Following months of institutional fallout and community uncertainty, a historic piece of the East Side of Indianapolis has officially found a new steward.
Eastern Star Church has officially closed on the purchase of the former Martin University campus, stepping in to acquire the property after it was listed earlier this year for $3.5 million. The acquisition marks a significant expansion of the church’s ROCK Initiative — a community development project focused on housing, education, and financial literacy in the Arlington Woods neighborhood.
The sale brings a sense of stability to a property that has been steeped in controversy since late last year.
In December 2025, Martin University abruptly announced a “pause in operations,” citing severe financial distress and low student enrollment. One week after the announcement, the institution laid off nearly all of its staff. The sudden closure quickly devolved into legal turmoil.
On April 22, a class-action lawsuit was filed in Marion County Superior Court by former students, staff and the alum association. The civil complaint alleges that the university failed to provide the promised educational services and has not refunded tuition and financial aid for the canceled spring 2026 semester.
“The acquisition of the former Martin University real estate portfolio marks an important step in extending our community development efforts into the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood. Building upon our $25M+ community investment in Arlington Woods (at our Main Campus 5 minutes east), we remain committed to creating opportunities through affordable housing, education, financial literacy, and community-centered programs.” – pastor anthony murdock
While the legal battles over the university’s collapse continue in court, Eastern Star Church is focused solely on the physical footprint and its potential for the surrounding community.
The acquisition includes the main campus building, sprawling parking lots and roughly 28 adjacent parcels. Church leadership has indicated that the property will be used to mirror their ongoing development efforts in Arlington Woods, with a heavy emphasis on introducing new affordable housing options.
“We’re so excited to have the opportunity to come in and to preserve,” Executive Pastor Rev. Anthony Murdock said of the acquisition. “I think this asset is a major asset in the African-American community, and so we wanted to maintain this asset in our community in Indianapolis.”
Despite the painful conclusion to Martin University’s operational history, Eastern Star intends to honor the institution’s longstanding educational impact on the city. Church leaders have committed to keeping a dedicated founder’s room on the campus to preserve the university’s historical legacy.
“We thank God for His continued guidance and extend our appreciation to our Church Council, staff, congregation, donors, and the leadership of Legacy Pastor Jeffrey A. Johnson Sr. and Lead Pastor Jeffrey A. Johnson II as we continue expanding the R.O.C.K. (Renewing Our Community for the Kingdom) Initiative,” Murdock told the Indianapolis Recorder.
Further, the church plans to host a community open house within the next 90 days to connect with other major service providers in the area and establish collaborative community resources. If zoning and planning proceed on schedule, construction on the initial affordable housing facilities could begin by the end of the year.
“We are continuing to pray for the advancement of Martin University,” Murdock said. “The work that they’ve done, that they are doing in the community, we thank God for all that they have done. As development plans move forward for the new ROCK Impact Center and surrounding properties, we will continue to trust God, pray faithfully, and work tirelessly to serve our community with excellence and purpose.”
Contact multimedia & senior sports reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral.
For more news, visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
Noral Parham is the multi-media reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
