Indianapolis Development News

[cailes]

Originally Posted by cdc guy

The U.S. Census Bureau says Marion County has the highest number of commuters in the nation traveling from another county. Newly-released results from the American Community Survey suggest more than 205,000 workers make the commute from other counties. More here

Thanks for passing that along.

[idyllic indy]

Originally Posted by cdc guy

The U.S. Census Bureau says Marion County has the highest number of commuters in the nation traveling from another county. Newly-released results from the American Community Survey suggest more than 205,000 workers make the commute from other counties. More here

I'm presuming that should read the highest percentage of its workers commuting from other counties. Surely, Manhattan has many, many, more commuters coming in.

I guess the upside would be that Marion County still has jobs, but unfortunately, too many workers don't wish to live here.

[idyllic indy]

Originally Posted by cailes

Change happens slowly and incrementally. We are starting to see emphasis on things moving the right way, even if some things are still getting built wrong. For instance, we are turning some long standing 1 ways into 2 ways. We got most of the design of the Cultural Trail and Georgia street right.

We still have some poor things happening like the Meridian Street bridge over white river with narrow sidewalks, still subsidizing parking garages, etc. But nobody is going to turn the page in a couple years. It takes time and lots of vocal input from folks like us. Simply thumping your chest on a message board does nothing.

When you get to know the players and get involved, you have a better chance of affecting change. Not saying it always works, but better than complaining.

Also, I was in Charlotte a little over a year ago to ride the Lynx light rail. I did not come away impressed with their city. I would say its comparable to Indy as far as downtowns go. I would say Charlotte is a bit more sterile than Indy. I felt like there were more dead blocks and parking garages. But maybe I didnt get around enough...

Change happens way too slowly in Indy. You are right that trying to get involved and meet the players sounds like a good way to affect change. Unfortunately, if you ask too many questions, you can very quickly be blacklisted and ignored by DPW.

[Indy'd]

Originally Posted by DowntownIndianapolis

http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/polit...itches-parties
My day has just been offically made.
And thats why Indy is awesome instead of following other big cities like Democratic Sheep. We stand out for our political independence and whats best for the community and the city. Hence why the future is bright in Indy.

Well........no.

[Lmichigan]

Originally Posted by cdc guy

The U.S. Census Bureau says Marion County has the highest number of commuters in the nation traveling from another county. Newly-released results from the American Community Survey suggest more than 205,000 workers make the commute from other counties. More here

It has among the highest. The Census Bureau listed over a dozen or so of these exact same reports, today, of other counties.

[cdc guy]

Originally Posted by DowntownIndianapolis

http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/polit...itches-parties
My day has just been offically made.
And thats why Indy is awesome instead of following other big cities like Democratic Sheep. We stand out for our political independence and whats best for the community and the city. Hence why the future is bright in Indy.

This isn't really germane to development. It isn't election season either.

[cdc guy]

Originally Posted by Lmichigan

It has among the highest. The Census Bureau listed over a dozen or so of these exact same reports, today, of other counties.

I don't consider it a mark of distinction, regardless.

And if the average income of those 200,000 people is $80,000, that's $16 billion in wages not being taxed in Marion County where those workers use municipal services daily. If they paid 1/3 of the resident income tax (about 0.5%), that would be about $80 million in taxes.

[unvrsty07]

Originally Posted by cdc guy

I don't consider it a mark of distinction, regardless.

And if the average income of those 200,000 people is $80,000, that's $16 billion in wages not being taxed in Marion County where those workers use municipal services daily. If they paid 1/3 of the resident income tax (about 0.5%), that would be about $80 million in taxes.

$80,000 is way too high. But I get your point and agree fully.

[Lmichigan]

Indiana cities can't levy non-resident income tax, or is it simply not been done? Up here, I believe 22 cities have levied municipal income taxes. They can even levy 1% corporate income tax.

[cdc guy]

Originally Posted by Lmichigan

Indiana cities can't levy non-resident income tax, or is it simply not been done? Up here, I believe 22 cities have levied municipal income taxes. They can even levy 1% corporate income tax.

Local income tax is levied at the county level in Indiana and applies only to residents, unless the worker's home county does not levy a tax. Obviously this benefits suburban counties.

And through the quirks of geography, Indiana has a fair number of suburban counties of border cities in adjoining states: Chicago, Louisville, and Cincinnati. Indy could probably never get a commuter tax through the legislature dominated by Suburblicans and Ruralpublicans.

[cwilson758]

Anyone notice the new crane at the Michigan St development? I'm guessing we'll see one along the canal soon too .... Exciting for downtown

[cailes]

Too bad one of them is for a big ass garage.

[TrafficSignal]

Originally Posted by idyllic indy

Change happens way too slowly in Indy. You are right that trying to get involved and meet the players sounds like a good way to affect change. Unfortunately, if you ask too many questions, you can very quickly be blacklisted and ignored by DPW.

