A new plan to remake a portion of West Street would mean big changes for downtown Indianapolis, if it's adopted.
The Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce partnered with local nonprofit Rethink Coalition on a plan to sink portions of West Street below street level, from around 10th Street south to Walnut Street, and to build bridges above it.
Those bridges would hold green spaces for pedestrians and smaller roads for local traffic. They would enable pedestrians and bikers to travel through a section of downtown without having to navigate traffic lanes.
The plan is similar to the Chamber and local nonprofit Rethink Coalition's plan to redesign the I-70 and I-65 split.
Taylor Hughes, chief strategy officer at Indy Chamber, says the redesign would make streets safer and help connect downtown neighborhoods.
"Indy's very good at hosting the world," Hughes said. "But what does it look like to have hospitality for people who are living here 365 days a year? I think continuing to invest in the urban fabric, you know, in housing and connectivity is a critical part of how we do that."
A study conducted by the Rethink Coalition showed the economic impact these kinds of projects can have on cities. By reinvesting in busy intersections to make them safe, desirable places, the report shows cities saw billions of dollars in private development, increases in property value, and increased pedestrian traffic that stimulated local businesses.
Drag the slider below to see a before and after for one section of the proposed plan:
The final price tag for the design is not yet clear. Officials from Indy Chamber said they hope to have a clear cost projection by the end of the year.
Officials hope to take advantage of a financial tool called an Innovation Development District, which would allow extra state and local tax revenue to be funneled into the project.
Another goal of the project is to unite the city's assets on either side of West Street: Lucas Oil Stadium, Victory Field, IU Health, 16 Tech, and White River State Park.
IU Indiana and Purdue University in Indianapolis are also considered stakeholders, since higher-quality pedestrian transit could make expansion more attractive for each university.
Hughes also points out investments into Indianapolis' downtown would make the city and its universities more attractive for prospective students, and anyone interested in a vibrant downtown.
He acknowledged that Indianapolis' recent influx of data centers has been controversial, leaving some residents wary of new developments. But he said projects like the West Street plan are different, and hopes residents see that when they look over the details.
"There's a lot of justifiable questions about, 'How does this growth do anything good for me or my family or loved ones or community or neighborhood?'" Hughes said. "I think we've got opportunities to build in a way that that becomes viscerally, tangibly clear."
Among the next steps required before the plan is implemented: additional studies and community feedback handled by Rethink Coalition.
More information about the plan and Rethink's plans for community outreach will be shared over the next couple of months.
Contact WFYI Digital Producer and Reporter Jeremy Reuben at jreuben@wfyi.org
