How's Indianapolis doing? (Lawrence, Connersville, Washington: loft, condos, crime)

[CHICAGOLAND92]

Indianapolis is my hometown, and I love going to visit! Unlike up here in NWI, I'm sure people wouldn't have a problem with people supporting the Colts!

However, as do all cities, Indy has it's problems.
1) Indianapolis does not have a good public transportation system, and this isn't just my opinion, its ranked below 40 in mass transit availability despite being the 12th largest U.S. city. Are there any plans in improving the bus schedules, a plan for a subway/monorail, etc? And why aren't there as many taxi's roaming downtown compared to cities with a comparible population?
2) Crime is a rising problem. The City Data Crime index shows that from 1999 to 2005, crime increased from a little under 500 to a little over 600. Chicago made remarkable progress in reducing it's crime after trying some of New York and Los Angeles' Police Department techniques. Do you think the same can be done for Indianapolis's crime?
3) How's the economy doing?
4) What are some bad areas in Indianapolis? What can be done to improve their reputation?
5) Are there any construction projects going on around the city?
6) What do you think Indianapolis will be like in the next 5 years? The next 10 years?

Sorry for asking so much, but I was just wondering about the great Hoosier capital!

[domergurl]

Originally Posted by CHICAGOLAND92

1) Indianapolis does not have a good public transportation system, and this isn't just my opinion, its ranked below 40 in mass transit availability despite being the 12th largest U.S. city. Are there any plans in improving the bus schedules, a plan for a subway/monorail, etc? And why aren't there as many taxi's roaming downtown compared to cities with a comparible population?

Nope, nope and nope. All our governor cares about it building privately run toll roads. Indianapolis and it's burbs could be a first class city if it could get a decent light rail or bus system going. The infrastructure exists in Hamilton county and Union Station could use the boost! Having lived in NW Indiana and Chicago, I miss my public transit! But everyone here seems to be so car centered. It's sad. I get the weirdest looks when I hitch up my kid car to my bike and actually ride it to the grocerys store! But it takes a lot to change that mentality.

Originally Posted by CHICAGOLAND92

2) Crime is a rising problem. The City Data Crime index shows that from 1999 to 2005, crime increased from a little under 500 to a little over 600. Chicago made remarkable progress in reducing it's crime after trying some of New York and Los Angeles' Police Department techniques. Do you think the same can be done for Indianapolis's crime?

I don't know. It's a mess all the way around, the public school system in Indianapolis is abyssmal and I was shocked at how much murder goes on in the city. Maybe with this new merger of township and city police departments, things will get better ... but who knows. I frequent the Childrens Museum and the neighborhood surrounding it is downright scary, very Humbolt park-like (when I lived in Chicago in the early to mid 90's)

Originally Posted by CHICAGOLAND92

3) How's the economy doing?

The Ford/Visteon plant is shutting down in the city ... hundreds of jobs lost there. Guide Lamp is closing, the Ford plant in Connersville is closing ... a thousand or so will be out of work with those 2 plants. The economy is service based now. They seem to be focusing on getting the superbowl more than anything else now if that tells you anything.

Originally Posted by CHICAGOLAND92

4) What are some bad areas in Indianapolis? What can be done to improve their reputation?

It's hit or miss really. The northside neighborhoods are still nice, Washington Twp and Lawrence Twp are pretty stable. But the inner city is still yuck for the most part. There is a concerted effort to gentrify with Fletcher place, the Conrad Hotel among other pockets. They just cancelled the building of luxury condos where Market Square Arena used to be because nobody was interested. What can be done? Don't know really. If people aren't willing to move in, businesses won't move in. It will be a commuter/weekend city.

Originally Posted by CHICAGOLAND92

5) Are there any construction projects going on around the city?

Lucas Oil Stadium ... that's pretty much it. The worship of the Colts is almost cult-like. If you are not a Colts fan, you are ostracized. It's scary.

Originally Posted by CHICAGOLAND92

6) What do you think Indianapolis will be like in the next 5 years? The next 10 years?

Lucas Oil stadium will be done and if they don't get the superbowl ... well ... we'll have a nice stadium. Maybe with a new mayor, Indianapolis will change. They just seem to be in neutral right now.

Originally Posted by CHICAGOLAND92

Sorry for asking so much, but I was just wondering about the great Hoosier capital!

No worries. I've always held that Indianapolis is a nice TOWN. People get so offended by that. But it is a nice town and that's all it ever will be if they don't get their heads out of the 70's. We moved down here for my husband's job and I don't regret it at all. The cost of living is great, the schools are safe and very good. Now, if we didn't have kids, we'd be miserable, but then again, if we didn't have kids, we'd still be living in our loft in downtown Chicago!

[CHICAGOLAND92]

Well thanks for responding since it seems noone else can lol.

I've always thought of becoming the mayor of Indianapolis one day, and doing all that I could to make it a world class city.

I think the Union Station should be renovated, and have Indianapolis invest in a LRT system. It would decrease air pollution, and have people rely less on cars to get around. I also think the mayor should put those cameras on troubled streets (like in Chicago), and create sidewalks on ALL streets, make neighborhoods more distinctive, gentrification projects, etc.

I would also expand the downtown, fix the school system (I heard it's not in the best shape) and try and bring more well-known brands to the malls (Guess, Lacoste, A|X etc.)

I really hope Indianapolis becomes the great city it can be one day. I mean, it's already a great city, but I know it can do better.

[sweetana3]

Union station was renovated into a fantastic retail/food area. Beautiful but not workable economically and it failed. Was lovely when first done. They have tried all kinds of things but nothing has worked well to draw the people.

Indianapolis' size is a big part of the problem with transportation and even car pools have a hard time. The inner belt is 10X10 miles and then you have all the suburbs. Jobs are everywhere and parking is relatively easy and fairly cheap.

[Sonnenwende]

Originally Posted by domergurl

Nope, nope and nope. All our governor cares about it building privately run toll roads. Indianapolis and it's burbs could be a first class city if it could get a decent light rail or bus system going. The infrastructure exists in Hamilton county and Union Station could use the boost! Having lived in NW Indiana and Chicago, I miss my public transit! But everyone here seems to be so car centered. It's sad. I get the weirdest looks when I hitch up my kid car to my bike and actually ride it to the grocerys store! But it takes a lot to change that mentality.

Hahahaha! That is so true. It wasn't until I moved to Germany that I really began to appreciate the value of good public transportation. I noticed that here the bus stops actually have signs that say when the bus is coming!

I think one of the big reasons I never took the bus anywhere in Indy was that I had no idea when one was coming nor where it was going. My grandparents told me that once upon a time, Indy had a really great PT system, but that is all gone now.

Indy is a lot of sprawl too. Things aren't easily walkable or bikeable depending where you are. It is very much a car centered culture, I agree. I would pay more in taxes in a red hot second if it meant better PT, but no one else will agree to that there, I guess. Sad.

[CHICAGOLAND92]

I found this article. . .

http://www.insideindianabusiness.com...m.asp?ID=22150