Hops, Shops, and Roadwork Ahead
It's been a busy March in Noblesville.
Spring has sprung and the past few weeks have been anything but sleepy in Indiana’s 9th largest city. Before we dive in, a few quick points you should know as a subscriber — and as a fan of Noblesville:
Our police officers are incredible: Not only do they keep our community safe, but they also continue to find ways to connect to our community too. One of our School Resource Officers wrote a book that he shared with the students he serves each and every day. Read more from WTHR here.
Noblesville Schools rank nationally: Forbes announced Noblesville Schools as the 18th best midsize employer in the country and the highest in Indiana. You can read more on the distinction by clicking here.
I appreciate you being here and for leaning into the exciting projects we’re working on in Noblesville.
Downtown Spotlights: Great Examples of Downtown Activation
A subscriber to this email sent me a story on Tipton’s effort to revitalize their downtown core and I thought I’d share it here too. There are county seats across Indiana looking to Noblesville as an example for good growth. And while I’m biased, I think that Downtown Noblesville has a lot of great things going for it:
We have close to zero vacancies.
Nearly all of our first floor spaces are activated.
Building owners are making active investments in the second and third floors.
And, we’re making a concerted effort to balance both new investment with the preservation of what makes Noblesville unique.
So, as Noblesville seeks to invest in our own downtown, where should we look for examples for good growth?
There are great examples of growing cities throughout the country balancing the preservation of their character and embracing growth at the same time. If you’re interested in seeing the examples I look to, I’d encourage you to check out:
Your Next Happy Hour Spot: Bier Brewery Opens!
This month, we cut the ribbon on the newest Bier Brewery location downtown Noblesville! Located at 1618 South 10th Street, this investment is a huge win for this part of town. They have a dog park out back, a playground for the kids, an amazing food menu and tons of beer on tap. I can’t wait to see more businesses like Bier pop up around Noblesville as we continue our city in Indiana the best place to live, work, and play.
Approved Kroger Expansion in Noblesville
At our last meeting, we approved an addition to the Kroger located at Hazel Dell and 146th Street.
What it Does: This proposal expands the Kroger to the parcel of land southeast of the current store. Upon completion, this location will become a Kroger Marketplace with additional options inside, similar to the one in Fishers on Olio.
There’s More: It also adds a Kroger gas station and space for a Starbucks and a Chipotle alongside 146th Street.
But why is Kroger updating this location and not the one downtown Noblesville?
Great question. It’s one that I’ve asked too. The building that the Kroger is in downtown Noblesville is owned by a REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) which makes it more difficult to renovate. This location is at the top of my list of areas that I'd like to see future investment though.
For Consideration: Hazel Dell Developments
Courtyards of Hazel Dell
Location: East of Hazel Dell, just South of the Midland Trace Trail
Developer: Epcon
Description: The Courtyards of Hazel Dell will feature 110 classic courtyard homes in an HOA-maintained, low maintenance community, providing lawn maintenance and snow removal for all homes within the development.
What makes it unique: Each home includes one of Epcon’s branded courtyard spaces (picture below), creating interesting and livable outside space.
Trail Access: This development will also have access to the Midland Trace Trail to the North.
Village at Trail Crossing
Location: West of Hazel Dell, just South of the Midland Trace Trail
Developer: M/I Homes
Description: Located on the other side of Hazel Dell just south of the Midland Trace Trail, this smaller parcel of land is proposed to build for-sale townhomes built alongside the trail. Like Epcon’s proposal across the street, M/I’s development built around a massive central green and has a design unique to Noblesville.
A High Standard: I’ve pushed the City to have a high bar for this property. I believe that outside of downtown Noblesville, the parcels along the Midland Trace Trail are some of our best assets as a City. I led a vote against a previous proposal in 2022 because it lacked creativity, adequate parking, strong trail interaction and was too dense.
A Strong Solution: This proposal by M/I strengthens the amenities within the community, better interacts with the trail, creates the space for a future pocket park alongside the trailhead, and reduces the overall density.
Important: Road Detours Begin
In the next few months, you’re bound to see orange barrels guiding your path through Noblesville. State, County, and local roads are all expected to be impacted. I’ve shared a few details on each project slated for work over the next few months, but first it’s important to remember:
Construction is inconvenient for everyone! There is never a good time to shut down multiple major thoroughfares in Noblesville. Conner Street, Pleasant Street, Allisonville, and 146th Street are all busy arteries for both local and truck traffic passing through Hamilton County that will all see updates this construction season.
We have a limited calendar. In Indiana, we have to work around weather and the school calendar which can make for a shortened construction season. We have to get the work done while we can.
We shouldn’t kick the can. In general, we can’t keep kicking projects down the road because of timing. I campaigned on making tough decisions and getting projects done so we can look to tackle future infrastructure projects before we need them.
There’s good news! By the end of this year, we’ll have a fully rebuilt Conner Street, the Bridge over the White River will be open, and 146th Street and Allisonville Road will be much easier to navigate.
Allisonville & 146th Street
Hamilton County is reconstructing the Allisonville/146th Street intersection. While 146th Street will never close during this construction, Allisonville has been fully closed for 90 days. I’ve included a map below illustrating detours. More info at streamline146.com.
SR-32/Conner Street
The most extensive project will be a complete reconstruction of SR-32/38/Conner Street. The exact dates and timelines are still being developed but the early projected schedule proposes three phases with each phase taking approximately 30 – 45 days to complete starting in the next few weeks.
The first phase will be a full closure and upgrades to the intersection of 16th Street and SR-32
The second phase will be a full closure from west of 16th Street thru 9th Street, including the intersection of 9th and 10th Street and SR-32.
The third phase will be a full closure from west of 9th Street to 6th Street, including the intersection of 8th (9th & 10th Streets open).
Before you go, a few trending stories:
Here are a few stories you may have missed on Noblesville over the past month:
Hamilton County Reporter: Noblesville Lions learn about Kirk Hardware Building
IndyStar: Kroger grocery store, nearly 100 new homes proposed for 146th Street in Noblesville
Current: ‘Yak’-ing it up: Noblesville family opens unique ranch and winery business
Hamilton County Reporter: Noblesville Schools to hold two student hiring fairs
IBJ: The Justus Cos. planning to relocate HQ from Indianapolis to Noblesville
Hamilton County Reporter: Hamilton East Public Library’s seed libraries opens next week
AOL: Will it always be Deer Creek? The history of the Noblesville amphitheater's name
Current: Booming business: Noblesville couple runs top-selling online wall art, home decor shop