Letters to the editor
Link (JG)
Build stadium so it can be expanded
"My hope is that serious thought will be given in the stadium design to the seating capacity and will include options for expansion in the future.
Victory Field in Indianapolis is home to the the top farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates. We know firsthand what a new downtown ballpark can do for invigorating the heart of a city.
Victory Field is beautiful, but it is landlocked. It cannot be expanded. So there is no hope of someday seeing major league baseball there.
Planned capacity in Fort Wayne is probably adequate for the Wizards, but I see potential for a higher-level team, given the city’s rich history of support for sports. Many current Class AAA franchises are in communities smaller or about the same size as Fort Wayne.
The Fort Wayne stadium design should have the flexibility for expansion of up to 15,000 seats. Follow the Indianapolis template, but don’t make Indy’s one big mistake."
Harrison Square will not succeed
"None of the new buildings proposed for Harrison Square has any chance of being successful. After two years of good attendance at the baseball stadium due to its novelty of being new, attendance will go down dramatically. The owners will pull out, and the city will be left with an empty space.
No one will shop in the retail stores because the mall offers many stores under one roof with free parking. Even Glenbrook Square has a high attrition rate for its stores.
The condos might sell but offer no resale value because there is nothing to do downtown, and it is noisy. The hotel has no chance because it is a third-rate hotel. Isn’t it obvious when only one hotel chain even makes an offer or Hardball Capital is the only development company to invest? This might be a clue that Harrison Square is beyond risky at best.
This new project will not bring any new business or tourists downtown.
Just listen to the 90 percent of the Fort Wayne citizens who have made progress and are against Harrison Square."
8 comments:
How have Fort Wayne citizens "made progress" against Harrison Square?
"This new project will not bring any new business or tourists downtown."
"None of the new buildings proposed for Harrison Square has any chance of being successful."
...more of that good old fashioned Fort Wayne optimism that makes people so proud to live here.
"there is nothing to do downtown, and it is noisy."
The Fort needs more creative and forward-thinking ideas like Mr. Gerken displays. It's a shame Mr. Gerken failed to expand and enlighten us on his ideas for bringing people and life back to the center of our city.
On a side note, I drove past the construction site for Harrison Square this weekend. I couldn't help but feel a sense of hope and optimism for our city's future. I do realize there are no guarantees HS will be a success. However, I do feel the time is right for change to happen in downtown FW. Although the Fort does have some residents who mimick Mr. Gerken's sentiments, the movement within our city to bring our urban core back to life only continues to gain momentum.
"Just listen to the 90 percent of the Fort Wayne citizens who have made progress and are against Harrison Square."
Not only does this not make sense at all.... 90%? Uhhh... yeah.
If there is nothing to do downtown. Why is it noisy?
I live downtown and would LOVE to think it is noisy. We'll get tehre.
In spite of Mr. Negative, downtown is succeding and will continue to do so provided averyone get behind it. I liked the first letter about giving us options for growth. That is the attitude more people in this community need to have.
Three out of 4 comments from "nameless" anonymous individuals - that's the new Fort Wayne way!! How refreshing! I'll bet these same people will show up at the new stadium with paper sacks over their heads on opening day. Really a progressive group - just like our outgoing city administration - hide as much as you can from public view. And, I do believe that those in opposition to destroying Memorial Stadium are close to 90 % of the citizens in the area! John B. Kalb
John B. Kalb
Again only anecdotal evidence from opponents.
I do agree with you, John, that the anonymous comments are ridiculous. And that the end of the Richard administration is marred with secrecy. But I do believe that he will be remembered as one of the greatest mayors Fort Wayne has or will have.
(as an aside, you can now call me Scott B. instead of Non-s Scott.)
"The condos might sell but offer no resale value because there is nothing to do downtown, and it is noisy"
Isn't the point of HS to put something downtown?
"Just listen to the 90 percent of the Fort Wayne citizens who have made progress and are against Harrison Square."
Again, no research. 90% is a ridiculous figure and from the way the elections went, I would actually say HS support is INCREASING.
Yes John Kalb, 90%. That 90% must be irate about this boondoggle just like you thats why they just elected the mayoral candidate that supported it REJECTED the candidate who ran on destroying it AND REJECTED Don Schmidt in favor of a member of the Redevelopment Commission.
You and Mr. Gerken are cut out of the same cloth and you make sane people want to jump off the nearest bridge.
Post a Comment