What is next for the intersection of State Road 37 & 141st Street? What about the planned roundabouts on Allisonville Road at 96th & 116th Streets? What is happening with road resurfacing in 2024 and the Nickel Plate Trail?
All that, and more, is discussed in this podcast with Fishers City Director of Engineering Jason Taylor & his Assistant Director Hatem Mekky.
Winning 5 Grammy Awards is no small thing and a group coming to the Nickel Plate Amp, Snarky Puppy, has that honor. The jazz fusion group is coming to Fishers September 8.
Below is the City of Fishers news release on the upcoming show:
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The 96-page Allisonville Road Corridor Study has been released and was explained in detail during a City Council Work Session Monday night. During the regular meeting, the Council approved a resolution adopting the study’s findings, but only dealt with the “vision” of the report at this point in time.
Mayor Scott Fadness said the steering committee, made up of people tied to the area north of 106th Street to 126th Street, told city officials what is most important to them in developing the area. That included a focus on green development, attention to the surrounding neighborhoods, and lighter density compared to downtown Fishers.
But the mayor cautioned that this will not necessarily happen quickly. “We can do this over a period of time,” the mayor told Council members.
Council President John Weingardt said this area was the commercial center of Fishers when he moved his family here in 1992. He said the planned development “to revitalize this area, I think, is very important for our community.”
At-Large Councilor Jocelyn Vare abstained from voting on the resolution, saying the 96-page report was only made public a few days ago. She is generally supportive of the study and the people involved in producing it, but wants more time to digest the findings. “I wish we could have the enthusiasm and the time as a community to adopt it together,” Vare said.
Vare also voiced concerned about how to address what she described as a number of traffic accidents on 116th Street west of Allisonville Road. Planning and Zoning Director Megan Vukusich replied that the city’s Engineering Department could look into that issue.
In response to a question by Councilor Brad DeReamer, Mayor Fadness said there are plans to construct “slip lanes” for right-hand turns at the roundabout planned at 116th Street and Allisonville Road.
After some discussion and division, the Fishers City Council has decided not to continue with a plan eliminating the Nonprofit Committee. The Council approved first and second readings of a measure to scuttle the panel and allow the mayor to include nonprofit financial support within the mayor’s budget proposal.
Council President John Weingardt tells LarryInFishers there will be no third reading full council vote on the proposal and the situation will remain unchanged.
For the past few budget cycles, a City Council committee would review the requests for support from local nonprofit groups, decide which groups will receive financial help from the city, then decide how much each of the chosen organizations would receive, based on money available in that year’s city budget. That decision would then go to the full council for a vote.
Many council members complained that they were receiving aggressive pressure from some organizations wanting city funds. When council members discussed the proposal, there was a split among the councilors.
When the council considers the 2024 budget later this year, the Nonprofit Committee will once again sort through the requests and make a recommendation to the full council for a vote.
There has been much publicity on the development plans for what is described as the “Allisonville Road Corridor,” spanning north from 106th Street up to 126th. The City of Fishers revealed more on the results of the 96-page study Monday.
The city confirmed an Indianapolis Star report that Kroger will relocate from the west side of Allisonville Road near the 116th Street intersection to build a new, expanded store on the east side of Allisonville Road. According to a City of Fishers news release, this plan includes road and walkability improvements, a boost in greenspace, and encouragement for new development along the corridor. The Kroger move and expansion is part of that plan.
The Steering Committee that oversaw the study consisted of:
“The community was really involved in every aspect of the Steering Committee’s work,” said Joe Eaton, co-chair of the Allisonville Road Steering Committee, Allisonville Road resident, and partner at Barnes & Thornburg. “We hosted a community workshop, focus groups, and an online survey where over 1,500 residents provided feedback and input about what they wanted to see, both in the short-term and long-term, with the corridor.”
More green space in the area is called for in this plan, along with better parking and walkability. The city also plans to replace the current traffic signals at 116th & Allisonville Road with a roundabout in 2024 or 2025.
“The transformation of Allisonville Road is a long-range project that will take some years to complete, but we have significant things happening in the early chapters of that transformation—road improvements, a new park on the southern end, and several economic development projects,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness in the city news release. “All of these are catalysts to jump start the transformation of the entire corridor.”
The new 120,000 square foot Kroger store on the east side of Allisonville Road will include features such as an expanded food assortment, expanded Kroger Pickup, wider aisles, Starbucks, and popcorn made in the store. Kroger and the City of Fishers will hold a public meeting about the project in the coming months.
“Over the years, Fishers has become a destination in a way its founders never could have imagined. Our location is a gateway to this vibrant community, and we’re excited to commit the new investment as another ingredient in the energy and entrepreneurial spirit of the city.”
Other priorities in the area include boosting greenspace and enhancing the streetscape to achieve vibrancy and improved care for the corridor. The City is in the early stages of these improvements, but new median designs and beautification efforts by the Department of Public Works are already improving the vibrancy of this area.
John Tuohy of the Indianapolis Star posted a story on the newspaper’s Web site Monday with more details on Kroger’s plans. Read his story at this link.
In 1991, I married Jane and we lived in a nice ranch home just south of 126th Street and east of Allisonville Road. There was plenty of commercial activity in the area around 116th Street and Allisonville Road at that time.
The 1990 census pegged the population of Fishers at right around 7,500 souls. The community was just beginning its massive growth yet to come.
That area around 116th & Allisonville was the center of commercial activity when I moved here in 1991. In recent years, the area still has a bustling commercial buzz, but it has lost some of its luster.
