As anyone traveling in that area knows by now, construction continues at the intersection of 146th Street & Allisonville Road.  Hamilton County Highway says the current traffic pattern will remain until June 22nd, then look for changes.

The new June 22nd restrictions will eliminate left turns from 146th Street onto Allisonville Road and allow two through lanes on eastbound and westbound 146th Street. Sowers Drive, Wellington Court and Kensington Drive will be closed at 146th Street during this phase.

Increased utility relocation activity is expected along Allisonville Rd. south of 146th Street. Flaggers will be present when lane or shoulder restrictions are necessary.

Construction crews will be working to complete the connection of Sowers Drive to Allisonville Road. Saville Road will be closed at 146th Street for construction crews to construct the new frontage road and Saville Road access at 146th Street.

When complete, the interchange will feature a roundabout for traffic for north-south on Allisonville Road with an overpass handling motorists on 146th Street.

Fishers city officials have been saying for some months that the final piece of the State Road 37 project at 141st Street would be bid in August of this year with construction in 2024.  Now, city engineering officials say the bids will be taken in the spring of 2024, but the construction is expected to begin in 2024, as originally planned.

141st Street at State Road 37 is currently an east-west right-in right-out intersection.  It had originally been planned as a roundabout, much like the SR 37 interchanges at 126th & 131st Streets.  The original bids on the 141st Street roundabout were so high due to post-COVD expense increases the city chose not to award a bid at that time.

City Spokesperson Ashley Elrod says city officials had input from the state highway department that too many road construction projects are up for bid in August of this year, and the bidding should be better for the city in the spring of 2024.

So, if that timeline remains, Fishers will be awarding a bid in the spring of 2024 for construction to begin on a roundabout at 141st Street and State Road 37 the same year.

HAND Incorporated is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Noblesville that works to provide affordable housing opportunities for local residents.  HAND Executive Director Andrea Davis presided over a ground-breaking ceremony for HAND’s first Fishers project Thursday, Cumberland Cottages, just south and west of the roundabout at 141st Street and Cumberland Road.

Davis opened the gathering by explaining how long it had taken to bring this plan together, including COVID complications and a rezoning that passed the Fishers City Council by one vote.

Tom Kilian of the Hamilton County Community Foundation told those assembled that his foundation, which Davis credits for providing the final piece of funding allowing Cumberland Cottages to happen, works to provide people in this county with equitable opportunities for reaching their full potential. He described Cumberland Cottages as a perfect example of reaching that mission.

“This project is going to allow us to keep our work force in Hamilton County,” said Kilian.

Cumberland Cottages will provide 11 housing units on just under 2 acres of land, with 5  at market rate and 6 will have rents based on the tenant’s income.  Plans call for building four two-bedroom units and seven three-bedroom units in what’s known as a cottage court layout, clustered around shared green space.

Construction is expected to take about 10 months.

Several local elected officials were on hand for the ground-breaking, including County Commissioner Steve Dillinger, State Representative Victoria Wilburn, along with Fishers City Councilors Crystal Neumann and Jocelyn Vare.

Tom Kilian of the Hamilton County Community Foundation, speaking at the ground-breaking

If you peruse downtown Fishers along 116th Street, you will see much new development along North Street, one block to the north.  But one block to the south, there is South Street.  Based on an announcement from the City of Fishers Thursday evening, there are big plans for South Street, removing older structures and constructing new developments.

HighGround, a subsidiary of Carmel-based Hageman, and Rebar Development, a Fishers-based development firm, will present proposed projects for parcels along South Street to the Fishers City Council Monday night.

“I’m excited to see the dynamic facets of these developments breathe new life into this area of the Nickel Plate District,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness in the city news release. “The transformation of this area will be incredible with high-end architecture, and new spots for small businesses to call home, all bringing a variety of people together from the corporate headquarters location to the 55+ community to visitors enjoying the amenities.”

