A lawsuit has been filed involving Andretti Motorsports and the firm constructing the new Fishers headquarters building.
Nathan Brown, IndyCar reporter for the Indianapolis Star, posted the story on the newspaper’s Web site Wednesday afternoon, at this link.
(NOTE: Your access to this story may be limited if you are not an IndyStar subscriber. Once again, I urge everyone to subscribe to your local media)
The Kroger Company went before the Fishers Board of Zoning Appeals Wednesday an received unanimous approval for all zoning issues requested.
The grocery firm requested zoning variances for a freestanding ATM, landscaping, associated signage for a new grocery store, : a fueling center use without an associated convenience store, to allow for a kiosk, and to allow for associated fueling center canopy, landscaping, and signage for a new grocery store fueling station.
Kroger says it will be investing $38 million in moving the current grocery location west of Allisonville just north of 116th Street to the east side of Allisonville. The new grocery will be 120,000 square feet, nearly as large as the store at 116th Street and Olio Road.
A Kroger representative told the board there is a special section of Kroger that markets open spaces, and that group is already talking with prospective tenants for the space to be vacated by Kroger at 116th Street and Allisonville Road.
Personal responsibilities have prevented me from posting local podcasts for many weeks, but I am back with Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness and his Deputy Mayor Elliott Hultgren.
We discuss a variety of issues, including the opening of Geist Waterfront Park. Despite some criticism, the mayor makes clear the $50 parking fee for nonresidents will not be changed this summer season.
Other items discussed include:
–The new events center planned near the expanded Fishers District, now named The Crossing.
–Status of the much-discussed new city recreation center.
–Status of Barrett Law and fixing privately-held roads in the city.
–Update on the construction of the new City Hall/Arts Center.
–and much more.
Listen to the podcast at the link below:
It was about five years ago that Irving Materials Inc. (IMI) quarry on Geist Lake ended its useful life as a mine. The City of Fishers was quick to invoke eminent domain to buy the land, the last remaining waterfront property potentially available for public use. It took several years to traverse the legal process, but May 24, 2023, the City of Fishers celebrated the opening of Geist Waterfront Park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The park will first be open the the public Saturday, May 27th.
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness referred to the long process for the park to become a reality. He and other leaders of Fishers “thought what was in the best interest of our Fishers residents, was to create a public amenity that would allow any resident of Fishers to have the opportunity to come out here and enjoy the water.”
The Fishers City Council recently enacted a $50 per vehicle parking fee if no resident of fishers is in the vehicle. Mayor Fadness said at the council meeting the goal of the fee is to control the size of beach crowds and enhance public safety. The $50 parking fee has encountered harsh criticism from outside Fishers, arguing this fee far exceeds any parking fee for public parks in the area.
Anyone entering the park as a pedestrian or bicyclist will not be charged, resident or nonresident, according to city officials.
Fishers residents may download a phone app or receive a card allowing free access to Geist Waterfront parking. For more information on obtaining the app or card, use this link.
A look at the Geist Waterfront Park beach
With texting, e-mail and all the other technological methods of communicating in this day and age, it is refreshing to see a letter writing campaign. That is exactly what City of Fishers announced Monday.
It’s all part of celebrating the Fishers Sesquicentennial, 150 years. It all starts today and ends June 30. Letters will be placed inside a time capsule in the new Arts & Municipal Complex at 1 Municipal Drive, set to open next year. Fishers has partnered with Towne Post on the creation and curation of the time capsule, which will be placed inside the keystone of the new building and set to opened in 2073.
Let’s just say I do not expect to be around the the 2073 opening of the capsule.
