Civic Affairs
Pike Township Residents Association
Traders Point Association of Neighborhoods
Historic Ropkey House and Kite Development
St. Nicholas Church, 79th and Marsh Road
Development Watch
NFHA was founded when neighbors became concerned about development plans for properties adjoining Normandy Farms. The association continues to advocate for development that enhances the community and preserves its natural beauty.
Designated board members regularly attend meetings of organizations that monitor zoning and traffic issues affecting northwest Pike Township, including the Traders Point Association of Neighborhoods (TPAN) and Pike Township Residents Association (PTRA). Back to top
Historic Ropkey House and Kite Development
The Cotton-Ropkey house at 6360 West 79th Street dates from 1850 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The original owner, Isaac Cotton, was a Pike Township clerk and assessor who served as the township's Civil War draft enrollment commissioner and was an accomplished beekeeper, swine breeder and wool grower. Most recently the antique farmhouse was home to the Ropkey family which maintained a collection of military equipment relics, including tanks and airplanes. The Ropkey Armor Museum has since moved to Crawfordsville.
Kite Realty purchased the house from the Ropkeys several years ago as part of the larger parcel northweast of the intersection of Marsh Road and 79th Street, which they plan eventually to develop. Kite sold the house for $1 to the Indiana Historic Landmarks Foundation with the stipulation that it be moved to some other location. The foundation will sell the house for $1 to a buyer willing to pay the moving costs.
Apparently concerned with vandalism, Kite applied for a permit to demolish the vacant property in January 2009. Those plans have been set aside for now, and a buyer continues to be sought. See details posted at Historic Traders Point blog.
The pre-Civil War two-story Georgian frame home features yellow poplar siding, a boulder foundation, hewn timbers in the basement and heavy, wide-board oak floors, and an antique lightning rod. The interior of the old home also contains a winding stairway with cherry rail (recently stolen), high ceilinged rooms, and some windows containing the original glass panes. A terrace runs around the whole structure.
St. Nicholas Church, 79th and Marsh Road
We welcome our new neighbors at St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Catholic Church, located at the southeast corner of 79th and Marsh Road. The church has constructed a fellowship hall and has plans for a 400-seat church, rectory and storage building. Pike Township Residents Association unanimously approved this use of the land.
St. Nicholas made a commitment that two-thirds of the grounds are to remain "green area" with a berm and trees built along the north side of the property. The 300-member church will hold services only on Sunday.
St. Nicholas celebrated its first service on Sunday, December 17, 2006. Normandy Farms neighbors were invited to attend and share a Lenten/Vegan meal afterwards in observance of the Advent fast.
The church is a work in progress and the cosmetics will improve in time, says fundraising chair Ivan Invancevich. Ivan welcomes Normandy Farm neighbors to St. Nicholas' regular "gourmet" fish fries. See letter of introduction from the Church.
Pike Township Residents Association
PTRA was created in 1972 to represent the interests of all people living in Pike Township. The township is bounded by 96th Street on the north, 38th Street on the south, Township Line Road on the east, and Raceway Road (the Marion County line) on the west.
PTRA provides a forum for Pike Township neighbors to discuss regional and local neighborhood concerns such as parks and recreation, transportation, schools, land use, development, drainage, and beautification. The not-for-profit PTRA serves as an umbrella organization for local neighborhood organizations and also serves the needs of residents and businesses.
The primary focus of PTRA has been land-use issues. The association gets involved when anyone requests rezoning or a land-use variance. It helps all parties work out a win-win scenario for the township, the developers, and the residents who are immediately affected.
PTRA meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm at the Pike Township Government Center, 5665 Lafayette Road. This meeting is open to the public. PTRA Website
Traders Point Association of Neighborhoods
TPAN is the resurrected Traders Point Civic Association (TPCA) that in the 1980s fought against the proposal to locate the Deer Creek music venue (now Verizon) at the site of what has become the West 86th Street subdivision.
TPAN does not intend to duplicate or compete with PTRA in any way. Its purpose is to preserve and improve the quality of life in the area known as the Traders Point Triangle (the area bounded by I-65, I-465 and I-485) in matters of land use, environmental protection, public services and safety, taxation, aesthetics and the preservation of the historic and unique character of the area.
Membership in TPAN is granted to residents of the Traders Point Triangle area who regularly attend meetings. TPAN meets quarterly at a location to be determined, and meetings are open to the public, although only bona fide members may vote on issues.
Information from TPAN meetings is shared through an informal e-mail network. To be added to the list for notices, e-mail us. Updates on neighborhood issues are also found at the Historic Traders Point blog.
Get Involved
Normandy Farms Homeowners Association welcomes your input on community development, the environment, and other civic concerns. Contact us
Rebecca Viewegh, our Pike Township Neighborhood Liaison to Indianapolis city government, sends regular e-mail bulletins on neighborhood matters such as road closures, trash pickup delays, town meetings, etc. Sign up