However, Indianapolis is experiencing an exciting surge of redevelopment and beautification projects. Even some gentrification.
Two companies I've looked at renting from (Van Rooy Properties and Reverie Estates) both have spent a lot of money renovating downtown properties into beautiful apartments. Think high ceilings, wood floors, quaint accent arches, and even old-style elevators that have wrought-iron gates. The work they've done - and the prices they're charging - have proved that it's not necessary to continue sprawling Indianapolis in order to create "something new," or create desirable spaces to live. Among other "soft revolutions" going on in Indianapolis (think art, bike lanes, CSAs, etc.), the renovation trend is really changing the city from the inside out.
As anyone who's visited us has experienced first-hand, my fiancee and I live in a small space. We share about 300 square feet with each other, a cat, and three bicycles. To choose to "live small" in the Midwest - even in Indiana's largest city, and the 12th largest in the nation - is an idea that still quite hasn't taken hold.
We have been tossing around the idea of moving. This 300-square-foot space gets small in the winter, as we're discovering. Increasingly, though, we're seeing some disadvantages in moving. The process is a pain, we'd be breaking our lease agreement, etc. At the moment, the pros, like price and location, are weighing out the cons. We'll be staying here for the forseeable future.
To envision 300 square feet, imagine you're about 5'5". Lay yourself down along one wall 3.5 times, and then lay yourself perpendicularly another 2.5 times.Now we're trying to change our attitude about the small space, rather than change the space. It's quite trendy now to "live small;" maybe we can hop on the bandwagon. After all, camaraderie is nice.
