Mechanical Skills Inc. plans to build a 20,000 square foot plumbing trade school at the corner of Albany Street and 18th Avenue in Beech Grove following the City Council’s rezone Monday, Feb. 3 (Rendering provided.)
By HANNAH GUNNELL
The Beech Grove City Council Monday approved a rezone request from nonprofit organization Mechanical Skills Inc. to rezone three Albany Street properties to develop a 20,000 square foot plumbing trade school.
The three adjoining parcels are located at 1815, 1825 and 1831 Albany Street, on the southwest corner of the intersection of Albany Street and 18th Avenue. The property is currently a vacant lot that previously housed a Safeway grocery store and a Dairy Queen, but both have been demolished. Mechanical Skills Inc. closed on the property in December.
“The petitioner is proposing to build an approximate 15,000-20,000 square foot new building on the property for the intended use to provide a four-year plumbing apprenticeship program,” said John Cross, the attorney for Mechanical Skills Inc. “The building would go towards the rear of the property on the south side, with many parking spots along it.”
This new building would replace the current facility Mechanical Skills Inc. is utilizing for its trade school on Michigan Street in Indianapolis. The company is hoping that building this new, bigger trade school would help combat a shortage of trade workers.
“Anybody who has any pulse on the construction world knows there is a dire need for new employees in the trade fields,” Cross said. “The same is true in the plumbing world — the average age of a plumber is only increasing at an unsustainable rate, so new employees are desperately needed in the field. Approval would help address that issue by allowing for the construction of the trade school at the property.”
The rezone would take the property to a C5 classification. In addition to the building, there would be an outdoor training area that would allow students to practice installing pipes underground. This use is permitted in a C5 classification, as opposed to a C4 classification, which had been discussed prior to the meeting.
The petition also includes limiting motor access along Albany Street. There are five curb cuts to the parcels from Albany Street, and the petitioner proposed removing two of them to improve traffic control along the street, Cross said.
Justin Dorsey, who sits on the Mechanical Skills Inc. board, said his company exists because the state requires plumbers to have certifications. The company currently has the largest apprenticeship program in the country with 900 students, he said. Students are required to complete 576 classroom hours to receive their certifications.
“It’s important to us as a group that we put out students who are qualified and competent in the trade,” Dorsey said. “We want the competency of those going into people’s homes and businesses to be second to none. We are here to ask you to be your neighbor.”
Cross advised the construction of the new building would improve the aesthetics of that area and would improve property values in the area. Additionally, the school would contribute to increasing wages of those in the community who choose to attend.
Members of the public in support of the proposal reiterated these benefits, also adding that the parcels in question themselves have sat vacant for so long they are excited to see something built there.
Beech Grove City Schools Superintendent Laura Hammack even shared remarks of support.
“You may ask yourself why this school for adult learners would be beneficial to the public schools,” she said. “I’m here to update you on pretty significant changes happening with the diploma requirements for Indiana High School students and how those new requirements align with the construction of a plumbing school at 18th and Albany.”
New high school diploma requirements include a career readiness component. The addition of a plumbing school would allow Beech Grove Schools to better tailor student’s individual pathways.
“By building this school at 18th and Albany I believe we can provide Beech Grove High School students and graduates with access to exceptional training and apprenticeship opportunities,” Hammack said.
Opposition to the proposal included concerns from council members about the rezoning allowing for the property to be untaxable, because it will be nonprofit use; especially because the town is land-locked and is unable to acquire new land to increase its tax base.
“Every student who goes to Beech Grove schools has the opportunity to go to Central Nine [Career Center], pick up a trade,” said council member Michael Hemmelgarn. “There’s plenty of merit shops out there that will give you [on the job training], and 440s begging for people just as well. So I can’t see it in my mind anywhere why Beech Grove should give up valuable tax assessed property for a trade school that really there’s a dime a dozen around.”
Construction is expected to begin later this year and the building could be in use by the spring 2026 semester.