Get used to seeing the acronym “IoT” around Fishers.  It stands for “Internet of Things” in the tech world.  Fishers will soon house the new 22,000 square foot Indiana IoT Lab-Fishers, housed in a building located at 9059 Technology Drive, within the state-designated tech park.

The lab is touted as a place where “innovation and collaboration” happen among those working in the IoT field.  The facility is expected to be up and running this summer.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness described the Internet of Things as bringing technology to devices we use everyday.  He grew up on on a North Dakota farm and used a tractor traveling at 4 miles-per-hour, pulling a farm implement 17-feet wide.  7 years later the tractor speed went to 7 miles per hour, pulling a 54-foot wide farm implement with an auto-steer feature.  A new tractor is about to be put into the farm fields without a farmer on the tractor.  He pointed to that and other technological developments found in manufacturing facilities throughout Indiana.

“Within the next 5-10 years, we are going to see self driving vehicles,” Fadness said.

Fadness said the Internet of Things concept will lead to economic progress in Fishers and the State of Indiana.

“Fishers has, I think, built a reputation of taking steps forward, taking risks and trying new things,” according to Mayor Fadness.  “This is a natural progression for our community, to create an Internet of Things Lab.”

“Fishers is on the cutting edge and on the move, as is the State of Indiana,” Governor Holcomb told the packed crowd at Launch Fishers.

“The Internet of Things is where all these industries come together.  It is the hub, not just the future, it is right now,” Governor Holcomb said.  “To deny that is denying your full potential.”

The governor emphasized the state will partner and support initiatives such as the IoT Lab in Fishers.

Lab members will pay a fee  as low as $1,000 per year to become a part of it.

John McDonald, CEO of ClearObject (formerly known as CloudOne), announced his firm will grow its staffing on Fishers by 15% and become an anchor tenant of the IoT Lab.

You can find more details on the Indiana IoT Lab-Fishers at their Web site, which you can access at this link.

Portillo’s is one small step closer to a Fishers Restaurant.  The Chicago-based chain wants to locate near the IKEA site at I-69 and 116th Street.  The Fishers City Council moved the rezoning proposal forward.

The matter now moves to the Fishers Plan Commission for a public hearing, currently scheduled for April 5th.

Once the Plan Commission finishes its work, the rezone comes back to the council for 2nd reading consideration April 17th, and a final 3rd reading vote set for May 15th.

There has been much speculation for the last few weeks that Portillo’s was about to announce a Fishers location, but the decision was made official just days ago.

In other Fishers City Council items:

–Council gave final approval to a voluntary annexation of homes in Springdale Estates, paving the way for a sale to developer Thompson Thrift for the planned Yard culinary development.

–Council members also gave final approval to a rezone from residential to commercial, allowing Thompson Thrift to move forward with constructing The Yard.

–Simply Dental at 12242 E. 116th Street received council approval for text amendment changes to their property.

–Changes to the Nickel Plate Code received 2nd reading approval.  Council President David George asked that 3rd and final reading be delayed to answer questions from one resident in that area.

The Hamilton County Humane Society says it has outgrown the current Noblesville location and is moving forward with plans to make a switch to Fishers.  The Society is eyeing a location on Hague Road, just north of 106th Street.  Council members passed the first reading of a requested rezoning of a ten-acre tract of land.

The rezone will next go to the Fishers Plan Commission where a public hearing will be held.  It appears that legal deadlines will not allow the commission to consider this rezoning at the regular March meeting, but the possibility of a special session of the commission was discussed.  No final decision was made on when the Plan Commission will consider the rezone request.

“We were out of space the day we moved into our current facility in October of 2006,” Humane Society Executive Director Rebacca Stevens told the council.

Supporters of the Humane Society filled the council chambers.  Once the Humane Society item was finished, more than half the crowd departed City Hall

Fishers has been a big item in local Central Indiana media outlets in the last week.  Here are a few examples.

–The Indianapolis Star featured a front-page story in its Sunday, February 19th edition, highlighting how the city has lured people to apartment living in the downtown area. Reporter John Tuohy provides a number of quotes from Mayor Scott Fadness, attorney Steve Hardin and many of the downtown apartment dwellers.  Much of the story rehashed information you have read on this blog in the past.  But I credit the Star for telling a larger audience the Fishers story.  Tuohy does provide some nice maps and facts about people choosing to live in the downtown apartments.

–Both the Star and the Indianapolis Business Journal had stories about the planned New Kroger store at 116th Street and Allisonville Road.  The current Kroger location will be moving east of Allisonville Road.  The site of the old Marsh grocery will be demolished and Kroger will construct one of its new big all-purpose stores, much like the one at 116th and Olio Road on the east side of Fishers.  These plans had been revealed some time ago, but its good to see Kroger moving forward with the project.  That west side area of Fishers has seen some hard times of late, and this move by Kroger is very good news for people living in that area of Fishers.

–Rumors have been flying for weeks about the Chicago restaurant chain Portillo’s coming to Fishers.  We finally have confirmation that they officially do plan a facility near the IKEA store currently under construction along I-69, south of 116th Street.  The mere possibility this chain would locate in Fishers has caused quite a buzz around town.

