Letters
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/editorial/17019111.htm
See "Downtown racetrack would put city on map", "Harrison Square won’t help taxpayers", and "Why not ask fans about stadium?"
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
More Local Opinions
Posted by scott spaulding at 4/03/2007 08:12:00 AM
Labels: Harrison Square, Opinion
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22 comments:
A racetrack? Wow, let's not turn Fort Wayne into a NASCAR event.
absolutely. We already have an excess of sound barriers. Why not surround the whole city with them and truly be a fort.
wow...if that guy wants a race track there's a real nice one 2 hrs down the road. And what's up with the "real Wizards fan" saying "nay" to a new stadium? Memorial Stadium is one of the worst stadiums in the Midwest League.
No kidding Joe. I'm amazed that Wizard (and therefore baseball) fans could feel that strongly about a stale, concrete ediface that they would refuse to attend any games at a ballpark designed by HOK Sports - the designer of virtually all the best major league parks. Don't act like spoiled brats folks, give it a chance - it's going to be beautiful, with wonderful views of downtown. It will really be something to be proud of.
And I highly doubt parking and traffic are going to be the problems that so many fear. Jefferson, Washington, Clinton and Lafayette are multi-lane, one-way roads. You'll be able to get out of downtown quick enough if that really is your goal.
I agree with you, Joe. Memorial Stadium would be placed in a much better environment where people would appreciate more. It's just rotting on Coliseum Blvd.
Anonymous hasn't been paying attention - hasn't heard that the DID plan is to make both Jefferson and Washington two-way again to"slow people down so they can see what they are missing" and hopefully stop-to-shop. So your multilane, one way streets will be gone. John K.
Oh, my God! Let's go jump off a bridge! You ever been in Indy after a Pacers or Colts game, John? Apparently not.
People need to stop freaking out about the traffic. It won't be that big of an issue.
John K
I covered a lot of material last week but I didn't think I revealed our secret plan to convert all one way streets every where to two way traffic.
Seriously though, the DID did ask the city to convert Wayne, Berry, and Calhoun to two way traffic. The City Council agreed on Calhoun and disagreed on Wayne and Berry.
Ironically, I did receive a passionate phone call today from one downtown's oldest retailers wanting to know what he could do to get the council to reverse that decision.
The cross town paried one ways carry too much traffic to convert to two way traffic now but I would support putting parking on the East side of Clinton by Freimann Square and the Courthouse since the roadway is five lanes wide at that point but connects three lane widh sections at either side of downtwon.
Parking lanes help seperate traffic from pedestrians and increase perception of walking about safely.
The DID is also working to reallign Washington and Jefferson so they dont bisect either West Central or Swinney Park by using underutilized land that used to be parking for GE workers just south of the rrtracks.
Dan
Thanks Dan, for showing John K. that He was the one who has not been paying attention.
On a positive note, I'm very psyched about Harrison Sq. I think it will be great, and help Ft. Wayne tremendously. Over the past 15 years I've had many friends move out of town to places such as Indy, Seattle, DC, Denver, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Las Vegas and Chicago and all of them that I've sent the HSq plans to have been very excited for FW as well. They've said it will make them more likely to come back to visit. (And they aren't all necessarily huge baseeball fans.) I think there really is something to an urban ballpark - watching a game with the skyline in the background, with other places to go that can be walked to with people living nearby that creates an air of excitement, a sense of pride in the community and a feeling that there is "something going on" that those other communities have and we just don't have with the current stadium.
With a wife, a kid and another on the way my budget is not exactly flush, so I'm glad this project doesn't involve raising property taxes - but I'd be in favor of it even if it did. I honestly believe it's that important and will have the effect that the developers expect. I've stood by Ft Wayne for 40-plus years while so many of my friends have left for greener pastures and I've tried to stay positive about it when there are so many here who are seem opposed to any change, but it will be very difficult to do so if this doesn't happen. I'd gladly buy the naysayers some peanuts and cracker jack if it does.
Steve
Dan
That's a fantastic idea of re-routing Washington and Jefferson through the old RR tracks south of downtown. There is definitely a wide enough strip of land bordering GE to accomodate the traffic flow. I would think you would have tremendous support from the West Central neighborhood for this project. Just curious if this is an idea that has been talked about for awhile, or if it is a relatively new one ?
Steve
John K came to a presentation I gave last week that lasted for 1 1/2 hours there was a lot a of detail and John asked very good questions.
I think he was being a bit sarcastic with the one way comments but if he wasnt I could see how he could be confused from the meeting.
