The City of Fishers announced Monday the findings from the Allisonville Road Corridor Study and its plan for revitalizing the heavily-traveled corridor in west Fishers.
Plans are underway to implement road and walkability improvements, boost greenspace, and encourage new development along the corridor. As part of the plan, Kroger will relocate from the west side of Allisonville Road near the 116th Street intersection to build a new, expanded store on the east side of Allisonville Road.
In summer 2022, Mayor Scott Fadness established the Allisonville Road Steering Committee to work alongside HWC Engineering to conduct a study to examine the commercial center of the Allisonville Road corridor between 106th and 126th streets. The limits of the corridor are anchored by existing greenspace and recreational areas, including the White River to the west, Conner Prairie to the north, and the future 125-acre White River Park to the south.
However, the commercial center of the corridor – one of the city’s original retail centers – is aging, and the committee was charged with creating a plan to ensure that this area remains a vibrant destination for business and leisure for years to come.
Comprised of corridor residents, local business owners, community leaders, and city staff, the Steering Committee engaged the community to prioritize key areas of concern and potential improvements for the area.
Steering Committee members included:
- Corby Thompson, Co-Chair
- Joe Eaton, Co-Chair
- Selina Stoller, Fishers City Council
- David Giffel, Fishers City Council
- Ed Sahm, Sahms Restaurants
- Kelly Marburger Novak, EF Marburger Fine Flooring
- Pat Sullivan, Allisonville Home & Garden by Sullivan
- Mike Colby, River Glen Neighborhood Representative
- Brad Rochford, River Highlands Neighborhood Representative
- Jim Trueblood, Trueblood Real Estate
- Drew Bender, VS Engineering
- Allen Bourff, Retired Superintendent at HSE
- Stephanie Perry, Resident
- Marissa Deckert, Resident
“The community was really involved in every aspect of the Steering Committee’s work,” said Joe Eaton, co-chair of the Allisonville Road Steering Committee, Allisonville Road resident, and partner at Barnes & Thornburg. “We hosted a community workshop, focus groups, and an online survey where over 1,500 residents provided feedback and input about what they wanted to see, both in the short-term and long-term, with the corridor.”
The resulting plan includes a focus on greening the corridor, improved parking and walkability, enhanced connectivity, and collaboration with local business partners to infuse vibrancy in the area.
“The transformation of Allisonville Road is a long-range project that will take some years to complete, but we have significant things happening in the early chapters of that transformation –road improvements, a new park on the southern end, and several economic development projects,” Mayor Fadness said. “All of these are catalysts to jump start the transformation of the entire corridor.”
“The best part, for me, about this study is that it is targeting future investment,” said Corby Thompson, co-chair of the Allisonville Road Steering Committee and owner of Boomerang Development.
Redevelopment and partnerships with local businesses are identified as key priorities in the new plan. Earlier this month, CRG Residential and the City of Fishers broke ground on River Place – a $135 million mixed-use project at the northwest corner of 96th Street and Allisonville Road. The project includes a luxury apartment community, for-sale townhomes, and commercial retail space situated next to the future White River Park.
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Kroger has also announced plans to build a new store across the street from the current location at 7272 Fishers Crossing Drive. The new 120,000 square-foot store on the east side of Allisonville Road will include features such as an expanded assortment of “fresher than fresh” foods, expanded Kroger Pickup, wider aisles, Starbucks, as well as fresh, store-made popcorn. Kroger and Fishers city officials will hold a public meeting about the project in the coming months.
“Our Fishers Crossing Kroger has always been a friendly, welcoming place for anyone living here or just visiting the city,” Kroger Central Division President Colleen Juergensen said. “Over the years, Fishers has become a destination in a way its founders never could have imagined. Our location is a gateway to this vibrant community, and we’re excited to commit the new investment as another ingredient in the energy and entrepreneurial spirit of the city.”
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Road improvements and enhanced connectivity are another focus of the new plan. This spring, the city will begin the reconstruction of the existing “Michigan Left” intersection at 96th Street and Allisonville Road to become a two-lane roundabout adjacent to the new River Place development. The roundabout is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year.
Next spring, the city will begin construction on another two-lane roundabout at the intersection of 116th Street and Allisonville Road, further improving the flow of traffic and aesthetics of the area.
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Other priorities include boosting greenspace and enhancing the streetscape to achieve vibrancy and improved care for the corridor. The city is in the early stages of these improvements, but new median designs and beautification efforts by the Department of Public Works are already improving the vibrancy of this area.
Additional opportunities to provide feedback on the future of Allisonville Road will be offered later this year, with a focus on the White River, connectivity, and the city’s trail system.
To view the full plan, join the email list, and learn more, visit ThisIsFishers.com/AllisonvilleRoad.