‘State of Downtown’ Improving in Indy
(photo courtesy: Pixabay/Marc David)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe president of Downtown Indy Inc. says the state of downtown is getting “incrementally better” than it was this time last year. The organization has released its State of Downtown report and Sherry Seiwert says it has taken a while for downtown to position itself back into a position of strength and vibrancy, but she is optimistic moving forward. Despite the effect the pandemic has had on businesses in downtown Indy, the report says nearly $413 million in downtown development projects were completed last year and nearly $2 billion in future development is in the pipeline.
In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, Seiwert said the outlook is getting better for businesses that have struggled as people have been working from home.
“Most of the restaurants are open. But until our workforce comes back downtown on a more regular basis, it will still continue to be a struggle for our restaurants,” said Seiwert. On the weekends, we’re seeing a lot more foot traffic, which is great. Folks feel good about coming downtown. It feels clean. It feels safe. So we’re seeing a significant uptick in the number of pedestrians downtown, so that’s a good sign.”
Seiwert says Indy hosting the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament showed the resiliency of the city, especially during a crisis.
“It was a big boost for Indianapolis, as well as locally, it was just wonderful to see the number of individuals coming downtown. There were lines out the door waiting to get into restaurants. So it felt, dare I say, a little normal. It offered that hope for folks that have been maintaining their business that, yes, we can make it.”
The report says downtown Indy had a daily workforce of nearly 155,000 prior to the pandemic. That number initially declined by 85% as the pandemic took hold.
Seiwert says more downtown employers are looking at bringing employees back to the office in the summer months. She adds convention business is picking up, particularly in the third quarter when events like Gen Con will make an in-person return.
In August, Downtown Indy Inc. launched the “Back Downtown” campaign with the goal of encouraging Hoosiers to patronize downtown Indy businesses. Seiwert says the effort was a successful undertaking.
“There were a number of different things tried. The city closed Mass Ave to vehicular traffic and so, we saw an uptick in the number of folks visiting Mass Ave and being able to no worry about too much exposure to vehicle traffic and they could ride their bikes and whatnot.”
The State of Downtown report also looks to the future with major projects in the works, including more development at the 16 Tech Innovation District, as well as Elanco Animal Health’s (NYSE: ELAN) new global headquarters in downtown Indy, the expansion of the Indiana Convention Center, and the expanded Indiana University Health campus.
Downtown Indy Inc. says, looking forward, it will focus on several priorities to guide the resurgence of downtown: enhancing quality of place by focusing on a clean, safe and vibrant downtown; promoting and stimulating economic vitality through a comprehensive brand awareness plan; and engaging the community for a representative and equitable downtown experience.
“It’ll be beautiful this summer. Downtown is cleaner than it ever has been, in my opinion. It feels incredibly safe, so I’m hoping that people will just take advantage of coming downtown to just enjoy the surroundings that they’ve missed for so long.”
You can connect to the full State of Downtown report by clicking here.
Seiwert says the outlook is getting better for businesses that have struggled as people have been working from home.