MLK Bridge Makeover Set For 2010

Clinton Street bridge to close for a year
Link (JG)

"Clinton Street commuters have some time to prepare, but they had better start thinking now about what they'll do during a yearlong bridge closure set to begin in 2010.

The Fort Wayne Board of Public Works on Wednesday approved a revised coordination contract with the Indiana Department of Transportation for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge on Clinton Street over the St. Marys River."

[...]

"The new construction contract cuts the project's budget from $8.1 million to $7.8 million. The city's share dropped $11,000, to $1.9 million.

Although the city is moving forward with the project, Ross said officials still have not identified the source of the city's share of construction funds. The cuts shouldn't reduce the scope of the project, other than elimination of the temporary bridge, he said."

[...]

"Other than being an aesthetic entrance to downtown Fort Wayne, the project is expected to reduce maintenance costs for the state and fit in with the state�s plan to improve Clinton north of the bridge in the future.

The current bridge was built in 1967 and rehabilitated in 1985. Its sufficiency rating is 64.6 out of 100."

Boondoggle Road?

Maplecrest extension cost swells to $55M
County Council plans economic impact study to find if it's worthwhile
Link (NS)

"About $2.5 million has already been spent on plans, land and other preparation — without one drop of concrete being poured.

Now soaring cost estimates and doubts about its usefulness are causing some officials to question whether the most expensive 1.5 miles of road in Allen County history should be built at all."

[...]

"Congress awarded about $9 million to the project in 2005, but construction estimates that have increased from $21.2 million in 1996 to nearly $55 million have caused several council members to question whether the project’s benefits would justify its expense — which they fear could affect the construction and maintenance of other roads and bridges."

[...]

"In addition to the money already pledged by Congress, commissioners propose using vehicle taxes, the county’s major bridge fund and funds generated by a tax incremental financing district (TIF) — which would divert taxes from new development in the area — to pay for the project. But a TIF generates money only if development actually happens, and even then the available dollars would be millions short of the needed amount. That’s why the county said it may hire a lobbyist — at about $5,000 per month — to seek another $8 million or so from Congress."

$55 million of public money to build a 1.5 mile road on the fringe of the city

versus

$65 million of public money leveraged to $125 million to build a ballpark, hotel, condos, retail, and a parking garage downtown

"“This is a roll of the dice, based on questionable data,” Moss said. “The public’s appetite for projects like this (after Harrison Square) is fairly low.”"

I would hope that most people would have a low appetite for 1.5 mile roads that cost $55 million.

Would the public's appetite have been whetted in the absence of Harrison Square?

It's still $55 million for a hop across the Maumee.

Repost: High Speed Rail Presentation Wednesday

MARCH 26, 2008
Doors open @ 4:30PM
Presentation @ 5:00PM
Cinema Center @ Indiana Tech
1600 E. Washington Blvd (Andorfer Commons Building)
click image for PDF
Ride on fast track - vicariously
Invent Tomorrow will present program on fastest train
Link (NS)

"Invent Tomorrow, a private group that promotes downtown revitalization and other civic projects, and the Indiana High Speed Rail Association are sponsoring the presentation, billed as an opportunity to “Ride the Fastest Train in the World.”

Riding that train will take some imagination, but the program should provide a thorough look at cutting-edge high-speed rail development. Last April, during a test run in France, the V150 TGV train topped out at 357 mph.

Dennis Hodges, vice president of marketing and membership for the rail association, said the video would feature the TGV's record run and describe how the train was conceptualized.

The program also will include an update on the continuing effort to bring high-speed rail service to Indiana."

Return of trains pushed
High-speed rail group hopes to rally support
Link (JG)

"Northeast Indiana residents interested in high-speed rail will have a chance this week to learn more about its possibility of coming to the Midwest.

The Indiana High Speed Rail Association will host a free public rally Wednesday evening at Indiana Tech."

[...]

"Tom Hayhurst, association board member and former Fort Wayne city councilman, said the meeting will include an interesting video and discussion of how the high-speed rail system works in France. He said trains there can travel at incredible speeds, which would be useful locally instead of forcing people to drive from Fort Wayne to other Midwestern cities."