First, CityView, a mixed-use building located along 116th Street at Lantern Rd, bringing $90 million of investment to the City of Fishers, anchoring the eastern gateway to the downtown district. The six-story building will include 184 luxury apartments specifically designed for the 55+ active adult community with incredible amenities, 16,000 sq. ft. of commercial space on the first floor, potential for outdoor restaurant seating, and a 280-space parking structure with electric vehicle charging stations. CityView will break ground February 2024 and is slated for completion spring 2026.

“Our age-qualified communities are purpose-built and designed around the lifestyle of active 55+ residents,” said Tom Dickey, President of HighGround. “CityView living promotes an authentic, connected experience uniquely suited for building relationships, health and wellness, entertainment, and convenience.”

Second, Rebar’s District South will redevelop the south side of South Street between Lantern Rd. and the Nickel Plate Trail, transforming six vacant properties into a $32.5 million mixed-use urban village. Anchored by a four-story mixed-use building, the development will feature the new headquarters location for Annex Group, seven small business retail units, 38 loft residences, a fitness center, café lounge, shared conference room, and civic plaza and courtyard. Additionally, the village will include 44 multi-family units with modern finishes. Rebar will break ground on District South in the fall of 2023 and will welcome residents and businesses beginning early 2025.

“District South will be a thriving urban village with an inspired mix of office, small businesses, high-end residential, and an outdoor plaza, all anchored by an industry-leading company in Annex Group,” said Shelby Bowen, President of Rebar Development. “With direct connections to both the Cheeney Creek Trail and Nickel Plate Trail, District South offers a walkable, bike-friendly, pet-friendly neighborhood for our residents, tenants, and visitors.”

The Annex Group, a multi-family housing developer, general contractor, and owner, will relocate to Fishers to support their business growth. The Annex Group anticipates adding an additional 40 full-time employees by 2028.

The Fishers City Council will vote on economic development agreements for CityView and District South at June’s City Council meeting on Monday, June 19 at 7 p.m.

When I take some time away from Fishers, it seems news breaks and I play catch-up.  That is certainly true the past few days.  However, it is good to see that Indiana’s largest newspaper, the Indianapolis Star, is taking more of a journalistic interest in our fair city and has posted stories on the two situations that emerged while I was away.

One note, the union representing journalists at the Star has been in negotiations with Gannett on a new contract for about 3 years.  Due to a lack of any movement in those talks, Star reporters are withholding their by-lines.  I believe the HSE Schools story was written by Rachel Fradette and the story about 96th Street came from John Tuohy.  Just for the record, I support the Newspaper Guild at the Star in their quest for a decent contract with Gannett.

Wednesday night, the HSE School Board chose not to give what is normally a routine contract extension to some top District administrators.  Those people and positions are:

• Jimmie Lake, chief operations officer
• Katy Dowling, chief financial officer
• Nataki Pettigrew, chief equity & inclusion officer
• Matt Kegley, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning
• Kim Lippe, assistant superintendent of staff and student services

Read the Star story at this link.

Another Star piece about Fishers came as a result of the Board of Public Works and Safety session this week.  Steps were taken to move forward with plans to remove the “Michigan Left” at 96th Street and Allisonville Road and construct a roundabout.

For more on that story in the Star, use this link.

(NOTE:  If you are not a Star subscriber, you may be limited in your access to these stories.  I have said it before and I’ll say it again – subscribe to your local media!)

Thompson Thrift is a firm with a big footprint in Fishers.  They developed the thriving Fishers District near I-69 & 116th Street and is set to develop the addition to that project, the Crossings.

The real estate company is a 2023 winner of the Association for Talent Development’s (ATD) BEST Award. Thompson Thrift is among 72 organizations from around the globe to receive the award this year. Companies were recognized May 22, 2023 during an awards ceremony at ATD’s International Conference & Exposition in San Diego, California.

“Talent development is a critical aspect of our company’s success and desire to make a positive impact,” said Brett Barnes, vice president of organizational development for Thompson Thrift, in a company news release. “Our training and leadership development team has done a tremendous job putting a program together and fostering a culture where our team members can thrive professionally and personally.”

To see a full listing of the companies receiving a BEST Award in 2023, use this link.

Fishers has announced a project that has been in the works for at least two years.  It is a new Community Center, containing most of what a survey of local residents told the city they would like to see in a new center.

