Downtown Fishers $157M Development: Enhancements, Preservations

FISHERS, IN — The City of Fishers' Mayor Scott Fadness and Browning Investments announced this week a multi-million dollar mixed-use development in Downtown Fishers' Nickel Plate District. According to a release, the $157 million development is scheduled to begin spring 2019, and will enhance the Nickel Plate District while also preserving iconic buildings along the north and south sides of 116th Street. It will feature residential, retail, a high-end boutique hotel, and will be anchored by a six-story office building, a release from the City of Fishers said.

The development follows the master plan for the Nickel Plate District’s downtown vision, as the industrial-inspired campus, bound by Nickel Plate Rail Road, North Street, Maple Street, and South Street, will further establish downtown Fishers as a "heavy employment node where residents can live, work, and play in close proximity," officials said.

“Browning is thrilled to be the master developer of this truly transformative project,” said John Hirschman, Browning’s president and CEO, in a release sent to Patch. “This is a complex in-fill redevelopment spanning a major thoroughfare, and its design and mix of uses reflects years of planning and a commitment to the vision for the City of Fishers.”

According to a release, the north side of the development will be built by Browning and CRG Residential, featuring a 5-story apartment building with 241 units, 10 town homes, office, and retail units along 116th, North, and Maple Streets. It will also include a public parking garage with resident amenities on the roof.

The development will also include the proposed Nickel Plate Trail and relocate the existing Pocket Park into a plaza gathering space.

The following iconic downtown buildings along the north side of 116th Street will be preserved with rehabilitated exteriors and landscaping:

• Nickel Plate Bar & Grill
• Roman and Leo
• Fishers Barber Shop
• The former Vardagen and Sure Shot Coffee store
• State Farm Insurance

“We had a unique opportunity in downtown Fishers to bridge our past, with institutions such as Archer’s and Nickel Plate Bar and Grill, with our vision for the future,” remarked Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, in a release. “Jamie Browning and team took that opportunity and delivered a great vision for the future of our vibrant downtown.”

The south side of the development will be anchored by a landmark 168,000-square foot, 6-story office building with ground floor retail space alongside a 110-room high-end boutique hotel, and a parking garage.

First Internet Bank, currently headquartered in a 52,000-square foot building at 11201 USA Parkway in Fishers, plans to relocate to the office building on the south side of 116th Street. First Internet Bank currently employs just under 200 at its existing Fishers headquarters, the City said.

“We are fortunate in that we continue to have opportunities to grow the momentum downtown is experiencing right now,” said Fadness. “To have a Fishers-grown business, First Internet Bank, be a component of this landmark project brings our vision closer to completion,” said Fadness. “David Becker has been a trailblazer in the tech industry for years and continues to build on our vision for a smart, vibrant, and entrepreneurial city, and we are lucky to have him and the entire First Internet Bank family continue to be part of Fishers’ future.”

Improvements to sidewalks and an extension of South Street from Fishers Point Boulevard to Lantern Road will be incorporated into the project with additional right-turn only lanes to be installed at South Street at Lantern Road and at Lantern Road at 116th Street.

The City of Fishers will propose support for the project to the Fishers City Council at the December City Council meeting, officials said.

According to a release, the City also plans to construct a 750-space public parking garage on the south side and 256-space public parking garage on the north side as part of the development that will include reserved parking from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday for tenants. Public, unreserved spaces will be available for retail parking during hours of operation.

The following will also be presented at the City Council meeting:

• Fee waivers
• Land costs and transfer of two City-owned parcels to First Internet Bank
• Hardscape investments

The project is scheduled for completion by fall 2021.

More information and updates: fishers.in.us/116thStreetDevelopment

Images via the City of Fishers website