Speedway is a very small town. So small, in fact, that it seems perfectly reasonable to me that one would get a golf cart to drive around the town. How nice would that be to be able to take a golf cart from Meadowood to Main? How about taking a golf cart to the Speedway H.S. football game from Old Speedway neighborhood near 10th and Main? Of course, I understand that we don't want golf carts on Crawfordsville, Lynhurst, 16th, 10th, High School, or (sort of) Moeller Rd. However, one can pretty much get anywhere in town on back roads.
Alas, our local laws prevent it.
Speedway Code Section 10.24.030(5) states, "It shall be unlawful for any nay person to operate a golf cart, all-terrain vehicle (ATV), snowmobile, pedal cab or any similar vehicle on the streets of the town. Any person in violation of this section shall be fined $75.00 per offense." Believe it or not, this applies on Race Day as well. Does that make sense? People who live in Speedway can't transport people TO the track in a golf cart, yet IMS can have people AT the track to transport people in golf carts. In fact, the Speedway P.D. is empowered to confiscate any golf cars they see operating in public.
Huh.
I think Speedway should repeal this law and replace it with a law that specifically allows the use of a golf cart on "secondary" streets throughout town. It would be necessary for Speedway to pass that law in order to permit use of golf carts locally, as Indiana Code Section 9-21-1-3.3, which states in relevant part, "A city, county, or town may adopt by ordinance traffic regulations concerning the use of golf carts or off-road vehicles, or both on a highway under the jurisdiction of the city, county, or town."
How about it Town Council?
Any interest in allowing the residents of Speedway to operate golf carts on the "Secondary" streets? I won't even get into how this could positively affect the so-called "parking problem" we have in Speedway, but suffice it to say that a standard golf cart parking space is 4' X 8', whereas the standard vehicle parking spot is 9' X 18'. By my calculation, that means that parking a car requires 162 sq. feet and parking a golf cart requires 32 sq. ft. Stated another way, a golf car requires less than 20% the parking space as a standard vehicle.
Huh.
Showing posts with label to do. Show all posts
Showing posts with label to do. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Lowering the Bar
Can we, for once, insist on excellence?
I went to the State of the Town in Speedway the other day, and I could swear some of the speakers were apologizing for it. I'm still trying to figure out why someone would apologize for the state of Speedway. What was once a deserted alley next to industrial property now rivals Broad Ripple Ave., Mass Ave., and Fountain Square with respect to having something to do in the community.
It used to be that if you wanted to go out for dinner and a drink in Speedway, you were more or less relegated to Dawson's or McGilvery's. Please know, I have nothing but positive things to say about both of those places. However, I would assert that having a dozen options now is better than having the 2 options from a few years ago. This is not something for which to apologize.
I was moderately impressed with Ken Hull. I'm a former teacher, so education policy is near and dear to the heart. The Superintendent should talk less about test scores and more about his educational vision. What is it that Speedway H.S. is all about? For the mathematically inclined, I would suggest engineering. For those who are into English, marketing seems apt. I could go on. My point is that Speedway schools are excellent, among the very best schools in Marion County. This is something to be proud of; we need not apologize for it.
I propose a revolution of competence in our community and our country. I don't care how you incorporate your faith into your job or, frankly, what your faith is. I don't necessarily even care which party you come from. If you are a local official, I really don't care about your position on abortion or foreign policy. I want you to be good at your job.
Here in Speedway, that means that I want you to continue working on economic development. The old college try isn't good enough either; I want results. I want you to effectively reach out to IMS and Allison Transmission. Those are the two biggest businesses in Speedway and anchor each end of Main St. Pray tell, why do we only reach out to them when we want money? Why are we not partnering with them? For example, does Speedway H.S. have a partnership w/ them? I mentioned marketing and engineering above. IMS does a lot of marketing; the teams that race there, as well as Allison, do a lot of engineering. Do we have a summer jobs program? An "exploratory employment" program?
Please direct my attention to another town of 12,000 that has a world-famous event such as the Indianapolis 500 (IMS). Please direct my attention to another town of 12,000 that is home to a corporation that employs thousands globally. That our town officials don't leverage this is a tragic wasted opportunity.
Competency.
Please.
I went to the State of the Town in Speedway the other day, and I could swear some of the speakers were apologizing for it. I'm still trying to figure out why someone would apologize for the state of Speedway. What was once a deserted alley next to industrial property now rivals Broad Ripple Ave., Mass Ave., and Fountain Square with respect to having something to do in the community.
