I’m not always happy with Cost/Benefit Analyses to justify infrastructure investments. Induced economic activity has especially frustrated me because I don’t believe that an extra highway exchange can be justified just because it spawns a Wal-Mart. Too often we see these studies that proclaim a net benefit when in reality the private sector gains a …
Next Friday, a group known as Architecture for Humanity is hosting Indianapolis’ version of (PARK)ing Day. This idea was first noted on this blog back in 2007, and I’ve often wondered if this could ever happen here. Well, I can wonder no more, as it actually took place last year: The group ensures that its …
I have been communicating with Rebecca Wagner of Urban Land Institute Indiana, and she recently informed me that there will be a conference next week regarding the impact of Mass Transit on Real Estate Development. If you are “in the know” about mass transit, this is a known by-product of transit expansion. ULI has brought in …
Way back in 2007, the Town of Speedway unveiled an ambitious redevelopment proposal. The first phase of construction is underway, which features of a redesign of Main Street.   The branding of the new streetscape draws inspiration from Speedway’s world-famous track, while also providing room for the mixture of street life and non-motorized transportation that is …
Consider this the first post in what I hope to be an ongoing series. Occasionally I am going to try to highlight areas of town where someone has created a little “place” that citizens, patrons or whomever can be proud of. Maybe that place will not transcend all demographics, but to a certain cross section, …
We here at Urban Indy have made much of the parking meter deal and by extension, the Broad Ripple parking garage issue. Kirsten has posted twice about it, myself once. You can find our write ups here (my parking garage criticism),  here (Kirsten’s pre-vendor write up) and here (Kirsten’s post vendor announcement). The past week have brought …
Sorry for the delay, but some personal matters have kept me away for the past week. Here is September’s Wallpaper highlighting the western most point of the Cultural Trail. I did a few things different from last month’s formats, so if you have some trouble, say so and I will do differently next time. 1366 …
Last month, I submitted a scholarship application to Railvolution. Railvolution is a yearly conference that is held in a different major transit friendly city across the nation. It is a week long conference based around “Building livable communities with transit”. This year, is in Portland, Oregon and will be on October 18th-21st. Yesterday, I received …
Many urban neighborhoods have a need for infill construction, where homes that were lost to deterioration or other reasons must be replaced. Here in Irvington we have a unique case where a gas explosion in 2004 eliminated three houses instantly and blew out windows in a one-block radius. (images from kipar-one here) In an explosion …
Last week, I was disc golfing in Brookside Park, when my friend pointed out the colorful new construction on the south side of the park. It turns out that this was the Paramount School of Excellence, which I mentioned on this blog last year. The school has a ton of smart ideas: It’s located within …