Downtown Indianapolis' Mass Ave to get makeover 7.27.11

FOX 59

It's Indy's arts community and hub for all things cool in the city but even a hipster district needs a makeover once in a while. This fall, Mass Ave is getting a splash of orange, courtesy of RebuildIndy.

"The area has exploded. The Cultural Trail is good but it doesn't have quite the impact that it does unless we can do these roads and sidewalks a little better, they were very, very bumpy," said Mayor Greg Ballard.

The $1 million project is mostly resurfacing and will add new curbs, sidewalks and ramps along six blocks of Massachusetts Avenue between New York and 10th Streets.

The street still will remain open during construction, but Mass Ave will have restrictions. And parking? That'll be even more challenging at times than it is now.

"Any construction downtown, finding parking, roads being blocked, finding a different route, it's tough on businesses live ourselves," said Stephen Phan, a manager at the Bu Da Lounge.
That is a concern, but the overriding sentiment among the merchants is that this short term hassle will be worth the long term gain. This street hasn't received this kind of infrastructure attention in 20 years.

"The work needed to be done," said David Andrichik of the Mass Ave Merchants Association.

"That's a problem. No matter how much you would ask for it, it wouldn't necessarily get done
until you get on a schedule and the money becomes available, and now it's in the line."

"It's like a necessary evil," added Felicia Kemper of Mass Avenue Toys. "You've got to have it."
Sarah Gore, a frequent Mass Avenue shopper doesn't mind any inconvenience.

"I think it's a really good idea that they're doing that," she said. "I think it'll bring more people downtown, it's not going to interrupt how I come down here. I ride my bike or walk down here a lot."

Andrichik believes most merchants are pleased to have the improvements. "Realistically, if you're a merchant in any kind of city, you have to realize there are going to be inconveniences along the way for construction," Andrichik said. Those inconveniences will be out of the way by the end of September -- with five months to spare before the Superbowl

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