neighbors,

Before summer comes to a close we'd love to get some photos of your garden, flowerbeds, or interesting landscaping to post to our image gallery.  Walking around the neighborhood you will find many homes with impressive wild flower beds or gardens.  It would be great to post some of those pictures on the website so others can see the fruits of our labor.  We can also show them as a running slide show at our upcoming meetings.

Proud gardeners please pass your photos onto uheightsnieghborhood@gmail.com

Street Closing on State Ave.

The university is planning to close off State Avenue (between Hanna Avenue and Castle) next week to complete the water tap for the  UIndy Health Pavilion.   

The street will be closed beginning on the 12^th through the end of the work day on the 15^th.   During this time, the street will be open to local traffic only.  All the necessary barricades and signage will be posted.  

Please let Dave Wantz (wantz@uindy.edu) know if you have any questions or concerns. 

IMPD Southeast District Community Day

Pocket Park Work Day and UHNA Meeting

Calling all neighbors.  We have another pocket park work day coming up next Saturday.  We need as much neighborhood support as possible so please feel free to recruit your friends and family for the event.  The last work day we partnered with UIndy students and faculty and had a great turn out.  We are hoping for robust attendance from neighbors for the second work day.

Pocket Park Work Day - Saturday, May 17th 9:00 am - Noon:

We will be meeting at the pocket park located on Edwards and Matthews.  Work will continue on the development of the green space.

UHNA Neighborhood Meeting - Tuesday, May 20th - 7:00 - 8:00 pm:

This is a call out to anyone needing to request time on the agenda or discussion points.  Please respond if you have items to add or need time on the agenda. Meeting will be held at the Stierwalt Alumni House. 

Jane Jacobs Walk: Shelby Street Corridor

Big Car will be hosting a Jane Jacobs walk from Garfield Park to UIndy via the Shelby Street Corridor.  The walk is intended to explore ways in which the university and neighborhoods can be better connected via commercial development, walking, and biking.

The walk will take place on May 7th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm.  No registration is necessary and the event is open to any community member or community stakeholder.

For more information please visit: http://www.janejacobswalk.org/indianapolis-indiana-jane-jacobs-walk-shelby-street-corridor/

Neighbors and Students Roll Up Their Sleeves and Get to Work

Last Saturday morning was crisp and sunny, a perfect day for manual labor and getting your hands dirty.  University Heights neighbors and KIB employees showed up a little early to enjoy coffee and doughnuts provided by UIndy's David Wantz.  Right on time, a hoard of UIndy students came marching down Matthews Ave. to assist neighbors and KIB in spreading mulch, picking up trash, building planting boxes, and planting trees.  Saturday was phase one of an ambitious transformation of the the old Cummins Student Apartment lot.

City Pilots Community Action Team with University Heights and UIndy

As I would have liked to see the media focus more on the positive and wonderful things I mentioned about our neighborhood, I feel this Community Action Team initiative is a good start in getting city leaders to understand the real issues we face here in University Heights.  As the story was more geared toward ridding the area of violent crime, I don't personally see that being the main issue we face as residents of University Heights.  I think these upcoming meetings will give neighbors the opportunity to voice true concerns about how they feel the city can better serve this area.  I spoke about investment by quality businesses, accountability of landlords, and need of better public transit among other things.  Unfortunately that did not get mentioned in the news piece.  However, as we move through this process, I think we will have the opportunity to expose the great things that are going on in our neighborhood.  Please check out the segment WTHR ran on the evening and morning news.

http://www.wthr.com/story/24910744/2014/03/06/cime-crackdown-starts-with-neighbors?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=9920954

http://www.wthr.com/story/24910744/2014/03/06/cime-crackdown-starts-with-neighbors?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=9920672

Community Action Team Meeting This Thursday

The Community Action Team wants to hear your thoughts on ways to build a stronger community one neighborhood at a time. Come be a part of the process by joining us at this meeting.

University Heights United Methodist Church

March 6, 2014

5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Pipers Manor will be providing Dinner. This is a kid friendly event. Bring your neighbors, friends and family.  Mayor Greg Ballard will be there to help kick us off! Will you? We hope to see you there!

Pocket Park Work Dates - WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Tuesday, February 18, 5:30-7:30PM: Workshop at KIB where we will be constructing benches for our park.

Contact Jim Pennell if you wish to attend (jpennell@uindy.edu)

March: 8 & 22, 9:00-noon: work on the walking paths. Some heavy equipment will be used to remove the topsoil for paths, create a water retention area, and prepare for pouring the shelter floor. We will need some help on these two days smoothing out the trail edges and compacting the soil. 

April 5: 9-noon: put down crushed limestone for the walking paths and outline the plant beds. We are shooting for getting 100 UIndy students to volunteer with the assistance of Community Programs. We will need some neighbors to help supervise.

May 17, 9:00-noon: planting trees and flowers. This will be one of our big events and we need as many neighbors as possible to help with this one, so please get it on your calendars!

Family Math Night @ Raymond Brandes Elementary

January UHNA Meeting Update

We had a productive and informative UHNA meeting this past week.  The focus of the meeting was around neighborhood security.  UIndy police chief David Selby spoke about how neighbors can work to reduce threats and report issues.    Also, neighbors Marvin Selva and John Barker advocated for developing a neighborhood watch to help build relationships between neighbors, students, and local law enforcement.

Invitation from President Manuel Feb. 3rd

Dear University Heights Neighbor,

We met several months ago to talk about the University's master plan at my home. At that time we outlined some visionary projects. We are now a little farther along and I wanted to tell you how those projects are coming together.

Please make plans to come to the Stierwalt Alumni House on Monday, February 3 at 6:30PM. David Wantz and I will be there from 6:30 to 8:00 in case you can't get there right at 6:30PM. We will have some snacks available in case you are coming right after work.

The conversation will update you on building projects that come out of the University Master Plan. One of them is a project we are undertaking to address the disparity in healthcare services and we believe it will be a significant benefit to our neighbors. 

We would also like to tell you about conversations we have had with the City about mass transit and the Community Action Team. The Community Action Team is a pilot project to provide services in a coordinated way to solve problems.

Looking forward to seeing you.  

Rob Manuel