Spotlight on Sustainability: Indianapolis, Indiana
It’s not a place where you might expect to see smart growth: the “Crossroads of America”, the home of one of the most significant motorsport races in the world, and a big city with some of the lowest ridership in the country.
But, a smart growth redevelopment district is looking to show Indianapolis residents how much the city can benefit from smart growth. With the help of a Brownfield Pilot Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a Challenge Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Indianapolis is on the verge of making big changes to a once-neglected neighborhood.
“The city is looking to a number of programs, like the EPA and HUD grants, as a way to focus limited resources on an area that has a lot of need,” said Ryan Hunt, a senior project manager for the City of Indianapolis, who is working on the redevelopment project. “As a near downtown neighborhood, there’s a real opportunity here to take advantage of what’s out there. These programs give us the opportunity to see a lot of change.”