Assessing downtown cleanliness

One reason Indianapolis gets lots of conventions is because the downtown is reasonably clean, especially compared to some
other cities. Cleanliness also makes the downtown a good place for businesses to operate.

It comes through hard
work. As reported in this week’s IBJ, Indianapolis Downtown Inc. patrols 370 blocks and rate them for cleanliness. The
not-for-profit gets good cooperation; for the most part, property owners and managers cooperate and keep their sidewalks free
of litter and gunk.

So the sidewalks are clean. But what about the rest of the downtown? It isn’t hard to
find paint peeling from the black fences surrounding flower beds.

And then there are the odors. Certain areas of
downtown have never smelled good due to the combined sewer overflow, but have you noticed some flower beds and alleys beginning
to smell like, well, sewers? How would you rate downtown as an overall place to live and work?