Homes threatened by IPS expansion

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Upgrading an Indianapolis elementary school could mean uprooting residents who have lived in the neighborhood for decades. Seven homeowners find themselves facing a tough decision. Sell, or face takeover by eminent domain so their houses can be torn down.

Arlene Cole has lived in her home on Drexel Street on the east side of Indianapolis for 38 years.

"I was absolutely devastated. I still am," she says. Her home is one of seven on the street targeted for demolition to make way for improvements to school 58 which is right behind their houses. A playground, a new media center and better access for school buses is on the drawing board. But Arlene says moving puts her in a tough spot. "I'm 74. I won't be able to get regular financing."

The Sebastians have lived behind school 58 for a decade. Over the past few years they've put in a new driveway, a new roof and new windows. They worry the IPS offer won't include the cost of all the improvements.

Kristi Sebastian says "We hadn't been putting stuff in with the idea of selling. We've been putting stuff in because we wanted to live here for 30-40 years."

Kim Hooper with IPS says the decision to buy the Drexel homes is moving forward but is not set in stone.

"The board could always go back and decide we're not going to make renovations at that building we can move school 58 to another location, an existing building, a school that we closed," she says. Two professional appraisals will be done on each home and the average of the two is the price the homeowners will be offered.

The school board voted Tuesday night to allow IPS to use eminent domain to buy the properties if the homeowners won't sell.

A community meeting is planned at the school to further discuss the issues. But no date for that meeting has been set.