Easton Grey
Reshaping the Image of Avon
By Glenn Stephens
A project that grew out of a family’s desire to sell several hundred acres of farmland and create
a legacy project is converting the image of Avon into a premier residential community.
The 500-acre Easton Grey development, begun almost 10 years ago, is changing the perception of Avon as
a string of strip shopping centers along U.S. Highway 36 west of Indianapolis into that of a walkable
community of residences, served by a civic center, meeting areas, shops and restaurants.
“I think it’ll be a place that’s uniquely Avon,” said Town Manager Ryan Cannon.
“When you ask people, ‘What do you think of Avon?’ they say it’s strip malls
with a big highway down the middle."
The Easton Grey development will change that, he said.
Avon officials view the development as an opportunity for economic growth while enhancing the
town’s ability to attract a diverse residential community. The project is expected to take about
10 years for completion.
Cannon traces the genesis of the development to the family of a farmer who owned almost 600 acres in
the area. After the farmer died, his daughter set out to sell the land with hopes of creating a legacy
project.
The project in the town of almost 25,000 population is being led by Republic Development.
Variety of Residential Options
One piece of Easton Grey will feature about 500 residences, including single family homes, townhouses
and apartments, some designed for people 55 and older. The houses range in price from about $300,000 to
more than $1 million and are being sold as they are completed.
For younger families with children, Avon is served by an exceptional school district that has capacity
to accommodate a growing number of students, Cannon said. The development surrounds the district’s
newest elementary school, River Birch Elementary.
Riverwalk District
A second phase is the Riverwalk District, a 65-acre walkable area that will include a civic center, a
community room and a plaza for meetings and community activities, along with Avon’s administrative
offices. Avon lacks a town center, and Riverwalk will provide that.
“We’re hopeful that the 55-and-older people will come during the day for lunch or early
evenings, and families will come later in the day,” Cannon said. “You need foot traffic to
make a town center, and we want to attract a diversity of clientele.”
The town will include unique, locally owned restaurants and shops that offer alternatives to the
numerous chain restaurants along U.S. 36 through a string of suburbs.
Town Center
Avon lacks the central hub or town center that are common, Cannon said, and Riverwalk is designed to
fulfill that need.
“A town center is supposed to be the place where there’s energy and where there are events
and things going on. You’re going to park your car and walk around. It’s going to be an
inviting environment for pedestrians.”
A civic center and community room with a plaza will host events and community gatherings, too, Cannon
said.
“People will come to the town center, attend a meeting or event, then walk around, have dinner,
do some shopping. These are things you do in a traditional town center, but we’re making it more
pedestrian friendly and also providing a central gathering place that we’ve never had,” he
added. “We want people to think of Avon as Easton Grey, this really cool place where you can go
and hang out and relax and stop and eat and spend time with your family. We’re really hoping to
dramatically shift the image of Avon.”
“We want people to think of Avon as Easton Grey, this really cool place where you can
go and hang out and relax and stop and eat and spend time with your family. We’re really hoping
to dramatically shift the image of Avon.”
– Ryan Cannon
![[Error: Alt text was not generated.]](assets/images/item_47654.png)
