Urban Indy » Archive for March 2011
GM Plant: A Bit of History
Last week, I met with Eric Fulford of NINebark to discuss his research regarding the General Motors plant near downtown. He was gracious enough to share with me some current and historic photos of the facility. I was not aware that the factory was not just another metal-sided affair, but instead was originally intended to be a light-filled space by Albert Kahn. A detailed history can be found in the sixth picture of the gallery … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, Neighborhoods
Georgia Street Update 1
The Georgia Street project in downtown Indianapolis is pushing full steam ahead right now! I figured that since we cover the mundane and complain about the smallest of things that we should also be celebrating projects that stand on their own as great projects. To that end, I intend to try and keep pace with the Georgia Street project as it unfolds over the next several months. With a timeline that slates its completion before … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, Pedestrian
Pre-Conflict: An American in Libya
Considering the current events surrounding the political instability in Libya, I thought I would repost my piece on Tripoli, Libya, a place I had the opportunity to travel to for business in 2010. I recently had the opportunity to travel to Tripoli, Libya for a business trip. I went because I am working on a project to build an entirely new city of 120,000 people on the Mediterranean Sea just outside Tripoli. I went into the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured
52nd Street Rebuild Indy Critique
In the summer of 2010, the Indianapolis DPW began a project on 52nd street in Midtown Indianapolis. This project’s goal was to resurface the roadway, repair broken sidewalks and add bike lanes. This project was bounded by the Monon Trail on the east and by College Ave on the west. Last summer and fall, I brought you two stories here and here about this project. Previous projects east of the Monon on 52nd street had already added … Read entire article »
Filed under: Bicycling, Featured, Neighborhoods, Pedestrian
Tracking Transit Investment in Indy’s Peer Cities
Recently, the Center for Transit Oriented Development released a report about 3 relatively new light rail lines. The Blue Line in Charlotte, the Hiawatha in Minneapolis and the SE Corridor in Denver. The timing of this report is perfectly aligned with the release of 2010 census results. According to the summary of the TOD report, all the routes attracted high levels of private investment; most notably closer to their downtown areas where the built environment … Read entire article »
Boosting the Lafayette Square area through creative reuse
CEOs for Cities, a national network of urban leaders, brought its Livability Workshop to Indianapolis last October. There, national leaders worked with a local team to hone in on keys project areas for improving the quality of life in Indianapolis. Two main focal points that emerged were “renewing our center” with Monument Circle and “reclaiming the strip” in the Lafayette Square/West 38th Street area. In the six months since the workshop, local CEOs for Cities team … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, Neighborhoods, New Development
World War I Memorial
The Shrine Room of the World War I Memorial is indeed a sacred space. What I find amazing is that many people who’ve lived here for years haven’t even heard about this treasure, let alone visited. I’ve often said that if this building were in Washington DC, it would have a line out the door. But in Indianapolis yesterday, there was nobody in the room when we arrived. Perhaps it’s better … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, Neighborhoods
Streetscape aims to improve southern DT Indy Street
For quite some time, the intersection of Delaware and Merrill Street in downtown Indianapolis has been subjected to some particularly gnarly looking construction. What has been identified by the Indianapolis DPW as a “sanitatary sewer bypass” currently masks what will soon become the site of a rather transformative streetscape project. The DPW aims to transform Merrill Street from an eyesore of a street, to a walkable pedestrian path that will include artwork, green infrastructure, and LED lighting. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, New Development, Pedestrian
City Celebrates St Patricks Day
The city welcomed St Patricks Day on Thursday by dyeing the canal green and holding festivities around town. Judging from my scenes out of my window, the revelers started early and kept going late into the night. I’m sure the fact it fell on a Thursday and featured beautiful spring weather helped the turnout. I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday and is looking forward to more sunshine, warmer weather, and more streetlife. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, Neighborhoods
Railvolution Call for Speakers
I was recently contacted by Railvolution to help spread awareness about this year’s event. Specifically, to help spread the word here in Indy. We may not have a world class transit system, but there are some topics worth talking about at the national level and the organizers of Railvolution are looking for you. If there is anything that you think would be a valuable addition to the conference, then please see the details below and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Neighborhoods, Transit
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