Hey Locals,

We hope you enjoyed a restful holiday weekend with friends and family. We took some time off to tackle a few home projects and hunker down for the snow. 

Today, we’re rewinding to last week’s City Council meeting, where more than 25 residents spoke against the Google data center, demanding answers from Council representatives who say a public hearing is expected later this month. We fill you in on what we know so far in Above the Fold.

We also have details on more data centers coming to northern Indiana, a change of leadership at City Council and Greater Fort Wayne Inc.’s controversial casino bait.

Plus, lots of ways to unwind outdoors and shop local for the holidays – in case you didn’t make it out for Small Business Saturday!

Stay tuned for details on a December deal for paid subscribers next week!

Now, let’s get started!

NOTE: Links to Journal Gazette articles are marked(*) and may be behind a paywall.

“Thus far, you have not been a good corporate partner.”

-At-Large City Councilwoman Michelle Chambers relays her message to Google, regarding its data center in Southeast Fort Wayne.

Citizens sound off on Google data center.

Too much pollution. Too little information.

What’s happening?

Last week, 26 citizens spoke at City Council, voicing concerns about pollution and secrecy regarding the $2B Google data center project, which has already broken ground in Southeast Fort Wayne. Newly elected Council President Geoff Paddock says he and other councilors are meeting with Google to share these concerns and get answers about why the project’s specs have changed since local leaders approved its original plans in late-2023. He says Mayor Sharon Tucker is working to schedule a public hearing with project representatives in December, too. Paddock also wrote a letter to state regulators at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), asking them to “require Google to use the safest and most efficient source of backup energy possible to protect the environment and our citizens and use the absolute best practices and technologies for air pollution control throughout the site.” Since 2023, the number of backup diesel generators onsite has increased from 34 to 179.

“The backup energy issue was not presented to City Council when we were asked to approve the rezoning of the property in late 2023,” Paddock wrote. “In fact, we were told this would be a quiet and low-impact use on this site.” 

So… what were some of the top points raised by citizens? And how might they inform future policy on issues, like closed-door meetings and tax abatements?

We break it down in our Thursday newsletter for paid subscribers only.