Another Capital Example

Sun photo by Kenneth K. Lam
Nationals' new ballpark is a D.C. showpiece
Link (Baltimore Sun)

"It's close to downtown and open to the sky, and features sweeping views of the city beyond. There's an asymmetrical field with enough nooks and crannies to keep the game interesting - plus a state-of-the-art scoreboard, luxury skyboxes and all the creature comforts fans could want.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards in 1992?

Yes, but also Nationals Park on the Anacostia riverfront in 2008.

Sixteen years after Baltimore broke the mold with its "newfangled, old-fashioned" ballpark, Washington has joined the list of cities that can boast they have a new, baseball-only stadium in a prime urban setting."

[...]

"The ballpark was designed to fit into the Pierre-Charles L'Enfant plan that has guided development in the district since 1791.

The site is bounded by South Capitol, N, First and Potomac streets Southeast. The designers took two geometrical shapes, a triangle and a circle, and combined them to create the basic plan for the park."

[...]

"Every seat is designed to be part of a distinct "neighborhood," so fans will be close to the action and have a variety of viewing experiences, both of the game and the city. Fans also can stay connected to the game if they leave their seats because the concourse offers open views of the playing field."

[...]

"Nationals Park is the first professional stadium in America designed as a "green" ballpark, and the architects plan to seek certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Eco- friendly features include a green roof, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, high-efficiency field lighting and an intricate ground and storm water filtration system designed to protect the river from peanut shells, among other debris. That's a promising new direction in ballpark design."

Related:
A Capital Example

Also:
Check out the Nationals Park OxBlue webcam.

While you're at it, check out the progress of Harrison Square on the OxBlue cam here in the Fort!

Cities Of The Future Recap

A city's green blueprint
Link (JG)

"Jeremy Harris, who was mayor of the city and county of Honolulu for a decade, was the guest of the Fort Wayne chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the city of Fort Wayne and others for an address Monday at the Allen County Public Library. His message was one of urgency in building communities less reliant on non-renewable resources and one of promise in building communities that are attractive, livable and environmentally conscious. His suggestions for eliciting public involvement in a bold redevelopment plan are well worth considering."

[...]

"Mistakes that resulted in traffic-choked freeways, urban sprawl and endangered wildlife inspired “21st Century Oahu,” the former mayor’s initiative to gather broad community involvement in a massive redevelopment project. Residents were invited to “visioning” sessions where they were asked to tell – and show with photos from disposable cameras – what they liked and didn’t like about their home. From their responses, architects and urban planners drew up project ideas for 19 development areas, fueled by a $2-million-apiece investment of city funds. Billions in public and private investment followed."

[...]

"The former mayor was in attendance Monday and said afterward that it was gratifying to have such efforts validated, but he also pointed out that selling Honolulu residents on bolder development issues was easier because they appreciate the need to protect resources that draw tourists. The same task is tougher for Fort Wayne, where the transition from an industrial-based economy to a new economic model isn’t so apparent, Richard said."

[...]

"The former Honolulu mayor gave an enticing view of the great things that can happen when everyone works together with a goal of building a city that works for residents and the environment. Local officials can start by working together and then inviting the community to join in."

Developer Interest Shown For North River

City, OmniSource continue negotiations
Link (GFWBW)

"Negotiations for the North River property continue between OmniSource and the city of Fort Wayne as developers have expressed an interest in the site.

Both sides met recently and are waiting for another meeting to continue talks, said city Community Development Director John Urbahns."

[...]

"Urbahns said a couple developers have expressed interest in the site once the city has control of it. He said that has not affected negotiations.

Urbahns said he is hopeful the acquisition process will not last the full six months, but he added city and OmniSource officials are going to take whatever time is needed to complete the deal.

Environmental testing also has been completed. The city conducted Phase I and Phase II tests, Urbahns said. A Phase I assessment determines historical uses and other aspects of the property, such as groundwater and floodplain levels. A Phase II test involves sampling for specific contaminant levels.

City officials have agreed not to discuss the test results until the deal is completed."

