All Forum Posts by: Lynne MacFarlane

I found this thought-provoking article on how the robotics industry is powered by high-tech centers as well as manufacturing hubs—with a distinct “Robot Belt” in the #Midwest.: As robots increasingly become a part of our daily lives, a growing chorus of commentators warns that they may take away our jobs and further damage the once great Rust Belt cities that once powered the American economy and served as the backbone of the middle class. But which cities and regions will house the robot revolution? Will the rise of robotics correct or reinforce America’s growing spatial inequality?

https://www.citylab.com/life/2018/07/americas-new-robot-geography/564155/

Hi @Clay Sellers

Yeah, I saw that website too, but I never read the report (2015). Are they on track to attracting more businesses? Looks nice and the dream seems ambitious.

Great articles, thanks Mike! Let's hope Indy keeps attracting the talent and continues pushing the needle forward!

Hi @Clay Sellers! Thanks for teaching me a new word, "The Promise Zone!" I was looking at housing/lofts in Milwaukee, maybe that's the same, I'll research that. I was looking at Ft Worth and areas of gentrification and I find it fascinating. Indy seems a little more harder to predict as I'm driving street by street and see differences in microareas. 

Path of progress: I'm trying to figure that one out for Indy. The CJC was just something thats been on my mind.  I think of new transportation hubs, bike infrastructures, new zoning for commercial businesses. Anyway, thanks for discussing, this is interesting.

Hi @Mike D'Arrigo

Just my general opinion from driving around Indianapolis, there were so many potholes on my last visit there I thought that my rental car agent was insistent on me buying their insurance for their bad potholes and yes, one can file a claim as the article states. The pothole issue has become a meme and actually quite entertaining to read the comments in the IndyStar... And Indy Pothole even has it's own Twitter account! 

The infrastructure definitely needs improvement to attract AMZ but I bet they (& Jeff Bezo) will choose Virginia/Maryland/DC Area  because: 1) Bezo has a new home in DC  2) more talent and mass transit in DC. I do agree with you that Indy can be a major distribution center being central to midwest, but for their HQ2 they're looking for places to attract international software talent and culturally Indiana/Indianapolis is a bit conservative compared to Seattle.  But I hope I'm wrong, let's hope Indy can attract more private software companies; It would be great to see a huge influx of jobs & supporting industries to sustain them here in Indianapolis. Seattle has just exploded because of AMZ and the start-ups that branched from Microsoft oh! and the video gaming industry is big there too. Maybe Indy can develop more workspace entrepreneur thinktanks, that would be a great way to lure in the millennials (that and brew pubs, Indy has great pubs!)

@Josh C.Yes! I have been reading about Oceanpointe/Morris Investments. That's horrible.

I was amazed how trendy (and relatively expensive) Fountain Square is and established Broad Ripple areas are. Irvington has a growing strong sense of community which is very nice to see and as you mentioned,  there are cultural activities & dining options (plenty of nice brew pubs cropping up everywhere!) to make downtown a thriving small livable city. 

Indianapolis was on Amazon's HQ2 list & hopefully more private tech companies land in Indy as it transitions from manufacturing; Plenty of great colleges/university creating a talent pool which is attractive.   Still  I personally don't believe Indy has the infrastructure to support the big influx that AMZ would bring, but maybe satellite midwest offices (such as Salesforce) would be a good fit. 

Judicial Center: It seems they will have all the courthouses will bring  more shops, restaurants to the in the Twin Aire neighborhood. I wonder if they're seeing more small business loans coming up! 

Anyway, it's just great to see revitalization in a lot of these poor communities and as investors it would be great to be involved to make a difference. I'm starting to connect with folks on Facebook pages and it's really great insight!