Urban area improvement through streetscape environments : College Avenue in Chatham Arch neighborhood, Indianapolis, IN

Abstract

According to the studies done by the Federal Highway Administration fewer than 6% of Americans make daily trips on foot (http:l/www.usatoday.com/news/nation/ 2003-08-28-sprawl-usat x.htm). By living near where we work and shop we can create walkable communities, a sense of place, help reduce obesity, and reduce the stresses in our daily lives. In order to encourage people to move away from sprawl and toward walkable communities the quality of life must be equal to or better than the quality of life in the suburbs. Having a street that can supply the surrounding neighborhoods basic needs within a quarter mile can do this. Chatham Arch has improved dramatically since the 1970's. However, the neighborhood still lacks the basic shops and services that people require.Many urban areas in Indianapolis are seen from the suburbs and surrounding regions as unsafe places because the city has been abandoned by the middle class. Currently, there is a high demand for living spaces in and around Indianapolis. The current majority of housing development to meet this need is developing on existing farmland surrounding Indianapolis. These development pattern only increases current traffic problems, promotes sprawl, increases national obesity rates, and decreases tax revenues for the city of Indianapolis. By retrofitting existing neighborhood fabrics in Indianapolis a higher quality of life is promoted by reusing existing urban land, reducing the number of people dependant on the automobile, and lowering the national obesity rates.This study looks at the history and theory of urban areas in Western Culture and the history of Chatham Arch Neighborhood in Indianapolis. The case study is an example of a streetscape project that has already been successful in strengthening the German Village community in Columbus Ohio. This project used a major neighborhood streetscape to act a communal node. Current gaps were studied along Massachusetts Avenue and North College Avenue up to the I-65 overpass, as a Urban Area Improvements Through Streetscape Environments possible mixed-use district for the local neighborhood needs without detracting from Massachusetts Avenue Arts District.College Avenue offers a great opportunity and currently has many empty lots and undesirable views though it was once considered a great street. College Avenue has the potential to further connect the Chatham Arch Neighborhood with the surrounding historic neighborhoods.