Art At The Core

Arts help rev up economy
Link (JG)

"[The arts] are a good investment. Urban renewal is just one area where the arts build on that investment. As we look at opportunities to develop downtown, the arts are central to a long-term plan for sustainable growth and activity. Facilities that anchor activity while providing mixed-use potential are the building blocks for future investment.

The arts have been one of the few areas outside of financial and business activities that have kept our too-quiet downtowns alive, and they are at the core of their rebirth. The arts play a vital role in the way our cities look and provide opportunities for public gathering and interaction.

During January 2007 more than 170,000 people attended an arts-related performance, class or activity in greater Fort Wayne, the majority of which happened downtown. Public art, creative industries and all of the peripheral relationships that are spawned because of these elements including retail, restaurants and downtown living all are interconnected and provide opportunities for progress and growth."

[...]

"While cost of living and infrastructure are important, there is also a strong case for locating creative people and their businesses in places where interesting things are happening. One is usually not present without the other. For years, quality of life has been the reason given when making the case for arts support. While that is important, look at successful downtown redevelopment and the ever-emerging economic engines in our new century. The arts are present in those successes. Simply put, the arts are not only beautiful, inspiring and creative – they are good business."

State Of The City Online Feed

It looks as though WANE may be providing an online feed of Mayor Tom Henry's noon State of the City address. Click the picture above to go to the WANE site and check the link at noon!

Update:

Mayor Henry's State of the City speech
Link (City, text)

Tom Henry's State of the City Address
Link (WANE, video)

Inmate Housing Idea Released

Transitional facility plans abandoned
But the problem of inmate re-entry won't go away, officials say
Link (NS)

"Lack of funding and a questionable location have apparently scuttled a proposed downtown transitional housing facility for newly released prisoners.

But with about 400 inmates returning to Allen County each year, officials know they still have to deal with the problem – one way or another.

“We can’t get the money we need to do it downtown, so we’re putting a new building on the back burner,” County Commissioner Bill Brown said, referring to a 200-bed, $12 million facility tentatively planned for a county-owned parking lot on South Calhoun Street across from the jail."

[...]

"Allen Superior Judge John Surbeck and Community Corrections Executive Director Sheila Hudson said the need to house returning inmates will not go away. About 75 percent of inmates with no permanent address are back behind bars within a year, according to county statistics."

[...]

"Geoff Paddock, executive director of Headwaters Park, understands the need to house returning prisoners. But he doesn’t think such a facility should be located just a couple of blocks from a downtown park that attracts nearly 600,000 visitors per year – many of them children.

“I let the sheriff know I was opposed to it,” Paddock said. “Some people are already a little skittish with the park being next to the jail. It just wouldn’t send a good signal about security. We want to be good stewards of the area.”"

Coverage No Justification

150-foot tower abuzz in critics
Link (JG)

"A telecommunications tower could join the General Electric Co. sign as part of Broadway’s skyline.

GenCom Inc. wants to build a 150-foot monopole south of Martin and Hendricks streets, just east of Broadway, said Robert Brennan, director of acquisitions for the Prescott Valley, Ariz.-based firm. Centennial Wireless is among the communications companies interested in placing an antenna there.

But the proposal is generating concern in the West Central neighborhood. The tower would be visible throughout the historic area, said John Simerman, a West Central Neighborhood Association board member who owns several properties on Hendricks Street. The board opposes the project."

[...]

"The tower would replace another Centennial Wireless antenna. This location – a property owned by International Union of Electronic Workers-Communications Workers of America Local 901 – would generate stronger cellular signals downtown, Brennan said.

“It’s going to give them better coverage,” he said.

Centennial Wireless has looked for ways to increase downtown coverage for two years, said Laura McCallum, vice president of marketing. When downtown venues such as Grand Wayne Center and the Embassy Theatre draw crowds, Centennial wants its local towers to have enough capacity to handle the calls. Any time a large group gathers and many people try to use their cell phones, McCallum said it can lead to blocked calls."

Related:
Variance sought for cell phone tower near the GE sign (FWOB)

Considering The Options

Calls mount for police HQ in downtown
Link (JG)

"Mayor Tom Henry has asked Police Chief Rusty York to begin looking for a new location for the police station, and every option is on the table for consideration, York said Tuesday.

