What is it like living in downtown Indianapolis? (Carmel, Butler: apartment, renting)

[Games]

I'm interested in renting an apartment and living in downtown Indianapolis. I want to live in a city where I can walk and take a taxi anywhere I want. Is this realistic?

[MissingIndiana]

If you're living downtown you could walk or bike easily to pretty much anything you would need in the downtown area. Taxis to areas farther out (ie Broad Ripple, Keystone/Castleton areas) might be a little expensive, but it would definitely be doable to live/work downtown without a car if you didn't need to be in farther out parts of town on a regular basis.

[Games]

Originally Posted by MissingIndiana

If you're living downtown you could walk or bike easily to pretty much anything you would need in the downtown area. Taxis to areas farther out (ie Broad Ripple, Keystone/Castleton areas) might be a little expensive, but it would definitely be doable to live/work downtown without a car if you didn't need to be in farther out parts of town on a regular basis.

I have a car, so I don't need a taxi to get to the further parts of town thankfully.

I didn't know biking in Indianapolis was accepted. I love bike riding, and I'm glad I'll be able to ride here.

Thanks for the reply! Sounds like I'll enjoy living here.

[Jillaceae]

One of the things I have always liked about living in the downtown area is that most of Indianapolis' population lives in the suburbs. Compared with other downtowns, Indy has very little traffic and doesn't feel particularly crowded. It is very easy to get around.

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by Games

I'm interested in renting an apartment and living in downtown Indianapolis. I want to live in a city where I can walk and take a taxi anywhere I want. Is this realistic?

You might be better off in the NE quad of downtown, particularly near Mass Ave. There is a Marsh grocery store at the corner of New York and New Jersey, as well as a hardware store and dry cleaner. Mass Ave is lined with restaurants, bars, some retail, theaters, and art space. The Cultural Trail is finished runs through Mass Ave, connects to the Monon Trail on the north end, the Canal to the west, and will run close to Conseco Fieldhouse to the south when completed. I bike along the Cultural Trail frequently, it is a great asset to downtown. There is a solid bar scene along Meridian Street south of Monument Circle. It is a fairly busy area at all hours.

[LIS123]

Originally Posted by Games

I have a car, so I don't need a taxi to get to the further parts of town thankfully.

I didn't know biking in Indianapolis was accepted. I love bike riding, and I'm glad I'll be able to ride here.

Thanks for the reply! Sounds like I'll enjoy living here.

The downtown area of Indianapolis is fairly easy to navigate through foot, bike or taxi. It's not a very large downtown. That said, Indy's downtown could be considered less vibrant than that of other larger (and sometimes smaller, but faster-paced) cities.

The other poster was correct that many Indy area residents live in the suburbs. This may contribute to the downtown area feeling relatively spacious and less crowded.

[MissingIndiana]

Originally Posted by Games

I have a car, so I don't need a taxi to get to the further parts of town thankfully.

I didn't know biking in Indianapolis was accepted. I love bike riding, and I'm glad I'll be able to ride here.

Thanks for the reply! Sounds like I'll enjoy living here.

Biking is expanding in Indy. Lots of new bike lanes are going in and the plan is for people to be able to ride from county line to county line on designated bike lanes. The cultural trail downtown is a big section of sidewalk with one lane designated for bikes and one for pedestrians. It connects the various areas of downtown (Mass Ave, Canal, Wholesale district, etc) and the city is still working on expanding it to Fountain Square. The White River greenway also has a nice path that will lead you from the west side of downtown up past the IMA, Butler University, and into Broad Ripple. The Monon trail also spans from the east side of downtown all the way north through Broad Ripple, into the newly redeveloped areas of Carmel, and up to about 161st street. I still don't feel super safe in the bike lanes on the streets because I don't trust people in their cars around here just yet, but there are a lot of great options for biking around town.

[indybail]

I lived in downtown Indianapolis for several years and have family who still does. Living downtown provides a great lifestyle. Your housing option will be numerous and varied. I think you will be quite pleased with what you find.

[MONIQUE.1982]

indianapolis downtown area is very busy and the traffic is crazy also. The city has grown a whole lot in fact in 2012 the superbowl will be held there. I think it speaks for itself and all of th major events take place in downtown. The cost of living is a little expensive depending on your price range. On the other hand there are many advantages of living downtown. I personally lived in the castleton area for 5 years and it's considered the suburbs. It's nice and reasonable and spacious and less traffic.

[sweetana3]

I can get pretty much anything I need downtown. A family practice doctor opened 1/2 block from my house on 10th. The Marsh is a great grocery option. The restaurants are great and varied. I would like a good Chinese within a walk but cannot have everything.

Be sure and check out the City Market. Great bakery and soup place. Farmers market downtown on Wed morning and Tues evening at Shapiros just south of downtown have great products.