It’s The End of Downtown Noblesville As We Know It (and I feel fine)

(Apologies to R.E.M. for co-opting their song title.)

 

Two years from now the feel and functionality, even the center of gravity of downtown Noblesville will be transformed. It will become an intensely urban environment with dramatically more pedestrians and cars. It’s already underway, and will unfold fast enough to make your head swim.

 

And I feel fine. 

 

I want an exciting, vibrant downtown. I’ve been waiting decades for housing, restaurants and shops to be built in the surface parking lots–the asphalt deserts that ring our city center. And it’s finally happening.

The Levinson Building at 9^th and Maple (pictured above) is nearly complete: 85 apartments, 337 parking spaces, and a family-friendly restaurant with a broad street-side dining space. Before the end of the year some 140 people and 120 cars will call this single half block parcel just a half block from the courthouse, home. The builder finds half the tenants of their Indiana buildings are at or near retirement–an active population with more disposable income. That’s good for downtown shops and restaurants.

By the approaching winter, the Lofts On Tenth (pictured above) could be occupied. Currently under construction along 10^th, between Clinton and Wayne streets, it replaces a long-term eyesore with an attractive building. It will house 7 small retail spots and 23 apartments. Let’s estimate another 45 people and 40 cars.

 

County Parking Garage: Hamilton County is about to break ground on a new 5-story parking garage along Clinton St., between 8^th and 9^th streets. They'll will move all employee parking from the surface lot at Conner and White River to the new garage. This long overdue project is good, but a mixed bag. They only need 4 stories today, which leaves 1 story of additional parking for downtown during the day (hopefully), and presumably the entire building on evenings and weekends. But the relatively easier access county employees once had down Hwy 19, St. Rd. 32, and 8^th to their parking is gone and now they’ll have to filter through commercial and residential Old Town to get to and from parking. 

Construction begins this summer on East Bank (pictured above), a 4-story building on the old County parking lot where White River meets Conner St. and includes the demolition of the McMillan Auto Care. Its 219 apartments will overlook the river, with a 295 car garage and 5,000 square feet of retail centered at 6^th & Conner. Let’s expect approximately 350 more residents using most of the 295 parking spaces. Completion is expected spring of 2023.

Though it’s across the river, consider the Village of Federal Hill (pictured above): 163 apartment units, a 430 space parking garage, and a staggering 30,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. This and the city’s plan to make west Logan a more bikeable/walking artery reaching west to the staggering Nexus development (pictured below) at the old Marsh plaza, with almost 300 living units and another 36,000 sq. ft. of commercial space (and a bike share facility) will functionally drag the center of downtown from the courthouse square to the river. 

Let’s do the math for spring of 2023. There will be approximately 600 more people living within about 2 blocks of the courthouse. They’ll be shopping, eating, living, going to downtown parks, art shows and music events, and having friends and family visiting them. Imagine sharing the sidewalks, crosswalks, restaurants and Farmer’s Market with that many more people. Also consider that they’ll also have at least 550 cars located in the same radius, coming and going from 3 parking garages. Imagine sharing the streets with them. As I said, downtown will become a far more intense urban environment. 

 

And that math I estimated doesn’t include the Nexus development further west, the biggest development of all.

 

But that’s not the end of it.

 

I’m a Realtor who sells commercial property in this zone. Without divulging private conversations or anyone’s personal business, trust me that every single remaining parking lot or parcel of ill-used land you see downtown or immediately west of the river has a landowner and/or a deep-pocketed developer dreaming and scheming about it, right now! In 4 years, barring a recession, the numbers could be double what I’ve just laid out.

 

And I feel fine. Not because I’m a realtor, but because I’ve lived here with an under-performing downtown for 3 decades. Yes, it gets better all the time, but still a shadow of what it could be. I want more cool restaurants, distilleries, shops and special events to enjoy. That potential is unfolding.

For more info on each project and a maps showing locations, follow this link the City of Noblesville's website: Noblesville Projects