Plans are taking shape to transform a three-block stretch
of Georgia Street in downtown Indianapolis into a pedestrian-friendly corridor connecting the expanded Indiana Convention
Center to Conseco Fieldhouse. (Check out the new rendering from Ratio Architects above. And for a PDF with several other images,
click
here.) Work is scheduled to begin later this year on the $12.5 million project, which would add new street
lights, trees, a pedestrian path, a rectractable overhead covering and, from the looks of the rendering, outdoor cafés
along Georgia Street from Capitol Avenue to Pennsylvania Street. The project—described in the plans as an "urban
outdoor event venue"—is slated for completion before the city hosts the Super Bowl in 2012. Georgia Street will
continue to serve as a two-way street and will only be closed to traffic for special events. Project funding primarily will
come from a federal grant. What do you think?
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Welcome to Property Lines, Indy's source for neighborhood real estate news. Your host is Scott Olson, IBJ's real estate beat
reporter. Edited by Cory Schouten.
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You guys have some "interesting" comments to say the least. I hope you will call in and share those opinions starting June 1. I'm looking forward to having you on the air.
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For those who let this information strike a nerve, remember that this is still the America that allows the freedom to achieve dreams and goals. Should you really chastise those who are given a perk on a deal that is supported by the consumer (that is until they don't like the deal anymore due to envy) or should the dream of rewards for working be looked at a little closer? I say lets stick to the deal, go to work,earn our keep, shoot for dreams, change our jobs to have that dream or shut up about others achievements ..............while we are still afforded this liberty of America !
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Three Magi
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Cats out of the bag. The object of the game is to get acquired. That means the company has no idea how to grow beyond a certain point. Email is a 1990s technology. I have laughed at this company since day one. Such a small bit player. If it was anywhere but here, it wouldn't be newsworthy.
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Esther, Indy has passed Chicago in the local government corruption arena. Don't downgrade us. We're No. 1 in the Midwest.
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I think this will be pretty fun for people in town for the Super Bowl. My main curiosity is wondering which parts are meant for the Super Bowl and which parts are meant to stay afterward. Is it intended to be a tourists street for convention users afterward as well?
That may make sense with the chain restaurants, the mall, and such.
Maybe this will cure the City's "close Monument Circle" disease.
I don't get the insistence of putting roads any possible place. Clay Terrace is a perfect example. Why is there a road right through the middle of this shopping experience?
I know, I know....if I had to walk an extra 100 yards, I would probably die.
Overall though, I like the idea.
1) St. John's Catholic Church
2) Most of the south end of Circle Centre Mall - especially delivery vehicles
3) the various hotels that front Georgia Street near Union Station
4) at least partially to Union Station itself
This needs rethought. Even the given plan has hidden costs involved.
One thing I noted - "infrastructure below grade. Does this mean heated pavement?
This is a great opportunity to do something cool and unique. Something that will ease people walking between venues. It will draw people down Georgia to connect to other attractions, like Circle Center. It will provide a great location for community events, dining, and other activities.
As far as heating the street, with the underground steam system, it would be rather easy to do. just run little steam lines that can be shut off when not in use. You heat the pavement and the area surrounding it feels 20 degrees warmer. Overall cost is negligible. And thus begins the warmest cold weather Superbowl ever.
I see your point about the difficulty of closing some of the streets altogether, but I think the block between Meridian and Penn would be an excellent candidate.
This street is a great candidate for this since it doesn't go anywhere except for two strictly pedestrian venues: the convention center and Conseco Fieldhouse.
The last thing I want to see is spending $12.5M on putting a sidewalk in the middle of a street.
Why would you make this street pedestrian-only? The street footprint is going to be seriously reduced already; it is nice to have thoroughfares where people, bikes, and cars can co-mingle happily; and besides, this street is not lined by many pedestrian-friendly shops, which might justify closing off traffic (like a latin american peatonal - http://www.lasescapadas.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/peatonal.jpg).
Next on the list of 'things to be done before the superbowl': tear up Pan Am Plaza and put something there worth seeing. My vote: manice plaza on street level, light rail station underneath. If nothing else, give the plaza a face lift, demolish the ice rink, and connect the plaza to the new Georgia Street design.
To lower the street or raise the walkway is counter to the idea of a large plaza for people to congregate in for major events. I think they are envisioning the ability to hold concerts and events like they did when they closed Meridian from the Circle to Georgia for the NFL Kickoff.
Also, lowering a street 5' means it would take at least a block to ramp the vehicles up and down. You would be down to only one block at that level.
Running the wider median and cutting travel lanes down to 1 each direction will actually make the road safer then it is now. It gives plenty of room for pedestrians and cuts down the number of lanes of traffic to cross.
Please take the survey before September 13 and write-in "Georgia Street." (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/W8B3SQJ).
Join the Keep Georgia Street Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Keep-the-historic-name-Georgia-Street-Indianapolis/283498898332005)