Professional planners, developers and citizens alike agree that there are better alternatives to some of today's sprawling suburbs.  Under the heading of "Smart Growth," advocates are promoting

• Relatively compact development, where people live near one another and near schools, parks, and neighborhood shopping;
• Walkable neighborhoods, well-connected to adjoining neighborhoods and nearby commercial areas;
• Attractive commercial areas that present interesting buildings and landscaped areas to the street instead of seas of asphalt and large signs; and
• Major new development adjoining existing communities, where it can connect to existing utilities and become part of the larger community.

In this project, we will work with the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis, individual builder/developers and communities in the Indianapolis area to identify opportunities and challenges to "Smart Growth" for Central Indiana.