The Blueprint to Counteract Loneliness, Build Better Sidewalks, and Lower Housing Costs
Three things you need to know as a fan of Noblesville
Happy February, Noblesville. We’ve met three times since my last update (January 14th, January 28th, and February 11th).
In the winter of 2017, I decided to try to become a "regular" somewhere. Working from home left me knowing few beyond my immediate neighbors, so I traded my living room for Noble Coffee each morning.
Through those winter mornings, I watched the coffeehouse rhythm unfold — college students on break, parents with toddlers in tow, and the group of guys sharing a New York Times subscription, solving world problems over cups of coffee. Gradually, strangers became familiar faces, then names, then friends.
Then one morning, Kelli Yates, the familiar barista behind the bar, knew both my name and order. I did it — I finally became a regular.
In a recent IBJ op-ed, I talked through a few ways we could extend this type of connectivity across Noblesville. The stats show that while people have never been more connected through social media, many feel increasingly lonely.
So, we’re going to do something about it in Noblesville this year:
We’re taking a fresh look at our ordinances to prioritize front porches, trails, greenspaces, and gathering spaces within the new developments that come forward for our consideration. While seemingly small, these aspects help create the environment for neighbors to know one another naturally within their own community.
Established neighborhoods won't be left behind either — I’d like to see us completely eradicate barriers across the city for these residents too. For example, you currently have to pay a nominal fee to close down your street to host a block party. What if we completely eliminated fees for these types of gatherings altogether? That way, instead of merely permitting block parties, Noblesville became known as the community that incentivizes it?
But let’s be honest, government can’t do this work. It’s requires each of us to step out, choose to make a difference, and take ownership for our small corner of the world.
If you’d like to be a part of what we’re doing this year, let me know. I’d love to work alongside you.
Best,
Aaron Smith
317-445-1045
1️⃣ Bolden’s Dry Cleaners → King Jugg Brewery
A few years ago, the City strategically acquired the Bolden's site to ensure that the parcel stayed available for private sector use. As the city looked for a partner to bring it to life, I asked the mayor and his team to prioritize a partner who would expand options for young families, create affordable dining choices, and build on our growing trail network, pedestrian amenities, and DORA district.
In that process, King Jugg emerged as the perfect fit.
Their team brings a proven track record from operating their successful, family-friendly restaurant along a trail. They also committed to enhancing our downtown with public restrooms, additional sidewalks on 8th Street, and new amenities like a pedestrian walk-up window alongside the trail.
I'm excited to see this stretch of riverfront continue to come to life in a way that is unique to Noblesville. This development marks another step forward in creating a vibrant downtown that serves all our residents while maximizing one of our city's greatest natural assets – the White River.
2️⃣ The Next Step for Downtown Reinvestment and Preservation Advances
Eight years ago, the City Council created the Downtown District Committee to explore ways our community could reinvest in infrastructure around the square. Since then, we concentrated on initiatives like:
Activating the North, South, and East Alleys
Working with the community to build the Bridge of Flowers to connect both sides of the River
Enhancing the Square with new planters, lighting, and trashcans
Adding features that are unique to Noblesville like the new crosswalks near Seminary Park
In the last few years, we’ve worked in earnest with the community to develop a long-term vision to address the spaces around the Square – and the infrastructure underneath. As I’ve talked with business owners, building owners, residents and other stakeholders, I’ve heard a few key principles that the community would like considered in a long-term vision:
Authenticity to Noblesville's Character: Building on the vision from our last comprehensive project in the 1990s, we have an opportunity to double down on our downtown's natural charm — more brick, more flowers, more shrubs, and more trees.
Infrastructure Investment: This includes addressing persistent issues like our aging sewer system beneath our sidewalks and streets. It’s been decades, and long-overdue, since we’ve addressed these issues. To be frank — if you’ve ever thought that downtown smells from time to time, this is one of the ways we can help solve that.
Looking to Other County Seats: I’ve spent the last few years looking at, and visiting, other county seats like Franklin and Shelbyville who have thoughtfully reinvested in critical infrastructure (think roads, sidewalks, and sewers) while preserving their historic character – particularly relevant given our own historic courthouse and established community fabric.
If you haven’t spent much time in either Franklin or Shelbyville, take a look at a few before and after pics I pulled from each:
In this process, I believe we can make downtown Noblesville even more authentic — with more bricks, more flowers, more shrubs, and more trees than we currently have. As we go through design this year, I’ll be sure to share more here.
3️⃣ How we’re working within our legal limits to address housing affordability.
Housing affordability is a concern I often hear from Noblesville residents, and in the past year we've taken action.
Early in 2024, we implemented new rules for approved townhome developments:
Buyers can't rent out their properties within the first year of purchase.
Later in the year, we were able to take that a step further by adding overall rental percentage limits in a development that came before us for approval.
While federal law puts limits on the restrictions we're able to put on housing developments as a Council, we wanted to take action within our legal boundaries to ensure that residents who wanted to put roots down in Noblesville had the first shot. Balancing personal property rights is important, but I think these protective steps are important.
In surrounding communities, they’re exploring comprehensive percentage-based rental limits in communities, both new and old. What are your thoughts on these types of measures?
Before you go, a few trending stories:
Here are a few stories you may have missed on Noblesville over the past month.
WISH: Noblesville awarded federal grant for planning White River pedestrian bridge
Current: Twisters Soda Bar to open this spring in Noblesville
IBJ: Henke planning 1,110-acre residential development in Noblesville
WISH: Noblesville to place historic signage along new Pleasant Street
IBJ: Noblesville to begin assessing S.R. 37 interchange options
Current: A tasty business: Noblesville couple fulfills dream of opening bake shop
Living in Franklin for 4 years during college, I witnessed them completely change the downtown area around the courthouse. Modeling after them is a great idea. Very similar “town square”