Letters can be delivered in person to the blue mailbox in the breezeway of the Fishers City Services Building (3 Municipal Drive) and lobby for Hamilton East Public Library- Fishers (5 Municipal Drive). No envelope is required if dropped directly into the blue mailbox. Letters can also be addressed to “Fishers Time Capsule” and mailed to 3 Municipal Drive, Fishers, Indiana 46038 by Friday, June 30. Letters should be no more than one page.Residents can also check the Fishers Parks booth at the Fishers Farmers Market on June 10 and 17 to write and deliver their letters.The City has created a Mad Lib style letter for kids that is available for download on ThisIsFishers.com/Fishers150.The campaign will help to wrap up the City’s year-long Sesquicentennial celebration, which launched last June and honors 150 years of Fishers history.
As a volunteer blogger/reporter, I have provided coverage of the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board and written many stories, sat through a number of meetings and hosted podcast all about what’s happening with local schools. In my mind, I knew a lot about what was happening with HSE Schools.
As part of that coverage, the HSEngaged program caught my eye. It allows local community members to learn more about what is happening with HSE Schools.
So, should I apply to be a participant in HSEngaged? After all, I talk with school officials all the time and maybe I should not take way a slot that could go to another community member.
In the end, I applied and was accepted into the HSEngaged program. Now that the program is over for this school year, I am very glad I applied.
Our meetings took place in school buildings during the school day, giving us a feel for what it is like in a school building on a school day. We had one session at Hub & Spoke, where some HSE classes are held.
Yes, I have covered the HSE School Board for 11 years and learned a great deal about local schools during that time. But HSEngaged opened my eyes to a more detailed learning experience.
For example, I sat through a number of presentations to the board about technology, but I learned much more about how technology is used in HSE classrooms through HSEngaged.
When our group had the end-of-year celebration May 11, it was a bit sad. I had started to get to know many of my fellow HSEngaged members and realized this would be the last time I would be together with them as a group.
What we all take away from this experience is a much better understanding of the HSE Schools. I credit Emily Abbots, Director of School and Community Relations for HSE Schools, for putting together a first-class program.
At our final meeting, just about all participants of HSEngaged said they learned a great deal and plan to share their newly-acquired knowledge about HSE Schools with people they know in the community. I can say I learned a lot as well.
If you are one that makes a habit of listening to my local podcasts, you may have noticed it has been more than a month since I last produced & posted a local podcast on this blog.
There are many reasons why. I traveled to South Dakota for the birth of my new granddaughter. I was very sick for a while with a nasty infection. Also, let’s just say I have been providing a helping hand to people close to me.
However, if all goes well, I should have a new local podcast posted for your listening pleasure by midweek next week.
In the meantime, thanks for reading this blog and listening to my local podcasts,
With warm weather here to stay, it is another long lost of road construction projects in & around Fishers. Note at the end of the message that the city is looking for citizen feedback on the White River Park.
Below is the update, as provided by the City of Fishers:
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STATE ROAD 37 IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
To learn more about the State Road 37 Improvement Project and sign up to receive text updates, visit 37Thrives.com. STATE ROAD 37 AND 141ST STREETA pre-construction phase at SR 37 & 141st Street is currently in place. During this phase, 141st Street will be a Right-In-Right-Out (RIRO) traffic configuration. This is not the permanent configuration. This will allow for traffic to flow more freely along SR 37 until the next phases of construction can be activated. This will eliminate backups along SR 37 that have caused dangerous stops to the free flow traffic and backups on the 146th Street interchange. Again, this is not the permanent configuration for 141st Street. The full timeline for the 141st Street interchange will be provided after project bids are accepted in the Summer of 2023. View detour routes here.
To learn more about the Clear Path Improvement Project and sign up to receive text and email updates, visit clearpath465.com I-465 & I-69Drivers will see an increase in construction along the I-69 corridor in the coming months. This work will focus on reconfiguring the interchange at I-465 and I-69. New ramps will provide direct movements from eastbound I-465 and northbound I-465 to northbound I-69. Binford Blvd. will also be reconstructed to separate local traffic from traffic entering and exiting I-69 and I-465. Access to I-69 from Binford Blvd. will remain open. Drivers can expect to see significant activity on I-69 at the 82nd Street interchange.The ramp from I-69 North to 82nd Street and the ramp from 82nd Street to I-69 North is currently closed through late 2023. For detour routes and additional project information, visit clearpath465.com
To learn more about the Nickel Plate Trail, view the Capital Project Dashboard here.NICKEL PLATE TRAILThe City of Fishers is working on the completion of the Fishers portion of the Nickel Plate Trail. The remaining paving work from 96th Street to 106th Street is underway, and construction crews are currently working to clear and prep the area for paving. In the coming weeks, construction crews will begin the paving process.
