Downtown
Downtown Information
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The term Downtown Indianapolis refers to the central business district, or CBD, of Indianapolis, Indiana. The boundaries of Downtown Indianapolis vary; the original mile square of Indianapolis is considered to be the true “downtown”, though some may consider downtown’s boundaries to include many smaller neighborhoods nearby.
Indianapolis’ downtown has undergone a dramatic transformation from being a place of vacant storefronts and no activity to that of a dynamic urban district in the United States. In the 1970s, the city suffered under the dramatic effects that plagued other nearby Rust Belt cities such as decreased economic activity, white flight, racial tension, etc. As a result, Downtown Indianapolis was not a desirable place to be in the 1970s, and often saw little to no activity. The City of Indianapolis dealt with these issues and tried to come up with solutions to help revitalize the city’s downtown.
Starting in the 1980s, Downtown Indianapolis begin to develop into the state that it is today. A series of modern skyscrapers were constructed during this period, including the Chase Tower, the tallest building in Indiana. Revitalization of the city’s canal followed. This, along with plans for a new downtown mall, basketball stadium, and new attractions such as museums helped to revitalize Downtown Indianapolis.
Tourism is a large part of the economy of Downtown Indianapolis, due in large part to the presence of the Indiana Convention Center.
Some of the ongoing developments in Downtown Indianapolis include proposals for a series of cultural trails throughout downtown, a series of new mid to high rise buildings, and construction of the Lucas Oil Stadium.