124 INDIANAPOLIS REGIONAL CENTER PLAN 2020 PLANNING DOWNTOWN�fS FUTURE TODAY APPENDIX E: GLOSSARY OF TERMS Tax Abatement: Tax abatement is an economic development tool the City of Indianapolis utilizes to assist business and property owners when making a capital investment.  The goals of this economic development incentive are to expand the tax base, to create and retain good paying jobs and to diversify the local economy.  Tax abatement allows property taxes on new capital investment to be gradually phased in over a statutorily prescribed period of time.   Tax Increment Financing (TIF): A method of raising additional capital within declared districts to pay for needed improvements within those districts.   The districts are established by the Metropolitan Development Commission.  The base of existing assessed valuation is frozen with the incremental revenues obtained by the taxes on new development in the TIF District then becoming available to fund improvement projects. Traffic Calming :  Usually a component of traditional neighborhood design, traffic calming uses physical design features, such as street trees, landscaping, bump outs and textured pavement to slow down automobile traffic passing through neighborhood areas.  The intention is to improve the quality of life in urban neighborhoods and to make neighborhoods more pedestrian friendly. Transit-Oriented Development: A compact, mixed- use development within an easy walk of a transit station.  Its pedestrian-oriented design encourages residents and workers to drive their cars less and ride mass transit more.  These "transit villages" are usually moderate to high density, matching the existing scale of development and can be new construction or redevelopment. Urban Design Workshop:  An intensive design session conducted in a workshop atmosphere with members of the public and public officials Urban Sprawl:  Occurs when a city or state develops land at a faster rate than its population growth. Value:  An ideal, custom, institution, etc. that the people of a society try to achieve. View Shed:  All the places that can be seen from a certain point. Vision Statement:  A vivid, imaginative conception of the future. Visitability:  A movement to change home construction practices so that virtually all new homes, whether or not designated for residents who currently have disabilities, offer a few specific features make the home easier for people who develop a mobility impairment to live in and visit. Wayfinding :  The process of using spatial and environmental information to find our way in the built environment. Wellfield :  A tract of land that contains one or more wells used for the production of drinking water for the public water supply.   Wetlands:  Land that has wet or spongy soil.  These areas are often important wildlife habitats. White River State Park:  An urban park one block west of the RCA Dome in Downtown Indianapolis that offers the Pumphouse Visitor's Center, Indianapolis Zoo, White River Gardens, Victory Field Baseball Park, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, IMAX theatre, NCAA Hall of Champions, Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial, Central Canal, the National Institute for Fitness and Sport, Celebration Plaza and Amphitheatre, River Promenade and Indiana State Museum.  It is adjacent to both the White River and IUPUI. Workforce Development:  The development of employee skills, job marketing, testing services and unemployment insurance benefits; and as an employer the analysis of labor market information, regulations, training, employee promotion and skills assessment.