BEECH GROVE, Ind. — A new trade school could be coming to Beech Grove in the near future. In a press release sent Sunday evening, the City of Beech Grove announced that Mechanical Skills, Inc. filed a rezoning petition to develop a 20,000-square-foot plumbing trade school and parking lot on a four-acre parcel. Per Mayor James Coffman's office, the land — which is located at 1815, 1825 and 1831 Albany Street — has been vacant since 2022. The site used to be home to a Safeway grocery store. The store ultimately ended up closing permanently, and it was demolished in 2022. Per the City of Beech Grove, Mechanical Skills is planning to employ 21 full and part-time professionals at the school. Mechanical Skills also expects to have about 500 students at the school each week. The Beech Grove Common Council will consider Mechanical Skills' petition at a Feb. 3 meeting. “This vacant grocery store site has long been an eyesore in the heart of Beech Grove, despite the best efforts of previous administrations to redevelop it,” Coffman said via release. “If approved, students pursuing a key trade will not just learn in our community, they will shop here, dine here, patronize our businesses and support our schools. In time, I hope they will consider relocating here, and making Beech Grove their permanent home.”