City: Indianapolis, IN

Category: Relocation

Description: South of Fletcher Place, Fountain Square is the oldest area of the city inside the central business district to function continually as a recognized commercial area. In 1835, Calvin Fletcher and Nicholas McCarty purchased a 264-acre farm to plat what became the Fountain Square neighborhood. Much of the development was fueled by a large number of German immigrants settling in the area. German and German-American merchants helped establish much of the character of Fountain Square. Fountain Square also played an important part in the city’s theater heritage. From 1910 to 1950, Fountain Square had more operating theaters than anywhere else in Indianapolis. Urban renewal has been an ongoing process, with more than $1 million to be invested in the next few years to restore the signature fountain, create a new public plaza, make improvements to streets, and upgrade the lighting, curbs, and sidewalks.