A plan to add modernize Martin University and create an economic vehicle for the state’s only predominately Black institution (PBI), faces an uphill battle as it seeks to add digital billboards within city limits. Indianapolis has long banned digital signs. The exception is state-owned property such as the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
The Martin University Keyes Center, a collaborative project between Martin University and Keyes Outdoor Advertising, will be a multi-level facility for classes, a conference center and office space. It will also serve as the headquarters for Keyes Outdoor Advertising. The building will feature electronic signs on both the west side and east side to welcome people into the city. In addition, the signs will run 150 eight-second advertising spots for Martin as well as 150 eight-second spots for the city, emergency messages and Amber Alerts.
“The reason we want to do it is we want to better market the university, and increase our visibility,” Martin University President Dr. Eugene White said. “We also want to create a revenue source.”
The Metropolitan Development Commission will hold a hearing on the proposed project on Oct. 25.
White announced in August his plan to retire from Martin University effective June 30, 2019.
Initially, White and representatives from Keyes Outdoor Advertising were looking at ways to add a welcoming or gateway sign to Martin. As the discussion evolved, both groups realized a new building would benefit each organization and a partnership was born.
“We were looking at having a student activity and fine arts center, but we can’t support that and there’s other priorities,” White said.
White sees the building not only as an economic source for Martin, but also part of a larger effort to continue revitalizing the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood where Martin is located. Martin University continues to remove blight in the area by buying land and tearing down abandoned houses. The location of the signs, facing I-70 and Massachusetts Avenue won’t affect nearby homes, as there aren’t any, White said.
Martindale-Brightwood Community Development Corp. Executive Director Josephine Rogers-Smith sees the building as an additional asset to the community that could serve as a conference center, meeting space and provide other opportunities for students and neighborhood groups.
“The way I understand it is it isn’t imposing on the neighborhood or interstate based on the way that it’s positioned,” Rogers-Smith said.
While White and others in the community see the project as a good thing for the community, not everyone agrees. Critics say digital billboards blind drivers and create light pollution. Representatives of the Marion County Alliance Neighborhood Association oppose digital billboards in the city. McANA member Pat Andrews is the point person handling opposition to the Martin University project. Andrews, however, is out of the country. McANA President Cathy Burton could only speak in general about the issue.
“We have long spoken against digital billboards,” Burton said. “Our current ordinance does prohibit them, but that ordinance is under review.”
Light pollution from digital signs is a past issue as current billboards don’t operate as they once did, said Nick Keyes Jr., vice president of development for Keyes Outdoor Advertising.
“That’s really, I think, antiquated thinking,” Keyes said. “The digital signs that we purchase as a company all have what we call photocell. What photocell does is it measures ambient light that surrounds that board. The photocell is automatically dimming the sign in step with the ambient light levels surrounding it. That is why the technology today just far exceeds when it came onto the scene.”
Contact Editor Oseye Boyd at 317-762-7850. Follow her on Twitter @oseye_boyd.
Want to learn more?
If you’re interested in having Dr. Eugene White discuss his plans for a new building at Martin University with your neighborhood group, contact Lauren Hurse at 317-822-3489 or lhurse@martin.edu to schedule a meeting.
The Metropolitan Development Commission will hold a hearing on the proposed project on Oct. 25.
Martin University Keyes Center
