Belmont Closes Doors

Downtown Belmont location closes its doors today for the last time-
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/17005918.htm



"The liquor retailer will close its downtown retail operation permanently today, as it moves out to make room for a potential downtown hotel.


“It was a good store for us, it was a very popular store for us,” said Gary Gardner, operations manager for the company. “I think it’s disappointing that downtown Fort Wayne is losing another retailer.”


Fort Wayne is negotiating with a developer to locate a Marriott hotel where the liquor retailer sits at Harrison Street and West Jefferson Boulevard. The city bought land for a hotel in the area for $2.2 million by using the power of eminent domain. Part of that land included the downtown Belmont Beverage, which the city bought for $1.45 million."

Points of Interest

Turning around Downtown-
12 Steps to revitalizing downtown


"Though every downtown is different there are still common revitalization lessons that can be applied anywhere. While any approach must be customized based on unique physical conditions, institutional assets, consumer demand, history, and civic intent, this paper lays out the fundamentals of a downtown turnaround plan and the unique "private/public" partnership required to succeed. Beginning with visioning and strategic planning to the reemergence of an office market at the end stages, these 12 steps form a template for returning "walkable urbanity" downtown."


http://www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/20050307_12steps.htm

The Albuquerque Story
The story of downtown Albuquerque, and how they revitalized their downtown.

http://www.cabq.gov/aes/s5dtr.html

Council Divided on Stadium

Council divided-



"On the issue of Harrison Square, City Council doesn’t yet see black or white. It sees shades of gray.



Tuesday night’s meeting clearly showed the council is divided on the city’s $125 million-to-$160 million proposed downtown revitalization project.


Council and an audience of more than 50 heard two presentations with key differences regarding the project. While it would be easy to generalize and say one was in favor of and the other opposed to Harrison Square, each council member who spoke gave his own opinion on the project, emphasizing there are more than two sides to every issue.

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/16987137.htm

DIG Weekly Update

DIG Weekly Update

Week of 3.26.07

Debates heat up again-

Councilmen are expected to give presentations on Harrison Square tonight based on their own research.

Restoration at Old Schmitz Block continues-

An article on the DID website highlights the restoration process and history of Old Schmitz Block downtown.

DIG's downtown Food For Thought-

Ever since a new Starbucks has opened its doors downtown, we've been seeing quite a few younger faces downtown, as well as some older. Could we use this as an example for the future of downtown? Youth today are more and more turning towards concert halls, coffee shops, and sports venues for entertainment. This is evident in the Fort, when the first Starbucks opened- we weren't all too fond of it. But we knew what coffee shops were, and we knew we liked them. Look at us today, we've got over 9 Starbucks locations in the city, and more opening up soon! And its not just Starbucks. Theres Aspen, Firefly, Higher Grounds, all meeting success.

Viewing from the concert point, concerts are becoming a widespread activity of choice by many youths across the country. Not only major concerts, but smaller shows as well. Of course, these smaller bands, and larger alike, need a stage to perform on. So now we're starting to see smaller youth-oriented clubs, as well as all-ages sports/concert venues geared towards providing satisfying entertainment for all ages, youth and adult both.

Harrison Square could provide all of this, and more. The addition of a downtown ballpark would create another possibility for a concert venue, but also provide quality sports entertainment. Mixed-use developement could lead to the construction of a coffee shop or two, and youth-oriented clubs/entertainment venues. So while providing many options for youth entertainment downtown, it would also likely satisfy many adults as well.

Question: What is your reaction to the above article?

Downtown DIGs-

"I like the Harrison Square proposal and the idea of mixed-use developement downtown, something that we need."

-Costin Ritter, Fort Wayne

Nick's Knick-Knack of the week-

Besides a ballpark/mixed-use development, what other kind of development would you like to see downtown? (e.i. a waterpark, amphitheater, etc.)

In the News...

Today-

Debates heat up again

Debates over Harrison Square heat up, with two councilmen expected to give presentations about the project based on their own research at the city council meeting tonight-

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/16980753.htm


When councilmen don't agree...

A column by Kevin Leininger, from the article-

"But to City Councilman John Shoaff, it’s the project’s public financing that matters most. And he doesn’t think one crucial question has been answered:

Does Harrison Square – estimated to cost between $125 million and $160 million – really represent the best possible use of those public dollars?

