by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Indianapolis has at least 20,000 downtown residents, according to Indianapolis Downtown Inc.
Jacksonville has 2,704, projected for this year by Downtown Vision Inc.
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard shared insights into the city’s downtown among his conversations with 120 Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce travelers who visited recently on the 30th annual leadership trip.
The Daily Record interviewed Ballard Wednesday about what he learned and shared during the visit.
“We talked about what we do and how we do it,” said Ballard, who was elected in 2007.
Ballard said Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana, has benefited from close to 40 years of leadership that resulted in success for public-private business relationships as well as the nonprofit sector.
It was that leadership group 40 years ago that established the blueprint for Indianapolis’ downtown progress today, said Ballard.
Many hotels and restaurants have combined with a thriving convention business to create, as Ballard calls it, “the most walkable downtown in America.”
“People have to come together on it,” he said, referring to downtown revitalization. “They have to put aside their differences.”
In Indianapolis, Ballard said officials continue to use sporting events as a focal point downtown, from hosting the Pan American Games in 1987 to its upcoming Super Bowl in 2012. In addition, the city will host the first Big 10 Championship game next year.
In addition, he said crime statistics show Indianapolis’ downtown is the safest district in the city.
He also credits Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) as part of the revitalization effort. The joint urban campus of both state schools has brought and retained high-quality jobs.
Jacksonville leaders are working on revitalization plans for Downtown. The Jacksonville Civic Council has a downtown committee working on plans and the chamber has made Downtown a focus as well.
But despite downtown differences, there are similarities between the two cities, in addition to the NFL rivalry of the Colts and the Jaguars.
Ballard said each city has a comparable budget of around $1 billion annually and each government is facing shortfalls due to decreased revenues. While Jacksonville deals with the shortfall of property tax revenue, Ballard said Indianapolis faces a state income tax deficit of close to $50 million.
Both are consolidated county-cities, with Ballard calling Indianapolis’ efforts “a work in progress” incorporating township governments and public safety departments. Jacksonville has provided information to Indianapolis about consolidation efforts.
Like Jacksonville, Indianapolis is facing challenges. Ballard admits the city’s transit system is “not good” and that while higher education is positive, the K-12 system needs improvement throughout its 11 districts.
Ballard received some advice from the Jacksonville group regarding a transfer of the city’s water and wastewater utilities to Citizens Energy Group, a public charitable trust.
Ballard has been to Jacksonville and while Indianapolis’ chamber of commerce has similar annual leadership trips, he doesn’t know if it will visit Jacksonville. Its November trip is to Austin.
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