A West Side Story Beyond Broadway

It’s not the Sharks and the Jets, but West Indianapolis has its own remarkable West Side Story to tell.

Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents probably never set foot in the rugged rail yards of West Indianapolis, but their beloved West Side Story could have been set there just the same.

Turns out, the effects of postwar migration were not limited to New York’s famed lower east side. In West Indianapolis, successive generations of immigrants have hailed not from Puerto Rico or Italy, but from Appalachia, Eastern Europe, and the Deep South.

More recently, an influx of Latino residents has begun to call the historic neighborhood home, adding yet another layer to the diverse fabric of the community. The allure is much the same as it ever was – better jobs and wages, family security, and the dream of a better life.

Affordable housing has always been one of the primary draws attracting people to West Indianapolis. Beginning in the early part of the 20th century, waves of immigrants from Germany, Italy, Eastern Europe and Appalachia settled in the area. They built modest, simple homes adjacent to the factories and shops where they worked. Spare rooms were routinely rented out to newcomers.

In 1913, floodwaters from the nearby White River ravaged much of the community’s east end. Water covered everything east of the railroad tracks, and the area subsequently became known as The Valley. Topographical monikers became a defining trend. The neighborhood’s western fringes became known as The Hill. Two other neighborhoods, The Hollow, and The Bottoms, carved out established identities of their own.

Different groups settled in each of these sub-neighborhoods. If there was a connection between them, it was the solid work ethic that would become the foundation for the community’s manufacturing base.

Today, residents of West Indianapolis from varying backgrounds take classes at the Mary Rigg Community Center, carry out pizza from Barry’s Pizzeria on Morris Street, or shop for groceries at the Market on Morris or David Campos’ popular carniceria on Oliver Avenue.

Housing remains affordable. In a recent survey, the community’s median housing price currently hovers just above $50,000.

Studies show that the arrival of different immigrant groups can bring significant social and economic benefits to a community. West Indianapolis has reaped these benefits from the time the town was annexed by the city of Indianapolis more than a century ago.

Affordable housing, close proximity to employment opportunities and reliable transportation ensure that the neighborhood will continue to attract motivated newcomers.

This West Side Story appears destined for a happy ending.