New Downtown Opportunity North Of River

Read the release by clicking the link below:
City and County to Study Opportunities for North River Downtown Area

From the release:

"Building on efforts to galvanize downtown development, Mayor Graham Richard and Allen County Commissioner Bill Brown today announced the formation of the North River Downtown Task Force to address the development of land just north of the city center and the St. Marys River. The area encompasses the OmniSource property north of the river and alongside its banks between North Harrison and Clinton streets."

"The North River Downtown study is a complement to the proposed Harrison Square project. With community-based plans guiding the overall downtown process and new financing tools in place, the City anticipates the viability of multiple downtown catalyst projects stimulating even more private investment, both large and small, in the city center. Prior to the recent investment by Fort Wayne Newspapers, downtown Fort Wayne has seen only $2 million in private investment in the last decade."

City could purchase, redevelop OmniSource property
Link

From the article:

"City officials paid $25,000 in January for an option to purchase the 29-acre property for $4.3 million. The option will expire Dec. 31."

"Wendy Stein, of Stein Advertising, and attorney Rick Samek will chair a study group, which will have three to four months to give a recommendation for the property. An aquatic center, water park and ice rinks already have been discussed as possibilities, but Stein and Samek said "it's a clean slate" at this point."

"The task force is expected to have its 25 to 27 members selected by early next week and its first meeting by the end of the month. It will include Fort Wayne and Allen County officials.Public meetings in which residents and developers will be able to present ideas are expected to begin sometime in May."

Mayor eyes development north of downtown
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/17033675.htm

From the article:

"Mayor Graham Richard and Allen County Commissioner Bill Brown on Thursday announced the formation of a task force to study the possibilities of developing land north of downtown and the St. Mary’s River. The 25-member North River Downtown Task Force will have about 90 days to develop an action plan."

"Richard listed potential possibilities for the land the task force may discuss: an indoor waterpark, IMAX theater or a sports complex with sheets of ice, all ideas previously mentioned as alternatives to a baseball stadium in the Harrison Square project."

"Residents with ideas for the task force may contact the deputy mayor’s office. A list of the task force’s meetings will be released within the new few weeks. All will be open to the public."