More Library Expansion Pics.

 

 

Old Church converted into condos

 

 

 

North end of the downtown Canal. Research buildings and the people mover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fountain Square District just southeast of downtown. Very retro with some nice artist live work studios.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indianapolis looks great.

 

My only question is .. where are the people?! There seem to be so many great public spaces, and no one using them. Such a shame.

Nice set!

Fantastic!

Indianapolis looks great.

 

My only question is .. where are the people?! There seem to be so many great public spaces, and no one using them. Such a shame.

 

I try hard not to take pics with people in them. Some people seem to not like it.

Indianapolis looks great.

 

My only question is .. where are the people?! There seem to be so many great public spaces, and no one using them. Such a shame.

Indianapolis, Indiana's version of Columbus, Ohio!

Two things.  1) The Clarion Health complex looks very suburban.  2) The People Mover makes me giggle.

Indianapolis looks great.

 

My only question is .. where are the people?! There seem to be so many great public spaces, and no one using them. Such a shame.

 

theyre inside the indoor downtown mall.  When I walk down Meridian during lunch, I am always shocked at how desolate it can be.  But once you walk in the mall, wow...people everywhere. 

Two things. 1) The Clarion Health complex looks very suburban. 2) The People Mover makes me giggle.

 

Those pics were from the canal. On the other side of the buildings (the main entrances) they are built right up to the sidewalks and the street front.

Indianapolis looks great.

 

My only question is .. where are the people?! There seem to be so many great public spaces, and no one using them. Such a shame.

 

theyre inside the indoor downtown mall. When I walk down Meridian during lunch, I am always shocked at how desolate it can be. But once you walk in the mall, wow...people everywhere.

 

We were downtown during part of lunch and the sidewalks from the city market to the circle then down meridian were amazingly packed. The outdoor cafes were full as well.

Indianapolis looks great.

 

My only question is .. where are the people?! There seem to be so many great public spaces, and no one using them. Such a shame.

 

theyre inside the indoor downtown mall.  When I walk down Meridian during lunch, I am always shocked at how desolate it can be.  But once you walk in the mall, wow...people everywhere. 

 

We were downtown during part of lunch and the sidewalks from the city market to the circle then down meridian were amazingly packed. The outdoor cafes were full as well.

 

yea some days that is true, esp. wednesdays at city market or when some event is going on.  But in this past summer, I would say 9 days out of 10 it seemed empty to me.  Also, I worked in downtown Cincinnati before this and in dt Cincy, it always seems amazingly packed so that is what I am used to. 

So much investment...

Indianapolis looks great.

 

My only question is .. where are the people?! There seem to be so many great public spaces, and no one using them. Such a shame.

 

theyre inside the indoor downtown mall. When I walk down Meridian during lunch, I am always shocked at how desolate it can be. But once you walk in the mall, wow...people everywhere.

 

We were downtown during part of lunch and the sidewalks from the city market to the circle then down meridian were amazingly packed. The outdoor cafes were full as well.

 

yea some days that is true, esp. wednesdays at city market or when some event is going on. But in this past summer, I would say 9 days out of 10 it seemed empty to me. Also, I worked in downtown Cincinnati before this and in dt Cincy, it always seems amazingly packed so that is what I am used to.

 

It wasn't a wed. Maybe it doesn't seem as packed because of the wide pedestrian sidewalk space that downtown Indy has. That space has also made all the outdoor cafes possible.

Indianapolis looks great.

 

My only question is .. where are the people?! There seem to be so many great public spaces, and no one using them. Such a shame.

 

theyre inside the indoor downtown mall.  When I walk down Meridian during lunch, I am always shocked at how desolate it can be.  But once you walk in the mall, wow...people everywhere. 

 

We were downtown during part of lunch and the sidewalks from the city market to the circle then down meridian were amazingly packed. The outdoor cafes were full as well.

 

yea some days that is true, esp. wednesdays at city market or when some event is going on.  But in this past summer, I would say 9 days out of 10 it seemed empty to me.  Also, I worked in downtown Cincinnati before this and in dt Cincy, it always seems amazingly packed so that is what I am used to. 

