INDIANAPOLIS — The nation's top housing leader made a pit stop in Indianapolis to discuss affordable places for seniors to live and youth to learn.
Ben Carson, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development secretary, traveled to the Circle City to tour a development under construction and discuss increasing help for low-income families.
Carson was on the city's east side to look over a project that will benefit families and children. He toured the PR Mallory site on the 3000 Block of East Washington Street with Sen. Mike Braun, R-Indiana.
Decades ago, the PR Mallory site was an old factory. It will soon include affordable housing for seniors and two charter schools including Purdue Polytechnic High School. The school is currently at Circle Centre Mall but will be open in the neighborhood for the 2020-2021 school year.
"I think pretty much everyone in the country can learn a few things about what's done in Indianapolis," Carson said. "What I've seen across the country with some charter schools is nothing short of miraculous in terms of opportunities they present for kids."
"Generally, government should be an enabler, not the doer," Braun said. "Here is a great example — you've got great state like Indiana which takes this federal investment, and it will cascade across the neighborhood here."
Carson did make news while visiting Indianapolis. He says developers will be allowed to access funding to fix-up aging buildings that serve low-income elderly residents.