It used to be that if you wanted to go out for dinner and a drink in Speedway, you were more or less relegated to Dawson's or McGilvery's. Please know, I have nothing but positive things to say about both of those places. However, I would assert that having a dozen options now is better than having the 2 options from a few years ago. This is not something for which to apologize.
I was moderately impressed with Ken Hull. I'm a former teacher, so education policy is near and dear to the heart. The Superintendent should talk less about test scores and more about his educational vision. What is it that Speedway H.S. is all about? For the mathematically inclined, I would suggest engineering. For those who are into English, marketing seems apt. I could go on. My point is that Speedway schools are excellent, among the very best schools in Marion County. This is something to be proud of; we need not apologize for it.
I propose a revolution of competence in our community and our country. I don't care how you incorporate your faith into your job or, frankly, what your faith is. I don't necessarily even care which party you come from. If you are a local official, I really don't care about your position on abortion or foreign policy. I want you to be good at your job.
Here in Speedway, that means that I want you to continue working on economic development. The old college try isn't good enough either; I want results. I want you to effectively reach out to IMS and Allison Transmission. Those are the two biggest businesses in Speedway and anchor each end of Main St. Pray tell, why do we only reach out to them when we want money? Why are we not partnering with them? For example, does Speedway H.S. have a partnership w/ them? I mentioned marketing and engineering above. IMS does a lot of marketing; the teams that race there, as well as Allison, do a lot of engineering. Do we have a summer jobs program? An "exploratory employment" program?
Please direct my attention to another town of 12,000 that has a world-famous event such as the Indianapolis 500 (IMS). Please direct my attention to another town of 12,000 that is home to a corporation that employs thousands globally. That our town officials don't leverage this is a tragic wasted opportunity.
Competency.
Please.
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Thoughts on Redevelopment, Positive and Otherwise
I like it.
America is building itself out a lot faster than it is populating itself.
I think that the ongoing efforts at redevelopment in Speedway have been a net positive. Granted, I did not live her prior to the roundabout at the end of Main Street. However, I had lived in Indianapolis for a long time. Speedway wasn't a place that anyone I knew ever really wanted to go, with the exception of going for a race a few times a year.
Things appear to have changed, and I believe that to be a good thing. I think that it's a good thing that I can take my family out for ice cream on Main street at Yogulatte. I think that it's a good thing that I can go to Charlie Brown's on Saturday morning... particularly since the staff there is so gracious. I think it's a good thing that I can belly up to the rail at Dawson's. I can do all of these things and keep my money right here in Speedway.
While we're on the topic of redevelopment, when is it going to spread west along Crawfordsville? The entire complex where the town of Speedway has its annex building is essentially empty, with the exception of Kohls and TJ Maxx.
The Kroger complex is full, but the stores kind of suck. There is certainly no local flare to anything there, and it all kind of seems to exist to spite us all. This area could certainly use some redevelopment.
While I'm ranting, I am certainly no fan of what has happened on the south side of Crawfordsville near High School Road. The so-called "Speedway Marketplace." The best we can do is a Burger King, a nails place, and a Verizon Store? No Fresh Thyme. No Trader Joe's. No Pogue's Run type of place.
Speedway has shown that it can do big things. Main Street is no joke. Real estate there is appreciating significantly. We host, annually, one of the largest spectator-sports events in the world.
Where are our representatives on this? Town Councilor David Lindsay, where are you? Town Councilor Eileen Fisher, where are you? What is going on as to efforts to spread the redevelopment?
Perhaps it hasn't been fully explained, but the bond issued to redevelop Main Street is a loan that has to be paid back. The plan is to pay that bond back with increased taxes collected on the commercial property on Main Street. The property taxes increase because the project/redevelopment increases the value of the property. Rates don't go up; values do, and you can pay the money back with the increased revenues. However, if the project doesn't work, we ALL get stuck with the bill for the bond. That includes Meadowood Park area, Alison Elementary area, Newby, etc.
I am a fan of the redevelopment. I want it to come to my area. However, if the bill for the party comes due and I never got to participate in the festivities, I will be one pissed off citizen.
America is building itself out a lot faster than it is populating itself.
I think that the ongoing efforts at redevelopment in Speedway have been a net positive. Granted, I did not live her prior to the roundabout at the end of Main Street. However, I had lived in Indianapolis for a long time. Speedway wasn't a place that anyone I knew ever really wanted to go, with the exception of going for a race a few times a year.
