Fishers looks toward future

FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) - It was named the 19th safest city in the nation for 2012. This past year, Fishers generated $16 million in investment and added 450 new jobs. To keep the economic development engine running smoothly, the town is now looking forward, toward its city center and the nearby interstate.

Looking toward the future was a part of the State of the Town address Wednesday in Fishers.

Although I-69 and 106th Street is currently empty property, in the next two years it will become another gateway to Fishers. A new interchange has been approved for the spot, and for Fishers it will be more than just an interstate exit, says John Weingardt, president of the Fishers Town Council.

"They'll be over 300 acres of property that will be available for economic development that will be opened up by this interchange," he said.

Work is expected to begin in early 2014 with the interchange up and running by 2015. North and east of the interstate interchange is another of the town's priorities — a $33 million mixed use development, built on open space between the Fishers Town Hall and 116th Street.

"That will be apartments, retail, parking and a mixed use facility that will bring a sense of downtown, a sense of place to our community that we don't have right now," Weingardt said.

Developer Flaherty & Collins Properties envisions the project will offer 200 luxury apartments, a four-story public parking garage and 25,000 square feet of space for restaurants and stores.

"That will be something we can bring people in, hopefully spur economic development, spur growth and create other opportunities for our citizens," says Weingardt.

The timeline right now has more design work this year, groundbreaking next year, with tenants moving in by the end of 2014 and a completion date in 2015.

One important piece of Fishers’ future has not yet been worked out. The town has voted to become a city. But the council needs to take action before it can move forward with that. The council needs to set a date for a mayoral primary and election. But so far, there's no firm timeline on when that will happen.