Thanks in great part to the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and the City of Indianapolis which provided $15,000 in matching funds through the Façade Grant program, the building that is the home of the Mapleton Fall Creek Development Corporation (MFCDC) received much-needed façade improvements and repairs.
The grant funded repairs to rotted window casements, the replacement of broken windows, and refurbishment of weather-worn doors. A fresh palette of strong colors has also helped the building look more at home in Historic Meridian Park where the arts and crafts influence is so strong.
The building was originally built as a shopping strip mall of sorts in the 1920s, a time when the Meridian Park area was on the upswing. Over the years, the building was a vibrant shopping center for the area, housing among other things a woman’s dress shop. By 1996, the building was vacant and in disrepair having gone through the downward spiral that many other urban shopping locations experienced, spending some time along the way as a variety store.
Through the efforts of several donors to the MFCDC, including Lilly Endowment, State Auto, and others, the building was renovated, and in 1997, became home of the MFCDC. Funds for maintenance had been limited since that time and as the neighborhood around it was being painted and fixed up, the 130 E. 30th Street building was again beginning to pale by comparison.
Neighbors have been invested in this building through both renovation efforts, with Connor and Company doing the original rescue renovations in 1996 and Bob Proctor of Maple Road Construction managing the recent painting and repairs.
The Children’s Museum and others have contributed some of the matching funds for the recent work. Additional contributions can be sent to the MFCDC at 130 E. 30th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46205. To learn more about the work of the MFCDC, check out its website at www.mfcdc.org where you can sign up for their regular electronic newsletters.