INDIANAPOLIS — Mayor Greg Ballard recently joined Indianapolis Downtown Inc. to outline a goal of creating Indy’s 7th cultural district — Market East. The district centers on new development taking place on and around the former Market Square Arena site.
Market East will build on the great architectural history of the City Market and Old City Hall and add new signature structures like the IndyGo Downtown Transit Center, the Market Square North Tower, Cummins global distribution headquarters and the newly completed first phase of the Artistry Project. City leaders anticipate Market East will over time become a cultural focal point similar to that of the existing cultural districts: Broad Ripple Village, The Canal and White River State Park, Fountain Square, Indiana Avenue, Mass Ave and Wholesale District.
In order to provide a signature public greenspace in this new district, the City is launching a competition to redesign the plaza at the City-County Building. The current plaza bordering Washington Street is deteriorating. The competition will be funded by a $50,000 grant from the Central Indiana Community Foundation through its Inspiring Places Initiative. Once a design is chosen, the City will begin seeking partners and funding for construction of the project. Details on the submission deadlines and requirements are available on line at: www.marketeastindy.com/ccbplaza.