Indianapolis Gets Urban

In the 1970s, civic leaders articulated a vision for Indianapolis that included a new public university, sports venues and a riverfront park. Their vision is now reality. Steven Litt reports on the successes and failures of the plan.

1 minute read

April 15, 2010, 12:00 PM PDT

By Tim Halbur


Additions included a convention center, a handful of museums, and other amenities that Litt says are very impressive.

He writes, "Today, when you visit Indianapolis, you see the fruit of decades of consistent effort in the pursuit of a vision that has turned Midwestern city with a reputation for blandness into a showcase of city planning and urban design."

On the downside, Litt sees a number of problems with the streetscape.

"Most downtown streets are one-way, which makes the entire city center more hospitable to fast-moving cars than pedestrians."

Wednesday, April 14, 2010 in The Cleveland Plain Dealer

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