The City of Fishers is set to acquire 98 acres of land along the White River, north of 96th Street.  The parcel is part of the Craig W. Johnson Estate, which City Attorney Chris Greisl says has been “tangled” in legal issues among creditors for years.

The Estate’s personal representative has offered to convey the land if the city pays just over $3,100 in property taxes due.  Without that payment, the land would be subjected to a tax sale.  Griesl also says there is a period where objections can be filed with the deadline at the end of this week.

Development originally planned for that land going back as far as 2007 never happened.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for us to pick up 98 acres of park land for $3,000, based on just due diligence on a several-year-old economic development agreement,” said Mayor Scott Fadness. “It fits into a broader strategy that we have for this area.”

The mayor says this land fits into an overall comprehensive plan to connect to Heritage Park, along the White River at 106th street.  The mayor says there are no immediate plans for development of the 98 acres, but the city planning staff is looking at a regional concept centered on the White River.

The Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety approved the conveyance at the Tuesday afternoon meeting.