National real estate, planning expert to address Indy’s walkability

Indy Chamber News Archives

A Conversation about Indy’s Walkable Future offered free to the public June 9

As Indianapolis puts increasing emphasis on walkability and its impact on economic opportunities, a national real estate and urban planning expert will participate in a June 9 public conversation about Indy’s walkable future.

Christopher B. Leinberger, co-author of “Foot Traffic Ahead,” which ranks the country’s 30 largest metropolitan areas based on the strength of their Walkable Urban Places, will discuss the benefits of businesses locating close together, including better access to workers and customers, new ideas inspired by competition, and a collective success that exceeds what businesses could achieve separately.

When “Foot Traffic Ahead” was first published in 2014, the Indy metro area wasn’t included because it ranks 33^rd in population. But Leinberger and his co-author, Patrick Lynch, are updating the study and including metro Indy. The updated study will be released June 14.

Leinberger will specifically discuss Indy’s walkability as it compares to other cities, what Indy’s ranking might mean for the local economy, and the trend of Walkable Urbanism as it relates to mass transit. In addition, he’ll talk about how more walkable regions correlate with higher earnings, a more educated workforce, higher GDP, better quality of life and stronger real estate markets. In advance of the session, Leinberger will tour the city and be briefed on the Marion County Transit Plan. 

“A Conversation about Indy’s Walkable Future” will take place June 9 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Ivy Tech Corporate College and Culinary Center, 2820 N. Meridian St. It is open to the public and free of charge. 

Leinberger is a land-use strategist, teacher, developer, researcher and author of “The Option of Urbanism, Investing in a New American Dream” and “Strategic Planning for Real Estate Companies.” His is president of LOCUS, a network of responsible real estate developers and investors, which is a program of Smart Growth America. He writes regularly for The Atlantic Monthly and The New York Times. For more information, visit http://chrisleinberger.com/.

Following Leinberger’s presentation, a question-and-answer session moderated by Bill Ehret, a commercial Realtor with Avison Young and board member of the Central Indiana Regional Transit Authority (CIRTA), will allow attendees to engage in the conversation. 

WHAT:                 A Conversation about Indy’s Walkable Future

WHEN:                 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., June 9

WHERE:                Ivy Tech Corporate College and Culinary Center, Rooms 119 and 121, 2820 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis

WHO:                    Christopher B. Leinberger, real estate and urban planning guru and author

COST:                    Free, but registration is requested at http://ow.ly/RONN300b5Ly

SPONSORS:        Indy Connect and MIBOR REALTOR® Association

CO-HOSTS:         American Institute of Architects (AIA), Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), Health by Design, Indiana Citizens’ Alliance for Transit, NAIOP Indiana, The Urban Land Institute (ULI), WalkWays:  Moving Indy Forward

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MEDIA CONTACT: Jen Thomas, [email protected], 317-441-2487