Strategic Plans Unveiled For Indy Neighborhoods

The River West Study Area (image provided by LISC) is located in-between four neighborhoods.

Local Initiatives Support Corp. of Indianapolis has unveiled the first three strategic plans for neighborhoods in its Great Places 2020 program. The initiative involves engaging philanthropic, civic and private sector partners to help transform a total of six Marion County neighborhoods ahead of the city’s Bicentennial in 2020.

LISC says, to date, more than $84 million has been pledged by some 50 for-profit and nonprofit partners toward the community development goals.

The neighborhoods are:

River West, which includes the central portion of the city’s River West neighborhood, located on the other side of the White River from such landmarks as IUPUI and the up-and-coming 16 Tech innovation district. LISC says the River West strategic plan calls for building upon its connection to downtown and a growing IT business sector "to create a sense of place from cradle to career."

Englewood Village, which includes an area east of downtown and west of Irvington, is situated near Arsenal Technical High School, the Angie’s List Campus, an Ivy Tech Community College center and Willard Park. The strategic plan created by LISC and its partners for Englewood Village involves reclaiming abandoned spaces to create a vision for a "vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood welcoming residents and visitors alike."

Maple Crossing, encompasses about a quarter-mile in all directions around the intersection of Illinois Street and 38th Street and is near the Ivy Tech Central Region campus and the Children’s Museum to the south, the Indianapolis Museum of Art to the west, Butler University to the northwest and the Indiana State Fairgrounds to the east. LISC says the Maple Crossing strategic plan will help bridge the city’s downtown and north side as ongoing changes continue to Tarkington Park and several commercial spaces "that will appeal to residents of varying income levels."

The program aims to boost each neighborhood prior to the city’s Bicentennial in 2020. You can see more on the overall purpose of the initiative by clicking here.