LSAC Supports Its Area Businesses(posted Sept 25) An invitation is coming to everybody in Indianapolis to attend Taste The Difference in the Lafayette Square Area (LSA). The event is scheduled from November 12th to the 18th. As of September 25, approximately 20 different participating ethnic restaurants will provide discount meals for lunch and dinner so patrons can try the different ethnic cuisines during the six days. The Lafayette Square Area Coalition created the idea as a means to celebrate the multi-cultural diversity that has a strong presence in the LSA. The LSAC is planning a media blitz that will be needed to reach the entire Indianapolis market. The event includes a kickoff celebration at Georgetown 14 Cinema at 3839 Lafayette Road. Wal-Mart Store Manager Joe Stephenson announced that Wal-Mart Super Center will begin the interviewing process to fill the approximately 300 to 400 jobs that will be needed to operate the new store at 46th Street and Lafayette Road. The interviewing date is set for October 29 at 4407 Lafayette Road. The new store is scheduled to open in January or February 2008. The Lafayette Square Area Coalition is pushing for better pedestrian transportation to help business growth, so the coalition invited in Tamara Tracy, principal planner of the Department of Metropolitan Development, to discuss the proposed sidewalk ordinance. Tracy said that Indianapolis and Terre Haute are the only two cities in the state that don't require sidewalks. She noted that the Lafayette Square Area is evidence of the lack of sidewalks with "the dirt cow paths that people have made walking." She talked about sidewalks in relation to business growth. "Sidewalks widen the sphere of influence and that adds to the local economy. Although Pike Township has the highest bus ridership with many going to work at Park 100, the lack of sidewalks creates an unwelcome situation that doesn't encourage anyone to take the bus." The rider is usually dropped off in the grassy easement with no linking sidewalk. She said sidewalk connection would increase bus ridership. In addition as serving as a form of transportation, Tracy promoted sidewalks from a health aspect that would encourage physical fitness by providing a safe place to walk or jog. LSAC member Clint Fultz explained that promoting sidewalks with fitness should not be confused with the Indy Greenways Program to provide trails system for fitness. He said sidewalks are more about connectivity than fitness. It is about being able to leave your neighborhood to walk safely to the local grocery store. The draft sidewalk ordinance has been revised 18 times and should be ready to be reviewed by the DMD. The proposed ordinance would require perimeter sidewalks to be added to subdivisions to link with interior walks. She cited the Pike Township Library is a good example of how the current sidewalk ordinance is not working. She said it is an island surrounded by sidewalks. The library is adjacent to several residential neighborhoods with interior sidewalks that do not extend out to Zionsville Road to connect to the library. She said the multi use path along Georgetown Road will count for a sidewalk but that concrete sidewalks are preferred because of the longer life than the asphalted multi-use paths. Sidewalks can last 50 to 100 years while the multi-use path last from seven to 15 years. She said the city will add sidewalks when doing thoroughfare projects like the Georgetown Road project, so the responsibility to install sidewalks does not just rest with the developer. Tracy explained the proposed ordinance should help close the gap by requiring redevelopment projects to add sidewalks if they fall into to certain guidelines. Part of the goal is to increase sidewalks access to strip malls. By including redevelopment projects in the sidewalk ordinance, it should raise the pedestrian mode of transportation to level of the 20th century. Tracy said she would accept comments at ttracy@indygov.org and the proposed ordinance can be seen at www.indygov.org/revisecode. |
|
