The Department of Metropolitan Development has officially put out the call for ideas on the future of a beloved Broad Ripple landmark, issuing a request for proposals on Friday, July 24, 2026, to preserve and repurpose the former Indianapolis Fire Department Station 32 as an urban mixed‑use development. City officials say they want plans that keep the historic firehouse intact while adding housing and street‑level commercial space that fits the character of the village. The RFP kicks off a public procurement process to find a developer that can both rehabilitate and reactivate the site.
According to a Facebook post by the Department of Metropolitan Development, the solicitation is listed under reference RFP‑13DMD‑2026‑1 and directs interested teams to the city's procurement portal for full documents and submission details. The post sends potential developers to the city's Find Bid Opportunities page for the official RFP. DMD describes the effort as a chance to preserve the site’s character while adding housing and neighborhood‑serving retail.
The latest move follows an earlier vote by the Metropolitan Development Commission that authorized DMD to work with the Indianapolis Fire Department on acquiring and facilitating redevelopment of the parcel identified as 834 East Westfield Boulevard (also listed as 6330 Guilford Avenue). The MDC meeting record shows Resolution 2026 R018 passed by an 8–0 vote to send the site to procurement. That decision cleared a procedural hurdle and set the city up to solicit proposals from developers with an eye toward preservation.
What the RFP Wants
RFP materials and DMD’s announcement stress preserving the building’s historic fabric while allowing compatible new construction that brings housing and active ground‑floor uses. Respondents are asked to spell out how they would protect key architectural features, stage construction, and incorporate public engagement into the design process. Teams will be evaluated on experience with historic rehabilitation, neighborhood‑scale mixed‑use projects, financing strategies, and community benefits.
A Historic Building at the Center
The Broad Ripple Firehouse, Indianapolis Fire Department Station 32, was built in 1922 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its Tudor Revival architecture and civic importance. The National Park Service nomination record documents the building’s history and lays out the rationale for its preservation. Neighborhood preservation advocates have long treated the station as a local landmark, and the RFP expects developers to recognize that legacy in their proposals.
Neighborhood Context and Next Steps
Broad Ripple’s commercial strip is a tight cluster of restaurants, shops, and nightlife that depends heavily on foot traffic, so the way the old firehouse is reused is likely to affect how people move through the area and which storefronts benefit. The Indianapolis Fire Department has already planned a move to a newer station on College Avenue, which leaves the existing property available for adaptive reuse, as noted in local coverage of the relocation. With the RFP now out in public, DMD will collect submissions and review them under the city’s standard procurement and redevelopment procedures.
Developers and community members can review the solicitation through DMD’s announcement and the city’s procurement portal, where the RFP document details submission requirements, deadlines, and any pre‑submittal meeting information. After the city evaluates proposals, recommended terms and any redevelopment agreements are expected to return to the appropriate public bodies for review under the usual approvals process.
