Fishers approves train depot demolition for apartments

FISHERS — The Town Council on Monday approved a $28 million mixed-use project that includes demolishing Fishers' train station — but only after hearing some heated objections from residents.

Before the 5-2 vote, council members got an earful Monday night from those opposed, including accusations of campaign donations greasing the wheels.

Council member Scott Faultless, the only incumbent not running to return to that body or for mayor, cast one of the two votes against the project.

However, he first strongly took issue with comments by Greg Purvis, who is running for a council seat. Purvis launched a social media campaign against the train station redevelopment over the weekend.

Purvis suggested a link between campaign donations — implying they went to current town manager and mayoral candidate Scott Fadness — and the construction project.

Faultless criticized Purvis, saying the attorney had shown a "lack of integrity."

Several opponents to the train station demolition referred to this and other developments as making Fishers a faint copy of Carmel.

"The ordinary citizens of Fishers don't like this," Purvis said. "They don't want this to look like Carmel East."

The other vote against the development came from council member Renee Cox, who also is running to be Fishers' first mayor.

While the $28 million development approved Monday will include demolition of the old station, it will not end train rides to the Indiana State Fair. The station's platform and a pedestrian plaza will provide continuation of the popular FairTrain that runs between Fishers and the State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.

But the old depot will be replaced by a 120-unit apartment building of upscale studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, retail space and a 400-space parking garage.

The town will contribute up to $9.5 million for construction of the parking structure.

Fadness said the train station redevelopment is part of the town's master plan that includes the Nickel Plate District.

Work on the new project, by Loftus Robinson Development, is expected to begin this summer and be completed by the fall of 2015, he said.

Construction also continues across the street and to the east of the train station on The Depot, a mixed-use retail and apartment project by Flaherty and Collins.

Call Star reporter Diana Penner at (317) 444-6249. Follow her on Twitter: @dianapenner.