State of Downtown Indianapolis? There's a lot to like, report says

Coming soon to Downtown Indianapolis:

• Another $1 billion in new projects, from a 28-story apartment tower to a solar-powered transit hub.

• More than 3,000 new apartment units in the next three years, more than were added in the previous five.

• A loyalty card for Downtown residents, similar to the Jagtag flashed by students at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

Downtown Indy, the promotional group, on Tuesday outlined the enhancements to the heart of Indianapolis in its annual "state of Downtown" report.

Presented at Union Station to a crowd of Downtown businesspeople and others, the report was nothing if not upbeat about the future of the greater Mile Square.

"The state of Downtown is incredibly strong," said Sherry Seiwert, president of Downtown Indy. "New restaurants, breweries, galleries, sports teams and exciting events in 2014 expanded the opportunities to explore and engage in a safe, beautiful and vibrant Downtown."

Among the gains the group ticked off for Downtown:

• Six life-sciences projects worth well over $1 billion completed this year and last, including the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Hospital, Riley Hospital Simon Family Tower and IU School of Medicine Neuroscience Research Building.

• A mix of other new apartments and commercial projects, including Axis apartments and Stadium Flats, the Indianapolis Zoo's International Orangutan Center and a new Marsh supermarket at the Axis residence-retail project near the Downtown Canal.

• A doubling, to 113, in the number of events that will be held this year, compared to last, on Georgia Street. The three-block stretch was remodeled with a pedestrian mall feel for the 2012 Super Bowl.

• A drop in crime reports, from 1,975 to 1,729, from 2012 to 2013. The Downtown crimes represent just a fraction of the 55,000 property crimes and crimes against people reported to police citywide last year, Downtown Indy said.

Coming for Downtown's residents, including 4,000 people who moved into 3,131 new units that opened in the past three years, is a new residential membership program called Dwell Downtown.

Downtown Indy said it's working with companies Downtown to offer incentives, discounts, deals and last-minute tickets exclusively for Dwell Downtown members. They will pay $50 annually for a membership card. The program launches in December.

Downtown Indy also announced the launch of its new website, www.downtownindy.org, which took a year to create. The new website "takes all the functionality of the old website to a new level with mapping capabilities, comprehensive neighborhood information, separate pages for individual events and more," the group said.

Call Star reporter Jeff Swiatek at (317)444-6483. Follow him on Twitter: @JeffSwiatek.

How well do you know your Downtown?

Take our quiz to find out if you're:

Urban-attuned (9-10 answers correct)

Urban-awake (6-8 correct)

Barely urban (3-5 correct)

Better off in the 'burbs (2 or fewer correct)

1. The new Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Hospital is named for:

a. Chinese art dealers who endowed the hospital.

b. Husband and wife physicians who worked at the hospital.

c. A local real estate developer and his wife.

d. A California brother and sister who grew up in Indianapolis.

2. Downtown has about how many hotel rooms?

a. 14,000.

b. 7,000.

c. 3,000.

d. 1,500.

3. What percent of Downtown sidewalks were rated clean by Downtown Indy in its latest check?

a. none.

b. 20%.

c. 75%.

d. 95%.

4. Which supermarket chain will open a store in the planned 28-story Market Square Tower apartments?

a. Marsh.

b. Fresh Thyme.

c. Earth Fare.

d. Whole Foods.

5. Which of these apartment projects opened its doors in 2014?

a. Axis.

b. Stadium Flats.

c. 9 on Canal.

d. All of the above.

6. The vacancy rate for Downtown office buildings is running about:

a. 10%.

b. 20%.

c. 30%.

d. 40%.

7. A pedestrian mall complete with heat lamps has been created on what Downtown street?

a. Georgia.

b. Alabama.

c. Maryland.

d. Virginia.

8. More surveyed business leaders choose to live Downtown for this reason than any other:

a. It's a lifestyle thing.

b. It's cheap.

c. No more commuting.

d. Love the architecture.

9. What portion of Downtown apartments are considered affordable (average rent of $735 a month):

a. Hardly any.

b. About a third.

c. Fully half.

d. Most.

10. Which is NOT one of Mayor Greg Ballard's ideas for making Downtown cooler?

a. A community park with Foosball and PingPong.

b. A bus transit center with solar power.

c. A new courthouse along the White River.

d. A 1,000-space parking garage for Angie's List employees.

And a bonus question for those who made it this far:

If you observe busking Downtown, what are you looking at?

a. People riding buses without paying.

b. Street performances.

c. Waiters busing tables.

d. Peregrine falcons mating.

Answers: 1. (c) 2. (b) 3. (d) 4. (d) 5. (d) 6. (b) 7. (a) 8. (a) 9. (b) 10. (c) Bonus: (b)