 

It wasn't a wed. Maybe it doesn't seem as packed because of the wide pedestrian sidewalk space that downtown Indy has. That space has also made all the outdoor cafes possible.

 

Indy's wide sidewalks are FABULOUS.  I love them and the outdoor cafes too.  But as I said, working on Meridian Street and walking on it everyday, it often seemed desolate.  But when I walked into Nordstrom and the mall, it was packed with people.  This gets to my point that suburban malls arent good for downtowns.  The mall did a decent job of tying the mall to the street on Illinois, but definitely not on Meridian. 

 

In my experience of the 3 downtowns I have worked in during my short life.... in terms of vibrancy during work hours.  DT Columbus, Oh < DT Indianapolis, IN < DT Cincinnati, OH.  I also lived in DT Indy this summer so I was always around :)   

Great pictures. But Indianapolis seems a little to sterile and suburban for my tastes.

Great pictures. But Indianapolis seems a little to sterile and suburban for my tastes.

 

Ding, ding, ding!  No more calls, we have a winner!

Indianapolis looks great.

 

My only question is .. where are the people?! There seem to be so many great public spaces, and no one using them. Such a shame.

 

theyre inside the indoor downtown mall. When I walk down Meridian during lunch, I am always shocked at how desolate it can be. But once you walk in the mall, wow...people everywhere.

 

We were downtown during part of lunch and the sidewalks from the city market to the circle then down meridian were amazingly packed. The outdoor cafes were full as well.

 

yea some days that is true, esp. wednesdays at city market or when some event is going on. But in this past summer, I would say 9 days out of 10 it seemed empty to me. Also, I worked in downtown Cincinnati before this and in dt Cincy, it always seems amazingly packed so that is what I am used to.

 

It wasn't a wed. Maybe it doesn't seem as packed because of the wide pedestrian sidewalk space that downtown Indy has. That space has also made all the outdoor cafes possible.

 

Indy's wide sidewalks are FABULOUS. I love them and the outdoor cafes too. But as I said, working on Meridian Street and walking on it everyday, it often seemed desolate. But when I walked into Nordstrom and the mall, it was packed with people. This gets to my point that suburban malls arent good for downtowns. The mall did a decent job of tying the mall to the street on Illinois, but definitely not on Meridian.

 

In my experience of the 3 downtowns I have worked in during my short life.... in terms of vibrancy during work hours. DT Columbus, Oh < DT Indianapolis, IN < DT Cincinnati, OH. I also lived in DT Indy this summer so I was always around :)

 

Do you feel that order applies after 5 as well?

I am suprised alot of people have bad things to say about Indy.  We loved it there.  The kids had a blast at the Childrens museum which in ourt mind was one of the best we've been to.  For a downtown mall, Indy has a great one, designed well and very busy on a Saturday.  Good restaurants downtown and all in all, a clean place.  MTS commented that it was Indiana's version of Columbus...similar look, but much different feal IMHO.  And for Uncle Rando's comment about Clarion Health, it appears much different from the street. 

MTS commented that it was Indiana's version of Columbus...similar look, but much different feal IMHO.

 

Thats where we differ.  They both, IMHO, boring with no energy.

Great pictures. But Indianapolis seems a little to sterile and suburban for my tastes.

 

Ding, ding, ding!  No more calls, we have a winner!

 

Couldn't agree more. 

MTS commented that it was Indiana's version of Columbus...similar look, but much different feal IMHO. 

 

Thats where we differ.  They both, IMHO, boring with no energy.

 

Well I don't completely agree with this.  Columbus has some great 'hoods that are vibrant and energetic...for Ohio anyway. 

Nice photos.  Indy is great in terms of all their new development, but it does seem a little too clean or suburban.  Where's the grit and the density??  Give me an OTR, Warehouse District, or Short North (hell, even the Oregon district!) any day...

