Letters-
"Exsisting Stadium needs replaced", "Improving downtown will attract young people"
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/editorial/17010886.htm
More Private Money-
An article by Ed Rousseau, a former Allen County commisioner, pointing out specific details of Harrison Square.
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/editorial/17014155.htm
More Letters-
"Downtown racetrack would put Fort Wayne on the map", "Harrison Square won't help taxpayers", "Why not ask fans about stadium?"
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/editorial/17019111.htm
City Council yeas and nays-
An article by Tracy Warner of the Journal Gazette giving an update on where council members stand with regards to Harrison Square.
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/editorial/17019194.htm
Showing posts with label downtown baseball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label downtown baseball. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
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?
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?
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
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.
Friday, February 2, 2007
Northside Harrison Square Meeting
I was unable to find out any information about the Northside Harrison Square meeting, and was unable to call, so seeing how it seemed interesting, I decided to attend anyway.
First of all, the meeting was very well put together, in my opinion, right from the start. They discussed some (not many though) details of the project, went over the project itself as a whole, and then after about a half-hour they opened it up to questions and comments from the public for discussion.
One comment that I found interesting, was when a lady from the North Anthony (?) neighborhood association had mentioned a "sense of urgency". Mayor Graham Richards replied to this comment with different reasonings of why there is, if any, a sense of urgency, including the fact of how crucial it is to get this project underway this year, or the CRED money will be lost, as CRED will not exsist after 2007. This means that if the project hasn't gotten at least somewhat underway by the end of 2007, we loose the CRED money, which could essentially add up to a little over $10 million. This could easily bring Harrison Square to a hault.
Other questions included anything from funding to questioning of the bridges being able to take on so much traffic.
Overall, it was a very informative meeting.
City Officials that attended the meeting included Mayor Graham Richards, Deputy Mayor Mark Becker, Councilman Tom Smith, County Commissioner Bill Brown, Nelson Peters, and others.
If you were not able to attend this meeting, the Mayor's Report to the People sessions will take place next week, as well as other Harrison Square meetings to follow in the coming months.
First of all, the meeting was very well put together, in my opinion, right from the start. They discussed some (not many though) details of the project, went over the project itself as a whole, and then after about a half-hour they opened it up to questions and comments from the public for discussion.
One comment that I found interesting, was when a lady from the North Anthony (?) neighborhood association had mentioned a "sense of urgency". Mayor Graham Richards replied to this comment with different reasonings of why there is, if any, a sense of urgency, including the fact of how crucial it is to get this project underway this year, or the CRED money will be lost, as CRED will not exsist after 2007. This means that if the project hasn't gotten at least somewhat underway by the end of 2007, we loose the CRED money, which could essentially add up to a little over $10 million. This could easily bring Harrison Square to a hault.
Other questions included anything from funding to questioning of the bridges being able to take on so much traffic.
Overall, it was a very informative meeting.
City Officials that attended the meeting included Mayor Graham Richards, Deputy Mayor Mark Becker, Councilman Tom Smith, County Commissioner Bill Brown, Nelson Peters, and others.
If you were not able to attend this meeting, the Mayor's Report to the People sessions will take place next week, as well as other Harrison Square meetings to follow in the coming months.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Fort Wayne, a rust-belt Gritty City?
Article:
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/news/local/16576880.htm
An article discussing what others/visitors to Fort Wayne may think of the city, comparing the interior city to the exterior city, and talks about how Harrison Square may help change that, although it may not "perform the magic people are hoping for".
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/news/local/16576880.htm
An article discussing what others/visitors to Fort Wayne may think of the city, comparing the interior city to the exterior city, and talks about how Harrison Square may help change that, although it may not "perform the magic people are hoping for".
Sunday, January 28, 2007
From Atlanta to Fort Wayne
Atlanta, a blueprint for other cities
An article in today's issue of the Journal Gazette showed how the Atlanta aquarium acted as a catalyst project for downtown developement in Atlanta.
Article:
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/16566663.htm
Do you think that Fort Wayne could see more private investment in downtown as a result of Harrison Square?
The hotel Holds the Key
Another article in today's Journal Gazette focused on the hotel aspect of the project-
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/16566659.htm
Eminent Domain
One developer of the Harrison Square Project is critical of eminent domain-
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/16566679.htm
Financing for Harrison Square Compaired to Southtown
Financing for Southtown Centre and Harrison Square are similar, although Harrison Square is on a much larger scale-
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/16566677.htm
Keeping it Quiet
The city's quest of buying more than 50 properties downtown saves money-
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/16561035.htm
Do you think it was right for the city to use eminent domain to aquire property downtown?
Could Harrison Square spawn millions of dollars worth of private investment downtown in the future, such as the Atlanta Aquarium did?
An article in today's issue of the Journal Gazette showed how the Atlanta aquarium acted as a catalyst project for downtown developement in Atlanta.
Article:
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/16566663.htm
Do you think that Fort Wayne could see more private investment in downtown as a result of Harrison Square?
The hotel Holds the Key
Another article in today's Journal Gazette focused on the hotel aspect of the project-
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/16566659.htm
Eminent Domain
One developer of the Harrison Square Project is critical of eminent domain-
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/16566679.htm
Financing for Harrison Square Compaired to Southtown
Financing for Southtown Centre and Harrison Square are similar, although Harrison Square is on a much larger scale-
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/16566677.htm
Keeping it Quiet
The city's quest of buying more than 50 properties downtown saves money-
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/16561035.htm
Do you think it was right for the city to use eminent domain to aquire property downtown?
Could Harrison Square spawn millions of dollars worth of private investment downtown in the future, such as the Atlanta Aquarium did?
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