CAN-DO (College Avenue Neighborhood Development Organization) held a neighborhood meeting at Zest on August 21, 2008. Attendees filled the main meeting room and spilled out into the adjoining room.

Sarah Larkin, president of CAN-DO, opened the meeting, "We are gathering you here tonight to tell you about our organization in hopes that you will get as excited as we are about seeing College Avenue restored back to its glory days."

Sarah explained that one goal of CAN-DO is to link Broad Ripple and Mass Ave through the revitalization of the College corridor.

Sarah then introduced Susan Smith, life-long resident and owner of City Dogs Grocery at 49th and College (and writer of the Howling at the Moon column). Susan explained that CAN-DO is all about REDO. REDO means redoing people's expectations, their talents, and their neighborhoods. Redoing takes work and training. The desired changes along the College corridor require much planning, grant writing, and interaction with government offices. Together, CAN-DO can pool resources to become strong enough to tackle these tasks.

Susan introduced Leif Hinterberger who is developing the 49th and College neighborhood. He is building on the success of the Uptown building that he reopened recently. That building has several tenants including City Dogs Grocery and The Paw Patch. "We started this project because [49th and College] is one of the worst blocks in one of the best neighborhoods in our city."

The first part of his REDO was the renovation of the Uptown Theater into a business center. Restoring one block can spark revitalization in an entire area. The next part is to build a new retail and residential structure on the northwest block of the intersection. "We've got an 80,000 square foot project with about 25,000 square feet of main-level retail and 72 apartments on the second and third levels. We are excited about it. We still have some hurdles and obstacles to overcome."

CAN-DO is helping to sponsor the project and work with the city and state offices to facilitate the process. By joining CAN-DO, Meridian-Kessler residents can strengthen the organization and help speed the revitalization.