Plans unveiled include two new downtown redevelopment projects
Submitted
Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen delivered his inaugural “State of the City” address Thursday to a record-setting crowd at the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Embassy Suites’ Conference Center. Jensen focused on “Noblesville’s Next Chapter” and unveiled new economic development projects taking place in the city:
- The City of Noblesville and Xanderco, LLC have agreed to partner on a new downtown redevelopment project. The Lofts on Tenth, a $7.7 million project, will add 31,700 square feet of mixed-use redevelopment along 10th Street between Clinton and Wayne streets. This project will increase the downtown livability and provide immediate density and energy along with 8,000 square feet of commercial and retail space. Unique below-street-level commercial and restaurant space keeps with the historic feel of the architecture.
- In an effort to connect downtown and west side, the Village at Federal Hill is a livable, walkable connection between downtown. The project consists of 163 living units, 36,000 square feet of commercial retail space and 437 proposed parking spaces with a combination of surface, on-street and structured garage spaces.
Jensen
“The Village at Federal Hill is an investment in quality of life and sense of place to attract a diverse workforce,” said Jensen. “It creates a vibrant, walkable mixed-use community that will attract both daytime and evening density to the downtown area and accommodates the city’s need for additional parking on the west side of the White River while also serving new residential and commercial users.”
- India-based Panacea plans to build a new 60,000 square-foot facility along the Interstate 69 corridor at 141st Street and Olio Road in Noblesville. The company’s North American headquarters plans to employ 65 full-time employees in the new headquarters by 2023. Panacea manufactures modern radiotherapy machines to diagnose and treat cancer. The groundbreaking is set to begin in summer 2020.
“The city, state and chamber’s strong partnership continues to drive economic growth and cultivate an environment where companies feel welcomed and supported. Our administration’s vison is to be proactive not reactive and attract businesses that make sense,” said Jensen. “We as a community need to be proactive in going out and selling Noblesville and everything it has to offer.”
Jensen also discussed the city’s infrastructure and future road improvements – most notably the necessity to move forward on the expansion of Pleasant Street from State Road 37 to Hague Road.
“This project is priority No. 1 in terms of infrastructure going forward and I look forward to having a shovel in the ground and moving dirt within the next few years,” he said. “We have talked about improving Pleasant Street since 1987. Now is time we act on all those years of discussion.”
The city of Noblesville and the Indiana Department of Transportation have an infrastructure partnership for the construction of five new roundabout intersections to improve traffic flow throughout the community by enhancing east-west connectivity. The two-phase construction is scheduled to begin in 2021 with State Road 32 and 38 and the intersection of State Road 32 and River Road. The other three will begin in 2023.
“These projects are a wise investment for our community and public safety. The improvements will make it easier for local residents and visitors to get where they need to be, when they need to be there,” Jensen said.
This fall, the City of Noblesville made improvements at Seminary Park to reinvigorate its use and make it more user-friendly for the community and citizens in that area. Improvements included a new, larger gazebo and gazebo plaza; installation of Edison lighting; landscaping; new benches and tables; a metal archway into the park; and more shade trees, among other amenities.
Jensen introduced the Hobbs Station project, which will reintegrate the former train yard site back into Forest Park as a viable and attractive piece of the park. With 135 excursions planned in 2020 the increased potential for visitors to Forest Park for the train is over 25,000 people. This will allow Nickel Plate Express to operate out of Forest Park and make Noblesville the home of the train, again.
Other highlights of Jensen’s State of the City speech include:
- NobleAct – Jensen announced the implementation of a paramedicine program, NobleAct, which will officially launch in March. The program utilizes current community, healthcare and public safety resources to proactively identify and assist the public with non-emergency needs, health issues, and strives to maintain a healthy community. NobleAct is a multipronged approach based on the Community Health Assessment, public safety data analysis, trending issues, stakeholder needs and citizen feedback.
- Logan Street Bridge – The City of Noblesville and Hamilton County recently widened the bridge over the White River to accommodate sidewalks on the north and south sides and constructed a new bridge deck. The joint project added a 150-foot river overlook along the south side of the bridge. Construction also included new lighting to the railings of the bridge, which will provide a scenic and secure connection between the Hamilton County Courthouse and Riverwalk trail on the east side of the bridge and the city’s Federal Hills Commons park on the west side.
- Parking Pilot Project – The new parking pilot program is underway and now provides free parking available all day less than 500 feet from every downtown business. Many of these changes were suggested by downtown merchants, who played a key role in developing a balanced approach in the parking pilot after communicating their need for more parking availability.
- Alley Activation – The Noblesville Common Council allocated $80,000 and the Noblesville Economic Development has contributed $50,000 to support alley activation efforts. This project will add vibrancy and vitality to Downtown Noblesville, while developing iconic, one-of-a-kind experiences that can help define the community as a must-see destination and an incredible place to live.
Reporter photos by Denise Moe