If all those who had objections to Harrison Square cared enough to listen and learn as John Fort Wayne would be a better place.
On any one project we have to agree to disagree and then get back to working together on the next project since no one thing we do is gonna make every thing sing.
That said, your support for the project is dead on. Harrison Square is more than a stadium project. Its a call to rebuild the heart of Fort Wayne and taking a risk on a project that can build momentum for that long term task.
Dan
Andy
The idea is not new. I heard it from someone soon after I arrived here in November of 2005. Seemed liked a great idea to me whose time had come because the Harrison Square project helps by providing more options about how to tie the roads back together on the east side.
Dan - I was being facetious in my post but didn't you make some comment about slowing the speed of traffic through downtown? Or was I "Dreaming in the Fort" again? John K.
John,
Sorry I didn't catch that you were being facetious. As the Aussies say, "no worries mate."
Steve
Dan,
Just out of curiosity, wasn't Calhoun made one-way at the request of Norwest(?) (now Wells Fargo) Bank? I thought they originally said they would only move into their current location if that was changed.
Now we have a strange situation where I occasionally see someone in South bound traffic attempt to go the wrong way down Calhoun. I'll admit that I like Calhoun as a one-way there but I can see the other side of the argument...
Jeff
Don't know where all the bones are buried with regard to Calhoun St history except that it is by far the most beloved of streets in downtown.
I think its because it is the most intact and gives the most authenic downtown feel to people.
With regard to its traffic patterns I do know that it was rebuilt in the late 70's or early 80's as a transit mall as was much the fad in those days.
When it was converted back to auto traffic the narrow width of the street made two way traffic problematic and I think the developers of the Wells Fargo building asked for one-way streets to encourage the orderly existing of cars from the parking garage at Wayne and Calhoun.
The conversion to two way comes with the widening of the street by ten feet to accomodate a third lane which will provide space for unloading/loading and turn lanes.
In addition, the loading/unloading area will be available for parking after five to support night time businesses such as Toscani's, the new Pint & Slice, and the Irish Bar coming to Wayne St.
Higher Grounds is still thinking about an expansion and extended evening hours and we are trying to help them work thru an expansion plan with their landlord.
Work on Calhoun St. is planned to begin after Three Rivers Fest and be completed by the end of the construction season.
Also in 2007, Barr Street will be rebuilt from Main to Wayne and will incorporate four significant pieces of public art.
Dan
Dan,
I understand the reasoning behind the change to two-way traffic on Calhoun and steps that will help those surrounding businesses sound good, but I fear that widening it by 10 feet will mean the loss of the planters and a number of trees along the street. Is that correct? Sitting outside the Dash-In on a nice day, or enjoying a block party really are reasons why Calhoun has "the most authentic downtown feel" and we may loose this.
Also, regarding Barr St. - are there still plans to build a more permanent farmer's market structure? If so, any time frame?
SM
I've been looking forward to the Irish bar for quite some time - any word on an opening date yet?
Jeff, I too have been looking forward to the Irish bar. Not sure when it is opening though. I really think one thing downtown Ft. Wayne could benefit from would be a large downtown sports bar. Anybody agree?
Regarding markets and produce two subjects that have been of recent interest to me.
No current expansion planned to Barr St Market at this time. With the run up in ag pricing (I can't believe its ethanol) its probably a good time to take a regional look at local produce and markets. South Side Market and the part time Barr St. (YLNI) markets are the only two I know of which seems to me like FW is a bit underserved compared to peer cities.
I know jack squat about farmers markets but its time to learn. I think there is potential for a great connection between putting idle center city land back into some kind of use, tapping the knowledge of new immigrant groups, and giving the long term unemployed some hope and something to grow.
Detroit has a couple of interesting urban agriculture demonstration projects underway including one charter school training single, teenage mothers to be farmers.
Much bigger cities in developing countries get up to 30% of their food from within their own city limits.
Regarding Irish Bar
Last I've heard was a June opening is planned. Extensive renovations are underway in earnest. Initial schedule was delayed in order to assemble a high quality operations team.
Speaking of Irish, I recently had a birthday (52) and I have a new favorite quote from Sammuel Beckett: My best years may be behind me. . . but I wouldn't want them back. Not with the fire in me now.
Rumors of a large sports bar are in the air but nothing firm at this point.
Dan,
There's another farmers market at Solomon Farm on Dupont road as well.
In regards to local food, please don't give the current administration any ideas. Next thing you know we'll have a CAFO opening up as part of Harrison Square!
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