Bargersville Flea Market site could get new life

The former Bargersville Flea Market site could get new life in the next few years.

Bargersville town officials have published a request for proposals, or RFP, for the site, which consists of about 11 acres of land just north of the intersection of County Road 144 and State Road 135. The site is largely open and development-ready, aside from a few small buildings, as the flea market vendors would set up temporary booth spaces.

The Bargersville Flea Market closed permanently in 2019 because the previous owner had concerns about solicitor fees and the cost of updating facilities to remedy health code violations. The market was set to return in 2020, but the Bargersville Board of Zoning Appeals didn’t grant approval for it to be reopened. The property was

The Bargersville Redevelopment Commission, or RDC, published the RFP Monday in hopes of turning over a new leaf for the property. There are many potential uses for the land, including a mix of commercial and residential development. This could include offices, multi-family residential units, retail stores, commercial development or condominiums, or any mix of those items, according to the RFP.

The proposal asks for plans for three acres just northwest of the intersection, a second area of about seven acres just east of State Road 135 and north of East Old South Street, and a third parcel of about an acre that is at the northeast corner of State Road 135 and County Road 144, according to the RFP document.

Proposals are being sought to bring in quality development in a major gateway to the town, said Carissa Comstock, the town’s spokesperson.

“I think we just really want to take advantage of underutilized space in Bargersville,” Comstock said. “As we’re growing, that’s one of the main focal points of the town and we want something that will highlight Bargersville.”

The land surrounding the intersection would be a prime location for many uses, said Joe Csikos, the town’s director of development.

“We’re hoping to develop suggestions on what they think will work there,” Csikos said. “We talked about commercial, retail, offices, condos, multi-family units, any combination thereof. We’re very open to possibilities there and seeing what will work best.”

Proposals are due to the commission Oct. 28 and will be reviewed Nov. 11. The RDC will consider the type of development, design and architecture, the offered purchase price for the parcels of land, any incentive the developer is asking for and whether the development fits into the Bargersville Vision 2040 Plan, according to the RFP.

If the RDC rejects all proposals, the process would start over. If the commission decides to accept a proposal during their December meeting, it would go to the town council for final approval the same month, Comstock said.

Once approved, town officials hope development will be completed by or before Jan. 1, 2025, Csikos said.