The City of Fishers commissioned a study of the Allisonville Road corridor north of 106th Street. The findings were released in a 96-page report that will be discussed and possibly voted upon by the Fishers City Council Monday night.
That report includes some very interesting developments. John Tuohy of the Indianapolis Star was quick to read the report and found that the Kroger store, north of 116th just west of Allisonville, has notified the city there are plans to move across Allisonville Road to the shopping area located there. Also, the report forecasts a community area to be developed where Kroger is now located.
Many of you may recall that Kroger initially announced a similar plan years ago but pulled back due to market conditions at that time. There was also a plan for the city to use the old Kroger location, where the grocery is currently located, as some sort of community space. So, the current study contains some generally familiar concepts.
The question now is, where does all this go from here? The City Council will be briefed on the study and has a vote accepting the report on the Monday night agenda.
The corridor study began with a great deal of input from homeowners and commercial interests along Allisonville Road. A gathering held months ago asking for input drew a large crowd, so there is a lot of public interest in this issue.
As someone that began living in Fishers in that area, I hope these plans come to fruition. The IndyStar story quotes Mayor Scott Fadness as describing plans in the study as “long term” in nature, but he appears on-board and ready to make this happen.
Road work in and around Fishers is picking up steam, even if spring weather isn’t exactly here yet. Look for more lane restrictions, closures and other work planned for the work week beginning March 20.
Here is the full listing, as provided by the City of Fishers:
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| 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. | |||||
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PROJECTS NORTH OF 116TH STREET
CUMBERLAND ROADThere 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 and is estimated to reopen by Friday, March 24. 131ST STREETComcast is currently doing utility work on 131st Street from Howe Road to Promise Road then north on Promise Road to 141st Street. Lane restrictions will be in place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
PROJECTS SOUTH OF 116TH STREET
106TH STREET & HOOSIER ROADUtility relocation is currently taking place at 106th Street and Hoosier Road as part of the roundabout project. For additional project information, view the Capital Project Dashboard here. 106TH STREET & CUMBERLAND ROADDuring the week of March 20, Duke Energy will be tree trimming on 106th Street, east of Cumberland Road. Lane restrictions will be in place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.CUMBERLAND ROADThere will be daily lane restrictions between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Cumberland Road between 106th Street and 116th Street through Friday, March 24 for tree clearing as part of the Cumberland Road Reconstruction project. There may be times when a short-term full road closure will be needed. Finding an alternate route is recommended during this time. For additional project information, view the Capital Project Dashboard here. FALL CREEK ROADCitizens Energy Group is mobilizing the lift station on Fall Creek Road near Geist Woods Way, resulting in the closure of Fall Creek Trail in the area until the project is complete in August.FLORIDA ROADBeginning on or after Monday, March 20, Florida Road between 104th Street and 113th Street will be under lane restrictions for tree clearing work between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. The estimated project completion date is Friday, March 24. GEIST GREENWAYPile driving activities are currently taking place near Thorpe Creek as part of the Geist Greenway Project through Monday, March 20. When material is brought in for fill sections, there will be an increase in construction traffic on Valley Crossing Drive. Traffic will be briefly stopped as trucks are entering and exiting the road. For general project information, please visit https://playfishers.com/299/Geist-Greenway GEIST ROADDuring the week of March 20, Duke Energy will be tree trimming on Geist Road, north of Fall Creek Road. Lane restrictions will be in place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
MOLLENKOPF ROADDuring the week of March 20, Duke Energy will be tree trimming on Mollenkopf Road, between 96th Street and 106th Street. Lane restrictions will be in place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. 2023 RESURFACING PROJECT
ADA ramp and curb reconstruction is currently taking place in Winding Creek 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, view the Capital Project Dashboard here. |
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You may recall that the Kroger Store near 116th Street and Allisonville Road was planning to move across Allisonville Road to a shopping center that once housed a Marsh grocery, but Kroger decided to shelve those plans at the time. Now, a new study indicates Kroger may be willing to move across Allisonville Road after all.
John Tuohy of the Indianapolis Star posted a story on the IndyStar Web site (link here) Friday citing a study by a consultant hired by the city to study development along the Allisonville Road corridor in Fishers (read the entire report here).
The City Council is scheduled to discuss the report at a 6:30pm work session Monday night prior to the regular council session.
Tuohy’s story says any redevelopment recommendation “is contingent on Kroger shutting down its store at 7272 Fishers Crossing Drive and moving across the street to the site of a former Marsh grocery at Fishers Station.” The report says Kroger has notified the city of its intention to move.
If Kroger moves, the current location could be transformed into a gathering place for the local community, according to this study.
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness told reporter Tuohy the report is part of a longer term vision.
“We asked HWC to put different options out there,” he said. “But we would have to roll up our sleeves and get to work. Nothing is imminent on that end,” the mayor told the Star.
WTHR News reports that there are parents, and now school officials, concerned about an Instagram account posting “rumors and claims about Fishers High School students.” No names are attached to the account, but school officials are working to find the person or persons behind the account.
For more on the WTHR story, use this link.
A Fishers man is under arrest following an investigation by the Hamilton County Metro Child Exploitation Task Force.
Nathaniel Cornelius, 40, was taken into custody Wednesday facing 7 counts related to possession of child pornography. The investigation began with a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Authorities say digital evidence was collected from Cornelius’ home and child sex abuse material was located on a computer. Cornelius is currently being held on a $100,000 bond at the Hamilton County Jail.
The Task Force, headquartered in the Fisher’s Police Department, consists of detectives from Westfield, Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s office. The task force focuses on internet crimes against children and investigates child exploitation cases in Hamilton, Hancock, Madison, and Tipton counties.