Urban Proof - Indy Downtown still Strong

In 2001, walking the Clevelander site with my construction manager, I was told I was crazy, that “in 10 years, this will be a slum, because people don't want to live downtown unless they can't afford anything else.” In similar fashion, a few months before, my former partner swore that Indianapolis wasn't ready for condos, especially in downtown. Nine years later, I read the front page of the Indy Star where Bill Ruthhard reports that “$3.3B building boom sets Downtown apart.” All the while I look out the window of my home at this “future slum” that is now joined by Firehouse Square, Packard, Hudson, Maxwell, Lockerbie Terrace, Lockerbie Townhomes, and DeSoto thanking god I didn't listen to this guy or take him seriously. As Bill states “Indy's Downtown is in the midst of a multibillion-dollar construction boom that some say may be among the largest in the nation.” In addition, the investment is “not just in one pocket and not in just one industry, but across the board and across the geographical boundaries of Downtown.” This makes a resident, entrepreneur and business owner in the downtown CBD proud and excited about the future, as well as starts to validate what all of us thought Indy could become, when a lot of people thought we were crazy! Downtown Indy is just getting started, but as this article shows, or as you can find out on a quick drive, bike ride, or walk, we are well on our way to having one of the best downtowns in the Midwest.