According to figures agreed upon by Shoaff and city officials, about $42 million in public money earmarked for the project (including interest) could be used for other projects downtown and elsewhere. Shoaff, D-at large, wants the city to evaluate other uses for that money before committing itself to a project that polls suggest has failed to win widespread support.

“I’m committed to downtown redevelopment, but the stadium is what gives people a headache,” said Shoaff, who wants council to consider alternatives before committing to a project he fears will not produce the hoped-for results. At tonight’s council meeting, Shoaff plans to cite several studies contradicting the notion that sports facilities serve as catalysts for downtown redevelopment. "

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/news/local/16980915.htm


The Old Schmitz Block-

An article by Dan Carmody highlighting the history of the Old Schmitz Block downtown, and tells of its renovation.

http://downtownfortwayne.com/story.php?cat=0&sub=&uid=208


Formulas for Success-

An article by Dan Carmody, gives the steps to success in redevelopement and revitalization.

http://downtownfortwayne.com/story.php?cat=0&sub=&uid=201


What are your reactions to Councilman Shoaff's statements?

AP takes notice

The AP took up Harrison Square, article from the Chicago Tribune focuses on hotel proposal-

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/indiana/chi-ap-in-fortwaynehotel,1,2352872.story?coll=chi-newsap_in-hed

Eating in Cancun...

...or at least eat like you were there.

From the DID, an article on the opening of a great downtown restaurant-

http://downtownfortwayne.com/story.php?cat=0&sub=&uid=170

10 Things to do downtown this spring

From the DID-

http://downtownfortwayne.com/story.php?cat=0&sub=&uid=199

Plenty of ideas of fun, free, healthy activities downtown for this spring. Some include taking a walk downtown, going to the library, going to museum, going to a concert or a show, and many more!

In the news...

New downtown Marriott has gap of $6 million-

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/news/local/16939585.htm

State law requires land acquired by city to still be appraised-

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/news/local/16939607.htm

DIG weekly dig up.

DIG weekly dig up question:

What are your opinions on the public forums recently held by the city, YLNI, and IPFW?

Did you think they were informative?


To reply to this question, leave a comment or send an email to thedowntowntimes@yahoo.com.

___________________________________________________________

The DIG weekly dig up is a weekly question to gather input from the public on recent events, announcments, or projects.

To reply to a DIG weekly dig up, send an email to thedowntowntimes@yahoo.com,

or reply to the question in a comment.

DIG Update, some changes.

DIG and The Downtown Times will be making some minor changes in the next month. DIG will now be moving to a monthly Newsletter (as opposed to a bi-monthly newsletter), and the name will change from "The DIG Newsletter," to "The Downtown Times". The Downtown Times blog will now become DIG's online version of the newsletter.


So what does this mean for The Downtown Times? We will continue to run blogs and articles, but we will also be adding some new features. First off, The Downtown Times (online) and the DIG website will now be accepting "Downtown DIGs". The Downtown DIG is where you can post your ideas, comments, or whatevers on your mind concerning downtown, and submit it to DIG. Each month, DIG and The Downtown Times will select a few "Downtown DIGs" to publish in that month's edition of The Downtown Times (newsletter).




Also, we will be more frequently giving DIG updates, and will each week have a "DIG Weekly Update," where we will update you on DIG happenings, as well as downtown happenings, and select one Downtown DIG to include.



We will also be running weekly polls and surveys, of which will be pubished with the DIG Weekly Update, and The Downtown Times Newsletter.


To give your Downtown DIG, visit http://digfortwayne.tripod.com, or email us at thedowntowntimes@yahoo.com.
____________________________________________________________
The Downtown Times is DIG's online version of their monthly newsletter, The Downtown Times Newsletter.

To submit a Downtown DIG, visit http://digfortwayne.tripod.com,
email us at thedowntowntimes@yahoo.com.

Questions? Comments? Email DIG at digfortwayne@yahoo.com.

YLNI Public Forum

Earlier tonight, YLNI hosted a public forum focused on Harrison Square. Pictures above show new renderings from Harball Capital and HOK showing what may be a clearer picture of the final design of the project.

Some adjustments have also been made to site plan, with the residential units now to the north of the stadium, as opposed to the orginal plan to have them located to the east. Also, part of Ewing Street will be closed and a public park/plaza will be located where the street once passed through. The scoreboard/video screen will be attached to the parking garage.

Other notes mentioned tonight include the fact that the stadium will have facilities availible year-round, such as a club level, and it was also emphasized that this is not simply as stadium, its a ballpark, its retail, its mixed-use developement.