What do you think of Indianapolis? (Bloomington, Carmel: sale, rent, neighborhood)

[Future Trooper]

Originally Posted by Nafster

Here's my take on Indianapolis.

I'm a native Hoosier (from Evansville), and have been to Indianapolis on several occasions. I would call Indianapolis OK, but I wouldn't go as far to say that it's a great city, or go as low to say that it sucks.

I like calling Indy the Houston or Atlanta of the Midwest, because it's pretty much the only major Midwestern city that's growing at an extremely fast rate. Also, like Houston and Atlanta, the city wasn't built for the phenomenal growth it has experienced. Thus, I noticed sprawl in Indy was awful.

One thing about Indy I like is that it's very clean. Indy also has a decent skyline and it really keeps the streets clean around it's downtown. It also has excellent restaurants which, while maybe not as diverse and numbered as they are in Chicago, are very upscale and fancy. Women would love the shopping in Indy's downtown too, as it's pretty plentiful.

Indy could use some help in it's arts and cultural department, as it's very small there. Indy's nightlife, while fun in some areas, is also pretty limited, but I wouldn't call it "dead" like Cincinnati's. I actually found more things going on in Bloomington, and that city has 70,000 people!

But Indy has some great sport cultures, like the Indy 500 and the Pacers. And don't forget about them Colts (who I'm not a fan of btw, lol).

I currently live in Bloomington and that's my favorite city in Indiana. I find it has the most things going for it for young people (it is a college city after all). But Indy is a truly All-American, friendly city that, while not at all for me, is definitely perfect for a lot of other people.

you have perfectly described indianapolis. it isnt to fancy or plain. indianapolis moves right at the perfect pace. i also think indy could use some help in arts and cultural departmet but i think indy is starting to catch on. they are building the cultural trail downtown which i think is cool. i think that would be a start? Indy is pretty clean considering it is americas 12th largest city.

[Colts]

I never really saw a problem with "culture" when I went to school in Indy. Not a New York or Los Angeles by any means, but certainly no worse than many of their Midwestern counterparts.

I do doubt a city of 70,000 has more going on as a whole compared to an area some 30 times larger, even if it is a college town.

[Naptowner]

Originally Posted by Colts

I never really saw a problem with "culture" when I went to school in Indy. Not a New York or Los Angeles by any means, but certainly no worse than many of their Midwestern counterparts.

Which is a pretty low bar.

I do doubt a city of 70,000 has more going on as a whole compared to an area some 30 times larger, even if it is a college town.

Not as a whole, but consider the impact of over 30,000 students and many more faculty. IU has a lot of arts, theater, music, etc. going on just because of IU. Once you get away from the campus itself, it's pretty much like every other city in southern Indiana.

[Nafster]

Originally Posted by Naptowner

Which is a pretty low bar.



Not as a whole, but consider the impact of over 30,000 students and many more faculty. IU has a lot of arts, theater, music, etc. going on just because of IU. Once you get away from the campus itself, it's pretty much like every other city in southern Indiana.

You are absolutely right about that. A few steps outside of downtown and campus and it's pure suburbia.

[tb4000]

Any city that has a zoo pretty much can be labeled as a top tier.

[JMedwick]

Having visited the city twice I would describe it as much like Minneapolis, only about 10 to 20 years behind in terms of development (i.e. Indy now is where Mpls was in 1980/1990), except without the terrific lakes and park system and a poor housing stock. Housing stock was very disappointing (if not down right ugly). Seemed a bit like an overgrown cow town.

[Hazel W]

I lived there in the late '30s when you could hold out your hand and catch "black snow" (coal soot from chimneys). I was back in '72 for my father's funeral. By comparison, Indianapolis was clean in '72. They were really doing a great job of renewing themselves. However, I am told that all the old, famous department stores are gone and shopping areas are far and few between. You definitely need a car now, according to my cousins. I prefer Kansas City where it is more spread out and the people seem more relaxed. Not so much hurry-flurry.

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by Hazel W

I lived there in the late '30s when you could hold out your hand and catch "black snow" (coal soot from chimneys). I was back in '72 for my father's funeral. By comparison, Indianapolis was clean in '72. They were really doing a great job of renewing themselves. However, I am told that all the old, famous department stores are gone and shopping areas are far and few between. You definitely need a car now, according to my cousins. I prefer Kansas City where it is more spread out and the people seem more relaxed. Not so much hurry-flurry.

hurry-flurry? In Indianapolis? I completely disagree.

[Hazel W]

Originally Posted by DC 38

hurry-flurry? In Indianapolis? I completely disagree.

I'll take your word for it, not having been there in a few years. However, when I cross the Mississippi, I feel such a very different atmosphere. People seem to be in a bigger hurry, more anxious to get there and get it done, if that makes sense. I felt that on my last trip to Indianapolis. However, St. Louis is becoming the same way. "Hurry up and wait."

All that said, the last I saw of the city, it really was presenting a much cleaner face than it had when I was a child there. Even the buildings looked cleaner. They got rid of that soot.

[Naptowner]

Originally Posted by DC 38

hurry-flurry? In Indianapolis? I completely disagree.

It's all relative, isn't it? It's believeable that Indianapolis is faster-paced than Kansas City. And this poster is at least 70-some years old.