Bipartisan Panel to Discuss Energy Initiatives

On January 7, a panel will convene to discuss our energy future, from 7:30 to 9 at Epworth UMC at 6450 Allisonville Road. It should be a good opportunity to learn about initiatives in the State.

Shelby Street

I took these pics on one of the hottest days of the year in late June. It was so hot that I had a difficult time dealing with it, so I stopped taking pictures. I've been holding on to them, thinking I would add to the collection. Well, as you can guess, I haven't yet. Regardless, here they are. Here's to thinking warm (but not absolutely swealtering) thoughts this Christmas:

Missed opportunity in Fountain Square?

Recently there have been some grumblings over on Skyscraper City about the new project to reconfigure Fountain Square's main intersection. I haven't visited recently to see for myself, but the first two developments are disturbing.

First, they made the historically accurate fountain inaccessible to pedestrians. As mentioned in the comments, this was a great opportunity to create another Monument Circle-type environment.

Second, and perhaps more egregious if it is a permanent development, the lane of parking on west-bound Prospect was removed. Crossing the street is already dangerous enough to pedestrians, and they are adding another lane of moving traffic? Bizarre.

There is still hope that the project will be worthy when it is completed. But the project isn't exactly off to an auspicious start.

100th post for 2009: In praise of Monument Circle

In this blog, I have spent a good deal of time talking about areas for improvement and new proposals. However, I have not properly addressed the place that works best in this city, Monument Circle.

• It is the historic focal point that basically shuns most of the traffic-based planning decisions that have been common throughout the rest of the city.

• The bricks, along with the tall Monument itself, cause a visual cue for vehicles to slow down.

• There are no stop signs, or traffic lights.
  

• Many of the buildings that face the Monument curve to provide a wall, to make it feel like you are in an outdoor living room.

• The Monument is, of course, exquisitely carved, and approaches its subjects with appropriate reverence.
  

• Pedestrians feel at ease in crossing the street.
  

Not everything is perfect, of course. It could use more street-level retail. The building that replaced the English Opera House should be taller, more attractive, or both. But on the whole, it is the type of space that proves that Indianapolis is capable of providing a quality, human-scaled environment.

Placemaking In Meridian Kessler, part III

Now on to the final part of my series on Placemaking in Meridian-Kessler neighborhood. It has been a fun process. Here are 6 opportunities to improve the neighborhood. Apologies for not making it to 10, but I didn't want to dilute the list too much. If anyone else has a unique idea, I'd be glad to add it to the list.

1. Better Mass Transit options. I've been trying to avoid actually ranking items while making this list, but the obvious number one opportunity for the neighborhood (and the city in general) is to improve on our skeletal bus system. I would love a street car on College Avenue, but would simply settle for more frequent service (this goes for the Castleton and Nora buses as well).

2. Utilize the abandoned area along Winthrop as a cycling and walking hub. Even a simple place, like the refreshment station at 96th and the Monon, may be appropriate. It could also serve as another access point for people who drive their bikes to the Monon.

3. Streetscape improvements, such as curb bump-outs, bricked crosswalks, and better lighting.
This is especially needed along the higher-traffic areas of the Neighborhood.

4. Follow through with Harmoni's ideas for Meridian Street. I haven't heard much about this since it was first proposed, but it looks like a winner.

5. Listen to another neighborhood improvement organization, Can Do. I have reservations about their plans for the block-long building at 49th and College when a corner building may be more appropriate at this time (and easier to pull off), but people who are looking at community redevelopment deserve our attention.

6. Add bike racks to neighborhood commercial nodes. With the new restaurant on the way at 49th and Penn, one good way to lessen the vehicular impact on the neighborhood would be to cater towards the bicycle.

Placemaking In Meridian Kessler, part II

Time for the next installment of Placemaking. The following are 10 places that don't work in Meridian-Kessler

1. Former video store at 52nd and College. Suburban design that requires an unattractive illuminated street sign in order to see what is in the store, because the building is set back from the street much farther than the rest of the commercial buildings on the block.

2. No bike lanes (yet). This is less of an issue because the area is served by the nearby Monon Trail.

3. Cheap Fast Food restaurants near 38th and College. Unfortunately, these are the only places in the area that many nearby residents can afford, which leads to health issues that are well known.

4. No official parks. It's actually amazing that there are no neighborhood parks in such a large, relatively dense geographic area. Canterbury and Tarkington Parks are both located on the periphery.

5. Former KFC at 49th and College. Again, not an appropriate design for the location.

6. Fresh Market. I shop there because it's so close, but it is disappointing in its lack of local produce. The walkway along the west of the building includes a large column that requires a deft move by a pedestrian to avoid, especially if they are carrying groceries. I also don't care for the parking in the front. Fortunately, it's not a total loss: the use of stone is nice, and I'm glad that they have the rooftop parking. The best news is, as commenters mentioned in my last installment, Locally Grown Gardens is just 3 blocks away if you want to buy local produce.

7. Intermittent Sidewalks. Not all streets are as blessed with sidewalks as my street is. 54th Street east of College is a frequent complaint (and makes the walk from Fresh Market to LGG somewhat challenging).

8. Church at 46th and College. Inefficient use of land, in contrast to the fine older churches in the neighborhood.

9. Decaying post-industrial area along Winthrop next to the Monon. This is also an opportunity.

10. A few 1960's era windowless mid-rise buildings: AT&T building at Kessler and College, and the United Way at 38th and Meridian. Fortunately the neighborhood has been lucky to avoid most of these monoliths.

Placemaking In Meridian Kessler, part I

Inspired by this post on A Place of Sense, I decided to try my hand at similar one for my neighborhood, Meridian-Kessler. I will start with 10 places that work, and post 10 places that don't work and 10 opportunities for growth in the near future. These are listed in no particular order.

10 places that work:

1. Yats. A neighborhood institution that has thrived without its own parking lot. The restaurant itself is a model of efficiency, but also proves that efficiency doesn't have to be boring.

2. The Monon Trail. I'm not sure what I would have done without the excellent bike path just a few blocks from my house that originates downtown and now ends to the north of Carmel. If trains happen to become a part of the Monon's future due to the resurgence of rail travel, the trail acts as a land bank that preserves the right of way.

3. Architecturally interesting churches. My personal favorite being St. Joan of Arc.

4. The houses along the North/South streets west of College Avenue. Of course there are great houses elsewhere in the neighborhood, but these are the ones that could end up on postcards.

5. The Red Key. Another institution. Try the hamburger and a Manhattan (which is the drink on the famous neon sign).

6. Good side streets for bicycling/walking. I'm not a big fan of riding or walking down a street with a good deal of car traffic, so I generally just head down a quiet street and keep going until I have to turn.

7. Activated neighborhood nodes. The neighborhood is lucky to contain some of the best in town, along with some others that have potential.

8. New energy at 54th and the Monon. Just a few years ago, when I moved to the neighborhood, this area had Mama Carolla's and not much else,. Now there are quite a few new destinations. While not technically in Meridian-Kessler, it is close enough that it draws many residents.

9. School for Inquiry. Award winning charter school that can hopefully lead a new interest in quality public schooling for the city.

10. I'll just compile some of my other favorite places in this single number: Luna Music, A Taste of Philly Pretzels, News Cafe, Sam's Gyros, Upland Tasting Room, Cafe Patachou, Taste Cafe, Habig's, College Avenue Library, the old neighborhood apartment buildings, Binkley's (just outside the MK boundary).