–Iconic Digital Marketing has utilized space at the Launch Fishers business incubator site, but is now prepared to spread its wings and locate at its own digs in the Downtown Fishers Nickel Plate District.  Reports indicate the firm pans to hire extra staff, possibly as many as 51 (source: Indianapolis Star).

–I hear more is on the way in terms of announcements involving Fishers.  Mayor Fadness told me in the recent podcast interview he has big concepts to reveal in his State of the City Address, set for a March 15th Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

When starting my Fishers news blog over 5 years ago, I never imagined everything that has happened since.  And it’s not over yet.

Governor Holcomb appeared at a joint Hamilton County Chamber of Commerce function February 10th, held on the grounds of Conner Prairie.  You can read my commentary on the governor’s local appearance at this link.

Fishers City Councilwoman Cecilia Coble talked with Larry

The calendar may say it is still winter, but road construction projects are growing around Fishers.

Below is the list for the work week beginning Monday, February 20th, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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I-69 AND CAMPUS PARKWAY

Milestone Contractors has begun mobilizing cranes and other equipment and setting a temporary concrete barrier wall along I-69 at Campus Parkway Exit 210. Work will require alternating lane closures on northbound and southbound I-69 between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Lane closures may recur each night through the end of the week depending on weather and progress. Questions about this project should be directed to INDOT at eastcentralin@indot.in.gov or 1-855-463-6848.

106^TH STREET & CUMBERLAND ROAD ROUNDABOUT

The new roundabout at 106th Street and Cumberland Road is now open to traffic. Motorists are encouraged to drive with caution, this site is still an active construction zone.

116^th STREET  

Work is underway on the new traffic signal on 116^th Street just west of Olio Road. During this time, the outside lanes of 116^th Street will be restricted between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to allow the contractor room to work.

126^TH STREET
One lane of 126^th Street in each direction will be restricted between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The restrictions will take place between Promise Road and Hoosier Road while the contractor is installing fencing along I-69.

CYNTHEANNE ROAD
There will be periodic lane restrictions on Cyntheanne Road between 136^th Street and Southeastern Parkway until the end of March, weather permitting, to allow for the installation of a guardrail.

NORTH STREET
Beginning Feb. 27 until April 30, North Street will be periodically restricted between Lantern Road and Municipal Drive as crews deliver building materials. During this time, several parking stalls will be unavailable on the south side of North Street, west of Maple Street. Flaggers will be onsite to help direct traffic while materials are being delivered.

DUKE ENERGY MAINTENANCE
Duke Energy will be in various locations throughout the City performing routine pole maintenance. Flaggers will be onsite directing traffic where necessary.

by Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

We’ve all heard the old saying about ‘too many chiefs and not
enough Indians.’ But, in the case of the troubled
Nickel Plate Railroad it looks like too many Indians and not
enough chiefs, or maybe no chief at all.

No trains can currently run on the Nickel Plate rails
through Hamilton County. Safety is the concern, and who will
want to pay the cost of making it safe seems to be the problem.

Let’s count the Indians. First there is the
Hoosier Heritage Port Authority which owns
the tracks and has declared the railroad
unsafe. Then, there is the Indiana Transportation
Museum which has operated trains on
the railroad for more than 20 years, but has
little money. Then, we count the City of
Noblesville, the City of Fishers and the
county government which together formed
the port authority in the 1990s to save the
rail line from abandonment. They obviously
have some money.

Add to these the Hamilton County
Tourism Bureau which counts the Nickel
Plate as a tourism asset, and wants to see
trains running, Cicero folks who want a
dinner train to run, the Arcadia Arts group
that wants visitors in Arcadia, the new
Atlanta train market which wants to see real
trains, and the Tipton County Economic
Development group that wants to encourage
business.

So, who is the overall leader, spokesman
or chief in this story? It’s hard to tell. County
commissioners had the subject on their
agenda Monday. “We’re exploring all the
options,” said Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt.
The others involved are presumably
exploring the options too. That’s encouraging,
but someone needs to pull the options
together and come up with a plan to proceed.

But, there are problems besides money.
The railroad runs only to about 18th Street
in Indianapolis on the south because the
interstate cut the line there. The Nickel Plate
runs as far north as Tipton, but does not
connect to the east-west rail line at that
point. So, this limits trains to about 38 miles,
not enough to really go anywhere except for
the local excursion rides like the Fairtrain,
Polar Bear Express or dinner train. But that’s enough to sustain the
popular local excursions and historic interest
in railroading.

It seems too bad after saving the
railroad at a time when trains were vanishing
from the American landscape, that the
Nickel Plate would now disappear. And, it
could. There has been talk of pulling up the
rails and converting the rail bed into a
walking and bike trail. Of course that would
cost money, too. But, this is apparently one
of the options on the table.

It’s been nearly a year since trains have
been able to run. So, for the sake of local
business and the enjoyment of our people
young and old, let’s hope there is positive
action soon to get the Nickel Plate back on
track.

After several weeks of waiting, it appears a Portillo’s restaurant is coming to Fishers, near the under-construction IKEA store.  Lindsey Erdody of the Indianapolis Business Journas posted a story about Potillo’s plans.  You can read her story at this link.

A digital marketing company is leaving Launch Fishers and getting its own office in the Nickel Plate District.

Lindsey Erdody of the Indianapolis Business Journal posted the story on February 16th.  You can read her piece at this link.