East Workshop Vision Three

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Vision Summary
This vision includes a mix of new re-development and retention of existing buildings.  Emphasis on street improvements is focused along Market Street, where its' intersection with the interstate is marked with new artistic lighting designed by local artists.  A new school, possibly a magnet school, is proposed along Park Street just south of the Lockerbie Neighborhood to serve the growing and proposed residential population in the area.  At the base of Mass. Ave. a new Indianapolis Museum of Art is envisioned to be built on a current surface parking lot, while a new Justice Center is built on the parking lot just north of the Marion County Jail.  On the Market Square Arena site a mix of apartments, retail shops, and office space would be built around interior courtyards.  Extensive landscaping of the interstate, the railroad, and surface parking lots would combine with new ecologically-focused parking garages to improve the visual and ecological environment of the study area.  
 

Team Members
Leaders Harry Eggink & Michel Mounayar
Mac Williams
Tom Sudhoff
Christy Van Horn
 
 
Vision Components
You can click on each image below for a larger view.  Images will open in a new window, and to return to this page, simply close the new window. 
 
Maps & Diagrams
Overall Plan
This image is the master overall plan.  New development is concentrated on the former Market Square Arena site and along New York Street.  A new school is proposed just south of the Lockerbie Neighborhood, while a new Justice Center complex is envisioned just north of the existing Marion County jail.


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Green Diagram
This diagram shows conceptual "greenways" in the study area.  These are not necessarily the greenway trail system  as known in Indianapolis, but are heavily-landscaped, primarily pedestrian corridors or neighborhoods.  Market Street, Park Street, and the Railroad are proposed to fit this description of "greenway."
Green Plan
This is a detailed plan of green spaces in the study area.  The interstate and railroad are heavily landscaped, as is Market Street, Park Street, and all surface parking lots.  Courtyards in the middle of new developments provide additional park land. 
Project Map
This map highlights key project areas that can lead other investment in the area.  At the base of Mass. Ave. is a new art museum, while a new school is shown just south of Lockerbie.  New development on the MSA site, as well as further east at the intersection with Park Street.  A new "gateway" is developed by renovating or replacing buildings along Market Street near the interstate, which itself has been visually enhanced.  South of Washington Street is the new Justice Center and ecologically-enhanced parking garage. 
Ecology
Parking Conditions Currently
Currently most surface parking lots in Downtown lack any landscaping or urban design components such as vintage lighting.  

Improved Parking Conditions
Parking lots can be designed to enhance the urban area rather than detract from it.  In this sketch, landscaping is made to wrap around the parking lot, providing shade for cars, a natural visual barrier hiding the cars, and generally improved aesthetics.

Improved Parking Conditions
This plan view shows how simple landscape islands between and around parking rows can provide shade for cars, make the lot more attractive, and provide increased rainwater retention.

Improved Parking Conditions
This is a birds-eye view of the above plan diagram, showing the impact of parking lot landscaping.  This parking lot is the Anthem Insurance parking lot just south of the railroad tracks, but the concept can apply to every surface parking lot in Downtown.

A Parking Garage?
Parking garages typically are designed in a very utilitarian fashion, with little investment in the contribution of the garage to the urban design aspects of Downtown.  This drawing shows how a garage can be transformed into a living environment, with a water basin to collect rainwater and slowly distribute it to vegetation that covers the facade of the garage.  And the sketch artist assures us this type of garage has been constructed in Europe!

A Parking Garage?
This is another view of an ecological parking garage, where the top levels have actually been transformed into a park, complete with pond, waterfall, and extensive landscaping.  Parking is still provided on lower levels, while retail shops can occupy portions of the ground level.  Parking garages can serve multiple functions to maximize both investment and public benefit.

