Harrison Square Update

Harrison Square vote could be Tuesday The Proponents The Opponents On the
fence
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From the article-


"As of Friday afternoon, the city clerk’s office had 80 residents signed up to speak at the hearing. Each resident will be allowed to make a comment, ask a question, hear the answer and offer a rebuttal in a three-minute period. That means the hearing will be at least four hours before council begins its discussion.


Council is officially voting on an ordinance that will commit the city to more than $20 million in public money for the project. But city spokesman John Perlich said if council does not pass the ordinance, the project, as currently proposed, will not happen."



Harrison Square is a tonic to revive city’s optimism

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From the article-


"The Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana understand how symbolic the Harrison Square project is. They understand brain drain, and we should be listening to them. We want them to have a stake in the future.


With this signature development downtown, Harrison Square, the excitement and positive vibe will continue to grow and bring us yet-unknown opportunities. Yes we will leave a stadium behind like the Pacers left Market Square for Consenco and the Colts will leave the RCA Dome for Lucas Field. Our lack of forward thinking denied the beginnings of the Interstate system crossing downtown Fort Wayne in 1947 (shot down by referendum), and the NBA Pistons moved to Detroit years later. Yet in 2007, the NBA developmental league is coming back. People even fought the Courthouse Green, and today it is a centerpiece of downtown."



Letters to the Editor

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See "City needs a better attraction" and "It's now or never for revival".




Letters
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See all three letters.



Don't miss city's historic opportunity

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From the article-


"The financial package Mayor Graham Richard’s administration assembled will not cause any citizen to pay higher taxes. In fact, the project will generate about $19 million in new tax revenue that will help pay for it. And the city’s investment into a parking garage and baseball stadium will result in construction of a new downtown hotel along with long-wanted downtown retails shops as well as condominiums.


Critics passionately argue for phantom alternatives. A water park. A skating rink. A fully enclosed multi-use arena. A development along the river. But where are the financing plans? Where are the developers willing to spend $5 million up front, as the Wizards owners will for the stadium, and $45 million more on building shops and housing? Critics offer a series of maybes. Mayor Richard offers a firm project with sound financing, committed developers and property in hand.


Moving the Wizards from a 14-year-old stadium that could immediately become obsolete is indeed regrettable – but worth the tradeoff."