BROAD RIPPLE IDENTITY CRISIS WORSENS, 2022 NOT KIND TO THE VILLAGE

2022 was hard on Broad Ripple. Weekend shootings and stabbings (widely covered on media) reinforced the (incorrect) notion that the Village is unsafe. Even my hair cutter at Bobby Cooper who lives downtown quipped "I wouldn't go out here, day or night". She also refuses to take the Red Line for a similar reason.

Overstated or not, perception has harmed local businesses and the Village. Residents of my apartment complex no longer visit the Village on weekend nights much less Butler students.

Three years ago we were complaining about too many bars in the Village. Now we have the problem that they are not well attended. Even Hopcat closes early on Friday and Saturday as they told me no one comes.

Many of the businesses have closed. Even the LA Fitness in Glendale is gone. The Chase Bank branch is also closing in February (where I bank). The manager told me they were upset by the break in that happened on a Saturday night and the lackluster response of IMPD. The Kroger is long gone leaving us with only the over-priced Fresh Thyme Market.

We need a bold vision and fresh leadership to take back our Village. No more abandoned buildings. No more closed streets. Let's have a Village party for all on a Saturday night where everyone can feel welcome again. Let's have a Village festival to show case we are open for business. We need proactive, visible measures to offset the negative perception around town. Hiding your head in the sand is not a strategy.

It's so bad that Garden District (the new salad place in Nora) told me they considered a Broad Ripple location but picked Nora instead (they are next to the Starbucks and Greenleaf juice bar) since their proprietary model rated Broad Ripple a "declining neighborhood" with lower incomes. You know you have problems when Nora is looking good.

We also need to keep the Broad Ripple Park pool open with longer hours and a longer season. It's one amenity our competitor don't have. Ditto for the IndyGo Red Line bus rapid transit which gives residents access to downtown in 20 minutes (and points south including Fountain Square) with frequent service on the great all electric buses which run every 15-20 minutes. Another amenity of the Village that needs promotion. Unfortunately no one takes it and the few that do appear not be paying fares.

And finally we have the new (albeit controversial) Broad Ripple Park Family Center (which unfortunately is also a Community Health Network clinic sitting on 5 acres of former Broad Ripple Park land) which hopefully will attract residents from our many new modern apartments.

In short, work needs to be done. The current path is simply not sustainable. And perception is reality.

Bill Malcolm