There are daily lane closures currently on Cumberland Road, just south of 126th Street for sanitary and water line work. The northbound right turn lane and the southbound passing blister will be closed.
During the week of May 22nd, lane restrictions will be in place on 126th Street between Granite Ridge Circle and Westmorland Drive for storm manhole work.146TH STREET & ALLISONVILLE ROAD – HAMILTON COUNTY PROJECT
Phase 1 construction for the grade separation intersection improvement is currently taking place at 146th Street and Allisonville Road. One through lane and one left turn lane in all directions will be closed through the intersection.Closures of Sowers Drive and Saville Road at 146th Street will be necessary in June. Additional notifications will be provided prior to the closures. In addition to these closures, the worksite speed limit will be 35 mph. Please exercise caution while driving through this construction zone.For additional project information, visit Hamilton County website here.
Overnight lane restrictions are currently in place on Fall Creek Road between 96th Street/Carroll Road and Geist Road as part of Phase 1 & 2 milling and resurfacing work and is anticipated to be completed by Tuesday, May 23. View map here. Curb and ramp reconstruction is complete in Wildwood Estates as part of the 2023 Resurfacing Project. These areas have been restored with topsoil and seed. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to water the seed for the seed to germinate. Prior to road resurfacing, expected to begin on or after June 12th, residents will be notified via street signage for street parking restrictions.ADA ramp and curb reconstruction is currently taking place in Sunblest Blvd between Allisonville Road and Orchard Blvd as part of the 2023 Resurfacing Project. Homeowners will be notified via door hangers prior to any curb restoration near their home. After ADA ramp and curb reconstruction is completed, those areas will be restored with topsoil and seed. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to water the seed for the seed to germinate. Prior to road resurfacing, residents will be notified via street signage for street parking restrictions.For additional project information and to view detailed exhibits, view the Capital Project Dashboard here.
The City of Fishers has announced community initiatives to seek public input on the new Fishers White River Park and plans to develop a better-connected network of trails and greenways throughout Fishers. Residents and community stakeholders are invited to provide input for each initiative via community wide surveys and at public events throughout summer.Residents and community stakeholders can submit their feedback for the Fishers White River Park survey at playfishers.com/WhiteRiverPark and the Trails & Greenways survey at fishers.in.us/Trails through July 31. Feedback for both initiatives can also be shared at a series of events throughout the summer, including:
Hamilton County Highway crews started work this week on the redesign of the intersection at 146th Street and Allisonville Road. Lanes will be restricted, as are left turns.
When the work is complete, a roundabout will be located on Allsonville Road with an overpass for east-west traffic on 146th Street.
Below is the latest update on the project from the Highway Department: (Note: observe the construction speed limit and watch for workers in the work zone)
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Phase 1 traffic restrictions are in place. Please refrain from entering into closed lanes, which are marked by the presence of traffic barrels and solid lane lines. The worksite speed limit is set at 35 mph. Please exercise caution while driving through this construction zone.
Construction crews are removing center concrete medians and preparing to put down temporary pavement. This will allow traffic to be shifted so construction can begin on the new interchange configuration. Utility relocation work is ongoing in the right-of-way.
Delays at the intersection are anticipated during peak hours. Motorists are encouraged to seek an alternate route when feasible.
Closures of Sowers Dr. and Saville Rd. at 146th Street will be necessary in June. Additional notifications will be provided prior to these closures.
The City of Fishers has announced another music act for the summer series at the Nickel Plate Amphitheater. Niko Moon is set for August 11.
Below is the City of Fishers news release announcing the concert: