Johnson County’s momentum of growth doesn’t seem to be slowing down in 2024.
Millions of dollars in business investment, hundreds of homes, apartments and condos, as well as municipal projects including new parks and government buildings are in the pipeline this year.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest projects set in 2024 for Bargersville, Greenwood, Franklin, Whiteland and Johnson County.
Many projects are multi-year efforts that could be completed by the end of 2024, while others are just beginning.
Greenwood
In Greenwood, residents can expect to see new housing and parks open up this year, along with continued commercial growth.
About 563 single-family homes and 634 apartment units are under construction now and are expected to continue construction this year. Another 914 single-family homes will start construction in 2024, said Gabe Nelson, planning director for the city of Greenwood.
Under-construction apartment complexes include:
- Arlington Farms Apartments, located on County Line Road on the city’s east side, will bring a total of 408 new units.
- Oliver Springs, located on Emerson Avenue near the Indy South Greenwood Airport, will bring a total of 226 units.
There are three subdivisions under construction currently — Holly Springs with 76 lots, Elmwood Estates with 248 lots and Lone Pine Farms with 239 lots. Holly Springs is located on Sheek Road and Elmwood Estates is located on Emerson Avenue on the city’s far south side. Lone Pine Farms is located on Greenwood’s southwest side, on Honey Creek Road.
Four new housing additions will begin construction in 2024 — Scottsdale Estates with 505 lots, Grand Vista with 341 lots, Brighton Knoll with 54 lots and Lyons Park with 14 lots. Scottsdale Estates is on Honey Creek Road, Grand Vista is at Worthsville and Griffith roads, and Lyons Park is on Fry Road near State Road 135.
The Madison, the $83 million redevelopment of the former Greenwood Middle School property, is also expected to be finished this spring. The city’s first parking garage is also near completion, and is expected to open in the next few months.
A planned 16-court pickleball complex, which will cost a little over $1.3 million, is expected to open sometime this year at Freedom Park, Parks and Recreation Executive Director Rob Taggart said last year.
Components of the $10 million Greenwood Sports Park near Worthsville Road and Interstate 65 are on track to be open later this year, said Jen Winget, assistant parks and recreation director.
“The latest progress at the park includes the installation of playground and splash pad components and restrooms, as well as making headway on Greenwood Parks & Recreation’s first multi-sport field that is inclusive of a cricket pitch and the beginning of artificial turf installation on the ball diamond infields,” Winget said. “It’s looking more and more like a park every day and is building a buzz among the community.”
Franklin
The city of Franklin will see a substantial amount of residential and industrial growth in 2024.
Mayor Steve Barnett said that the Bemis Group’s Newkirk Square townhomes on Water Street and South Main Street should be finished after a few more months. They are expected to increase their marketing efforts soon, with construction on the condominiums and retail space that will round out the block to follow, he said.
The Links at Franklin, a rental home neighborhood located next to the Franklin fire station on King Street, will complete its first phase of development this year. The first phase included the construction of 98 residential units, while phase two will add the remaining 69 units.
Founders Pointe Apartments on Upper Shelbyville Road should also open this year. 192 units will be spread over six garden-style buildings containing one- to three-bedroom apartments ranging from 741 to 1,247 square feet.
Construction on a Redwood Living proposal to build 156 single-story apartment homes on a 31.5-acre parcel located at the northeast corner of Hurricane Road and Upper Shelbyville Road could also begin this year. The apartment community would have two-bed, two-bath, two-car garage units of varying sizes, according to plans submitted to the city.
Two Arbor Homes housing developments will continue to progress in 2024. Westwind at Cumberland will continue its development of 123 lots. Of these, 45 units have been already sold or are pending, while 14 are listed as “quick move-in” homes.
At the Bluffs at Young’s Creek adjacent to the Franklin Lakes and Windstar neighborhoods, there are nearly 500 homes planned on the 167-acre parcel. The current section is about half-sold, while site work is in progress right now on the next section.
