200 Riverfront apartments, retail shops could replace county parking lot
On Monday, the Hamilton County Commissioners approved publishing a Request for Proposals that will bring a parking garage to downtown Noblesville.
The Request for Proposals seeks a developer to construct a three-story above-ground parking structure containing 430 parking stalls. The project will require a design capable of supporting a future fourth floor, adding an additional 150 spaces.
The garage would be located east of Eighth Street on both sides of Clinton Street. The commissioners indicated Clinton Street will remain in place and be covered by the structure’s first floor.
According to documents distributed by County Attorney Mike Howard, the project will be a public-private partnership with the intent to fulfill parking needs for county employees and make current county-owned property available for an economic development project.
The commissioners said on Monday they have been contacted by developers who have an interest in the county-owned parking lot located on the east bank of the White River south of State Road 32. That location currently serves as a large parking lot for county employees.
Although commissioners would not identify who, they say one developer would like to bring 200 market rate apartments, along with first-floor retail and parking to the riverfront property.
Heirbrandt
Altman
Commissioner Christine Altman said funds used from the potential sale of the of the county-owned riverfront parking lot would be redirected towards funding the parking garage.
In addition to the new parking garage, the county will ask Noblesville to transfer ownership of the public parking lot, located on the north side of Logan Street just south of Eighth Street, to Hamilton County.
Altman and Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt both described how State Road 32 (Conner Street) represents a dangerous physical barrier between county offices and available parking. Moving parking north of the courthouse and Judicial Center eliminates the need for pedestrians crossing one of Noblesville’s busiest roadways.
Officials hope to break ground on the new garage in the spring of 2020 with completion in the fall of 2021.
Why not offer owner occupied condos? Why do we want renters instead of owners?