University Heights, Indianapolis

The Indianapolis, Indiana neighborhood of University Heights is located south of the University of Indianapolis, on the Indianapolis south side. The boundaries are as follows: to the north is Hanna Avenue, to the south is the south side of Lawrence Avenue, to the east is Keystone Avenue, and to the west is Shelby Street.

The University Heights neighborhood has a historic connection with the University of Indianapolis (formerly Indiana Central College). For several years members of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ wanted to develop a college in central Indiana.

For financial reasons, however, the prospects remained bleak until 1902 when William L. Elder, an Indianapolis realtor and land developer, came to the rescue. Four miles south of Downtown Indianapolis, near the intersection of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Indianapolis, Columbus & Southern Traction Line, Elder was planning to develop a subdivision named Marion Heights. When he became aware of the effort to found a college, he offered to change the name of his proposed subdivision to University Heights; to name all the streets of the subdivision for United Brethren bishops, past or present; to donate 8 acres (32,000 m2) of land for the college campus; and to erect $40,000 worth of campus buildings. In return he asked the college’s trustees to sell the remaining 446 building lots for him.