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The Artsgarden has lived its life and purpose, and it’s time to go! The underspace has not seen direct sunlight in 30 years and has contributed to the attraction of vagrants, beggars, and homeless.
Hendricks has become the most transparent, concerned, and quality developer this city has ever seen, especially as described in this article!
The Arts Council has milked this free gift from the Endowment for long enough, and their money making events should now go back to the private sector, instead of acting like an event company. The Arts Council should also go back to their original purpose of promoting the arts, and not trying to actually be the arts or property managers, while competing with the private sector.
Time to tear this copy of a structure from New York City down, and open the streets up again, and allow Hendricks the courtesy and opportunity to redevelop the Mall site without having to fit an albatross into their front door!
+1 well said. If they do decide to move it, I think it would make a beautiful conservatory / greenhouse situated within White River State Park.
“We value the connectivity of it, for sure,” It is terrible urban design, sucking foot traffic off of the street level. It is terrible for connectivity, blocking the views of the street scape and discouraging pedestrians from walking through the dark hole underneath.
How many people actually use the ArtsGarden to get around? Seriously. Maybe when the Circle Centre was active, a few people would use it to cut through, but those days are long gone. Even if it sort of looks like a massive skyway, it hardly has the same function. It’s a cool novelty. The foot traffic attracted to it is negligible.
As for attracting vagrants and homeless underneath, that has far more to do with the current leadership enabling homelessness and vagrancy, much as they do in most American cities. Simply enforcing loitering laws would put a quick end to that; the space under the ArtsGarden didn’t have this problem 10 years ago.
Why not put some uses in the ArtsGarden that require admission? Nice as it was when inside, it felt underutilized. Honestly, a botanical garden or an apiary doesn’t seem like a half-bad idea.
And frankly, enlivening the space underneath with ceiling art could help it feel less like a space shuttle invaded the intersection…provided the art isn’t so distracting that it interferes with driving.
It looks like an arboretum or botanical garden so it might make sense to officially turn it into one.
Well, that was fun while it lasted.
I’ve always appreciated how it broke up the flatscape that is downtown, and really Indianapolis in general — there are no hills, mountains, bodies of water, etc.. That said I’ve been inside the Artsgarden two or three times — why” I don’t remember. I don’t really think it lives up to its namesake: “arts” OR “garden”. It seems to be a good place to get out of the rain or spread out your junk and troll for handouts. I too have much faith in Hendricks and look forward to seeing how this all unfolds.
Turn it into literally anything else. Back when the mall was still open any time I walked through there it was like 4 people eating lunch and 2 paintings or maybe someone playing a guitar. I don’t understand the purpose of what it was initially supposed to be but it was basically just a walkthrough lobby that no one ever knew what it was.
That’s not even close to an accurate description of what the Artsgarden USED to be. For many years after it opened, it really was a very cool space, activated with art shows, musical performances, etc. And truer to its moniker of ArtsGARDEN, it actually had very large trees and a variety of colorful planters – not those sad excuses for trees you’ll find there these days. I remember when the Artsgarden would be FILLED with people at every table, and even on the stairs, eating and taking breaks from shopping at was once a thriving mall. I do hope they are able to include an improved version of the Artsgarden in the new plans for Circle Centre.
Only in America! 30 years of use or less sometimes and it has to go! RCA Dome, Market Square Arena, and now the Arts Garden. The structure is iconic and connects multiple properties to the Convention Center and it should be upgraded, modernized and remain. Thanks to the Lilly Endowment for its original contribution to this unique asset and thanks to the Arts Council for their stewardship. Always easier to tear things down than it is to build them up. The Arts Garden needs to stay and be incorporated into Hendricks needed and ambitious plans for the Central Business District.
The arts garden was never really even used for anything. At least the Dome and MSA were real places.
Here, here! As a member of the Indianapolis Arts Council (93-99) that conceived and jubilantly supported the creation of the Artsgarden, I feel sad for those respondents here who can’t see a brighter and better future. In complete agreement with the notion that we must do better, let’s remember that Indianapolis has a centuries old reputation for doing better than everyone else thinks it can be/do. Time to step it up once more!
May I suggest Hendricks seriously consider a national or international design competition to bring forward the best, brightest and doable project – new space -for Indianapolis. There are a number of criteria for success, but Indianapolis and Hendricks are capable.
So as Marvin Gaye would say, “Let’s Get It On”.
Claudia Polley
Claudia – we also have a history of bulldozing our best history to make way for nothing.
Hopefully we do not repeat that part of our legacy this time around :/
I always disliked how the structure blocked the street views of the IRT/Indiana Theatre building and other buildings. It made Washington and Illinois intersection feel claustrophobic. The “arts garden” never achieved its mission for arts or events, based on my experiences anyway.
The city lost its character when that was built.
Yes, It is terrible urban design. It creates a dark hole underneath. It blocks sight lines. It was an albatross when it was built.
Some of the negative comments about the Artsgarden are valid, but as a longtime downtown office worker I found it an enjoyable retreat at lunch and a passage to the mall that was far more inviting than some the other barebones tunnels I needed to take to get there. Just as Hendricks was able to incorporate into the Bottleworks the Art Deco beauty of the former Coca Cola plant, I hope they will do the same at the Artsgarden
It’s a view stopping, low hanging semi-useless monstrosity. With the ‘mall’ destruction, take this with it. While you’re at it, how about some actual, real, taxi cabs downtown, again.
How old are you? Taxis haven’t been viable for over a decade. You would call one and it wouldn’t show up for hours if at all. You could idk use what everyone else uses…Uber or Lyft? Maybe you are just too old to even understand how to download and app.
Corey P., taxis certainly ARE still viable in many cities across the US. In fact, in some places like Chicago and NYC, taxis are often less expensive than and just as convenient as taking an Uber or Lyft, especially with an app like Curb. In a city like Indianapolis, taxis are probably less practical, but there was something to be said about being able to walk out from a dinner or a night out downtown to find a row of waiting taxis instead of having to wait 15 minutes for an Uber to show up.
Marshall P. comparing Indy to NYC is laughable.
Corey P., are you 12? I realize already that reading comprehension is probably not a strength of yours, but you also seem needlessly confrontational. In no way did I compare Indianapolis to New York City.
Save the Artsgarden. It’s become an iconic part of the downtown landscape. Ignore the comments of the provincial Hoosiers above. These folks are the ones who were happy when downtown was just one big surface parking lot. Save the Artsgarden and improve upon it!
I loved the Artsgarden! I worked across the street for about 10 years. It was a great place to go, eat lunch, catch a local performance, and view some cool art!! We used the space for a couple of events. I even attended a beautiful wedding there and then walked to the Conrad Hotel for the reception.
The biggest issue is that the Circle Centre Mall is declining. Online stores are killing brick and mortar shopping.