National Cemetery Administration
VA Seeks Land Exchange at Crown Hill Cemetery
May 5, 2017
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration (NCA) today announced it signed a memorandum of understanding with Crown Hill Cemetery (CHC) to pursue the exchange of a 14.75 wooded lot VA currently owns for an adjacent parcel of comparable size owned by CHC. This effort is in response to concerns raised by the community and reflects VA's commitment to build a columbaria-only national cemetery for Veterans and families who live in the Indianapolis area as part of NCA's Urban Initiative.
"We deeply appreciate the feedback, cooperation and support that have enabled us to uphold our commitment to provide burial access to Veterans and their families, while being responsive to the concerns of local citizens as good neighbors," said interim Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Ronald E. Walters.
The memorandum of understanding between VA and CHC will permit the two parties to proceed in the legally-required evaluation process prior to any formal land exchange. The new parcel, located at the corner of West 42nd Street and Clarendon Road, is already zoned and ready for cemetery development and is close to downtown Indianapolis. Upon successful completion of the evaluation process, NCA will engage the local community in a discussion of the cemetery design and access plans.
About Crown Hill Columbaria-Only National Cemetery
NCA's Urban Initiative focuses on establishing columbarium-only cemeteries in urban areas where time and distance to a national cemetery have been an impediment to Veterans' ability to use burial benefits they have earned. In 2015, VA purchased 14.75 acres of land from Crown Hill Cemetery, Inc. for the construction of a columbarium-only cemetery to serve the burial needs of Veterans, spouses and eligible family members in the Indianapolis area.
