September 19th, 2019
Back to the Future
During the 1980s, you could easily assess the upward mobility aspirations of a coworker by the size of the Rolodex on their desk and the veracity with which they jotted notes into their daily planner. That all gave way to first the Blackberry and then a wider array of electronic devices and the cloud with contacts and calendars seamlessly integrated. Fast forward about 30 years and guess what? The paper planner is making a comeback ! (Retail displays are a good indicator as are 4.7 million Instagram posts with the hashtag #planneraddict.) Here’s something for the planner: Every Thursday, your snippet of news that impacts your business. Read on.
Speaking of the ‘80s … The once bustling retail center at 126 th and Gray Road built in 1982 has been a bone of contention for neighbors since the anchor grocery closed its doors two years ago. It was an easy place for those living on the east side of Keystone to stop and shop. Now those residents can look forward to a new place to peruse three-for-$1 lemons and hopefully visit a local butcher. Indianapolis based KennMar has purchased Brookshire Village Shoppes and is reportedly working to secure a grocery tenant. 
Drive Like it’s 1999 . The major construction project involving State Road 37 is about to force Hamilton County commuters to the backroads of their youth. Luckily the “backroads” are now paved thoroughfares that pass by the neighborhood Starbucks and GetGo. If you’ve not already, checkout the 37Thrives website that offers a project overview, alternative routes and special discounts to help support those businesses whose livelihoods will be impacted by construction. Slated for a 2022 completion date, the project includes creating roundabouts at 126th, 131st, 141st, and 146th streets; at 135th Street, drivers will only be able to turn right onto and off the state road. The goal: 50,000 cars a day driving without a single stop from Interstate 69 to 146th Street.
Full Dockets for City Councils . Lots going on recently for both the Carmel and Fishers city councils. In Carmel, an ordinance increasing the park impact fee on new home construction by 64 percent (raising it from its current $2,972 to $4,882) met with opposition from the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis, while proponents argue its only fair that new folks contribute to the city’s amenities. That ordinance goes to the finance committee for further study until a mid-November vote. Meanwhile, Fishers proposed city budget for next year includes a one-time, 2-cent property tax increase. According to Mayor Scott Fadness, the anticipated $1.25 million in additional revenue would fund rebuilding Technology Drive (through the city’s certified Tech Park) and major road repairs throughout Burberry Place neighborhood where the concrete roadways are more expensive to repair versus asphalt. 
Plus One: Kudos to Fishers for making it to the top 10 best places to live in the country, according to Money  magazine – placing third behind Clarksville, Tennessee and Round Rock, Texas. According to  MONEY.com , the list was compiled using data points such as economic health, cost of living, public education, and ease of living and amenities.