Circle Up Indy plans to build 2,000 affordable 3D

Circle Up Indy, in partnership with local government and business officials, announced Monday its plan to raise $2.6 million to bring 3D-printed houses to Indianapolis to boost affordable housing.

Circle Up Indy founder and CEO James Wilson said the homes cost as little as just over $10,000 to build, though costs depends on how the home is customized. The initiative, called Rising Evolution, aims to bring 2,000 homes to Indianapolis in two years and 5,000 to the state of Indiana in one year.

The organization is currently fundraising $2.6 million to acquire two 3D building machines made by Apis Cor, aiming to reach their goal by the fall. They have raised $15,000 thus far. If all goes well, Wilson said, they are aiming to start building homes by early to mid-2024.

"Everybody's excited and willing to make history," he said.

Wilson said Circle Up Indy will start construction in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood, while looking to expand to the southside, west and north.

The organization is aiming to keep prices for homes between $120,000 and $150,000. The homes will be built using solid concrete and epoxy flooring and the building process will produce "minimal waste," Wilson said, with over 78% eco-friendly materials.

"This house is going to be sustainable," Alicia Turner, vice president of operations at Circle Up Indy, said. "It's going to be efficient."

The organization will aim to support homeowners beyond just buying homes, aiming for direct community engagement, Wilson said.

"It's not just placing you into a house," he said. "It comes with our case managers that work alongside you to make sure that you're getting all the adequate support that you may need to keep that level of stabilization."

The project will also bring jobs to Indianapolis, Wilson said. Circle Up Indy is projecting at least 500 jobs in the next two years for people 15 and older, including people with disabilities and veterans, regardless of criminal history. The jobs will pay between $25 and $40 an hour.

The depth of the affordable housing crisis, Wilson said, means it's time to take bold actions, like implementing 3D printing technology to build new, livable homes under market rate.

"This is time to move on a grand scale," he said.

Circle Up Indy is looking to get funding from businesses and corporations. The city of Indianapolis has not pledged any money toward this effort due to its own anti-displacement and affordable housing efforts, Wilson said.

"We presented this to the city two years ago," he said. "Our mayor highly understands Rising Evolution. He has his own initiative and out of respect to his own initiative, we just don't get involved."

Got a housing story? Contact business reporter Claire Rafford at [email protected] or 317-617-3402.