I really believe the one largest crux of Indianapolis is the Mass Transit situation. IndyGo is need of a major overhaul and need to be funded 100% by the city.

Indianapolis will never be a world class city without a first rate transportation center. I know people are pushing for rail, but I think that honestly we need to have a bus system that works and people will use before we even consider installing rail (again) in this city.

If you combine a comprehensive mass transit system with what could be an amazing pedestrian/cycling sytem Indianapolis could one day be back at the top with transit system and one day we will really be world class.

The proposed Indianapolis Performing Art Center and Performing Artist/Literary Artist Affordable Housing Complex was also inspired by something we already have and that already works well…the emerging performing arts and literary arts organizations in Indianapolis. The idea came from Pauline Moffat asking me to take a walking tour of Mass Ave that was designed to evaluate additonal space in the area that may have potential to be used as Theaters for the IndyFringe Festival. As I was walking around, looking at buildings I thought “why can’t we look for space that will have an impact on all of the performing arts groups in town and do it in a way that provides affordable housing for young performng artists and literary artists.

Further, similar to the Cultural Trail, we would use millions of dollars of Federal monies to leverage the project and meet multiple community needs. Our project will create jobs for residents. Property taxes will be generated on land that is currently generating no taxes. The project will be as green as possible under current funding possibilities. The architecture will be creative and unique.

Did you know that we can build a project that includes 70 one bedroom apartments with rents and utilities ranging from $300-$650 a month with three 100 seat black box theaters and have the whole project paid using Federal tax credit programs, except for seating and lights and other theater amenities? Yes, it is true. Now, we are trying to add a 500 plus seat theater and other amenities to make it a top-notch facilitly, but the Federal guidelines allow us to treat the walls of the 500 seat theater as the building foundation and therefore the Feds will also pay of the outside walls of the additional theater…greatly reducing the costs.

And by the way,,,Imagine a Theater-plex with a central gathering place as the crowds gather on weekends to mix and mingle and then disperse to the five different performance opportunities at 8pm…all surrounding the City Market in a complex that provides affordable housing and rehearsal space to the performing arts and literary arts community…located on the Cultural Trail.

1) My friend Ben and I have had multiple conversations regarding the stretch of College between 38th and Broad Ripple Ave., and its massive amount of potential for growth and development. Despite a lack of infrastructure, it’s already happening now with some of the South Broad Ripple developments springing up at 52nd and 54th, and even now at 49th. Basically, we both see this stretch of road as Indy’s possible equivalent to Bardstown Road. Can you imagine how quickly developers would scramble to the area were this stretch developed into a complete street to better facilitate pedestrian and destination traffic, instead of a misused commuter corridor? Can you imagine a trolley line here? Or, even trolley buses, to encourage people to stop thinking of IndyGo as a last resort?

2) The White River Canal stretching west beyond College along Westfield could be so much more than it is.