As part of its on-going public outreach about plans to expand the National Cemetery in Crown Hill Cemetery, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration (NCA) will host a public meeting at 6 p.m. January 23 at the Indiana War Memorial, 55 E Michigan St.
According to a January 11, 2018 press release (PDF) NCA staff will make presentations on environmental findings and preliminary project plans as well as solicit community feedback.
The VA purchased a 14.75-acre site from Crown Hill Cemetery Inc. for $810,000 in September 2015 as part of the VA’s “Urban Initiative” to serve 256,000 veterans who live within a 75-mile radius of Indianapolis.
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Responding to controversy over the wooded site, the VA worked with Crown Hill Cemetery to swap parcels and now plans to build a columbarium for cremated remains on a similar-sized site at the southwest corner of 42nd and Clarendon. The January 23 meeting will focus on plans for that parcel.
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The NCA’s consultant has completed a draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) [PDF] for the property and the NCA plans to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact following a 30-day comment period that ends February 12, 2018.
