MR. MAYOR ITS TIME TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE!

I thought this was an interesting model. Indianapolis and its renewal was also brought to my attention in several emails sent to me after my initial thread posting.

[Robin Garr]

I thought this was an interesting model. Indianapolis and its renewal was also brought to my attention in several emails sent to me after my initial thread posting.

Neat article http://www.infocorpnow.com/pdf/FCPP.pdf

I'm not sure Indy is a model we desperately want to follow, though. A lot of bricks-and-mortar and new retail downtown, yes, but its neighborhoods are far cry from ours. Broad Ripple is nice, but I sure wouldn't trade it for the Highlands or Crescent Hill, and they certainly don't have the amount or the diversity of livable and interesting urban neighborhoods as we do. Word on the Indy street is that city neighborhoods suffered badly over a fairly long term when the establishment decided to focus on downtown at the expense of neighborhood and community development.

We really, really don't want something like that to happen here, and one of my greatest fears of a bipartisan, urban and suburban Metro Council (and a pliable mayor) is that we might lose focus on keeping some of the good things that make our city unusual if not unique.

I often see quotes like "look what happened to the East End" or remarks to that effect.

I am not sure the constructive purpose of such comments. By and large, people choose housing/restaurant/shcool settings that serve their needs. I am no demographer, but my guess is the East End is much more traditional family oriented (married couple, 2-3 kids and a dog) than other areas of town (I would guess Highlands/Crescent Hill is more singles).

Thus, it is only natural for neighborhoods to be oriented as such, including larger homes, more schools/ballfields, and from dining perspective, chain restaurants getting people in and out quickly with pretty standard fare (no one wants to pay a $15 entree for an eight year old who wants a hot dog).

If you do not like that, that's cool, as no one is forcing anyone to live and/or eat there.

At least the parents of these East End families like to go into town to dine when they have the rare opportunity, yet seem to be resented by the residents (although I doubt the owners of the restaurants want to turn away paying customers).

The irony is that the "elitism" that is thrown on the East End residents could be nothing further from the truth. They seek to engage with rest of community, but are limited due to family situations, and are then shunned by rest of town.

I'm not sure Indy is a model we desperately want to follow, though. A lot of bricks-and-mortar and new retail downtown, yes, but its neighborhoods are far cry from ours. Broad Ripple is nice, but I sure wouldn't trade it for the Highlands or Crescent Hill, and they certainly don't have the amount or the diversity of livable and interesting urban neighborhoods as we do. Word on the Indy street is that city neighborhoods suffered badly over a fairly long term when the establishment decided to focus on downtown at the expense of neighborhood and community development.

Maybe its my lack of knowledge but I don't understand how the City expects the small business owner to establish themselves in the districts downtown and survive when all the attention is focused on Large Commercial Developments. (common sense) I don't think that its bad at all, it goes hand in hand but it seems there is nothing being done to alleviate the weight of revenue lost to time and waiting on BIG DEVELOPMENT for that small business owner.