Garden City and surrounding neighborhoods

History

Info on GCCA: History, Issues, Demographics (1990 data)

While our information is still sketchy, we do know that our community has
traditionally been a farming community specializing in table produce such
as fruits and vegetables. Several "old-timers" recall in the
not-so-distant past, many large "truck gardens" were actively engaged in
in providing sustenance to the city from our Eagle Creek-enriched soil.
Farmers would harvest their crops, then "truck" (transport) them to the
city market next to the old county courthouse or other marketplaces.
Sometimes they would sell to the wholesalers who often were the immigrant Italians of the near Southside, such as Caito and Mascari who were known as the "bannana kings' for importing then-exotic fruits, as well as selling our locally grown produce.
Today we still have two operations existing: the last Ristow farm was
sold for a second time (meaning there has been only 3 owners in it's history)this past year and now under Jim and Helen Dammann's ownership, is open year round. Ristow's was part of a dynasty that included branches of the family also located along the former Roena (Gasoline Alley) until 1985. Also remaining is the Stelzner farm on Vermont Street east of Lynhurst, bording Big Eagle Creek. Harold Stelzner's family has farmed this location since at least 1898, marking a hundred years of feeding and/or supplying the fresh produce needs of citizens of Marion County.
In the old days, Rockville Road was a "pike" leading across the state and
saw herds of cattle and swine being driven to market, with taverns and
coach stops along the way. Later, the Interurban (electric trains
crisscrossing the state until 1946) was run parallel to the
state road reaching Rockville Indiana. At the corner of Fleming and
Rockvlle was a stop and cabins once popular as "tourist camps" for
travelers. This once was the Roberson homestead and the adjacent parcels
were developed as Roberson's addition.
The crossroads of Lynhurst and Rockville was the town of Lynhurst (much like Rocky Ripple, Mickleyville or Flackville) which was dissolved in
the 1980's due to disinterest in continuing the town. A situation,
that might be opposed, if occuring today.

If anyone has further information, or wishes to research more about the
area, we would welcome your contribution. This would be a terrific
project for 4H-ers or Eagle Scouts. We will be happy to archive the
findings for the rest of the community. It is our goal to reclaim the unique heritage of this valuable area.
Newly 'annexed' into the GGCCA area in 1999 are all the areas south of the CSX railroad tracks which includes Lynhurst, Cloverleaf, Fleming, Biltmore, Drexel Gardens and Mickleyville. Each is a distinct neighborhood, once having a school and commercial areas to serve the residents along or near the National Road of West Washington Street and US 40.
40 West, a business organization begun in the years just after WWII, has guided commercial development and brought about many improvements over the years that would not have happened without it's support. Traffic lights, sanitary sewers, paving, and more came to the area due to the efforts of mid-twentieth century businessmen. Today, women and adjacent area businesses are trying to rekindle pride in the corridor and bring new investment and improvements to the neglected streetscape.

Issues

GCCA is positioned as a unique "bridge" community in the central portion
of Wayne Township, connecting the inner city (the area in side the
"old city limits") and the area considered "outer Wayne" lying west of
I-465.

We have issues and concerns that reflect residents of both distinct
areas. Because of this location, we often see a wide gulf between the
components in both economics and culture. As a result, we seem to fit
into few distinct categories. We have 3 zip codes within the area, yet
appear to be penalized with a perception of being poorer and less
educated than we really are, thereby leading to a lack of "better"
establishments such as restaurants that would do very well in the area,
given the number of families who would likely patronize them. We continue
to see the same facilities that our community would welcome, locate into
the Speedway area although we share a zipcode with them in a large part
of the Garden City neighborhood. It is part of our mission to change
this erroneous image and to enhance those areas that do need bolstering.

Recent loss of workforces in major industries south of Washington Street have, and will have a big impact on the health of the economic community. Rolls Royce (the former stalwart Allison's plants) has reduced the workforce and Olin (Bridgeport) Brass is virtually closed as are other Holt Road and Tibbs Avenue plants. Soon, the (Daimler) Chrysler Foundry will also be shuttered, leaving more and more brownfields to deteriorate and lessen the tax base for Wayne Township.
In addition, the 2003 closing of the United Airlines Maintenance Facility at the airport is a huge cost to local taxpayers who have another empty monster-sized facility to see languish.
The airport itself continues to swallow up once tax producing land and keeping it for development that brings impacts to the community, and not always benefits. Loss of income for the township is a matter of concern for business and local government taxing agencies, alike. Reuse of the existing terminal could be a new economic engine if revitalized in ways that bring taxes and services to the westside. But currently, airport officials are not talking about allowing that type of reuse, unfortunately.
Noise factors related to aircraft flight patterns, especially over the northeast flight corridor are also a concern to residents who are often given short shrift in noise parameter patterns which 'suggest' how aircraft enter and exit the airport.
Moving the airport terminal closer to Hendricks County will not do anything to promote the aging Park Fletcher industrial and office park across the interstate, and next to working class Drexel Gardens. Recent location of forensic labs brings a little hope that a link to the much-touted 'life sciences' initiative will revive the area. One can only hope.
Finally, the reuse of the abandoned Central State Hospital grounds, adjacent to GGCCA, is now a subject of intense study by a Reuse Commission of neighborhood partners and governmental groups seemingly pushing a redevelopment agenda with housing and commercial uses that are looked at askance by the local neighborhoods.
Life sciences brought to the 160 acres would refocus on one of the original functions of the mental institution; research on brain diseases and conditions, with high potential for income producing uses. Homage to the history of the property and some buildings, cultural opportunities, museums, and protection of most of the open space for public use and connections to transportation corridors are among the most favored and popular uses. Decidedly on the low interest list (by neighbors) are governmental uses, commercial development, especially of the frontage along the historic National Road (Washington St.) and housing of most types. Only assisted living was mentioned more than once by participants in a Nov. 2003 Charette/community workshop designed to bring in community input on potential reuses.
Whatever happens at CSH will have an effect on the rest of the westside community both east and west, as well as possibly even further afield. Bringing Life Sciences to the area will bridge from the IUPUI/IUMC campus and Canal Life Sciences Initiative plans to the Park Fletcher area and could spur construction of links in a Rapid Transit System between the 3.

Income, Age Range, Household Value

"Old" GCCA contains approximately 5,000 households. The area is between the old city limits and 465, Speedway and the CSX tracks. These figures do not include the 'new' parts of our association south of tracks, yet.
The average household income of the composite area is $18.4K; about 1/4 are single parent households and median household value (owner occupied) is approximately
$29,000. (these value figures are pre-property tax reevaluation in 2002).
Due to new (since the 1990 census) developments the range now
spans $29-150,000, admittedly a wide disparity which also now skews the
median figure. The range of ages between 22-59 is approximately 60% of
the population.

Central State Reuse Commission input

Central State Hospital Reuse Public Workshop
Census and demographic data
Google: Census data searches