Tony Katz, a prominent Indianapolis entrepreneur, is championing a bold $1 billion proposal from the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce to transform West Street. The plan would lower sections of the thoroughfare below ground, cap them with new east‑west surface connectors, pedestrian walkways and open green space, linking key downtown assets such as IU Health, the 16 Tech innovation district, the Canal and Lucas Oil Stadium.
Why the proposal matters for Indy’s future
Katz argues that the city needs a long‑range roadmap to guide growth over the next five decades. He says the current municipal leadership has failed to provide the foresight required for such a transformative project. “It’s the stuff that we have not seen from this leadership at all,” he told WIBC. “There is no leadership from Hogsett, and there is no leadership from the City‑County Council.”
Political backdrop
The criticism is aimed at Mayor Joe Hogsett and the Democratic‑controlled City‑County Council, whom Katz accuses of moving at the speed of bureaucracy. He does, however, give credit to Republican Councilor Michael Paul Hart for pushing smart‑growth conversations within the council chambers.
“I don’t know if it’s totally right, but man, I love the idea of the effort and the trying,” Katz said. “He has all the respect from me in the world.”
Recent city actions raise concerns
Katz also highlighted what he calls “dirty politics” surrounding the city’s recent push for a municipal soccer stadium near Lucas Oil Stadium. The effort followed the city’s abrupt withdrawal of support for Indy Eleven owner Ersal Ozdemir and the Keystone Group, a move Katz described as an “ugly system” that should embarrass City Hall.
“You know, the one they stole from Ersal Ozdemir, Indy Eleven, the Keystone Group, through a really ugly system to which the city should be embarrassed and ashamed,” he noted, adding that Ozdemir is likely to “get the last laugh because he’s rebuilding the whole damn city.”
Economic and regional implications
If adopted, the West Street project would give Indianapolis a competitive edge in the Midwest, creating a continuous, pedestrian‑friendly corridor that could attract further investment and tourism. The Chamber’s vision positions Indy as a regional hub, a claim Katz backs by noting the city’s status as the “capital of the Midwest.”
“Why don’t we act like it? It’s not Chicago. It’s us. Let’s go take it,” he said.
Next steps
The proposal is still in the discussion phase. The Chamber hopes city officials will move beyond “thinking small” and consider the long‑term benefits of a re‑imagined West Street. Katz encourages residents to stay informed and to voice support for bold, forward‑looking development that aligns with Indianapolis’s growth potential.
Listeners can hear Katz’s full commentary on WIBC 93.1 FM or stream the segment on‑demand via the station’s website.
Original reporting: 93.1 WIBC (Indianapolis) — read the source article.
