A new type of development is coming to downtown Fishers. The $157 million project is the most expensive in the city’s history.
On Dec. 4, 2018, Browning Investments and the City of Fishers announced the project, which will span both sides of 116th Street in the heart of downtown. The mixed-use development is bordered by the Nickel Plate Railroad, North Street, Maple Street and South Street. It will include residential and retail units, a high-end boutique hotel and a six-story office building anchored by First Internet Bank, currently at 11201 USA Pkwy.
Mayor Scott Fadness refers to the development as an industrial-style project. He said it will look similar to the Ironworks development at 86th Street and Keystone Parkway in Indianapolis.
“It doesn’t mean industrial in the sense of there’s going to be smokestacks,” Fadness said. “What it means from an architectural perspective is this intersection of old meets new. To have core elements of historic buildings in the urban core, brick and glass and metal, that’s the intent and the image they’re working for.”
Fadness said Fishers epitomizes the growth concept of old meets new.
“I think that’s partly why we kept some of the older buildings, too, in the downtown, to demonstrate this homage to the past while embracing the future,” Fadness said. “When First Internet Bank showed me what they wanted to create, I was blown away by the rendering. I thought it was an awesome vision.”
First Internet Bank is headquartered in a 52,000-square-foot building.
“Locating our company where our employees want to live, work and play is an important factor in our talent strategy,” First Internet Bank President and CEO David Becker stated in a press release. “And the fact that Fishers is known for being a smart, entrepreneurial city is a terrific component to our brand and our award-winning corporate culture.”
Although the development is expected to bring more traffic, jobs and leisure activities to downtown, Fadness said 116th Street won’t need to be widened.
“When you drive downtown Fishers, there’s a million different access points,” Fadness said. “By building bigger buildings, we eliminate that so you don’t have as many people turning in and out. It’s better from a traffic perspective.”
Fadness also said parallel roads, like North and South streets, allow traffic to move east and west without being on 116th Street. Fadness also said the coordination of traffic signals along 116th Street has helped with traffic flow.
Demolition in the area will begin in the spring, but Fadness said he expects heavy construction on the development to begin in the fall. Construction also will bring infrastructure improvements to address drainage and utility relocation on South Street. There will be improvements to sidewalks and a South Street extension from Fishers Point Boulevard to Lantern Road. Right-turn only lanes will be installed on South Street at Lantern Road and on Lantern Road at 116th Street.
The project should be complete by fall 2021.
What to expect with the new development
The north side: Browning Investments and CRG Residential will build a five-story apartment building with 241 units, 10 townhomes, office and retail units along 116th, North and Maple streets. The city plans to build a 256-space parking garage here. The existing Pocket Park will be relocated into a plaza gathering space.
There are historical buildings in this area of the proposed development, such as Nickel Plate Bar & Grill, Roman and Leo, Fishers Barber Shop, State Farm Insurance and the former Vardagen and Sure Shot Coffee storefront. These will all be preserved, but the exteriors and landscaping will be rehabilitated.
The south side: A 168,000-square-foot, six-story office building with retail on the ground floor will be constructed on the south side of the development. A 110-room, high-end boutique hotel and a parking garage also will locate here. The city plans to build a 750-space parking garage on the south side.
