Moving Forward

City ready to deal with developers
Seeks talks with Wizards on Harrison Square plan
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/17137487.htm

From the article:

"Becker said the council approval allows the city to be more aggressive in pursuing final deals with the developers."

"Brody also said Hardball plans to make a trip to Fort Wayne within the next month to talk to potential buyers of luxury suites and businesses interested in buying the naming rights for the stadium. The city and Hardball will split the naming-rights fees up to $300,000, with the city keeping anything above that amount. Those fees will be set aside in a fund dedicated to long-term capital improvements for the stadium."

"Becker said the city plans to meet soon with county and IPFW officials to determine whether there is a desire to create an endowment fund to keep the stadium. The city set aside $1 million that could be put toward that endowment, but the study estimated $2.5 million to $3 million is needed to operate the stadium for 20 more years. The stadium would also need about $2 million in immediate capital repairs, according to the study."

"The demolition of the stadium is estimated to cost $1 million, and Brown said he hopes the city will contribute to that cost."

Council catches breath after vote
Harrison Square decision was still on people’s minds a day after vote
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/news/local/17138116.htm

From the article:

"While the mayor has his own team of officials to craft the agreements, council members said they’ll do their due diligence by keeping a watchful eye on the process."

"Patrick Stelte, government access coordinator for City TV, which televised Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, said there’s no way to tell for sure how many people watched from their homes. He estimated, however, it was several thousand during the course of the six-hour meeting. Stelte said City Council meetings are the most- watched shows on the station."

"Did you miss the public hearing and discussion on Harrison Square during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting? Here’s when the entire six-hour meeting will be shown on City TV, Comcast Cable channel 58:
10 a.m. Saturday
7 p.m. Sunday
10 a.m. Monday"

Harrison Square advances
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/editorial/17137519.htm

From the article:

"The Tuesday vote wasn’t the last on Harrison Square. By late summer, the council will likely be asked to approve a bond issue of about $46 million, the key piece in the financing puzzle. Council members will still be able to stop the project if they receive information that brings its viability into question."

IPFW Communicator Coverage Of March 14th Event

Harrison Square debate continues at IPFW
http://www.ipfwcommunicator.org/story.php?id=806

Studying The Stadium

Reuse or renovate?
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/editorial/16938623.htm

From the article:

"Allen County and IPFW officials are looking for answers. Community leaders hired Minneapolis-based CSL International to study what will happen with Memorial Stadium if a ballpark is built downtown."

"Randy Brown, general manager of Memorial Coliseum, said Memorial Stadium was built for about $6 million at a time when most communities were spending about $13 million to build stadiums."

"The Hardball partners have put a price tag of $10 million to $12 million on the improvements they would like to see at the stadium if the Fort Wayne City Council rejects the idea of moving downtown."

"Knowing all the facts about the renovation costs and reuse potential of the old stadium will help everyone make an informed decision about a new ballpark.
Part of being informed, however, is knowing that the Harrison Square project is about more than the baseball park. It has the potential to attract more investment. Downtown condos and more retail, along with a hotel and the ballpark, will say volumes about Fort Wayne."

IPFW Presentation Pics

Click the picture below for more pictures from the event!

New renderings of the Harrison Square project were also unveiled today at IPFW. Click the picture below to see all of the new renderings, straight from Hardball Capital!

Since these renderings are from Hardball, they more closely resemble what the finalized Harrison Square project will look like.

More On Upcoming Discussions

Stadium’s boosters step up their pitch
Harrison Square topic for upcoming forums
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/16892892.htm

Quick Reminder

Stepping to the plate
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/16886987.htm

IPFW Harrison Square discussion: noon - 1 p.m. Wednesday, Neff Hall, room 101 at IPFW.

YLNI Downtown development discussion: 6 p.m., Wednesday, at the Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza.

Mayor Richard’s Report to the People: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, at New Joshua Baptist Church, 4202 Hessen Cassel Road.

Trail Work, Square Details

Mayor hits path to improve trails
Vows $2 million for resurfacing, extension projects
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/news/local/16661411.htm

From the article:

"In what is becoming a trend – one the mayor says he welcomes – many of the residents attending the meeting came with questions about the proposed Harrison Square development.

The $125 million public-private proposal calls for a new downtown hotel, condominiums, retail and city-owned baseball stadium.

Several residents expressed concern for spending tax money on a new outdoor stadium given the fact that the weather in Fort Wayne is not always conducive to outdoor activities and because of the presence of Memorial Stadium on Coliseum Boulevard.

Richard said a new minor-league stadium in Dayton is being booked about 200 days a year for sporting events, corporate outings and even wedding receptions.

He said the luxury box suites in the stadium could serve as extra space for events using Grand Wayne Center.

A bonus the local project has over the Dayton stadium is stores and housing will be built at the same time as the stadium, not years later. He hoped the project would serve as a catalyst to spur even more development downtown.

“This is not the end-all, be-all; this is the beginning,” he said.

The city, Allen County and Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne are examining ways to continue using Memorial Stadium if the Fort Wayne Wizards move to a new downtown field in 2009, Richard said."

Are trail improvements good for Fort Wayne and the region?
What activities or events can you envision at the downtown ballpark?

Looking At Memorial Stadium's Possibilities

Study to cover the bases of stadium’s future
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/local/16549278.htm

• Allen County commissioners will discuss today whether to work with the city and IPFW on a study of Memorial Stadium
• Study will look at cost of operation and changes needed for IPFW baseball and community events

Addendum:
City, county and IPFW to study fate of Memorial Stadium
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/local/16554731.htm

Another Addendum:
County signs on to stadium study
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/news/local/16558250.htm

Wrecking Ball May Miss Plate Appearance

IPFW drawn to Memorial Stadium
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/sports/16298192.htm

According to the article, IPFW is seriously considering taking over Memorial Stadium as its home for Division I baseball, a move that would save The Castle from destruction.