I was at a conference yesterday, and the Bloomington MPO manager gave a presentation on complete streets. If I remember correctly, they have had their ordinance in place for 8 years; however their first road project to be constructed under the ordinance was just undertaken last year. Even in his presentation with three case-study projects, two had a waiver of the ordinance due to construction constraints (streams, historic properties, etc).

Roadway projects are multi-year efforts given all the various requirements, and shoving something in at the last minute generally is bad on multiple fronts (additional engineering fees, construction delays for permits, etc). Its not just Indy, these types of changes are always slow.

[idyllic indy]

Originally Posted by TrafficSignal

I was at a conference yesterday, and the Bloomington MPO manager gave a presentation on complete streets. If I remember correctly, they have had their ordinance in place for 8 years; however their first road project to be constructed under the ordinance was just undertaken last year. Even in his presentation with three case-study projects, two had a waiver of the ordinance due to construction constraints (streams, historic properties, etc).

Roadway projects are multi-year efforts given all the various requirements, and shoving something in at the last minute generally is bad on multiple fronts (additional engineering fees, construction delays for permits, etc). Its not just Indy, these types of changes are always slow.

Well, if the DPW knew how, and cared to design a project right from the outset, there'd be no need to be adding in complete streets elements at the last minute. When you're stuck decades behind the times, you can't accept slow gradual change if you ever want to catch up to the rest of the country/first world.

[caliboy28]

Originally Posted by jjgn

Exhibit A of City storefront regulation disaster: Dick's Last Resort on Maryland. If the chain requires that cartoon storefront, then not in downtown Indianapolis.

I don't know.... I kind of dig the way that store front livens up a rather blah block. And it's rather a temporary construction so shouldn't be too difficult to change when the time comes....

[caliboy28]

I don't necessarily get the sentiment against the parking garage being built over on Illinois St. Correct me if I'm wrong, but generally the reason a garage is built is because there is either A) a demand for the parking or, as in this case, B) a need for the garage to replace spots lost to other development. Help me out.... should I hate the garage too? Or be happy that the reason its being built in the first place is to replace a huge surface lot that will soon become luxury apartments, a full service (badly needed) grocery store and office space?

[moochie]

Originally Posted by caliboy28

I don't necessarily get the sentiment against the parking garage being built over on Illinois St. Correct me if I'm wrong, but generally the reason a garage is built is because there is either A) a demand for the parking or, as in this case, B) a need for the garage to replace spots lost to other development. Help me out.... should I hate the garage too? Or be happy that the reason its being built in the first place is to replace a huge surface lot that will soon become luxury apartments, a full service (badly needed) grocery store and office space?

Building a garage there isn't the issue. There is demand for parking there that obviously won't go away. The problem is that it's an oppressive structure that will hurt the walkability of the area. If a little care had been taken, it could have easily been built in the center of the block, allowing for future development curbside, or at the very least, done a better job integrating future retail spaces into it's base.

In other words, it could have been built taller, thinner, with a couple basement levels, and not hurt future development on the block. The design is flawed. It should have been hidden in the middle of the block. IUPUI has done this with their newer parking garages. Building a parking garage in the mile square to curbside with no retail or office space is incredibly short sighted.

Granted, it does have possibilities for future retail space, but it's pretty likely that it won't happen, because One America will not want to give up their precious spaces.

[Indy'd]

Originally Posted by caliboy28

I don't necessarily get the sentiment against the parking garage being built over on Illinois St. Correct me if I'm wrong, but generally the reason a garage is built is because there is either A) a demand for the parking or, as in this case, B) a need for the garage to replace spots lost to other development. Help me out.... should I hate the garage too? Or be happy that the reason its being built in the first place is to replace a huge surface lot that will soon become luxury apartments, a full service (badly needed) grocery store and office space?

And to boot, we are paying for it!

[GarfieldPark]

Definitely agree with the summary about the parking garage. The design is horrible.

I also am fine with the variety that Dick's Last Resort adds to downtown. It's tacky looking -- which it is supposed to be.... although in kind of a cartoonish way. It adds humor to the streetscape. The facades of most downtown restaurants are pretty "beige" in my opinion. Most of them look fine - and don't stand out. Kind of like how realtors tell you to paint the rooms in your house various tans and beiges so they don't stand out - and are comfortable for the masses. Dick's adds a splash of bright yellow and orange (figuratively speaking) to the streetscape of Indy. Yes, it is goofy looking -- but a little of that - to add variety - is OK, in my opinion. Downtowns are supposed to have a lot of different types of things -- and this is definitely a different type of thing.

[moochie]

I just walked by it, (pic below, right next to the Indystar behemoth) and noticed that they're demo-ing the interior and putting new windows in. The signs (not pictured) say 333 Penn Apartments.

Is this news? Or did I totally miss the press release on this one? More residential is awesome for the area, and 10 stories is pretty damned cool.

image hosted on flickr

Untitled by Moochie McMoochie, on Flickr