Former Indiana Women’s Prison

The City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development is soliciting expressions of interest for adaptive reuse, activation, and programming of the Former Indiana Women's Prison, a 15.7-acre historic correctional facility at 401 N Randolph Street in the Near Eastside, with submissions due September 30, 2026 at noon EST. Mandatory site tours are scheduled for July 24 and August 7, 2026, at 1:00 PM EST.

Respondents may propose mixed-use development incorporating residential, commercial, cultural, food service, office, educational, and community-oriented uses on all or a portion of the property. All buildings must comply with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Preservation due to recorded deed covenants, and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology must approve any structural changes. Environmental restrictions are in place: the Indiana Department of Environmental Management issued a Comfort Letter in March 2026 requiring an Environmental Restrictive Covenant that prohibits groundwater use except for environmental investigations and mandates indoor air sampling prior to occupancy due to confirmed soil and groundwater contamination from historical laundry and dry-cleaning operations. A March 2026 structural assessment confirmed all buildings and tunnels are structurally sound with no immediate life-safety repairs needed. The property is currently zoned SU-8 (Correctional or Penal Institution) and will be rezoned to accommodate proposed adaptive reuse. The City acquired the property in late December 2024 through a land swap with the Indiana Department of Administration.

Submissions must be searchable PDF documents not exceeding 40 pages, including experience qualifications, key personnel biographies, project references, detailed project approach, financial analysis, and community engagement plans. No pricing information is requested. Written questions are due August 31, 2026 at noon EST, with an addendum issued September 11, 2026. Pre-submittal conferences may be scheduled on a first-come basis prior to the August 31 question deadline. This RFEI is information-gathering only and does not constitute a binding contract; the City reserves the right to selectively advance respondents to subsequent phases, issue a formal Request for Qualifications or Request for Proposals, or use responses solely for planning purposes.