There will also be more activity on Sunbeam Development Corporation’s ongoing build-out of Interstate 65 South Commerce Park. The developer is looking to add a few new tenants this coming year, although they have yet to be named as they have not obtained their certificates of occupancy, Barnett said.
Sunbeam has also shown some interest in constructing another building this year, Barnett said.
“We’ll see where that goes as they work with our planning department,” Barnett said.
Work on the Main Street fire station will be complete later this year and work on the new Active Adult Center will begin, with completion set for 2025.
Whiteland
Residential developments will progress over the next year in Whiteland.
Carmen Young, director of administration for the town, said that residents can expect many homes to be finished in 2024 and become available.
In total, 64 homes are currently under construction with 300 more potentially being erected in 2024 pending permits, Young said.
Build-out will continue at Saddlebrook Farms and Saddlebrook Farms North. Saddlebrook Farms South will have 263 houses when it is completed, and Saddlebrook Farms North will have 221.
Briar Creek Villas will also expand with some new single-family residences. Whiteland Town Council approved a subdivision expansion that added 120 new lots to the neighborhood in 2022.
Redwood Apartments are looking to begin construction in the coming year. Plans for a 158-unit townhome complex and commercial space were approved near Whiteland Road and U.S. 31 after being rezoned in 2022.
Community members can also expect an announcement regarding some new tenants in some of the buildings at Mohr Logistics Park, Young said.
Construction of the roundabout at Paul Hand Boulevard and Graham Road could start this year, too. This project is a collaboration by Whiteland, Franklin and Johnson County.
Although a new firehouse may not begin construction in 2024, Young says the goal is to start the design and engineering process.
“It would be great if we could start moving dirt by the end of 2024,” Young said. “If nothing else, we will make sure we have a plan and timeline in place. To quote Elvis Presley, my goals for the town of Whiteland in 2024 are to have a little less conversation and a lot more action.”
Bargersville
The town of Bargersville has several planned developments for the upcoming year.
Construction of Umbarger Plaza will begin sometime in January, town officials said. The $2 million plaza, located east of the railroad tracks and southwest of Old Plank Road and Baldwin Street, will include a stage, public restrooms, benches, and a lawn with native plants. The project is anticipated to be completed in the late fall.
The town’s utility office will move from town hall to a new location at 136 E. Harriman Avenue around the beginning of the year. Officials also anticipate filling up the 1 million-gallon water tower project near Stone Crossing Road and State Road 135.
There are also plans to add public trails around the South Central Soccer Academy and complete downtown street reconstruction, town officials said.
Subdivisions under development around town include Aberdeen, Sawyer Walk, Saddle Club South, Walnut Commons and Hickory Trace.
About 50 homesites in the Aberdeen wellness lifestyle community are available to build on with more to open up later. Lakeside Park & Sports Courts are anticipated to be complete in the summer, according to their website. The courts will likely be pickleball and basketball courts. A community building is planned once 200 lots are sold.
Sawyer Walk build out will include 273 total single-family homes and 144 paired villas. Model homes are expected to open in early 2024, according to the developer’s website.
Saddle Club South will add 179 homes to town once finished. Of those, 36 lots are available right now for purchase or move-in, according to the developer’s website.
Johnson County
Construction of several government projects are planned for Johnson County this year.
The county’s new mental health building is moving along well, said Brian Baird, county commissioner. He predicts that it will officially open in 2024 if it continues to develop at its current rate.
A much anticipated joint coroner’s office and health department building could open during this summer as well, Baird said.
Plans for a new recycling center on Graham Road in Franklin is in its beginning phases. The county has already acquired the land to build it on and design work is underway, county officials said.
“We’re in the very preliminary stages of that,” Baird said. “I would hope to maybe start a bid process on that in late spring or mid-summer.”
Although not a county project, the construction of Interstate 69 through the county is expected to be fully finished by the end of the year. The final Johnson County exit at Smith Valley Road opened in November, but the finishing touches are still underway.
— Daily Journal News Editor Noah Crenshaw and reporters Waylon O’Donnell and Jayden Kennett contributed to this report.
