The former Martin University (originally Martin Center College) was a private college in Indianapolis. It was founded in 1977, to serve low-income, minority, and adult learners and it closed at the end of 2025 and was listed for sale. The former Martin University Campus consisted of twenty-eight (28) parcels of land, approximately 11.24 acres of land improved with two (2) commercial buildings, a historic church building, 200+ space parking lot, and multiple vacant lots in the surrounding area. JEWEL Human Services Inc. was interested in purchasing properties for redevelopment opportunities that included residential use. As part of their property transaction due diligence activities, JEWEL Human Services Inc. contracted with Metric Environmental LLC (Metric) to conduct a Phase I ESA to identify Environmental Conditions in connection with the Subject Property and a Pre-Demolition Hazardous Materials Survey of the Historic Church Building in preparation of demolition activities. Based on Phase I ESA findings and recommendations, Metric performed a limited Phase II ESA at several properties of the former Martin University Campus to further evaluate potential environmental conditions identified.

The Phase I ESA consisted of a former Martin University Campus reconnaissance, a review of historical and governmental records, interviews, and an Environmental Professional (EP) evaluation of the site data, summary of the information, and recommendations.

Hazardous Materials Survey was conducted on the historic church building to identify materials that may require special handling or disposal during proposed demolition activities. These materials included but are not limited to Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACM), lead-based paint (LBP), Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), and mercury containing materials, mold, heavy metals, and toxic, flammable, explosive or controlled products, and drums and unknown containers.

A limited Phase II ESA was completed to further evaluate the possible presence or absence of environmental contamination from past property uses at the Subject Property and the surrounding area. The limited Phase II assessment investigated the current conditions of the subsurface (below ground) soil, groundwater, and soil gas at select properties that make up the former Martin University Campus and areas that were impacted by historical operations of businesses (i.e., paint manufacturing company, historical dry-cleaning operations, and the automotive repair/paint shop). The Client was under tight time restraints to complete the work and had multiple stakeholder groups to engage throughout the process. Multiple Environmental Conditions were identified at the former Martin University campus properties or in the surrounding neighborhood area. Instead of investigating all the properties that comprise the former Martin University campus, Metric evaluated the data and selectively chose the most likely properties that would have been potentially impacted saving time and money to meet the Client’s needs.

Metric conducted all three services and experienced qualified professionals conducted the work and evaluated/interpreted the site data and allowed the client to make informed decisions on how or if to pursue purchasing some or all the properties that make up the former Martin University campus.

Metric achieved the aggressive deadlines that met the Client’s needs to purchase the former Martin University Campus. Metric interpreted the site data and provided risk evaluations and provided recommendations to the Client so they could make sound business decisions.