What's happening on Electric Works East Campus + how does it affect neighborhoods?

Hey Locals,

As we’ve considered the pros and cons of Electric Works over the years, a few questions have come up that we wanted to explore this week.

1. What’s the impact of Electric Works on its surrounding neighborhoods? 
2. What’s happening with East Campus?

To write this report, we spoke with several people, including:

• Sgt. Jonathan Cutler, Fort Wayne Police Department Public Information Officer
• Rob Gauker, Poplar Neighborhood Association Acting President
• Jonah and Riley Updegrove, Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Association President and Secretary
• Derek Camp, Wayne Township Assessor

We also talked with other area residents and West Campus tenants who requested anonymity.

Let’s dive in.

1. What’s the impact of Electric Works on its surrounding neighborhoods?

Here’s a quick summary of what residents told us:

• Many believe the project (specifically West Campus) is a big plus for the area. Rob Gauker, Poplar Neighborhood’s Acting President, tells us: “The main campus of (Electric Works) is a great addition in my opinion for the Broadway Corridor and the surrounding neighborhoods.” Earlier this year, West Central Neighborhood Association President Joel Sauer also said that the redevelopment was “expertly done” and had “transformed” the West Campus physically. Without this investment, Sauer worries the property would have “likely sat derelict for a generation or more.”
• For some, Electric Works itself was a big draw for moving nearby. Jonah and Riley Updegrove of Michigan Avenue Neighborhood Association say, “The investment at Electric Works was a big part of what attracted us to the area to begin with.” The Updegroves note the campus has become “a wonderful destination” for them to explore, both on foot and by bike.
• Many believe the campus has encouraged increased investment and infrastructure improvements in the area around it. One resident cited the City’s work to improve streets, sidewalks, and alleyways, as well as efforts to calm traffic, contributing to a sense of “positive momentum” in the area.
• Not surprisingly, property values have also increased significantly from 2016-2026. Wayne Township Assessor Derek Camp tells us that during this decade, approximately 600 residential parcels around Electric Works saw a nearly 300% increase in assessed value. Camp notes the increase is not solely due to Electric Works; it’s also a product of the pandemic and its subsequent inflation, increased interest rates, and general repair and renovations in the area.

Still, residents have some concerns with the project, too.

• One of the biggest concerns is restaurants and food access. The Updegroves cite the turnover of restaurants at Electric Works as their “biggest disappointment.” And while many residents we talked with mentioned how often they try to support the food options on campus, they also see the accessibility of these options as a problem for the neighborhood. As one resident puts it: “I think a lot of my neighbors can't afford to dine there.”
• Another big challenge is East Campus. This area – about 500,000 sq. feet of historic buildings and space across the street from West campus on Broadway – remains undeveloped and, as we’re learning, insecure compared to previous security when it was owned by General Electric. 

2. So what’s happening on East Campus?