This annual evening of recognition acknowledges individuals and businesses that contribute to excellence in architecture, construction, engineering, innovative reuse, interior design, landscape architecture, neighborhood revitalization, public art, and real estate development is always a company favorite.

The Opportunity

When Archer’s Meats closed its 116th Street location in 2017, there was a development opportunity for Fishers, and other developers couldn’t make the site work, the City of Fishers turned to Browning.  We worked together to create a Development Plan for a complex in-fill redevelopment spanning a major thoroughfare. The industrial-inspired campus, bound by the Nickel Plate Trail, North Street, Maple Street, and South Street, was designed to further establish downtown Fishers as a heavy employment node where residents can live, work, and play in close proximity.

“I’m a huge proponent of this project,” he said. “I think it continues to put Fishers on the map. I think it continues to push us forward.” – City Councilor Pete Peterson

This development is a shining example of a successful Public-Private Partnership between Browning, First Internet Bank, and the City of Fishers.  First Internet Bank anchored the development and financed the neighboring projects. The City’s support in site control (a multi-seller assemblage) and infrastructure were instrumental in making this partnership successful.

During the project’s development phase, Browning coordinated with architects, engineers, and the City of Fishers to plan the relocation and installation of new utilities required for this and other adjacent projects and to coordinate the delivery of the streetscape and future Nickel Plate Trail.

Given the land assemblage, our predevelopment team went through the platting process for new lots and road vacations on both the north and south sides. The redevelopment process allowed us to create a better right-of-way for the City’s parking garage’s turn lane (which required us to move our building back from our original plan). We also created new additional on-street parking on multiple street fronts.  Infrastructure work also improved site detention capacity and directed into a box culvert system incorporated into the road design for South Street.

Our development thoughtfully incorporated the new rails-to-trails project, the Nickel Plate Trail, into the site. We worked on integrating trail access, planning for reduced construction laydown areas on already restricted urban sites, and adjusting the hotel to be self-supportive so not to stress the trail’s retaining walls. We also placed the storm lift station and transformers on the hotel site to support the trail crossing below grade under 116^th Street.

Once ready for vertical development, Browning, recognizing the value in partnership (it is in our name for a reason), brought in CRG Residential to work with us on Nickel Plate Station and Dora Hotel Company for Hotel Nickel Plate. Both companies are not only reputable owners and operators but also local to Fishers and excited to be a part of the development.

North Side: Nickel Plate Station

Both we and the city understood the sentimental connection to the old grain silo and Nickel Plate Bar & Grill, and we worked diligently to find the right solution.  Unfortunately, both structures and a brick addition to one of the legacy buildings along 116th were determined to be structurally unsound and needed to be demolished.  Before demolition, the old siren situated atop the silo was removed by Fire Capt. John Mehlin with the intention of restoring it for the department’s new headquarters being built at the Municipal Center a few hundred yards away.  The development was able to save and rehabilitate the two remaining two legacy buildings along 116th Street.  Chris Reid (from CRG Residential) personally hired Wilkinson Brothers, local mural artists, to create an homage to Fishers on the side of the western legacy building.  Work is currently finishing to bring an Indianapolis breakfast/lunch institution, Café Patachou, to Fishers on the site of the former Nickel Plate Grill with a public plaza area along the mural.

Nickel Plate Station increased housing units in Fishers with 237 apartments and 8 townhomes. The project pre-leased strongly and was stabilized by opening.  The 10,500 SF of retail is fully leased and includes FlexWerk Fitness, Java House, Rita’s Italian Ice, Rush Bowls, Crave Cookies, Angelo’s Italian Market, Penn & Beech Candle Co, and Barry Bagels.

South Side: First Internet Bank

“It’s taller than any building we’ve ever built. It’s better looking than any building we’ve ever built, it speaks to the future of our city and you have really set the tone for what is possible in our community,” Mayor Scott Fadness.

The First Internet Bank Headquarters is a 175,000-square-foot, six-story mixed-use office building with a connected 750-space parking garage/green roof terrace.

The bank’s office space also connects to a private, amenity-rich green roof terrace on the adjoining garage.  The garage is city-owned and provides parking for residents, patrons of the retail in the project and the surrounding area, and the public visiting this mixed-use walkable downtown District.

FIB occupies the third through sixth floors of their building.  The second floor is a multi-tenanted office that housed the City of Fishers during the construction of a new Town Hall and has approximately 3,000 SF of office for lease. The first floor is occupied by retail tenants Le Macaron French Pastries and Tiburon Coastal Cuisine.

South Side: Hotel Nickel Plate

Local business owners requested a downtown hotel, and Hotel Nickel Plate is a 116-room boutique hotel within the Hilton Lifestyle (Tapestry) collection. Although designed for out-of-town guests, the full-service bar and restaurant (Derailed) and indoor/outdoor space with a fire pit and frequent live entertainment invite guests and the community to explore, engage, and escape.

A “Monumental Staircase” connects the trail and creates a natural entry into the hotel’s public spaces. The perfect spot for live music, special events, and community gatherings it also allows pedestrians and cyclists to access the trail at 116th Street. Lighting and charging stations provide a place for trail-goers to plug in their phones and laptops to work, rest, or recharge.

Browning is proud to have partnered with so many stakeholders to bring this vibrant development to Fishers. Its design and mix of uses reflect years of planning and a commitment to the Nickel Plate District’s downtown master plan and vision.