I spoke with two people heavily involved in bringing this Community Center from a concept to reality.  Todd Zimmerman is a Fishers City Council Member At-Large and Jake Reardon-McSoley is the city’s Director of Recreation & Wellness.

Both joined this podcast to talk in depth about what local residents will find once the Community Center is open in the spring of 2025.

It has been the subject of a big community survey, construction cost volatility and lots of discussion, but Fishers officially announced plans for a new 105,000-squre-foot Community Center Tuesday morning.  The $60 million facility will contain most of what citizens said they wanted, including indoor walking/running trails and an indoor aquatic center.  The location will be at 121st Street and Hoosier Road in an area known as “Johnson Farms.”

“As we strive to build a culture of health in our community, a vital component of this is creating a place where our community can come together to care for their overall wellbeing,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness in a city news release. “With this new community asset, we not only offer a place for health, fitness, and recreation, but also a place to gather and socialize with the friends, family, and neighbors, which we know is equally important in fostering a strong quality of life in our community.”

Art Johnson now owns the property where the Community Center will be constructed.

“My family has been part of this community for generations, and I am excited to be a part of Fishers’ legacy and have our land serve as a central spot in the community for gathering and recreation for years to come,” said Johnson.

The new community center was designed based on input from residents. In 2021, a steering committee chaired by Fishers City Councilor Todd Zimmerman (At-Large) was formed to identify and prioritize community needs and how they could be served by an indoor facility. Nearly 3,500 residents completed a survey to share the amenities they most desired in this facility. Top items like a dog park, indoor playground, indoor walking/running track, and aquatics facility were included in the design, while other items like fine arts classes and performing arts were included in the new City Hall & Arts Center currently under construction in the downtown Nickel Plate District.

“What I hope for residents to get out of this center is a sense of place and community,” said Councilor Zimmerman. “More than the sports or athletics of it, this is a place to bring our residents together. It’s also a place that is welcoming to all, from our neighbors in the surrounding communities to out of town visitors exploring Fishers for the first time.”

The Center will offer both memberships and day passes with discounts for Fishers residents, many amenities will be accessible for free to both residents and non-residents, including a large indoor playground, indoor track for walking and running, and café.

The main level of the center will include a 5,300-square-foot indoor playground; aquatics facility with a lap pool and zero-depth entry warm water pool with a waterslide and play features; an 18,600-square-foot gymnasium featuring three basketball courts, which can also be converted into volleyball and pickleball courts; clinical rooms and offices for the Fishers Health Department; childcare facility; multipurpose rooms; public gathering spaces; a café, and more. The second level will feature a large fitness and wellness center, including a spin studio and group exercise rooms, along with an indoor track for walking and running. A roof terrace to host outdoor exercise and gatherings is planned for future phases.

Through collaboration with community stakeholders like the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability, accessibility features such as adult companion care rooms with adult changing tables, a zero-depth entry pool, water wheelchair, and accessible fitness equipment were added to the facility. The community center will also house Outside the Box’s adult day program to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Center is estimated to cost $60 million and will be paid for through city-issued bonds following a build-operate-transfer agreement that is slated to end in 2026. City leadership does not anticipate the Fishers City Tax rate to increase as a result of financing this project.

The project resolution will be presented to the Fishers Finance Committee on June 14 and the Fishers City Council on June 19 for approval.

The project is anticipated to break ground this fall and open in spring 2025.

Artist rendering depicting part of the Community Center interior

Those attending the 2023 Spark Fishers summer festival will find one big change – the fireworks on the final night will be replaced by a drone show.  However, the city will have three fireworks displays available July 4th.

Below is the city news release with more details:

=======

Phoenix Financial Services LLC , located at 9775 Crosspoint Blvd, in Fishers, is facing penalties from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  Indianapolis Business Journal reporter Susan Orr writes that Phoenix faces a $1.68 million penalty over allegations the firm violated federal debt-collection and credit-reporting laws.

To read the entire IBJ story, use this link.

(NOTE: Your access to the linked story may be limited if you are not a subscriber of IBJ)