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Carmel Today
By the People, for the People
Carmel Residents Reflect on Ila Badger's Legacy
Long-time Carmel resident praises Ila Badger and other women who helped shape the city's development standards.
Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:33pm
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The careful curation of Carmel's built environment by visionary female leaders has created a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly downtown that reflects the community's values.Carmel TodayA Carmel resident of over 50 years has written a letter praising the late Ila Badger and other women who served on the Carmel Plan Commission in the 1980s. The letter states that Badger and her cohorts, including Sue McMullen, Sandra Long, and Jane Reiman, worked tirelessly to ensure that new developments and commercial buildings in Carmel met the highest standards, helping to shape the city into the vibrant and beautiful place it is today.
Why it matters
Ila Badger and the other women on the Carmel Plan Commission in the 1980s played a crucial role in shaping the city's development and preserving its character. Their high standards for new buildings and signage helped prevent the kind of generic commercial development that has plagued many other suburbs, allowing Carmel to maintain a distinct identity and aesthetic.
The details
According to the letter, Badger and the other women on the plan commission were extremely strict, requiring developers to provide detailed information on building materials, landscaping plans, and ways to conceal mechanical equipment. Their questions were endless, but their efforts ensured that Carmel's growth aligned with the vision they had for the city's future.
- Ila Badger served on the Carmel Plan Commission in the early 1980s.
The players
Ila Badger
A late member of the Carmel Plan Commission who helped shape the city's development standards in the 1980s.
Sue McMullen
One of Ila Badger's female cohorts on the Carmel Plan Commission in the 1980s.
Sandra Long
One of Ila Badger's female cohorts on the Carmel Plan Commission in the 1980s.
Jane Reiman
One of Ila Badger's female cohorts on the Carmel Plan Commission in the 1980s.
Jim Schneider
A long-time Carmel resident who served on the Carmel Plan Commission with Ila Badger in the early 1980s.
What they’re saying
“More recognition needs to be given to Ila and her female cohorts who greatly shaped Carmel into the vibrant and beautiful city it is today.”
— Jim Schneider, Carmel Resident
“Ila, Sue McMullen, Sandra Long and Jane Reiman, and others worked tirelessly to ensure that developments and commercial buildings met the highest standards to become the vision they had for our future.”
— Jim Schneider, Carmel Resident
“The truth was Ila's high standards helped shape Carmel into what it is today.”
— Jim Schneider, Carmel Resident
The takeaway
Ila Badger and the other women on the Carmel Plan Commission in the 1980s played a pivotal role in preserving Carmel's distinct character and preventing generic commercial development. Their commitment to high standards for new buildings and signage has had a lasting impact on the city, making it the vibrant and beautiful place it is today.
