HARMONI (Historic Midtown North Initiative)
HARMONI was a coalition-led vision to revitalize Indianapolis’ Midtown District, uniting four neighborhood organizations around a shared goal of strengthening connectivity, infrastructure, and neighborhood identity. Grounded in the principles of the Regional Pedestrian Plan prepared by SKA, the initiative established a comprehensive strategy to calm traffic, improve walkability and bike access, reinvest in aging infrastructure, and enhance cultural and commercial corridors.
Storrow Kinsella Associates supported HARMONI in shaping a unified vision and implementation strategy across the interconnected neighborhoods of Butler-Tarkington, Meridian-Kessler, and Broad Ripple. Through robust public engagement and coalition-building, SKA aligned diverse stakeholders around a shared framework for multimodal connectivity, parks, and complete streets.
Early-phase projects included improvements linking neighborhoods to the Monon Trail, enhanced access to the Central Canal, and gateway investments such as Alice Carter Place—laying the groundwork for a more cohesive and connected urban district.
Historic North Meridian Streetscape
Storrow Kinsella Associates assisted HARMONI in securing a federal grant through the Indy MPO and partnered with the City of Indianapolis and Midtown Indianapolis to transform Historic North Meridian Street into a safer, more connected, and pedestrian-oriented corridor. Across multiple phases, from planning and environmental documentation to traffic analysis, design, and implementation, SKA guided a comprehensive approach to corridor transformation.
Key improvements included reconfiguring the Westfield Boulevard intersection, enhancing pedestrian access to the Central Canal towpath, and establishing a strengthened gateway at Alice Carter Place. The result is a revitalized historic corridor that balances mobility, safety, and neighborhood identity while restoring critical connections within the Midtown district.
Alice Carter Place Gateway Park
Alice Carter Gateway Park transformed an underutilized site into a welcoming civic gateway for the Midtown District. Located at the convergence of Meridian Street, Westfield Boulevard, and the Central Canal, the project builds on the connectivity improvements of the North Meridian Streetscape to create a safer, more legible, and people-centered public space.
High-quality placemaking elements establish a distinct identity while creating a gathering space that connects adjacent neighborhoods to the Canal and regional greenway system. As an early implementation of the HARMONI vision, the park demonstrates how targeted investment in public space can reinforce connectivity, enhance sense of place, and deliver lasting district value.