In the heart of Johnson County, the Town of Bargersville is laying the groundwork for a downtown that honors its rich railroad and agricultural history while also positioning for long-term, people-first growth. What started as a vision to elevate the town’s existing assets has grown into a bold, community-rooted master plan led by Browning Day.
With nearly 2,000 acres of study area split between the historic downtown core (Area A) and an expansive future-growth district (Area B), the Bargersville Downtown Redevelopment Plan is a case study in designing for both place and possibility.
Where Past and Future Meet
From the outset, the Town’s vision was clear: retain what makes Bargersville unique (its local pride, grain silos, Main Street traditions) and fold that authenticity into a walkable, welcoming district filled with civic life, trails, retail, and varied housing options. Through early meetings, conversations with a local historian, and precedent research, the team unearthed what residents and stakeholders valued most: small-town character, safety and mobility, public gathering space, and an activated downtown that serves locals and visitors alike.
All Roads Lead to Downtown
With the rallying cry “All roads lead to Area A,” the final concept for Bargersville’s downtown centers everything around a new civic hub at a reconfigured intersection of Baldwin Street and SR 144. This pivotal redesign realigns key roadways to enhance traffic flow and pedestrian safety while unlocking new development sites.
Highlights of the plan include:
- A new catalyst civic building serving Town Hall and community programming
- Expanded Umbarger Plaza and integrated public art opportunities
- Nearly 1,600 residential units, with a mix of multifamily, townhomes, and single-family housing
- More than 200,000 SF of commercial/retail/restaurant space woven into pedestrian-oriented streetscapes
- A regional stormwater park that doubles as green space and a community amenity
- Over 3,000 parking spaces thoughtfully distributed to serve both residents and destination visitors
Growth Without Guesswork
Beyond aesthetics and activation, Bargersville’s plan is rooted in financial feasibility. Browning Day worked alongside Stone Municipal Group to test development phasing and infrastructure investments through a preliminary financial assessment. This included cost-benefit modeling for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and insights into where initial development could occur with the least public investment and the greatest return. Area 2, home to a balanced mix of commercial and residential opportunity, emerged as a smart contender for a first-phase build-out.
By shaping both the vision and the financial strategy, the team delivered an actionable roadmap for growth.
A Model for Rural Redevelopment
Bargersville’s plan joins a growing national movement of small towns rethinking how they grow. Its success lies in intentionality: building from the inside out, putting infrastructure where it matters most, and ensuring that design reflects the town’s identity.
Explore our Planning + Community Development brochure to see how we guide communities toward meaningful, implementable change. For a deeper dive into the project’s local impact, scope, and approval process, read the full Bargersville Master Plan feature in the Daily Journal.
