Farming in White River State Park

Slow Food USA has posted a feature article on local farmers who have made a successful push to install an edible public garden in the WRSP grounds. This should be a fine opportunity to educate children and adults alike on the multiple benefits of locally-sourced products.

Indy Connect Justification Number 2:

Property Lines has posted about an abandoned apartment building due to be redeveloped that has hit a snag due to our infamous off-street parking requirements. How many of our historic buildings were lost due to parking? How many more sit vacant for the same reason? Instead of more people living in a part of Meridian Street that is hoping to be redeveloped, it will continue to sit vacant until an alternative solution is found for automobiles, despite the fact that the building is already surrounded by parking lots.

IndyGo's Dropped Routes Impacts Everyone

This morning's commute via IndyGo was much longer than normal. IndyGo dropped the bus service that ran on College Avenue every 15 minutes during rush hour, which in turn added additional riders (and time) to my normally on-schedule morning commute. This has caused me to rethink my bus ride as a practical matter. If I were to stop riding the bus due to its possibly daily delays, that would add yet another car to the street, and other dedicated riders might do the same. If that doesn't seem like a big deal, this picture places this in context. This would, in turn, add time to other drivers' commutes as well.

This is just one example of how huge the new Indy Connect plan could be for our city. This is a fine counter-argument to the people who claim they won't use it, or that it won't benefit them. The service cuts need to stop, and stop now.

Transit Unveiling Links

I have to admit, this is much larger than I had anticipated. Here is a list of pertinent sites to get you refreshed on this project.

• The project's main site that was unveiled today, Indy Connect. Make sure to check out the map and watch the video.

• A few links from the Star's coverage: here and here.

• The IBJ's coverage: here and here.

• WTHR, including video.

• Circles and Squares gives a thumbs up.

• A more muted reaction on The Transport Politic.
  

Big day for Transportation tomorrow?

There's been some buzzing on Facebook, Skyscraper City, and Twitter that CIRTA will unveil their vision for transportation planning in Central Indiana tomorrow morning. Stay tuned here and on Huston Street Racing to find out the details.

Near-East side "homeownership incubator"

The Indianapolis Business Journal has posted a follow-up on the Super Bowl legacy project on the Near-East Side. The article mentions that the project intends to use the Jefferson Apartments (with a picture currently on the IBJ's front page) as a homeownership incubator. The homes they are referring to in this case are being built or rehabbed in the nearby area. I find this idea intriguing, and wonder if this has worked in other cases in this city (or even anywhere else in the country). If a reader happens to know of one, please mention so in the comments.

New Links

One of my favorite parts of having a blog is the inspiration that can be found from new and unexpected sources. There have been a few intriguing discussions and developments that deserve to be featured:

• iNDianapolis 2.0 is a new blog written by a team of Ball State urban design students. It's always invigorating to see fresh perspectives on this subject.
  

• Huston Street Racing unleashed an awesome study of the possible future of rail transit in Indy.

• Culture in Family Dollar parking lots? It's not as crazy as it sounds. It was mentioned in two different locations: 1836 E 10th Street, and 1017 East Morris Street.

• The Citizens Alliance for Transit is an organization that lobbies at the State House in support of better transportation options for our cities and towns.