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Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson
Community and business leaders gathered to begin developing their vision of the future of downtown Indianapolis. (Photos by John Huffer)
MUNCIE, Ind.- The City of Indianapolis has kicked off its Regional Center Plan 2020, and the Ball State University College of Architecture and Planning Indianapolis Center will help facilitate the process.
"Ball State will play an integral role in developing this plan," said Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson. "We are thankful for having the College of Architecture and Planning, a premier school both nationally and internationally, right in our backyard and working with us."
Mayor Peterson doled out his praises during the kickoff ceremonies Nov. 15 at the Indianapolis Artsgarden, which attracted more than 200 people. The packed room reflected the city's commitment to make a great downtown even better, Peterson said.
The Regional Center Plan is the master plan that will guide the growth and development of downtown Indianapolis over the next 20 years. The first plan was introduced in 1958, revised over the decades and was last updated in 1990.
What is exciting and different about this year's plan, however, is that everyone involved is taking a people-use approach rather than the land-use approach that was employed in the past, said Scott Truex, director of the CAP/Indy Center and facilitator of the Regional Center Plan 2020.
Instead of simply addressing what buildings will be built, the plan will focus on six topics: enjoying downtown, learning downtown, living downtown, moving around downtown, working downtown and placemaking. More than 300 community and business leaders will attend regular meetings at the CAP/Indy Center to discuss and develop their vision of the future of downtown.
The CAP/Indy Center has developed and will maintain the 2020 Web site at www.indyrc2020.org. Taking a web-based approach to planning allows more people to get involved in the process and fulfills one of Ball State's missions of being a leader in technology, said Truex.
The Web site will promote upcoming meetings, offer details on discussion topics and allow residents to offer their opinions on downtown's development.
Mayor Peterson called Truex the "traffic cop" who will direct and guide ideas in the planning process. Being recognized as having a strong presence in Indianapolis and being the hub for the plan is one of the roles that the CAP/Indy Center can play, said Truex.
"Our role is to be the glue that holds the plan's continuity together," said Truex. "We will help coordinate everyone's efforts and continue to look for ways to broaden the plan's impact and to build community participation."
Over the next six months, the CAP/Indy Center will be working with the City of Indianapolis, the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee and Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. to coordinate the committees' efforts in developing the plan.
The CAP/Indy Center, at 26 W. Washington, was established to study and shape urban life in the state's capital. Working with local partners, the center is educating students about urban design and planning while assisting with community projects around Indianapolis such as the regional plan. It also serves as a resource for practicing architects.
(Note to Editors: For more information, contact Truex at (317) 822-6167.)
By Layne Cameron, Media Relations Manager"Ball State will play an integral role in developing this plan," said Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson. "We are thankful for having the College of Architecture and Planning, a premier school both nationally and internationally, right in our backyard and working with us."
Mayor Peterson doled out his praises during the kickoff ceremonies Nov. 15 at the Indianapolis Artsgarden, which attracted more than 200 people. The packed room reflected the city's commitment to make a great downtown even better, Peterson said.
The Regional Center Plan is the master plan that will guide the growth and development of downtown Indianapolis over the next 20 years. The first plan was introduced in 1958, revised over the decades and was last updated in 1990.
What is exciting and different about this year's plan, however, is that everyone involved is taking a people-use approach rather than the land-use approach that was employed in the past, said Scott Truex, director of the CAP/Indy Center and facilitator of the Regional Center Plan 2020.
Instead of simply addressing what buildings will be built, the plan will focus on six topics: enjoying downtown, learning downtown, living downtown, moving around downtown, working downtown and placemaking. More than 300 community and business leaders will attend regular meetings at the CAP/Indy Center to discuss and develop their vision of the future of downtown.
The CAP/Indy Center has developed and will maintain the 2020 Web site at www.indyrc2020.org. Taking a web-based approach to planning allows more people to get involved in the process and fulfills one of Ball State's missions of being a leader in technology, said Truex.
The Web site will promote upcoming meetings, offer details on discussion topics and allow residents to offer their opinions on downtown's development.
Mayor Peterson called Truex the "traffic cop" who will direct and guide ideas in the planning process. Being recognized as having a strong presence in Indianapolis and being the hub for the plan is one of the roles that the CAP/Indy Center can play, said Truex.
"Our role is to be the glue that holds the plan's continuity together," said Truex. "We will help coordinate everyone's efforts and continue to look for ways to broaden the plan's impact and to build community participation."
Over the next six months, the CAP/Indy Center will be working with the City of Indianapolis, the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee and Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. to coordinate the committees' efforts in developing the plan.
The CAP/Indy Center, at 26 W. Washington, was established to study and shape urban life in the state's capital. Working with local partners, the center is educating students about urban design and planning while assisting with community projects around Indianapolis such as the regional plan. It also serves as a resource for practicing architects.
(Note to Editors: For more information, contact Truex at (317) 822-6167.)
