Developers and Communities Prepare for Advanced Industries and New Jobs at Bargersville’s I-69 and SR-144 Interchange
The completion of the final section of Interstate 69 between Martinsville and Indianapolis is expected to drive significant development, particularly in Morgan and Johnson Counties according to a story in the Indianapolis Business Journal.
With increased accessibility, large undeveloped tracts of land along the route are now prime targets for development.
“We have purchased 100 acres on the southwest corner of I-69 and State Road 144. That is the Bargersville exit with Morgan County to the north,” said Travis Tucker, Executive Vice President of Development at construction management firm Meyer Najem.
Two major projects, White River Crossing and Whetzel Trace Ag/Life Sciences Park are already in early stages near the recently built I-69/State Road 144 interchange. Local officials are optimistic that the improved connectivity will attract high-value developments, particularly in life sciences, transforming the corridor over the next decade.
“I am in charge of leading our company in a strategic vision for development and construction,” said Tucker. “We saw the value of this new interstate corridor and had an opportunity to have a conversation with the family that owned the farm in the area. We knew this new interchange was going to spur a lot of growth.”
Tucker pointed to a few examples of innovation districts that attracted advanced manufacturing and life science businesses and jobs in other areas of Central Indiana.
“We are creating a placemaking effort with Johnson County, Bargersville and Morgan County. We are looking to create a place like 16 Tech (a 50-acre innovation district in downtown Indianapolis) and Lebanon LEAP (Limitless Exploration/Advanced Pace Innovation District),” he said.
However, the objective is to create an innovation corridor that is unique to the local area’s community development and economic needs.
“We want to create our own brand of place for the counties and Bargersville to attract the industries they want in their communities,” said Tucker.
The geographic location of the development is ideal for connecting Central Indiana and Johnson County’s economic development to Southern Indiana’s human capital.
“This is one of the newest interstates in the country,” said Tucker.
“This is a major East-West corridor that crosses the White River and SR-144. It will pull Martinsville, Bloomington and Southern Indiana closer to Indianapolis. This is a unique opportunity for the current residents and business owners to curate how they create space, a brand and a place.”
Tucker shared the vision that both the private and public sectors have been putting together for the innovation corridor.
“The counties agree they are not just looking for big-box distribution and logistics, they are looking for advanced manufacturing, bio life and agricultural science, and companies that are in the innovative space as a whole,” said Tucker.
“When we’re successful in attracting businesses in those industries, we expect positions to be across the board high education and high pay,” he added.
Ryan Zickler, Co-Founder and Principal/Managing Broker at Zickler Associates LLC has been working closely with Ratio architects on planning and marketing new development sites at the Bargersville interchange.
“We are accessing areas of the county (Johnson) and areas of Bargersville that have not been that accessible before,” said Zickler. “That is opening the door to many opportunities, including retail and retail services.”
Zickler highlighted some areas of the development that are zoned for medical and life science campuses. Zickler also said that the costly infrastructure projects will mean that developers will be working with the Town of Bargersville and legal advisors on discussing incentives to support the development process.
“We’re at the phase right now where we are improving infrastructure and creating the proper zoning, incentives and brand for placemaking,” said Travis Tucker.
“We are currently focused on the story, the zoning and the infrastructure. Infrastructure being utilities, wastewater, water, electricity, and roads. If all those are in place, then we will start seeing much more activity from our marketing efforts.”
Tucker mentioned that the marketing of the area is a collective community effort by local economic development organizations such as Aspire Johnson County, as well as local government and involved brokerage teams.
“We’re aligning all of the visions so that we are all telling the same story. We want to create industries and jobs that the local community wants to see. We also want to provide the amenities that are needed in Bargersville and Johnson County.”
Tucker said that long term development projects like what is at the 69/144 interchange begins with proactive work to prepare and market the location, and then reactive work to respond to incoming opportunities and businesses interested in moving into the area.
“We are working together as public and private partnerships between the government and municipalities and private developers and private investment to be ready,” said Tucker. “You can’t win chasing a deal, you have to be in front of the deal.”