Urban Indy

Some links for the last day of 2007: A story from a few months ago on a rehabilitation of a large building at 34th and Central known as Constitution Gardens. I have not seen this mentioned elsewhere, but I believe it’s quite significant. I drive past it often on my way to work, and it could be an attractive property. High-quality historical pictures of Indy from the Skyscraper City Forum. We must not forget what has been lost. IBJ’s outgoing article with Mayor Peterson. Peterson mentions that the Indy Greenprint would have been a major focal point for this term. I can only hope that this will continue with the new mayoral team. … Read entire article »

Indy’s first green builder, Casa Verde, has released some new projects on their website. They include: A renovated apartment building at 22nd and Broadway. There will be 11 low-moderate income units, as well as 2 at market rate. Jackson Place townhomes in Columbus. A retail center at 22nd and Delaware. I have heard from a person formerly involved with the project that “strip mall” is a misnomer and it will be built up to the sidewalk. … Read entire article »

The Indianapolis Business Journal has a report (including 10 photos) on a new urbanist project in Bloomington. The article is generally positive and features the developer as someone willing to engage the community rather than fight it. Another nice point was the exposing of the silly zoning standards that exist in nearly every city in Indiana. The exchange goes as follows: Press needed community support. The development, though consistent with the surrounding area, … Read entire article »

Inspiration for new posts has been dwindling lately. Hopefully, the new year will bring a renewed spirit, and the new mayoral staff can continue the momentum for green projects. Here’s some Friday links: A fine article on Goose The Market from an unlikely source. BTW, Sufjan Stevens rocks. A special section on the new Library in the Star. It’s a beautiful facility, and unlike other modernist libraries, it looks functional as well. (That … Read entire article »

This post is probably about 3 weeks late, but I would be remiss if I didn’t encourage folks to shop locally for Christmas. I must admit that I have fallen in to the trap of hitting Borders and Circle Centre Mall downtown for gifts for the male figures in my life, but if you’re shopping for a female or a child, you could easily find quality gifts without the corporate guilt, especially on Mass Ave, Broad Ripple, and Fountain Square. Hopefully in the future it will be easier to find “guy stuff” at a local place. I’m tired of Borders asking me if I have a reward card with every purchase I make. … Read entire article »

The Douglass Pointe Lofts at 25th and Delaware is my favorite new project in the city. I’m no architect, but to my untrained eyes they relate well to the street. They manage to look like they have been there for a while, without looking faux-historical. They are mixed use, and bring a street presence back to an area that just over 5 years ago was a run-down and dangerous place. Goose The Market, meanwhile, is the star tenant, selling quality locally-grown goods that had previously been difficult (impossible?) to find anywhere in the city. Just think what Chatham Arch residents may be missing since they have insisted upon the stipulation that the Chatham Center must not sell food. Projects like Douglass Point can … Read entire article »

After focusing in projects under construction last week, this post will list proposed projects Downtown. Because of the change at the mayor’s office, I’m not sure if any of these projects have a confirmed groundbreaking yet. Ralston Square, a midrise just south of the tracks. They are going for a green roof and LEED-certification with this project, which will be mixed use. SODO will attempt to capitalize on Lucas Oil Stadium and provide a large … Read entire article »

Friday links: Indygo introduces the Green Line express shuttle from downtown to the airport. This is something I’ve wanted for a while. Shout-out to the Green-Lemonade blog, which deserves more traffic. I really like their “green gift” ideas as well as the challenge they took a while ago to only eat local food for a month. One of the 2 bloggers lives here in Indy. An update (pdf warning) in the Urban Times about the new Keeping Indianapolis Beautiful headquarters in Fountain Square. An anonymous donor saved the day. … Read entire article »

There is a large number of projects either under construction or planned downtown. I’ll start with those under construction today; look for planned developments soon. The main branch of the Library, which is set to open in a few weeks. Looks quite nice, hopefully all that money and wasted time will be worth it. Lucas Oil Stadium, still on schedule to open August 8 of next year with the Drum Corps International event. I’m concerned about the necessity of a hugely expensive sports stadium when we have a dire need for better public schools and mass transit infrastructure. However, I hope this will bring some life to the south side of downtown. The Cultural Trail is almost finished with its first leg on Alabama Street. They’ve just release … Read entire article »

Last weekend, I went down to Bloomington to watch the Oaken Bucket game. The trip from the north side of Indianapolis to Bloomington took around 3 hours total, with only one quick stop for gas and ice. Traffic was a mess, with a major back-up at nearly every major traffic light along the way. There is a great deal of angst on the IU Football Forum over traffic control issues as well as roads that can not handle the amount of out-of-town fans a big game can generate. Of course, as a general rule, people are calling for additional lanes to the roads to help the flow. This seems strange to take measures like this for 7 home games out of a 365-day year. … Read entire article »