Construction association highlights Hancock developments

The Hancock Economic Development Council was honored to have the Indianapolis chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction feature upcoming development projects in Hancock County at a recent event.

IndyNAWIC’s forum highlighted endeavors overseen by three leaders helping to make Hancock County one of the fastest growing counties in the state.

Professionals in the construction industry and related fields from throughout central Indiana gathered at the Hancock Health Wellness Center in New Palestine on April 28th to learn about the projects.

Detailing these developments were Greenfield Planning Director Jenna Wertman, Hancock Health Director of Property Development Harold Gibson, and New Palestine Town Council Member Ethan Maple.

Wertman discussed the Brownfield grant to facilitate environmental studies primarily along the Pennsy Trail, the mixed-use building and parking garage coming to the city’s downtown, and the new police station proposed at U.S. 40 and Meridian Road, as well as the wastewater, water utility, and other infrastructure improvements necessary for a growing city.

She also noted the incentives the state recently announced for agriculture and life sciences businesses in the Central Indiana Regional Development Authority region that Greenfield is a part of, and how that builds on local planning efforts.

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Small mixed-use nodes are a planning goal for the City, Wertman said, like the planned unit development proposed at Meridian and McKenzie Roads for small commercial buildings at the intersection with single-family homes behind it.

Gibson highlighted developments being conceptualized at Hancock Health’s properties throughout Hancock County. In McCordsville, plans are percolating for an aging-in-place campus with independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, memory care, and cottages, as well as a surgery center nearby.

Hancock Gateway Park at I-70 and Mt. Comfort Road has been off to a successful start for the past several years, with already a Gateway Hancock Health facility, apartment community, aging-in-place campus, pediatric dentistry, and Starbucks.

Developments underway include a dual-brand hotel and conference center as well as a townhome community. On the horizon are mixed-use, retail, office space, a women’s health center, emergency department, and additions to Hancock Health’s existing medical office building in the park.

At Hancock Health’s Healthway Park in New Palestine, a Kroger grocery store and multifamily residential development are among the planned projects.

As a New Palestine Town Council Member, Maple is excited for Healthway Park’s future as well. He is also eager to continue plans for the town center, which he looks forward to not only being a place to live, shop, eat, and experience life, but also a way to connect the newer part of town consisting mainly of retail with the older part of town that includes its schools and Town Hall.

Most of New Palestine Town Council’s members may be in their first term, but all of their passion and diversity across their skill sets creates a fresh perspective that is driving the town center endeavor forward, Maple said. Just as important, he continued, are relationships with the private sector necessary for bringing their vision to fruition.

Maple noted development is surging along the northern part of the Mt. Comfort Corridor, meaning New Palestine on its southern end will likely be the last to experience the full extent of that growth. That positions the town nicely for giving it plenty of time to prepare, he added.

The HEDC is grateful for IndyNAWIC’s interest in these topics and the connections that were able to be created because of the organization’s event.

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