• In a rare move, Fort Wayne’s former Republican City Council President Russ Jehl yielded his position to Democrat Geoff Paddock for the remainder of 2025. Jehl remains the D-2 representative, but says he and his wife have a growing small business, which requires travel and has contributed to his spotty attendance record this year. This will require him to be out of town for much of the next seven weeks. During his tenure as president, Jehl has spoken against moves by state Republicans to drastically reduce property taxes, which has cut into the city budget. Paddock is a longtime council member with near-perfect attendance who Jehl calls “a statesman, a unifier” and “the right person with the right experience at the right time.” Current Council Vice President Marty Bender, a Republican, is expected to be voted Council President in 2026, due to council’s 6-3 Republican majority.
• Greater Fort Wayne Inc. launched an advertising campaign to bring a controversial casino to Allen County, and a state legislator filed a bill to support the move. Last week, GFW Inc. launched its “Fort Wayne First” campaign, claiming a casino would help the Fort Wayne area with “good paying jobs and small business partnerships,” as well as “significant tax revenue for neighborhood improvements, safety, and parks.” State legislator Rep. Craig Snow of Warsaw also submitted House Bill 1038 for the 2026 General Assembly, seeking to authorize a casino in Allen County with an open bidding process and approval from city or county government, WANE 15 reports. Earlier this year, state legislators nixed plans for a fledgling southeastern Indiana casino to relocate to New Haven, following public outcry. In October, a 45-page study showed Downtown Indianapolis would have about twice the market potential* as a Northeast Indiana site (near Auburn and I-69). National research shows the economic and social impacts of casinos vary, but generally, they “work to keep customers inside their establishments (and out of nearby businesses).” 
• The Kansas City developer behind the Bluhawk sports complex in Overland Park will be the master developer of Fort Wayne’s North River fieldhouse and surrounding district. The project was the most contentious bid for a Downtown project to date, attracting 20 regional and national firms to bid for it. The City says it chose PB Development, an affiliate of Price Brothers out of Kansas City, due to their diverse portfolio and unique qualifications in sports facilities. Developers plan to meet with local businesses, leaders, and the public to gather input about the site’s design and uses, focusing on affordable and market-rate housing and a fieldhouse, which the City expects to generate about $36 million in economic activity annually, including 54,000 hotel nights and an estimated $733,000 in food and beverage and innkeepers tax revenue. Learn more at TheNorthRiverDistrict.com.
• Citizen advocacy against a car wash on Maplecrest Road has resulted in a less intensive, more community-oriented use of the land. Last week, City Council approved rezoning for the 4800 block of Maplecrest at the Northwest corner of Stellhorn Plaza to allow a local developer to turn it into a commercial building with three or four tenants, like local restaurants, planners say. About six months ago, developers for a private-equity-owned Whitewater Carwash chain out of Texas sought to rezone the same land to a more intensive use, which was approved by the Plan Commission, but voted down by City Council. (Council’s vote followed our report in April detailing how Fort Wayne has more than twice as many car washes as its population needs. This will soon be republished in The JG’s op-ed section.)
• Amazon announced plans to bring one (or more) AI data centers to northern Indiana with future investments totaling $15B in coming years. While it’s unclear if any will be in Fort Wayne specifically, they’re working within NIPSCO Electric’s coverage area, which is concentrated in the Northwestern part of the state. Amazon says it will pay fees to utilize existing powerlines and cover costs for new power plants and equipment. It also promises $1 billion in cost savings for current Indiana residents over 15 years and says it will create more than 1,000 new jobs. Its data center(s) will contribute to the global AI arms race, alongside cloud computing technology. Google’s data center in Fort Wayne, also fueled by AI, is a $2B investment, expected to create up to 200 full-time jobs.
• A new three-quarter-mile trail in Northeast Fort Wayne connects Jefferson Middle School on Wheelock Road to nearby neighborhoods, businesses and other trails north of Stellhorn. 
• The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo has a new male harbor seal named Bubba.* 

Shop local at several events this week, including:

• Ladies Night at Fort Wayne Outfitters on Dec. 4, 5-7 p.m., offering food, drinks, fire pits and discounts of 30% off apparel and 15% off gear and accessories.
• Evergreen market at the GE Club at Electric Works on Dec. 5-7, featuring handmade goods, gifts, & more. (First 300 guests receive a free reusable tote, and Dec. 5, 5-9 p.m., is free admission. Other days $5.)
• Artlink Winter Market, featuring 10+ creative small businesses on Dec 6 and Dec 13, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Holiday Sip & Shop at Two EEs Winery on Dec. 6, noon-4 p.m. (all ages)
• Sleigh Days Christmas Village & Market at the Allen County Fairgrounds on Dec. 6-7, featuring 50+ vendors, photos with Santa, facepainting and more.
• The Art Farm Holiday Pop Up Gallery in Spencerville, hosting national and local artists, open Wednesdays-Sundays, noon-6 p.m. Dec. 6-Jan. 11, with an opening reception Dec. 5.
• The Visitors Center Store Holly Shopping, featuring locally produced items from artisans every Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through Dec. 20.

Toast: to the Miracle on Jefferson pop-up bar at Copper Spoon, featuring kitschy, festive décor and a holiday-themed cocktail menu on evenings Tuesday-Sunday.

Explore: Wild Lights at the Fort Wayne Zoo, featuring Santa’s Cottage and a dazzling display of nearly one-million lights along with a dance party and nightly tree-lighting, s’mores, the Evergreen Express, sugar cookies, and Santa’s reindeer. Open evenings through Jan. 4.

Listen: to free live music at the Allen County Public Library’s Great Hall, featuring Harp for the Holidays on Dec. 5, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and the a cappella group Vox Deco on Dec. 7, 2-3 p.m.

Dress up: for an Ugliest Christmas Sweater & Dance Party at Ducky’s on Dec. 6, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. (Free admission; 21+)

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Have a great week, Locals!

-Your Editor, Kara Hackett