The Noblesville Common Council approved two separate projects Tuesday evening that will strengthen the downtown and redevelop a substantial parcel on a major corridor east of State Road 37. The final public approval step was completed for the Levinson, a $24.3 million mixed-use project, including the first new downtown apartments to be built in more than a century. The council also passed the bond financing for a $31 million redevelopment project on the northeast corner of 146th Street and Promise Road.
Noblesville officials and Rebar Development first presented The Levinson project to the Noblesville Common Council on Aug. 28. The Levinson will be an architecturally significant building in the heart of downtown that will provide commercial space, modern apartment homes, and a parking garage in downtown Noblesville.
Throughout the process, Rebar’s design team has incorporated more historic features similar to neighboring buildings that include a diamond pattern, limestone banding, a stone base, arched windows and cornices. Landscaping will consist of planters around the outside of the building that will match the Downtown District’s transition to black planters.
“When we announced the Noblesville NOW capital improvement plan, one of our top objectives was to strengthen the downtown with more residents and more parking,” said Mayor John Ditslear. “The Levinson helps us achieve that objective, as well as accomplishes some of the goals that came out of the housing study and parking task force while setting the stage for further enhancements like those proposed in the downtown streetscape plan.”
The Levinson includes 73 market-rate and 10 affordable-rate studio, one- and two-bedroom modern apartments with a rooftop deck and contemporary amenities; 5,100 square feet of commercial space; and a four-level, 300-space parking garage. A minimum of 200 spaces will be available for paid public parking – a net gain of 130 parking spaces over the lot’s current availability.
With the final approval, the city will turn its attention to developing a robust communications plan to keep the public informed about downtown parking and potential street closures or issues during the Levinson construction period.
“With any project of this size in an urban environment, there are bound to be some disruptions,” said Deputy Mayor Steve Cooke. “Our goal is to minimize any inconvenience for residents, businesses and visitors to ensure our downtown district continues to thrive even throughout the Levinson’s construction.”
Further details about the communications plan will be announced closer to the start of construction, which is expected to begin in early spring.
The council also approved an issuance of bonds to incentivize the 38-acre redevelopment of the northeast corner of 146th Street and Promise Road. A large portion of the site is currently being used as an auto salvage business. Jackson Development LLC plans to transform the ground into 200,000 square feet of office/flex buildings in what will be known as the Campus Center Business Park. The project also features 80,000 square feet of commercial and retail space in the area known as The Shoppes at Campus Center.
“This project opens up the potential redevelopment of the 146th Street corridor between State Road 37 and Corporate Campus,” Ditslear said.
Jackson Development will close on the real estate this month. Utility work should be completed and the salvage cars should be removed by summer, and then construction will begin.