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During its peak, Broad Ripple decided to NIMBY away most development. By the time that the Village opened up for business, it had already been out-done by Fountain Square and Mass Ave. Story of Broad Ripple in a nutshell.
I’d disagree a bit… It’s always a balancing act to have development while maintaining a sense of uniqueness. BR went from having cute shops, pubs, and galleries by day (and a slight counter-culture bent at night clubs) to what is now a post-college age crowd of large bars. While there was certainly a night scene, it was often based on live music or other live entertainment. It’s not been a complete shift, of course. But it is enough of a culture change that it has had an impact on what is available to do during the day “on the strip.” The development of apartments (as opposed to condominiums) that has occurred means that more residents now don’t have a financial stake in the neighborhood. When they grow tired, they just don’t renew their lease and move. It’s been my impression that the NIMBY attitude is more reserved for the encroachment of commercial or high-density residential into the current surrounding residential areas. Four townhouses on the site of what was one or two bungalows. To me, one key is to return the main stretch to a concentration of unique things to do during the day. Not just to go back to some previous mythical Golden Age, but as a start to something that is better.
What are you talking about? BR was at its peak long before anyone knew what FS was and Mass Ave was limited at best.
What “development” do you want? I can make an argument that development in BR is the problem. No longer cool little shops, bars, and restaurants, just canyons of condos/apartments and a sterile, mostly vacant main street
The village needs a “maturity upgrade” to align the businesses with the quality of the surrounding neighborhoods such as Forest Hills, Arden and Meridian-Kessler. No one ever got shot at the Starbucks or Bazbeaux’s. Too many under/near 21 yo attractions and the associated problems. Jim Brainard is a smart guy – hopefully the village business leaders heed his advice. Ironic that we need a mayor from another city to come in because our own brain-dead mayor is devoid of real ideas….
You touched on the problem, but the solution may be beyond an anything the locals can do. Studies show a 10% increase in gun violence after allowing permitless carry of firearms. The recent rise in “troubling incidents” here seems right in line with what would be expected.
Don’t shoot the messenger, but there is a definite economic cost when sensible gun laws are thrown by the way side and I would guess Broadripple is going to be one of those victims in this case.
Another partial solution might be to have all of the bars and restaurants install metal detectors at the door, but other active shooter incidents prove this is only a partial bandaid.
(sarcasm) Look on the bright side, we’re all free to carry guns now!
The landlords of the empty spaces are the biggest obstacle to Broad Ripple’s success.
In the redevelopment of Nora Plaza several miles north of Broad Ripple, there was a proactive approach by the developer’s broker to recruit certain types of businesses to the shopping center. Some long existing businesses did not get renewed leases, and new more desirable businesses took their place.
Broad Ripple ought to replicate that approach, and retain a commercial broker to seek out and land new businesses to fill the empty spaces. Such a proactive approach stands a better chance of success than waiting for the real estate agents that represent property owners to get calls in response to a “For Lease” sign in the window of an empty property.
Beyond depressing to hear the word “revitalize” in reference to Broad Ripple. But let’s face it, is ANY remotely urban Indy neighborhood in better shape today than it was in 2019?
This isn’t unique to Indy. There’s only so much small business owners can expect to tolerate when the fundamental city mechanisms of most big-city mayoral leadership and their justice departments (DAs) openly encourage slap-on-the-wrist punishments for even major offenses (grand larceny, assault, battery) and struggle to offer much more than that for the worst of all (rape, manslaughter, murder).
So many small businesses in cities across the country have continued to fold since early 2023–a benchmark I use because, by that point, few places could continue to blame COVID absurdities. Retailers have faced cumulative petty thievery that the City seems to think needs little more than a scolding. They cannot withstand much more of it. Now the restaurants–never a big target for armed robberies–are closing because people don’t feel safe or comfortable going out in formerly assured neighborhoods like BR.
