Our Vision

The Near Westside envisions a clean, tree-lined, front-porch community, with affordable family homes, either newly constructed to compliment this older neighborhood, or restored to preserve the natural wood floors, leaded-glass windows, and other amenities of 100-year-old dwellings. Residents see the Near Westside as the ideal safe, urban area where people live, work and raise a family in close proximity to downtown. As one long-time resident and business owner explained,

“We are a well-kept secret – a unique community with a homey feel, but only 10 minutes from downtown, 15 minutes from the airport, and seven minutes from one of the best universities and research hospitals in the nation.” -Phyllis Usher, Owner Usher Funeral Home

Residents want the Near Westside to be a destination and place to live – not a drive-through to the many city, state and national attractions on their borders. They want to see greenways with pedestrian and bicycle paths that connect their streets from Central Greens to the White River Park. They envision major corridors from east to west including West Washington Street (the National Road), bustling with ethnic restaurants and other retail/service businesses. They want a welcoming message for visitors with gateway signs and street banners hung from attractive street lights inviting people to stay and partake of unique shopping opportunities, historical venues and diverse culinary experiences of the Near Westside.