Options could include moving downtown, co-locating with the Fort Wayne Fire Department and possibly sharing a building with the Allen County Sheriff’s Department, York said."

[...]

"Whether the department should stay in the former Phelps Dodge Magnet Wire building was hotly debated when the City Council signed the current lease in 2005. City officials had contemplated co-locating fire, police and code enforcement in the Renaissance Square building on Berry Street. As recently as last year, the option of moving city departments into the Renaissance Square building was still on the table.

At least one city official has suggested the building, which temporarily housed the Allen County Public Library, could be a possible location for the police department.

Moving downtown would put the department closer to the courts and the prosecutor’s office, York said."

[...]

"City Councilman Glynn Hines, D-6th, said the city should consider co-locating the police and sheriff’s departments. As the city and county consider streamlining local government, sharing one building between the two police agencies would be a positive move, he said.

But Hines, whose district includes the neighborhood where the current station is located, isn’t hopeful that will happen, citing the past unwillingness to combine city and county dispatch centers. He said officials have tunnel vision when it comes to what’s best for their departments.

Hines supports moving the police station out of the Hanna-Creighton area, which historically has been the poorest area of the city. A central location downtown would better serve the entire city, Hines said."

The current location of police HQ at 1302 East Creighton Ave was built in 1893 and is 69,228 square feet in size, according to the location's property tax card.

Renaissance Square is listed on LoopNet as being built in 1978 and at a size of 267,137 square feet, with 30,823 square feet being utilized by the Lincoln Museum.

Renaissance Square would seem to have enough space to house both departments and has access to a parking garage across Clinton Street through a connected walkway.

If the police were to move out of their current historic building, however, it would likely be at risk of being demolished unless another tenant could be found.

Another option would be the construction of a completely new building to house both departments. If this path were to be chosen, the building should accommodate both the city and county law enforcement and any other departments from both governmental entities that would benefit from co-location with the two departments. Such a building should also be located downtown in the vicinity of the Courthouse and the jail.

However, Renaissance Square seems to be a good fit in terms of size and location and would likely cost less to take over as opposed to new construction.

A Capital Example

Walkability = Livability = Billions
Link (The Washington Post Writer's Group)

"Leinberger's case isn't about Washington's radically improved politics and city management. Rather, it's about walkability. It's about dramatic reinvestment -- about $8.2 billion worth -- pouring in the city's downtown since 1997. Complementing monumental Washington, there's been a rush of new cinemas, theaters, quality restaurants, trendy retail stores and a wildly popular sports arena, all helped along by a downtown business district providing special security, marketing and planning.

But the success story is not exclusively a downtown one -- the entire Washington citistate of 5.3 million people is now booming. And it's starring specialty is what Leinberger calls "walkable urbanism" -- places with a mix of destinations people want, from shops and parks and schools to pubs and entertainment, accessible on foot.

In a sense, walkable urbanism is nothing new; it was the way towns and cities were organized from the first urban settlements about 5,500 years ago to the 20th century."

[...]

"But in the 1990s, the model began to lose some of its luster. Suburbia's big
parking lots and low-density zoning meant an auto for every trip. Walking and transit were impractical. Older suburbs began to decline, inducing families to drive farther and farther to new suburban rings. Thousands of malls and shopping strips were abandoned. Traffic congestion -- and Washington is no exception -- became so severe that many families were obliged to build their lives around it. Kids had to be driven everywhere. Vehicle miles driven in America shot up a stunning 226 percent from 1983 to 2001, while population increased just 22 percent."

[...]

"Urban crime rates took a deep dive. Most downtowns began a surprising revitalization, with more offices, entertainment, restaurants, and a leading edge of middle-class people (often youth and empty nesters) returning. And the ideas of walkable town and city life, spread with fervor by the architects and planners of the New Urbanism movement, gnawed at the decades-old supremacy of the suburban ideal.

None of this, Leinberger insists, means "drivable suburbia" will disappear anytime soon: A huge weight of custom, continued consumer choice, zoning and the sheer vastness of today's spread-out suburbia assure it will remain dominant for years to come. Nor will cities' problems, from poverty to schools, disappear soon.

