38th Street and Fall Creek Parkway

38th Street and Fall Creek Parkway

Two ideas: Urban agriculture and water-based development

An urban agriculture development by Nick Alexander would be more than a connecting point to the Indiana State Fairgrounds and bus routes on 38th Street. Built along the eastern edge of Fall Creek, the development becomes a “sustainable garden community.”

Medium-density housing rises three to four stories, capped by greenhouse-like roofs for gardens and horizontal-axis wind turbines. But south-facing windows would allow for gardening on all floors.

“The whole idea is to tilt all the farmland up and stack it upon itself,” Alexander said.
Living units would be wide open on the inside, with movable walls and maneuverable furniture components like “rooms in a box” that could unfold and rotate to offer elements such
as beds, offices or kitchen equipment. They could be folded up to save space when not needed.

The other concept for the same space east of the fairgrounds, called Hydro City, would dam and divert part of the water from Fall Creek into a series of five connected lakes paralleling the eastern side of the creek. The lakes would be functional-using structures, fish and special plants to progressively filter and cleanse Fall Creek, which at
times is polluted by sewage overflow. Dams along the way would generate hydroelectric power.

Paul Konwinski would make the lake at the northern end large enough for boats and line it with cottages. Elsewhere would be high-rise buildings constructed with the latest eco-friendly features.

Another feature: a natatorium for recreation.