Great Indy Neighborhoods: Publications


Neighborhood Resource Guide	< Back to Table of Contents

2: Vision
Healthy neighborhoods foster the creation of a “future community vision” and develop a holistic set of neighborhood strategies to achieve that vision. The ability to collaborate across barriers and sectors to successfully implement these strategies is recognized and valued.

QUESTION – Who can help us get people in the neighborhood to work together to develop a vision for the community?
ANSWER - Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center (INRC) INRC provides information and support to residents and neighborhood-based organizations. It works directly with Marion County neighborhood-based organizations, including neighborhood and homeowners’ associations, community development corporations, faith-based organizations, and other nonprofit groups. INRC offers technical assistance and various training opportunities to help grassroots neighborhood organizations address issues that impact the quality of life in their neighborhoods. It may also present on-site workshops in neighborhoods on subjects such as Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), Building Strong Networks & Collaborations, Marketing Your Neighborhood, Direct Advocacy and Facilitation and Planning for Action and Results. Contact 920-0330 or http://www.inrc.org.
QUESTION - Where can we get information that will be helpful in creating a vision for our community?
ANSWER - City of Indianapolis Division of Planning, Information Resources & Policy Analysis (IRPA) IRPA provides community information from various sources, including U.S. Census demographic information, business information from Dunn and Bradstreet, address information from the U.S. Postal Service, bank activity information from Home Mortgage Disclosure Act information, and building permit data from city files. IRPA provides city staff, the public and others with high quality information resources concerning neighborhoods and development in the Indianapolis metropolitan area. This information may be helpful in completing grant applications or for determining existing conditions in a neighborhood. Contact 327-5155 or http://www.indygov.org/eGov/City/DMD/Planning/home.htm.
ANSWER - City of Indianapolis Division of Planning, Subarea Planning Subarea Planning staff provide planning and technical assistance for areas that are smaller than townships (for example - neighborhood, corridor, redevelopment area, and economic development area plans), mostly in Center Township. Technical assistance includes collection and analysis of specialized information that is used in planning and other similar efforts, assistance in the development of community land use and zoning plans, and assistance with meeting facilitation. Contact 327-5155 or http://www.indygov.org/eGov/City/DMD/Planning/home.htm.
ANSWER – Indianapolis Marion County Public Library The Central Library provides free assistance in finding statistics for your neighborhood or organization. Call 269-5288.
ANSWER - Social Assets and Vulnerabilities Indicators (SAVI) SAVI, overhauled in 2005 to be more user-friendly, is an information system that allows users to map, compare, and store data about central Indiana communities from over 40 data sources. SAVI has information on crime, education, welfare, demographics, economy, health, community assets, and human service programs. The web site allows access to data in interactive maps and tables. Step-by-step tools help users create a quick map. Visit http://www.savi.org.
ANSWER - U.S. Census Factfinder The U.S. Census web site allows users to prepare profiles for almost any geographic area. Tables, maps and reports may be prepared that include information on population counts, age and gender, disability, education, employment, income, origins and language, poverty, race and ethnicity, relationships, veteran status, and housing. Visit http://factfinder.census.gov.
QUESTION - Who can help prepare a plan for our neighborhood?
ANSWER - Ball State University, College of Architecture and Planning: Indianapolis Center The Center draws from the inter-disciplinary nature of the College programs in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, and historic preservation and provides assistance in community analysis and visioning. Contact 822-6167 or capic@bsu.edu.
ANSWER - City of Indianapolis Division of Planning, Subarea Planning Subarea Planning can assist with report writing, meeting facilitation and planning assistance. Subarea Planning staff provide planning and technical assistance for areas that are smaller than townships (for example - neighborhood, corridor, redevelopment area, and economic development area plans), mostly in Center Township. Technical assistance includes collection and analysis of specialized information that is used in planning and other similar efforts, assistance in the development of community land use and zoning plans, and assistance with meeting facilitation. Contact 327-5155 or http://www.indygov.org/eGov/City/DMD/Planning/home.htm.
ANSWER - Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center (INRC) INRC can assist with meeting facilitation. INRC provides information and support to residents and neighborhood-based organizations. It works directly with Marion County neighborhood-based organizations, including neighborhood and homeowners’ associations, community development corporations, faith-based organizations, and other nonprofit groups. INRC offers technical assistance and various training opportunities to help grassroots neighborhood organizations address issues that impact the quality of life in their neighborhoods. It may also present on-site workshops in neighborhoods on subjects such as Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), Building Strong Networks & Collaborations, Marketing Your Neighborhood, Direct Advocacy and Facilitation and Planning for Action and Results. Contact 920-0330 or http://www.inrc.org.
QUESTION – Who can help improve communication among neighborhood residents?
ANSWER - Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center (INRC) INRC provides information and support to residents and neighborhood-based organizations. It works directly with Marion County neighborhood-based organizations, including neighborhood and homeowners’ associations, community development corporations, faith-based organizations, and other nonprofit groups. INRC offers technical assistance and various training opportunities to help grassroots neighborhood organizations address issues that impact the quality of life in their neighborhoods. It may also present on-site workshops in neighborhoods on subjects such as Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), Building Strong Networks & Collaborations, Marketing Your Neighborhood, Direct Advocacy and Facilitation and Planning for Action and Results. Contact 920-0330 or http://www.inrc.org.
ANSWER - Mayor's Neighborhood Liaisons Neighborhood Liaisons serve as a bridge between citizens and city government, acting as ombudsmen and providing a communication link between neighborhoods and the City. Assistance to neighborhoods includes helping to establish new neighborhood organizations, bringing community groups together to address common issues, providing information on zoning ordinances and land use issues, providing information on how to participate in the zoning process, and registering/updating registration online. Assistance to businesses includes helping merchants in business expansion or relocation focus on the economic needs of the community and helping locate vacant properties and buildings. Contact 327-5039 or http://www.indygov.org/myneighborhood.
QUESTION – Who can help our neighborhood with its land use and zoning issues?
ANSWER - City of Indianapolis, Division of Planning, Current Planning Section Current Planning daily designates a planner to provide information over the phone on general land use issues (except Wednesday mornings). General questions, from the history of a specific site, to Comprehensive Plan recommendations, to an interpretation of the zoning ordinance, can be answered. Contact 327-5155 or http://www.indygov.org/eGov/City/DMD/Planning/home.htm.
ANSWER - City of Indianapolis Division of Planning, Subarea Planning Subarea Planning helps prepare land use and zoning plans that may be adopted by the Metropolitan Development Commission (MDC) and used by MDC staff to prepare their comments for rezoning and variance cases. Subarea Planning staff provide planning and technical assistance for areas that are smaller than townships (for example - neighborhood, corridor, redevelopment area, and economic development area plans), mostly in Center Township. Technical assistance includes collection and analysis of specialized information that is used in planning and other similar efforts, assistance in the development of community land use and zoning plans, and assistance with meeting facilitation. Contact 327-5155 or http://www.indygov.org/eGov/City/DMD/Planning/home.htm.
ANSWER - Mayor's Neighborhood Liaisons Neighborhood Liaisons serve as a bridge between citizens and city government, acting as ombudsmen and providing a communication link between neighborhoods and the City. Assistance to neighborhoods includes helping to establish new neighborhood organizations, bringing community groups together to address common issues, providing information on zoning ordinances and land use issues, providing information on how to participate in the zoning process, and registering/updating registration online. Assistance to businesses includes helping merchants in business expansion or relocation focus on the economic needs of the community and helping locate vacant properties and buildings. Contact 327-5039 or http://www.indygov.org/myneighborhood.