But walkable urbanism has demographics going for it. The share of U.S. families with children at home has been declining sharply; the largest household growth will be empty nesters, never-nesters and singles, many likely to look to cities and their excitement. And cities, competing, will likely keep heeding advice to lure creative young professionals; in fact, those that don't offer true walkable urbanism, Leinberger suggests, are "probably destined" to lose out economically."

HT: CFW

Option Extended

City's decision on river land can wait a bit
Link (NS)

"The city has six more months to decide whether to buy the 29-acre parcel of land north of the St. Marys River from a local scrap metal company, Mayor-elect Tom Henry said Friday.

Henry said OmniSource has agreed to extend the city’s option on the land until June 2008 at no additional cost."
[...]
"Deputy Director of Community Development Greg Leatherman said the city has tested the land for metals and other residue that could be left over from when the land served as a scrap metal yard. However, he declined to reveal the results of the study at this time because of confidentiality clauses in the option.

“It’s going to be made public at some point,” he said."

"They Should Know The Results"

Release environmental studies
Link (JG)

"City residents paid nearly $50,000 for a consultant to study the extent of contamination at a key near-downtown site long pegged for a major development. City officials have no good reason to conceal the results of those environmental studies from the people who paid for them."
[...]
"The city refuses to release the results of the environmental studies, writing that state open records law allows the city to keep secret information “created for economic development commissions who are engaged in negotiations with a commercial prospect and are expressions of opinion communicated for the purpose of decision making.”

While the studies may technically fit that definition, withholding the information hurts citizens – and officials pursuing a purchase of the property – much more than releasing it."
[...]
"Involving the public at each step should include informing citizens about the extent of contamination and should help build support for the project. Withholding information only breeds distrust.

Fort Wayne citizens paid for the studies; they should know the results."

North River Results Still Withheld

City mum on soil tests for projects along river
Link (JG)

"Despite refusing to release nearly $50,000 worth of environmental studies on riverfront property pegged for future development, Fort Wayne’s redevelopment director said Wednesday nothing unexpected was uncovered.

Responding to a request from The Journal Gazette, the city released copies of three invoices to Avant Group of Fort Wayne for environmental studies done on the 29 acres north of the St. Marys River.

The invoices, dated in July, September and November, show several environmental studies were conducted on the land, including soil samplings at 26 randomly selected sites. In total, the city was billed $47,582 for the work on the land.

Greg Leatherman, redevelopment executive director, said the work included a review of all existing environmental documents from the state and the company. It also included testing the soil for PCB, a compound previously used as a coolant but banned in the 1970s because it was found to be a carcinogen. The soil tests also checked for metals, including lead, mercury and arsenic, Leatherman said."
[...]
"The city declined to release the results of the studies, saying they could be kept confidential because they were being used by the redevelopment commission in negotiations with a commercial entity."
[...]
"City officials previously said they are working to extend that option into next year to allow Mayor-elect Tom Henry to make the final decision. Leatherman said he was unsure whether an agreement to extend had been reached. The city paid $25,000 for this year’s purchase option, which could have been applied to the purchase price and expires at the end of the year."

Money For MLK Bridge

Lugar vote helps get $3.34M for projects in city
Federal funds were part of an appropriations bill
Link (NS)

"Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., voted to secure $3.34 million for projects in Fort Wayne. The funding was approved as a part of the FY 2008 Omnibus Appropriations bill that passed in the Senate on Tuesday night by a vote of 76-17."
[...]
"$1.42 million for the replacement of the Clinton Street Bridge. A nonfederal match of 20 percent is required. In July 2006 city officials unveiled two prototypes for a new bridge that would serve as a signature gateway through Headwaters Park into downtown."

TIF Talk At Statehouse

Senate TIF proposal endangers ‘golden goose'
Link (JG)

"Various officials testified Tuesday that three major provisions of the bill would effectively kill TIF districts in the state.

The first would allow residents to remonstrate against a TIF bond. That means it would take just 100 signatures to effectively delay a project enough that the interested business would walk away, said Jerry Stilwell, attorney for Gibson County in southern Indiana.

