The north end of the property is framed by Washington Street, also known as U.S. 40 or the National Road, the first major improved highway in the United States built by the federal government. North of Washington Street is the Indianapolis Zoo on the grounds of White River State Park. This section of the property is bisected by several active CSX rail lines. The eastern border is White River Parkway along the Army Corps of Engineer levee for the White River. Across the White River is the Old Southside neighborhood, home of Lucas Oil Stadium. The western boundary is framed by Harding Street and legacy industrial and recycling operations. To the south is Oliver Avenue with small commercial businesses and residential neighborhoods, including The Valley, The Hill, and West Indianapolis.

White River State Park was established in 1979 and is comprised of 250 acres, which is home to regional attractions including the Indianapolis Zoo; the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art; Victory Field, home of the Indianapolis Indians Baseball Club, the AAA affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates; the state’s largest IMAX® Theater; the (national) Medal of Honor Memorial; the NCAA® Hall of Champions Museum and the NCAA® World Headquarters; the Indiana State Museum, and The Lawn at White River State Park, an outdoor concert venue.  A unique partnership of the state, city, federal governments, and private businesses constructed viable pathways for both pedestrians and vehicles including the Historic Central Canal Walkway, Historic Old Washington Street Pedestrian Bridge, Celebration Plaza, and various trails along the White River in the Park.  The Park and its attractions drew over 3,178,000 visitors in 2015.  Across the river, approximately ½ mile from the GM Stamping Plant site is Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center.  Together, these two venues drew over 2,101,000 million visitors in 2015.

Despite over five million visitors and the associated economic activity along the east bank of the river, the neighborhoods along the west bank are challenged.  Westside neighborhoods thrived during the peak of employment at the site, with a strong base of middle-class, single-family homes. However, with the decline of manufacturing in Indianapolis generally and the closure of the GM plant specifically, The Valley neighborhood, for example, has seen an increase in vacancy, poverty, and absentee landlords, and a general decline in household income and property values.