Fountain Square businesses relieved as $14M drainage project finishes and Shelby Street reopens
The Indianapolis Department of Public Works completed a $14 million Fountain Square drainage project and Shelby Street reopened the week before Oct. 1, 2026. The work added a storm sewer and landscaped rain garden medians; nearby businesses such as Nine Lives Cafe & Cat Lounge report foot traffic rebounding.
The Indianapolis Department of Public Works finished a $14 million drainage project in Fountain Square and reopened Shelby Street the week before Oct. 1, 2026, reportedly six months ahead of schedule. DPW deputy director of policy and planning Daniel Stevenson credited a new delivery system, coordination with utilities and construction crews. The project installed a storm sewer intended to reduce flow into the combined sewer system during high-water events and added landscaped rain garden medians along Shelby Street.
Local businesses said the construction had significantly disrupted operations. Manager Lisa Latham of Nine Lives Cafe & Cat Lounge said sidewalk access and parking were limited for the better part of six months and foot traffic fell sharply, forcing concern about possible layoffs or reduced hours; since the street reopened the cafe has seen more customers and increased walk-ins.
BusinessIndy examines this development and its implications for Indiana businesses and communities using the linked sources.
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