He noted that officials there used TIF as part of a package to lure Toyota to Indiana in the mid-1990s and that wouldn’t be possible under the bill as written.

“Ours is a success story for TIF districts,” Stilwell said. “I guess somewhere in Indiana there are TIF districts that aren’t working. But I don’t want you to kill the golden goose.”

Another key change in the law would limit the expansion of these districts. The bill would prohibit enlarging the boundaries of a district unless the existing area does not generate sufficient revenue to meet the financial obligations of the original project.

Under this provision, Fort Wayne officials likely would not have been able to expand the Jefferson Pointe TIF district to include the downtown area for the Harrison Square development.

And Mike Howard, the Noblesville city attorney, also testified that the bill would require that an area be blighted to create a TIF district. This would mean cities and counties could not use tax increment financing on farmland, effectively making it a tool only for urban areas."

From Car Lot To...?

Eyesore to wetlands?
Link (JG)

"City parks officials are rightly taking preliminary steps to determine whether to pursue buying the former Dimension Ford auto dealership on West Jefferson Boulevard. It’s now a vacant building, more eyesore than enticement, just west of downtown.

If officials determine the purchase is economically prudent, turning the property into a wetlands or parkland would enhance work done in the past year at the Swinney Park pond and tennis courts to improve the western gateway into downtown. It would also be a welcome neighbor of the planned Cougar Trail, a Greenway trail the city wants to develop along a railroad bed between the old auto dealership and Swinney Park. Phase I of the trail would run to the University of Saint Francis.

Parks officials are seeking an appraisal of the 23-acre property, which is listed at $2.4 million, said Parks and Recreation Director Al Moll."
[...]
"All this is tentative. City officials have yet to negotiate with the property owners or identify funding streams. Moll has yet to discuss the project in depth with Mayor-elect Tom Henry, whose support would be necessary.

City officials also need to examine the real likelihood of whether the property could be developed privately before removing it from the tax rolls.

Still, a park or wetlands would offer a much better impression of the city than an empty and aging car dealership.

If it would also provide adequate floodwater storage to mitigate the increasing flooding on the St. Marys, it would be worth the investment.

Parks officials are right to examine the possibility."

Related:
Dimensional Reuse

What is the best use for the Dimension property?

Dimensional Reuse

Parks, city may buy old car lot
W. Jefferson Boulevard site could be athletic fields or wetlands
Link (NS)

"At Thursday’s meeting of the parks board, Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Director Al Moll said the department and the city were in early negotiations to buy the former Dimension Ford property along West Jefferson Boulevard.

One possible use for the land is athletic fields.

Moll said the listed price for the 22 acres, which sit in the flood plain, is $2.4 million, more than the department could afford, so it is getting the land appraised.

Moll said the department still needs to come up with funding regardless of the price and check with Mayor-elect Tom Henry, who takes office Jan. 1. Moll said the department could qualify for federal funds to buy the property if it were turned into a wetland.

The property also sits in the Jefferson Pointe Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) district, which was expanded in 2005 to include the 3 miles from the mall along Jefferson Boulevard to downtown."

Pointe Taking Off

City hails 1st buyer for home at Pointe
‘I love it,' says ex-resident of Hanna-Creighton
Link (JG)

"Renaissance Pointe includes the 36-block area bordered by Hanna Street, Creighton Avenue, South Anthony Boulevard and Pontiac Street, which has the capacity for up to 350 new homes and 75 rehabilitated homes near downtown.

Heather Pressley, deputy director of community development, said three other homes in the neighborhood are under contract, and the city has about a dozen serious inquiries. She said most of the interest has come from people living outside Fort Wayne who are moving to the city because of the incentives offered.

The city is offering down-payment assistance to buy homes, five-year tax abatements are available on construction, and lenders are offering below-market mortgage rates.

Pressley said she was surprised to have so much activity, as she didn’t expect the homes to sell until the spring.

The city is even using federal grant money to provide up to $24,999 to existing homeowners to allow them to revitalize their property. Pressley said 15 homeowners have applied for the grants.

To further attract people to the area, the city is repaving streets and repairing sidewalks in the area, as well as investing $1.5 million in storm sewer improvements to help with drainage problems."