Okay, I had this opinion before I even read anyone elses posts, but mine echos some others.  I have been to Indy many times.  I really enjoy the circular buildings surrounding the monument and the wonderful diagonal streets that radiate out from there.

It's just that everything seems so sanitized and in some areas, too suburban.  It's a great looking town, but i guess I just prefer a little more grit to my city experience.

 

 

Y'alls like grit, ya shoulda been there in the sixties. Grimy and dirty and run-down and devoid of street life except for panhandlers and vagrants. It fit what I imagined an Eastern European city might have looked like after years of Soviet domination.

 

But back to the photos - gorgeous camera work, and you had some perfect weather for your photos.

 

My favorite downtown monument is the 1920s World War Memorial. If you haven't gone inside and explored, you need to. It's a trove of mostly-unmolested late-twenties deco, lots of brass and marble, well maintained and not altered. Photography is allowed.

 

My favorite Indianapolis sculpture is Pro Patria, the bronze sculpture on the steps of the memorial. It's a significant work for its size and detail, and it's beautiful. The young man who posed for the sculptor must have stood out among the peers of his generation and turned a lot of heads.

Indianapolis looks great.

 

My only question is .. where are the people?! There seem to be so many great public spaces, and no one using them. Such a shame.

Indianapolis, Indiana's version of Columbus, Ohio!

 

Thank you, Public Square.

MTS commented that it was Indiana's version of Columbus...similar look, but much different feal IMHO.

 

Thats where we differ. They both, IMHO, boring with no energy.

 

Columbus is anything but "boring" (ESPECIALLY for persons of color, in this state).

Very nice! Some fantastic new developments...

Columbus is anything but "boring" (ESPECIALLY for persons of color, in this state).

 

But back to the photos - gorgeous camera work, and you had some perfect weather for your photos.

 

Thanks! It was a great weather day. Indy really does have some great public spaces.

Columbus is anything but "boring" (ESPECIALLY for persons of color, in this state).

 

 

Sorry I can't go to Shalonda's on 220th or Whitmore's in Columbus...or that all we have are hood clubs ;).  Sorry about that note.

Nice sets! Makes me want to go to Indy or at least stop there on the way to Chicago. As for Columbus being boring, sure it´s true for much of Downtown. Parking lots aren´t very entertaining, especially when you can´t even BYOB. If you want a tour and I can show you Gay St Downtown (lively compared to the rest), then the locales in several neighborhoods around here like the Short North, King Ave, W 3rd Ave, north Parsons, Summit St, not to mention OSU and Old North Columbus.

Great pics, thanks!

I just spent the last 4 days in Indy for a conference.  There was a Colts game on Sunday, and our conference took up the whole convention center.  Downtown was hopping on Sunday and Monday nights, I don't know how much of that was game/convention related other than all the jerseys on Sunday night.  Indy did a good job protecting some old buildings and adding infill in certain parts of town, but the area around the convention center has been cleared wholesale and rebuilt with a very suburban feel.  Very contrasting feels in a short distance.

 

Made in Hamilton, Ohio, right?

Indianapolis looks great.

 

My only question is .. where are the people?! There seem to be so many great public spaces, and no one using them. Such a shame.

 

theyre inside the indoor downtown mall.  When I walk down Meridian during lunch, I am always shocked at how desolate it can be.  But once you walk in the mall, wow...people everywhere. 

 

We were downtown during part of lunch and the sidewalks from the city market to the circle then down meridian were amazingly packed. The outdoor cafes were full as well.

 

yea some days that is true, esp. wednesdays at city market or when some event is going on.  But in this past summer, I would say 9 days out of 10 it seemed empty to me.  Also, I worked in downtown Cincinnati before this and in dt Cincy, it always seems amazingly packed so that is what I am used to. 

 

It wasn't a wed. Maybe it doesn't seem as packed because of the wide pedestrian sidewalk space that downtown Indy has. That space has also made all the outdoor cafes possible.

