The Sunday Post - Feb 22, 2026: A Loss in Beech Grove, Washington Square Progress, and What Comes Next
- Michael-Paul Hart
- 11 hours ago
- 4 min read
A weekly report from Councilor Michael-Paul Hart — Building the Smartest City in America.
Volume 2, Issue 8
Beech Grove Lost Officer Brian Elliott
Last week, Officer Brian Elliott was killed in the line of duty. Any officer killed is a tragedy, and my heart is with the family, friends, and fellow officers grieving this loss.
This one hits close to home for me. Officer Elliott and I both grew up in Beech Grove and attended Beech Grove High School. I graduated in 2008, and he graduated in 2011. We did not know each other personally, but our circles and networks were close by.
When I was ten years old, our community experienced a similar heartbreak when Officer Toney was killed in the line of duty. I still remember how that day shook Beech Grove.
Over the past few days, we have all seen stories and images that reflect Officer Elliott’s character and the impact he had on the people around him. It is clear he was a valued member of both the Beech Grove and Indianapolis communities, and he will be deeply missed.
The YMCA Question: What Happens When the Doors Close?
I had two conversations this week that landed on the same concern from two different angles.
First, I met with John Cannday, Program Director at Volunteers of America. John’s work is centered on seniors, with a strong focus on mental health, stability, and connection. The more we talked, the more it came back to a simple reality: seniors don’t just “go work out” at the Y. For many, it’s one of the last reliable places for routine, movement, and community.
Then I sat down with ADiscipline, an organization that delivers community-based services and youth programming. They run karate and other physical programs, and they have a strong volunteer base that shows up for things like food distribution and neighborhood initiatives. They’re currently Westside-based and looking for space to grow.
If the YMCA isn’t there, people lose a safe, structured place to go. Seniors lose connection. Kids lose routine. Families lose support.
That’s not abstract. It turns into public safety issues, public health strain, and neighborhood instability.
I’m keeping this conversation countywide, because it’s bigger than one building. It’s about how Indy protects the community infrastructure that prevents bigger problems later.
Washington Square Mall: Planning is Moving and the Mall is Still Open
This week we held the kickoff meeting for the next phase of the Washington Square Mall work, and the attendance was exactly what you want when you’re serious about outcomes.
In the room: LISC, Far Eastside Community Council, the Schmidt team, and other stakeholders who understand that a project like this only works if the plan is credible and community-supported.
The main goal was alignment. We needed to be crystal clear on:
scope and milestones
what community engagement looks like
how tenants, neighbors, and stakeholders shape the work before concepts are drawn
Strong community development requires community input. Period.
Here is the working timeline we discussed:
Early April: meet with mall tenants and business owners
Late April: public community meeting
June: finalize a professional concept package that future developers can use to invest and build
One reminder people need to hear: the mall is still open today. This work is about building a professional, community-driven plan that attracts serious reinvestment.
If you are a mall tenant or owner and you are reading this, please message me. Your voice needs to be in the plan early.
Breakfast with the Mayor’s Chief of Staff: The Priorities I Put on the Table
I met this week with Chris Bailey, the Mayor’s Chief of Staff, to walk through priorities I believe can drive real improvement across the city.
We all know the fundamentals matter:
infrastructure (potholes and basic city services)
public safety
But I also wanted to talk about what comes next after we address the obvious. What are the levers that improve quality of life at scale?
I highlighted three priority areas:
Washington Square Mall and other “big opportunity” sites
Washington Square is a major focus, but it’s also a reminder that other parts of Indy have similar sites with big potential. If we do this well, we build a playbook we can replicate.
Public health
We do not talk about public health enough until something forces the issue. The YMCA situation has pushed this into view. I shared where I think we can strengthen resident and employee wellbeing with more intentional focus.
Downtown vacancy
This topic has been quieter lately, but it still matters. A few weeks back I met with the Indy Chamber and Elevate Ventures about ideas to incentivize fast-growing startups to move into underused space. My next step is making targeted introductions to keep that idea moving.
Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (AIM) Dinner: A Wake-Up Call About Long-Term Planning
I attended the AIM dinner this week and had the chance to listen to Pete Yonkman share a
perspective that stuck with me.
He tied global manufacturing to global competition in a way that felt less like commentary and more like a warning. Not because we should panic, but because we should get serious.
One point landed clearly: other nations execute long-range strategies. Think 50-year and 100-year planning horizons. Meanwhile, we too often operate on short cycles, sound bites, and the next headline.
His message wasn’t “their system is better.” It was this:
We have to get back into the habit of serious problem-solving and long-term execution.
That is exactly what Indy needs if we want to be the Smartest City in America. Smart cities plan for the long game, track progress, and keep building even when it’s not trendy.
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See you next week with more updates from the Neighborhood.
