What’s Up Downtown


Posted by Bob on 08 Jul 2015 / 0 Comment


Downtown Indy is in full swing this summer. With beautification efforts, Happy Hours, new construction projects and new members, Downtown is at full throttle. From our organization, here is a list of updates working hard to make Downtown such a great place to work, live, learn and play.

Management Services

1. In collaboration with IMPD Downtown District, Downtown Indy created a safety postcard to distribute to businesses and pass out at community events.

Front of safety postcard

The safety postcard includes phone numbers for emergency and non-emergency calls along with a number to reach a professional-blended street outreach team to assist a homeless person in need.

2. Save the date! To raise funds for the Downtown Indy Beautification Fund, Inspired Beauty will take place Thursday, Sept. 17 on Monument Circle. Want to be involved? Contact Bob Schultz to be a part of this great inaugural event.

3. Downtown is starting to look at feel like you’re on a beach vacation. New planters were filled with colorful tropicals to enhance the beauty of Georgia Street.

Volunteers plant tropicals along Market Street in an effort to beautify Downtown.

Volunteers plant tropicals along Market Street in an effort to beautify Downtown.

Marketing and Events

1. The new Downtown Indy website has far surpassed the former site. January – June 2015 had 80,000 more visits than the same months in 2014. The Parking and Hot Happenings are the most popular pages. The July 4 Hot Happenings page is one of our most-visited pages.

2. The “INDY” sculpture will make an appearance on the corner of Georgia Street and Capitol Avenue July 6 – Aug. 1. Be sure to snap your picture as the “I” and post it to social media. #LoveIndy #GeorgiaStreet

Downtown Indy employees pose for a picture with the "INDY" sculpture after the Mass Ave Clean Up.

Downtown Indy employees pose for a picture with the “INDY” sculpture after the Mass Ave Clean Up on June 11.

3. Georgia Street is the place to be this summer! Workout Wednesdays continue to have more than 100 participants each week, including a guest appearance by the entire Indiana Fever team. Happy Hours have also been successful, averaging 400+ attendees each week. Food Truck Fridays have been popular as well.

Happy Hours take place every Thursday during the summer on Georgia Street from 4:30 - 7 p.m.

Happy Hours take place every Thursday during the summer on Georgia Street from 4:30 – 7 p.m.

4. Downtown Indy is challenging the public to go car-free this summer with the Car-Free Indy campaign. Ride your bike, take the bus or walk for a more sustainable city. More than 23,000 miles have been logged toward the 30,000-mile commuting goal by the end of the summer.

Real Estate Development

1. A $5 million donation from the Lilly Endowment will be used to build the City-County Building new civic plaza, with construction beginning by the end of 2015. Downtown Indy participated in the design and development phase. The plaza will include an ice skating rink, interactive water fountain and more, ready for winter 2016.

2. Construction began on Downtown’s first Makerspace, RUCKUS, in the former Circle City Industrial Complex. The project is being developed by Riley Area Development Corporation, Pattern and People for Urban Progress. RUCKUS will consist of a co-working space, photography studio, event space and optional individual studios.

RUCKUS will be located..

RUCKUS will be located at 1125 E. Brookside Ave.

3. Planning is underway for Downtown Indy’s Workforce Week Sept. 14 – 18. Downtown stakeholders will host a week of events that celebrate our diverse and wonderful workforce. Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities exist; please contact Catherine Esselman for more information.

4. Chef JJ’s opened for business in the former Ugly Monkey space on the corner or South Street and Illinois Street. This location will be a retail store for the Big Green Egg as well as a venue for private parties and events. Louie’s Wine Dive also opened at 345 Massachusetts Ave. This is the seventh location for the chain and the first for Indiana.

Membership and Administration

1. Downtown Indy welcomes Sarah Hinton as the new accounting manager. She is responsible for the financial planning, accounting and reporting needs of the organization.

Sarah Hinton is Downtown Indy's new accounting manager.

Sarah Hinton is Downtown Indy’s new accounting manager.

2. New members have recently joined Downtown Indy in June: Circle City Tours, Indy Luxury Rentals – The Villa on Meridian, Georgia Reese’s Downtown, LLC and Thomas Caterers of Distinction.

3. Additionally, renewed members include: ActiveIndy Tours, Hood’s Gardens, Trinitas Ventures, Milano Inn, The Best Chocolate In Town, Fifth Third Bank, Visit Indy, Shapiro’s Deli, The UPS Store Downtown Indy and Hilton Indianapolis Hotel and Suites/120 West Bar.

Written by Bob

Bob Schultz is Senior VP of Marketing and Events for Downtown Indy, Inc. He travels the world seeking out urban spaces to see how they compare to Indy, his lifelong residency. He’s a celebrationist, loves civic events and crowds – especially on Monument Circle, Georgia Street and along the Canal. Bob believes our best days as a city are ahead of us.