Indianapolis city officials are planning upgrades to Georgia Street to improve its appeal. The proposed changes include removing a lane between Illinois Street and Capitol Avenue to create more event space and green areas, enhancing the street for outdoor activities and pedestrians, according to WRTV.
"We’re hoping to take what is now a roadway that already has some pedestrian focus to it and make it more pedestrian focused" Megan Vukusich, Department of Metropolitan Development Director, shared with WRTV. The Department of Metropolitan Development, and the Indiana Convention Center, are eyeing this space to appeal to clients seeking outdoor venues, pushing the city's public spaces into the limelight. Georgia Street's transformation is poised to join the likes of other public endeavors such as Spark on the Circle, and the downtown canal.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett has envisioned a multifaceted plan to fund the upgrades and a spate of other city projects. According to WIBC, the city plans to leverage $50 million in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds, asserting the city's ability to make "substantial changes to our downtown while at the same time reserving our budget dollars for neighborhood improvements." This plan, which also includes financial provisions for district infrastructure and public safety, requires the approval of the City-County Council to proceed.
Indianapolis Mayor Hogsett's proposed budget includes $1 million for each city-county councilor to address local issues like hazardous intersections and park improvements. The budget also allocates significant funds for public safety and criminal justice, including a stormwater fund and support for 1,743 officers. "This gives you the power to make the changes you want to see in the neighborhoods you represent," the Mayor told the councils, as IndyStar reported.
Indianapolis plans to revamp Georgia Street as part of its effort to improve downtown. The community expects new and better public spaces as the city aligns its budget with these upgrades.
