A stretch of Georgia Street between Illinois Street and Capitol Avenue is now a car-free public plaza, adding a gathering place near the Indiana Convention Center and downtown Indianapolis’ major sports venues. The western section of the Georgia Street Promenade officially opened Oct. 9 with a ribbon-cutting attended by Mayor Joe Hogsett and convention, tourism and downtown leaders. The Capital Improvement Board, which manages the city’s convention center and professional sports facilities, led the $9.1 million project to create an outdoor event space for convention visitors and the public. The wide block includes tables and chairs, a small raised stage and grassy areas where dogs are welcome. Its four sections are called The Garden, The Terrace, The Lawn and The Grove. The space will be open to the public at times and closed for some private events. The new plaza offers public space in the southern part of downtown, where parking lots and streets surround the convention center, Lucas Oil Stadium and Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The project is part of broader development activity along Georgia Street and elsewhere downtown. Construction is expected to continue east toward Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Capital Improvement Board opened bids Oct. 9 for work on the section between Meridian and Pennsylvania streets, which is partly closed to traffic while Boxcar, a development company affiliated with the Simon family, builds a Ritz-Carlton hotel. Applications are due Nov. 6. The proposed extension will bypass the block in between for now, as plans advance for the $500 million redevelopment of Circle Centre Mall. The opening of the nearly 40-story Signia by Hilton hotel on Georgia Street, between Illinois and Capitol, is also expected in less than two months.