What's Next for the Old Firestone Plant, the Nickel Plate Trail, and More Coming in 2023
December City Council Updates
A newsletter updating you on what’s happening in Noblesville
My Contact Info:
317-445-1045
awsmith@noblesville.in.us
Hope you all had a restful Christmas! Our house was an energetic flurry of kids, toys, dogs and way, way too many cookies.
Let's jump in! Council has met twice since my last email. Those agendas are available here and here. Our next meeting will be January 3rd where we will organize as a Council and elect our president and vice president for 2023.
The City to take possession of Firestone properties
Last week, the Administration presented a long-sought plan for the City to acquire the Firestone properties from Bridgestone America. Here's what you need to know:
Background: Firestone came to Noblesville in 1936, growing to Hamilton County's largest employer in the 50's. After steady decline, the plant closed permanently in 2009.
Is the site contaminated? Since Firestone closed shop in 2009, the City has partnered with the EPA and outside experts to study the true status of the site. From the IndyStar article: "Firestone made air springs for trucks and buses, using potentially cancer-causing PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), which were banned domestically in 1979. The PCBs leaked from overhead condensers into the ground and seeped into nearby Wilson Ditch and Stony Creek, which were cleaned under EPA supervision." The City will not be taking possession of the areas that have significant levels of contamination.
What's happening to the most contaminated areas of the site? Those will stay under Firestone's control. There will be ongoing remediation efforts needed for these areas and the City did not want to take on that responsibility/liability. I've included a picture of the area we will take possession of below.
Speaking of liability, what is the City's responsibility for prior contamination of the site Noblesville is taking control of? The studies by EPA, the City and outside experts show that there are not burdensome environmental issues with the areas of the site the City will take control of. That said, our working agreement with Firestone still limits/protects the City's liability to preclude any action prior to our possession.
What does the City receive in the agreement? Firestone will donate the land outlined in orange below. The area highlighted in blue will remain under Firestone's control.
What's next for the site? Because of the prior contamination on portions of the site, there are limited uses permitted by Firestone and the EPA on the site. Industrial, commercial, or municipal/non-profit uses are allowed. Housing/apartments are not permitted.
What are the next steps? There has not been a final decision on redevelopment made. The Council action last week permitted the Administration to move forward on due diligence and work towards a final agreement with Firestone. This will take place in the first two quarters of 2023 with a goal of final agreement in the middle of next year. After that, we can begin the conversation as a community as to the best uses for the site moving forward.
If you'd like to read through the article the IndyStar wrote on the Council action last week, click here. To read through the Council action itself, click here.
Orange Outlined Area: This is the area under the working agreement that the City of Noblesville would take possession of under the donation agreement.
Blue Shaded Area: This area contains the highest levels of past contamination that the City will not be taking possession of. This will stay under Firestone's control.
Breaking the Mold on New Development
As Noblesville grows, private development will play a key role in building the vision the City sets for its future. Each month, I'll share some of the examples of new development I've seen around the country that I believe we should look to as examples down the road.
This newly-built mixed-use building in Portland, Oregon looks super striking and reminds me a lot of the character in the Richwine Building downtown Noblesville. The big windows, expansive retail below, and unique character are great assets to this development that was built on a former parking lot!
A staggering look at what the site looked like before the site developed!
Infrastructure Spotlight: Nickel Plate Trail
In 2023, you may start to see construction on Noblesville's leg of the Nickel Plate Trail.
Funding Source: The $2M contract for the 2.7 mile trail (146th St. to Pleasant Street) is fully paid for by the Next Level Trails grant from the Department of Natural Resources.
Timeline: Construction will start in January and is targeted to wrap up by October.
Trail "Tie-ins": The south end of Noblesville's leg will tie in with the trail Fishers completed a few years ago. The "north" end of the trail will stop at Pleasant and 8th Street where it will tie in with the Midland Trace Trail (east-west trail going to Westfield) and the Riverwalk Trail which will funnel pedestrians and cyclists to the square via a trail directly adjacent to the White River.
Full Loop: Once all jurisdictions complete their portions of the trail, the Midland Trace Trail, Monon Trail, and Nickel Plate Trail will create a continuous 42-mile loop.
To read the full write-up in the Star, click here.
Noblesville "In the News"
Here are a few stories you may have missed on Noblesville over the past month:
Hamilton County Reporter: Noblesville students’ cooking creations on Bru Burger menu
IndyStar: Cuddle chairs, caramel corn at new Hamilton Town Center luxury theater
Current: Noblesville receives $1M through Community Crossings program
Hamilton County Reporter: Noblesville Fire makes five promotions
Current: Looking Ahead: Mayor: 2022 an exciting year for city, expects progress to continue in 2023