I’ll take a stab that BR Avenue looks dowdy in no small part because of absentee property owners who are waiting (and waiting and waiting) for the best offer to redevelop into condos. This probably explains eyesores like the mostly vacant building that has had a single viable business (shoe repair), or why the SE corner of BR Avenue and College now has…what…a place called “Healthcare Chaos Management” with a non-functional website? So sad.
Seems to me like the Ripple could use a few dozen more smoke shops. No amount of strategizing will ever make Broad Ripple a “Village” and nothing they can do can counter the feeling people have that it isn’t safe at night like it used to be.
I live in the 2nd most populated census block in Indiana. The most densely populated is next door. There are a lot of people paying a lot of money to disagree with your thesis. Since the pandemic my neighborhoods are booming. The police district for downtown has the lowest crime rates in the city.
Things can always be better, but again you touched on the root problem. Studies show a 10% increase in gun violence after allowing permitless carry of firearms.
Don’t shoot the messenger, but there is a definite economic cost when sensible gun laws are thrown by the wayside and while you may feel pretty smug in your suburban neighborhood or rural town, that same rise in gun violence shows up no matter where you live.
(sarcasm) Look on the bright side, we’re all free to carry guns now!
I’ve lived in and around Broad Ripple nearly 60 years and have seen quite a bit of change in that time. Probably the most destructive thus far has been the traffic disruption due to the Red Line and the removal of parking and travel lanes on BR Ave.
It is nearly impossible to move around The Village by car during the day. If shoppers and diners avoid BR due to congestion caused by the Ave “improvements”… the retailers will suffer. Please restore the streets and parking to make it convenient for shoppers and diners.
I grew up in Broad Ripple. I have frequently gone to restaurants and still do. I agree with many of the posts here but the biggest issue is violence. I won’t go there at night because it’s just a matter of time as to when someone gets shot, stabbed or raped. Violent crime will shut down a vibrant area. Clean out the 21 year old bars, bring back business, bring family events and I think people will return. Downtown Indianapolis has a problem brewing…the shootings and violence there has made me decide not to go downtown at night.
Dan M… the following is a list of persons not permitted to carry a firearm in Indiana: persons in the country illegally, persons convicted of a felony, persons involved in illegal activities (dealing in drugs, narcotics, human trafficking, prostitution), persons with an outstanding arrest warrant. Disarm those people and you’ll see a marked decline in all types of crime.
And with permitless carry in place, how do you justify stopping people and frisking them for weapons?? Do we just give up our constitutional rights against illegal search and seizure?
Last I heard, the problem in Broadripple was just the visitors there getting drunk and shooting each other. I’ve never heard any widespread complaints about prostitution human trafficking or drug dealing in Broad Ripple.
I agree BR needs to be improved. The post pandemic violence combined with the massive road construction project on it’s heels certainly didn’t help – that damaged all businesses with little to no gain. The violence primarily happened when the culprits were chased out of downtown only to find BR unprepared for their arrival. Since the additional police presence, cameras, and bar hours were implemented there has been very little violence of note but the reputational damage was done. I have friends in Carmel who literally believe this continues to be a weekly thing. But I agree that those who wax for the quaint little village of their youth should give it up or move on. BR can be better but change is inevitable and you have to stop getting stuck in the past. Lets face it, the retail and restaurant landscape has changed dramatically over the past 20 years due to the pandemic and technology and BR is not the only long established area suffering. Also, the work from home evolution has enabled more people to move farther from the city to newer developed communities. So, some things you cannot change but can only react to.