 

Indy's wide sidewalks are FABULOUS.  I love them and the outdoor cafes too.  But as I said, working on Meridian Street and walking on it everyday, it often seemed desolate.  But when I walked into Nordstrom and the mall, it was packed with people.  This gets to my point that suburban malls arent good for downtowns.  The mall did a decent job of tying the mall to the street on Illinois, but definitely not on Meridian. 

 

In my experience of the 3 downtowns I have worked in during my short life.... in terms of vibrancy during work hours.  DT Columbus, Oh < DT Indianapolis, IN < DT Cincinnati, OH.  I also lived in DT Indy this summer so I was always around :)   

 

Do you feel that order applies after 5 as well?

 

If this was geared towards Cincinnati, then you haven't been here in a while.

 

There's no need to cut down other cities on here.

great threads on the indy with what is probably close to the last of the very warm fall weather. it looks dynamic, that is to say like they are building and stuff is happening. the people mover caught me off guard, i didnt know they had one (i see it opened in 2003, no wonder. i havent been there since then). pretty cool.

 

however, even though i see lots of people around, it still doesn't look very urban. not that that is a bad thing, it looks clean and nice.

I have to say that I just love Indianapolis to death, and thanks for these two sets of pictures. Indianapolis is proof that you can build a fabulous city really in the middle of nowhere. It's true that downtown seems a bit sanitized, but I love the vibrant commerce and the grandness of the circle, and, even though downtown is almost so tidy that it could be in a Canadian city, there is a lot of grit in Indianapolis. Also, there are a lot of interesting neighborhoods off downtown-- Lockerbie Square, Massachusetts Avenue, and Broad Ripple, for example. The one drawback Indy has for me is its dismal public transportation system.

 

I do think that Indianapolis and Columbus have a lot in common. They have similar histories and both have those giant circumferential highways, and I think German Village and Lockerbie Square are a lot like each other. Nothing against Columbus-- it's also a great place-- but I think downtown Columbus has a way to go to match downtown Indy.

 

I also love Cincinnati-- how could you not love such a beautiful place-- but Indy and Columbus seem to be more free of that tight-assed attitude that Cincinnati sort of still has. You have to admit that it does.

Until a visit for a forum meet in '06, I hadn't been in downtown Columbus since before Union Terminal was demolished, and then most of my visits were passing through en route to West Virginia when there was no bypass and you had to drive through downtown.

 

As I approached downtown in '06, what I got was a definite Indianapolis vibe when I saw the city rising from the horizon. Once I got there, not so much. The area around the Capitol has some interesting buildings and could benefit from more pedestrian traffic. I found the mostly-vacant mall disappointing, especially because what remains is a testament to some visually-interesting design that must have been really something when it opened.

 

The Capitol is a gem. If you go from the start date of construction, it's probably one of the oldest in the country, and it sits in a great open space that gives it proper respect.

 

The thousands of cubic yards of brick in the Brewery District, German Village, Victorian Village, and lots of other places, are wonderful and contribute to the city's distinct character. From a certain perspective there's a similarity between Indy and Columbus, but in many ways they're very different. I like them both. A lot.

 

I posted photos of both cities on UO in the past, but I don't know where they might be now, if not hauled off to the archive. They are up on my site; Columbus is here. Indianapolis is here.

I do think that Indianapolis and Columbus have a lot in common. They have similar histories and both have those giant circumferential highways, and I think German Village and Lockerbie Square are a lot like each other. Nothing against Columbus-- it's also a great place-- but I think downtown Columbus has a way to go to match downtown Indy.

 

While I totally agree Indianapolis basically destroys downtown Columbus, Columbus neighborhoods utterly annihilate Indianapolis', and I'm trying to be as unbiased as I can.  Lockerbie Square is only a small section of the vast German Village, let alone the other numeous urban neighborhoods such as the Victorian Village/Short North/Italian Village combo, Dennison Place/University District, Harrison West, or even King-Lincoln and Olde Town East.  That's what makes the two cities different regarding city pattern: Indianapolis is a city with a fantastic downtown, Columbus is a city of neighborhoods.  And sure, Indianapolis has neighborhoods and Columbus has a downtown, but neither are anything to write home about.