Marion County Commissioners on July 15 heard an update from the Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership on three parcels it acquired in the 2022 nonprofit tax‑lien sale and plans to renovate and sell to low‑ and moderate‑income buyers.

The report focused on two previously liened addresses: 520 North Grama Street and a large property on North Delaware Street that INHP has subdivided into 2126 and 2128 North Delaware. INHP said it will use Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, other subsidies and developer resources to cover rehabilitation and sale costs.

The update matters because the projects aim to add permanently affordable, owner‑occupied housing in Indianapolis neighborhoods and because they use federal CDBG funds, which require a plans‑and‑specs appraisal and environmental review before any sale or construction.

Jeff Hasser, director of housing strategy at the Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership, described conditions and budgets for each site. He said the Grama Street property is about 14,000 square feet of lot and will be rehabbed as a single‑family, three‑bedroom, two‑bath home. Hasser said interior water damage and unstable flooring mean substantial interior work will be required and that exterior siding with lead‑based paint must be removed by a lead‑safe contractor. He summarized the construction bid and budget: a contractor bid around $287,000 and a total construction budget near $330,000; the plans‑and‑specs appraisal sets a sale price of $225,000 and the remaining gap will be covered with CDBG funds.

On the larger Delaware property, Hasser said the structure totaled about 4,800 square feet and INHP has subdivided it into two parcels to create a duplex to reduce per‑unit costs. Each resulting unit is planned to be roughly 2,000 square feet with four bedrooms, about three full bathrooms plus a half bath at the main level and additional finished space in the basement. Hasser said the general contractor bid for work on the Delaware project was in the range of $280,000 and that INHP is seeking additional subsidy from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis to preserve affordability for households at or below 80% area median income.

Hasser described the sequence of approvals and schedule: deeds transferred to INHP in March 2024; an application for CDBG funding was filed Oct. 7, 2024; INHP received an award letter in January 2025; it is now completing the city’s HUD‑required environmental and historic reviews; construction start is contingent on a Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD) contract start date and permits, with INHP estimating completion and sales in 2026 (March–May 2026, depending on the site).

Commissioners asked about contingencies for unforeseen costs. Hasser said INHP builds contingency (roughly 5–10%) into budgets, uses fixed‑price builder contracts where possible, applies for supplemental grants, and can draw on its developer fee to absorb overruns — noting that using developer fee funds would reduce or eliminate INHP’s project fee income. Marion County Treasurer and Commissioner Barbara Hartman praised the update: "This just makes me so happy," she said, adding gratitude for staff collaboration.

No formal county action was taken; the presentation was an informational update. Hasser invited commissioners to tour the properties and attend a planned ribbon‑cutting when projects are complete.

Next steps: INHP awaits DMD contract approval and final environmental and historic clearances before issuing construction notices to proceed.