8th street corridor Project
About the Project
The 8th Street Corridor Project aims to create a physical connection between the IUP campus and downtown Indiana via 8th Street between Philadelphia and School Streets. This is a logical connection as it is the closest, most intuitive route between the campus and downtown. The need for a connection has been recognized in other planning documents, and has been highlighted again in INDIANA2030: Tomorrow Together. This project is being conducted in partnership between Indiana Borough and Downtown Indiana, Inc.
Currently, the connection lacks appeal, complete streets and an identity. Our hope is to create a complete street - with safe sidewalks and lighting - to encourage a physical connection between IUP and downtown Indiana.
Existing Conditions
Current Zoning Map of Indiana Borough
PROJECT details
2025 Outreach & Engagement
September 2025 - Charette
What is a charrette?! A charrette is an intensive, collaborative planning workshop where stakeholders, community members, designers, and planners come together to develop a shared vision for a project. The process emphasizes participation, transparency, and visual communication — often using sketches, maps, and models to help participants understand and shape proposals in real time.
We’ll be hosting a charrette in September 2025 to collaboratively reimagine the 8th Street Corridor. Here’s a tentative sneak peak:
Day 1: Exploration, Ideation & Visualization
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Morning: Stakeholder Sessions & Visioning
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Midday: Live Drawing Sessions
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Afternoon: Recap & Synthesis
Day 2: Concept Refinement & Demonstration Planning
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Morning: Concept Testing and Finalization
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Afternoon: Outdoor Tactical Urbanism Demonstration & Open House
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Life-size mock-up of public realm improvements (e.g., chalk-painted crosswalks, bumpouts, benches, temporary planters, hay bale seating)
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Real-world testing of design ideas generated in the charrette
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Get involved!
The 8th Street Corridor Project is a collaborative effort. Our core project team consists of staff from Indiana Borough, Downtown Indiana, Inc., Stuart Group Consulting and Michael Baker International. The project is guided by a larger working group consisting of IUP students, members of IASD, and the broader community. Our group meets biweekly on Fridays. Want to join a meeting? Send us an email at contact-us@indianaboro.com with "8th Street Project" in the subject line!
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