Author archives

I am an Indianapolis native who has lived in his HT off and on over the years, as well as the Deep South, the Northeast, and overseas. Trained in urban planning, I am less interested in macro/policy-level exploration of urban affairs. But when it comes to highly local and micro-level issues, you'll see me step up to the plate. The devil is in the details! My blog, American Dirt, explores landscapes urban and rural across the country (and a little bit abroad).

Emerson Avenue: lopsided improvements.

Emerson Ave on South Side w/out sidewalk (image credit: Eric McAfee)

The south side of Indianapolis has long perceived of itself as the most neglected part of town, and not just in terms of its relationship with local media.Â When it comes to investment from city agencies, whether Parks and Recreation, the City-County Public Library system, or mass transit, basic empirical evidence suggests that per capita …

An Overlooked Park Finds a New Home

A recent development that has lurked under the radar in central Indianapolis is the planned relocation of the R & A Bloch Cancer Survivor Park.Â Over the next year, the Park will move from its current home at the edge of the Ransom Place neighborhood to Mapleton-Fall Creek, a few miles away, all as part …