Unlike Nora where the property is owned by primarily one company, BR is owned by a disparate group of people with only their self interests in mind – particularly the one section that has been vacant since 2017. Those out-of-state owners who are just holding on for a big payday should be forced to make costly improvements or sell. Apart from that, parking and traffic is a big issue and is becoming worse as the number of apartments and population density continues to increase dramatically. That particularly affects the retail and restaurant business. BR needs to focus on it being more of a friendly local community rather than a destination party spot. Clearly, the problems noted have not diminished the housing values, which should be the biggest concern to residents. Our biggest assets are the Monon Trail, the Canal, and Broad Ripple Park, as well as easy access to downtown. A PR or ad campaign across the city (think billboards, radio, et) promoting what BR has to offer now and offsetting the negative PR of recent years will draw people to the area. That will help property values and then draw better businesses. Having more festivals, concerts, and events will definitely help but you have to publicize them city-wide. Be loud and proud. Of course, then you have to have either plentiful free or affordable parking that is convenient and visible to guests. The garage at BR ave and College is great but way underutilized because most people I know who live outside the area and would be driving here don’t even know that is a public garage. Lastly, and mostly out of our control, is there will eventually need to be a new bridge built across the river – ideally at 71st St. Right now any cross town traffic has to be funneled up to 82nd St or Kessler which is limited in lane size and getting worse with traffic every year. Another way to cross the river would alleviate some of the congestion.
Free Parking Like Carmel would be a great start
The parking is bad enough, then to have to pay for it
Remember the parking deck over the canal?
Broad Ripple has a PR problem, a landlord problem and a “nostalgist” problem to start. While Mass Ave, Fountain Square and Hamilton County were booming by embracing progress, the local nostalgists were part of the NIMBY crowd, the existing landlords unrealistic and uninvolved, the city doing more harm than good (redline, construction, etc.) and the media reacting to violence but never to any positive developments. I do agree that less focus on the “pub crawl” crowd and more focus on the young families as well as the empty nesters that increasing occupy the neighborhood would be a step in the right direction, but would people even take note?
According to Ovogo.com, crime statistic rankings for Indianapolis’s 95 neighborhoods:
FS= Fountain Square
BR= Broad Ripple
IRV= Irvington
Overall Crime (safest neighborhoods ranking): FS (34th), BR (13th), IRV (27th)
Violent Crime (safest neighborhoods ranking): FS (42nd), BR (4th), IRV (27th)
Property Crime (safest neighborhoods ranking): FS (26th), BR (73rd), IRV (42nd)
(All stats as of late 2024)
Seems like PR is the place to start …
Cunningham Group or Huse Group restaurant, please!
It’s interesting to read that people believe the landlords and real estate brokers are the problem for the vacant spaces. When generally speaking, these are the people who are diligently working to connect and attract local, regional, and national tenants to consider Broad Ripple. But with the Media continuing the violence narrative combined by the City’s neglect of the actual “Village” areas (Dead trees, weeds & eroding sidewalks) & lack of parking, retailers & office tenants will not consider Broad Ripple. They are going to the new, bright & shiney areas like Mass Ave, Carmel Midtown, Fishers & Westfield, areas which receive City investments & support.
Let’s not discount that Fishers, Westfield, Brownsburg, and Carmel throw massive individual TIF dollars to Indy’s best restauranters. 1933 Carmel, Anthony’s, and the like, get massive TIF money for tenant improvement or free rent subsidies from the local county and city governments. Broad Ripple has to compete for those same restaurants without City of Indy subsidies because Marion County has such a disparate group of entertainment districts.
That said, I think the local business community has good momentum as itemized in the article above. We have more business investment than Broad Ripple has had in years. We have some new art projects installed and more planned. And, Broad Ripple is triangulated by the highest rent residents in Marion County. Ripple continues to have a good nucleus and it ebbs and flows with the urban sprawl. At the end of the day, Metro Indy is exploding. Broad Ripple has to continue to re-invent itself as opportunities for good eats and entertainment sprawls across the entire metro from downtown Indy sports venues to quaint new entertainment districts from Brownsburg to Greenwood to Carmel. Ripple will survive and thrive, but we need to continue pushing near-neighborhood residents to keep up the support. High-end restaurants, music, and art will continue to evolve. I’m bullish on Broad Ripple. Come visit.
Correct. Indy has more big city items to tackle with TIF and other funds than restaurant build outs and the like. Much easier for the donut county urban pockets to get dollars concentrated towards dining and entertainment. Those smaller governing bases have less to worry about, less drain on the system. Donut county residents use Marion County infrastructure to get to work, Pacers, Colts, whatever it may be and then leave at night (to go to a state of the art 1933). And why not?