Things appear to have changed, and I believe that to be a good thing. I think that it's a good thing that I can take my family out for ice cream on Main street at Yogulatte. I think that it's a good thing that I can go to Charlie Brown's on Saturday morning... particularly since the staff there is so gracious. I think it's a good thing that I can belly up to the rail at Dawson's. I can do all of these things and keep my money right here in Speedway.
 |
| Sure makes me want to hang out and spend some money |
While we're on the topic of redevelopment, when is it going to spread west along Crawfordsville? The entire complex where the town of Speedway has its annex building is essentially empty, with the exception of Kohls and TJ Maxx.
 |
| Going to this Kroger just makes me depressed |
 |
| Makes me want to run away |
While I'm ranting, I am certainly no fan of what has happened on the south side of Crawfordsville near High School Road. The so-called "Speedway Marketplace." The best we can do is a Burger King, a nails place, and a Verizon Store? No Fresh Thyme. No Trader Joe's. No Pogue's Run type of place.
Speedway has shown that it can do big things. Main Street is no joke. Real estate there is appreciating significantly. We host, annually, one of the largest spectator-sports events in the world.
Where are our representatives on this? Town Councilor David Lindsay, where are you? Town Councilor Eileen Fisher, where are you? What is going on as to efforts to spread the redevelopment?
Perhaps it hasn't been fully explained, but the bond issued to redevelop Main Street is a loan that has to be paid back. The plan is to pay that bond back with increased taxes collected on the commercial property on Main Street. The property taxes increase because the project/redevelopment increases the value of the property. Rates don't go up; values do, and you can pay the money back with the increased revenues. However, if the project doesn't work, we ALL get stuck with the bill for the bond. That includes Meadowood Park area, Alison Elementary area, Newby, etc.
I am a fan of the redevelopment. I want it to come to my area. However, if the bill for the party comes due and I never got to participate in the festivities, I will be one pissed off citizen.
Saturday, February 4, 2017
On Main Street Redevelopment
You just cannot convince me that the redevelopment on Main Street has been a net negative for Speedway. Can't do it.
It has been a positive.
As I gather it, Speedway used to be, and still is, marked by its excellent schools and the races. However, there is now something for young adults to do in Speedway now. Having people want to live near Main St. so they can go out to the bars and restaurants is a good thing.
I am glad that I can take my family out for breakfast at Charlie Brown's. It is a good thing that I can get a coffee at Mister Lino's. I feel fortunate to be able to belly up to the rail at Dawson's or Big Woods. Likewise, I'm glad I can get a DareDevil at the brewery, or for a buck less at Bourbon & BBQ. Let's not forget that we have some of the best BBQ in the city here in Speedway.
I do not have scientific data to back this up, but I suspect that home values in the area bounded by Main on the East, 10th on the South, Lynhurst (and definitely Winton) on the West, and 16th/Crawfordsville (not entirely sure where the line should logically be) on the north have risen faster than home values either in the remainder of Speedway or in Marion County generally.
Would I like some other things on Main Street? Absolutely. Would I like the efforts to spread throughout Speedway? No doubt about it.
I am also aware of the "controversy" regarding parking on Main Street. While I generally try to be as respectful as possible of other's opinions, I am continually dumbfounded as to why people believe that they are entitled to free parking anywhere they go.
I will post more in the future on my thoughts re. redevelopment efforts elsewhere in Speedway, parking issues, density, etc.
It has been a positive.
As I gather it, Speedway used to be, and still is, marked by its excellent schools and the races. However, there is now something for young adults to do in Speedway now. Having people want to live near Main St. so they can go out to the bars and restaurants is a good thing.
I am glad that I can take my family out for breakfast at Charlie Brown's. It is a good thing that I can get a coffee at Mister Lino's. I feel fortunate to be able to belly up to the rail at Dawson's or Big Woods. Likewise, I'm glad I can get a DareDevil at the brewery, or for a buck less at Bourbon & BBQ. Let's not forget that we have some of the best BBQ in the city here in Speedway.
I do not have scientific data to back this up, but I suspect that home values in the area bounded by Main on the East, 10th on the South, Lynhurst (and definitely Winton) on the West, and 16th/Crawfordsville (not entirely sure where the line should logically be) on the north have risen faster than home values either in the remainder of Speedway or in Marion County generally.
Would I like some other things on Main Street? Absolutely. Would I like the efforts to spread throughout Speedway? No doubt about it.
I am also aware of the "controversy" regarding parking on Main Street. While I generally try to be as respectful as possible of other's opinions, I am continually dumbfounded as to why people believe that they are entitled to free parking anywhere they go.
I will post more in the future on my thoughts re. redevelopment efforts elsewhere in Speedway, parking issues, density, etc.
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