DID creates Cleanup Crew

This summer, head to the streets of downtown with the Downtown Improvement District to tackle beautification projects and create a more attractive downtown for everyone! The Downtown Cleanup Crew is a new volunteer program of the Downtown Improvement District for the summer of 2008, a group of volunteers will head downtown once or twice a month for a few hours to tackle heavy and widespread beautification projects.

To sign up, simply send an email to either cleanupcrew@downtownfortwayne.com or beautification@downtownfortwayne.com.

From the DID (link)-

"The Cleanup Crew is a group of volunteers working together to tackle heavy and
widespread beautification projects downtown. These projects include heavily
weeded areas, areas struggling with abundant litter, or just cleanup of
downtown streets in general. The group will meet once a month on Saturdays
throughout the summer for about a three hours (usually 9 a.m. until noon).
In addition to volunteering outside, members will also meet at various times
to discuss beautification strategies, identify areas in need of immediate
attention, arrange additional volunteer dates, and organize future cleanup
crew dates."

2008 Cleanup Crew Schedule-

-Saturday, May 10th (Cleanup Day)
-Saturday, June 14th (Cleanup Day)
-Wednesday, June 18th (Beautification/Cleanup Crew Meeting)
-Saturday, July 12th (Cleanup Day)
-Saturday, August 9th (Cleanup Day)
-Monday, August 13th (Beautification/Cleanup Crew Meeting)
-Saturday, September 13th (Cleanup Day)
-Saturday, October 11th (Cleanup Day)
-Thursday, October 16th (Final 2008 Cleanup Crew meeting)

For more information on the Downtown Cleanup Crew or the Downtown Improvement District, visit www.downtownfortwayne.com.

DID Releases 2008 Events Schedule

The Downtown Improvement District (DID) has released their events schedule for 2008. Visit www.downtownfortwayne.com for more information on the DID and DID events.

2008 DID Events-

Art Crawl
Friday, May 30th

Freimann Family Thursdays
Thursdays June 5-26th

Island Fest (Formerly Beach Blast)
Saturday, July 26th

Downtown Mardi Gras
Saturday, August 9th

Dowtown Fright Night
Saturday, October 25th

Holidayfest '08
Kicks off Wednesday, November 26th

HolidayFest '07

HolidayFest '07 kicks off Wednesday, November 21st. Activities of the evening include the annual lighting ceremonies of the IMP Wreath, the Wells Fargo Christmas Tree, the National City Santa Claus, and the Harrison Windows at the Indiana Hotel, as well as the opening of the Headwaters Park Ice Arena. Plenty of other holiday events kick off that evening, and in the days following.

Below is a schedule of events for the HolidayFest kick off on November 21st:

5:30 -- Ice Skating Extravaganza At Headwaters Park
333 South Clinton Street

6:15 -- Annual Lighting Of Santa And His Reindeer
National City Bank On Main Street

6:45 -- Lighting Of The Wells Fargo Holiday Tree
Wells Fargo Building On Calhoun Street

7:00 -- Lighting Of The Indiana Michigan Power Christmas Wreath
One Summit Square On Wayne Street

7:15 -- Harrison Street Windows
Embassy Theatre on Harrison Street

Other events, such as the Festival of Trees, and the Festival of Gingerbread also kick off that evening. For more information on HolidayFest '07, go to www.downtownfortwayne.com/holidayfest

Downtown Fort Wayne Fright Night

Link

"Only the brave will want to weather the chilling and electrifying streets of Downtown Fort Wayne on October 27 for Downtown Fright Night. The young and old will be awed, scared and thrilled at the haunting events only to be found in Downtown Fort Wayne.

Your day of terror begins at the Downtown Library plaza for the Three Rivers Festival Coffin Races down Wayne Street. Be thrilled at the costume parade and Halloween activities at the Grand Wayne Center by WAJI. Get chills from the ARCH haunted bus and walking tours with ghost stories by the Fort Wayne library in the Indiana Hotel. Finally, be amazed at the old-time daring-do of “The Black Pirate,” a classic silent film at the Embassy accompanied by the historic Grande Page Pipe Organ.

There’s a little terror and haunting experience for every age group at the Downtown Fright Night. Admission is free for most events. Don’t miss it on October 27, 2007 at 5:00!"

For more information on the Downtown Fort Wayne Fright Night, and the Downtown Improvement District, visit www.downtownfortwayne.com

Downtown Beach Blast 2007!

Don't forget- Downtown Beach Blast 2007 is tommorow! Don't miss out on this fun-filled family event, featuring live beach-themed music, sand sculptures, sand castle contests, food by Don Hall's Gas House and Club Soda, and plenty more!

For their last event of the summer, the DID is bringing in over 150 tons of sand to fill the parking lot at Don Hall's Gas House.

The Downtown Beach Blast is August 18, from noon-midnight. Admission is $5 per adult, $12 per family, and free for kids 12 and under. Also, the first 500 kids at the beach blast will recieve a free beach ball.

Located in the Don Hall's Gas House parking lot downtown.

Visit http://www.downtownfortwayne.com/ for more information.

Freimann Family Thursdays

Freimann Family Thursdays kicks off this Thursday at 6 PM. The event will feature family- friendly events and activities for all ages, and will last from 6 PM until 11 PM.

Freimann Family Thursdays will last from May 24 to June 28, 2007. Don't miss it!

More information is available at:
http://downtownfortwayne.com/story.php?cat=0&sub=&uid=217

This week will feature the Yellowhammers, a modern rock group. Freimann Family Thursdays is a DID event and will be presented by Comcast.

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?

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!

McMillen hosting National tournament this week

McMillen Ice Arena will be hosting a National college hockey tournament this week, bring 16 top college teams into Fort Wayne.

See article-
http://downtownfortwayne.com/story.php?cat=0&sub=&uid=176

DID Launches Downtown Dining Club

A few weeks ago, the Downtown Improvement District launched the "Downtown Dining Club", offering discounts to many downtown restaurants, along with a chance to win either $1,000 or a trip across seas.

From the article-

"Beginning February 15th through April 16th, the DID is launching our Downtown Dining Club. With 18 great Downtown restaurants participating, any member of the Dining Club is able to receive steep discounts from those restaurants."

See Article for more information, cards are limited to 5,000, so get yours today!

Article-
http://downtownfortwayne.com/story.php?cat=0&sub=&uid=180