New Buildings and Design
Market Square Arena Site
This view looking west toward Monument Circle shows development on the Market Square Arena site.  Medium-density buildings containing both retail and office space as well as apartments would be built on the site.  Rooftop gardens and interior courtyards would provide recreational and park space for residents and employees.
Justice Center Birds-Eye View
This vision includes the construction of a new Justice Center on the parking lot just north of the existing County Jail.  The center would provide additional, more secure space for the criminal justice system while freeing up space in the City-County Building for other city services.  
Justice Center Plan View
This plan view shows the connections between the City-County Building at the left with the new Justice Center, Marion County Jail, and Conseco Fieldhouse Parking Garage.  The rooftop of the parking garage would be transformed into an outdoor recreation area and connected to the Justice Center through a skywalk.
Justice Center Section View
This cross-section of the above plan drawing shows how parking for jail or sheriff authorities and additional office space can be placed below-ground, and how all buildings related to the Justice Center can be connected for pedestrians. 
Single-Family Home Typology
Many of the historic neighborhoods in the east-side area have small, almost cottage-like homes with detached, rear garages.  This type of new construction should be used to expand and infill these neighborhoods.
Multi-Family Home Typology
Along higher-traffic roads and nearer the Downtown core, multi-family housing can be developed using existing buildings or by building new structures that resemble historic ones.  This row-house type development stretches continuously along the block, with parking in the rear. 
Apartment Home Typology
Higher-density apartment buildings are appropriate in some areas of the east-side, especially adjacent to the Downtown core and along busy thoroughfares.  These buildings can be made to fit in with the surrounding architecture, or even reuse existing buildings.  It is important that Downtown offer a wide range of housing types, from single-family homes to large apartment buildings. 
Mixed-Use Apartment Building
In many places it is appropriate to have mixed-use apartment buildings, where apartments occupy the upper-levels of buildings while retail shops are on the ground level.  Many neighborhood-oriented, locally-owned businesses such as a bakery or laundromat fit perfectly in this type of development.
Historic Mixed-Use Prototype
The east-side area has a long history of light-industrial uses.  These uses can also become part of a mixed-use building, occupying the lower floors or rear of the building while retail or service functions can occupy the street-side ground level and offices or apartments can use the upper floors.  
Newer Mixed-Use Prototype
Like the historic mixed-use prototype above, modern buildings can house multiple uses, including light industry.  In this sketch, a light-industrial firm occupies the rear single-level portion of the building, the retail arm of the industrial firm maintains a storefront presence in the front of the building, while offices and apartments occupy the upper levels.  An arrangement like this is perfect of light industries who also sell products direct and produce minimal noise.
An Interior Alley
This cross-section drawing of a building that occupies an entire block shows how the alley can be transformed into an interior street connecting many different uses, ranging from apartments to a laundromat, hardware store, and a bike and car rental business.
Union Planters Plaza Infill
The current plaza behind the Union Planters Bank building would be expanded eastward across Delaware Street, and a new Indianapolis Museum of Art would be constructed on the surface parking lot between the plaza and New York Street.  The existing building at the corner of New York and Pennsylvania would be retained.  This location for the IMA is at the base of the Massachusetts Avenue Arts District.
Street and Transportation Improvements
Market Street Interstate Bridge
The Market Street ramp is removed in this vision, but still serves as an important symbolic and visual gateway into Downtown.  In this drawing, large artistic lights designed by local artists mark the interstate bridge over Market Street, celebrating the importance of the street.  A light-rail line is also seen in this sketch running down Market St.
Interstate Enhancements
The interstate through Downtown does not have to look like every interstate from those in rural Montana to Downtown Atlanta.  Extensive landscaping, unique lighting, and architectural elements on bridges and walls can make the interstate through Downtown Indianapolis a different and unique experience.  When people drive through the area, they will know when they are in Downtown!
Neighborhood Entry
The interstate highway severs Downtown from adjacent east-side neighborhoods, but this effect can be partially overcome by enhancing the street connections through the interstate.  In this sketch, local artists have developed unique lighting and outdoor displays, which combine with landscaping and other streetcape improvements to make a more pleasant connection between Downtown and the neighborhoods through the interstate.
Washington Street Railroad Bridge 
In this drawing, the railroad bridge over Washington Street has been partially adapted for pedestrian use, linking much of Downtown with destinations North, including the popular Monon Trail.  Rail tracks are maintained for freight and potential commuter rail use.
Rails and Trails
The linear right-of-way owned by the railroads is a very unique asset that can be used for multiple-transportation systems, including trails.  This sketch shows how rails and trails can both use the same right-of-way.
Park Street Section
This cross-section of Park Street shows how it can be transformed into a pedestrian-oriented street, with shops and artist live/work galleries lining the street.  Streetscape components including lighting, banners, and extensive landscaping enhance the experience for both pedestrians and drivers.
Covered Walkways
Alleys can be covered to provide a mall-like pedestrian corridor along which retail shops, cafes, and artists can locate.  A small portion of such a covered walkway already exists Downtown just south of Market Street in the alley between Meridian and Pennsylvania Streets.