Note from Storm: These two 2009 blogs from my buddy Kaid Benfield call for more involvement of environmentalists (and environmental groups) in the renewal of urban places. They also describe an effort to revitalize a distressed Indianapolis neighborhood.
Readers are encouraged to use the Comments section below to let fellow readers know whether you think the engagement of environmentalists has improved (or worsened. or stayed the same) since 2009, and why. And if you’re familiar with this Indianapolis neighborhood, let us know whether this AIA exercise had any effect, and whether the area is revitalizing.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Last week I had the honor of being one of seven smart growth types recruited by the American Institute of Architects to work with the city of Indianapolis, Indiana and community residents on the model revitalization of a distressed urban neighborhood.
It has a resilient population with a lot of heart, beginning pockets of revitalization here and there, and a good location not far from downtown. That location could get even better if a light rail line under consideration to run alongside a popular recreational trail in the old corridor is approved, bringing one or more stops to the district.
But the dominant impression to an outside observer is that the neighborhood has far too many vacant and abandoned properties, both commercial and residential. In the map below, parcels shown in light green are vacant.
There is a long way to go, and the community appears to be justified in some skepticism given past planning exercises that have come and gone with little result.
This neighborhood has great potential to become a model of inclusive, smart, green restoration. So why aren’t my fellow environmentalists engaged in these discussions? I didn’t meet a single representative of an environmental organization.
And it’s not just Indianapolis. Leadership on urban restoration currently lies almost totally outside the environmental world, and that’s a shame.