Hey Locals,

Thank you to everyone who participated in our reader survey. We've been going through the results this week and discussing how we might grow and adapt as a result of your input. Your time and attention is truly appreciated!

This week, we're sharing three things to watch in 2025 from Mayor Sharon Tucker's first State of the City Address. We're also updating you on local food news and amendments to a state bill that could affect Parkview Health.

In our To Do List, we share lots of grand opening events this week, including The Fairfield's event center and a new location for Tiny Little Donuts.

Don't forget: This month, we're partnering with Utopian Coffee to bring all paid subscribers to The Local a FREE 16 oz. drip coffee OR a 12 oz. plain whole milk latte (any modifiers an additional charge). Did you know we give our paid members a freebie every month at a local business to cover the cost of membership? See what a paid membership is all about with this 30-day trial, and you can get that deal!

Now, let's get started.

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

Three things we're watching in 2025...

Based on Mayor Sharon Tucker's State of the City address last week.

What's happening?

Last week, Mayor Sharon Tucker delivered her first State of the City address since becoming mayor mid-last year.

Here are three topics we're watching:

1. Housing + homelessness. Drawing on her recent tenure as Executive Director of Vincent Village, Mayor Tucker called for the creation of a mental health commission to serve unhoused people in Fort Wayne. She said: “Individuals that are currently on the streets of Fort Wayne throughout the day are there because they are not able to go to a place to provide them day services, mental health care and medication that they need." She also talked about expanding the city's housing supply and implementing lessons gleaned from the first Innovative Housing Showcase in 2024, like building homes with new construction technologies and/or smaller footprints, as well as reducing barriers to homeownership.

• Why we're watching: More housing and programs to prevent homelessness and eviction have been needed in Fort Wayne for years. In fact, just prior to the pandemic, the city made headlines for having the 13th highest eviction rate in the U.S. despite its comparatively affordable cost of housing. We also recently received a story suggestion from a reader who is a longtime business owner Downtown and is concerned about what they’ve perceived as an increasing challenge with unhoused individuals on the streets there. A controversial bill seeking to criminalize sidewalk camping in Indiana was also proposed this legislative session, but recently died in the House. (A Fort Wayne woman who formerly couch surfed was quoted in the Indy news, suggesting it would "only worsen the crisis.”) We're in the process of gathering information on these topics and will report back when we know more.

2. Traffic + infrastructure: Mayor Tucker touted a record investment of nearly $49M in neighborhood infrastructure projects via Public Works in 2024. In 2025, there's a slightly lower $42M investment, going to several projects, including the ongoing renovation of Bluffton Road Bridge, the widenting of Ardmore Avenue and Hillegas Road and upgrades to Airport Expressway. The Mayor also acknowledged the value of safe and efficient transportation for everyone and touted trail expansions, including progress on the Pufferbelly and completion of Hanna Street Trail, connecting Southeast to Downtown. She also said the city has heard citizens' calls for a traffic education and enforcement unit on the FWPD to better manage "out of control" driving – an initiative that was also discussed in early 2024.

• Why we're watching: While it might sound intuitive that road-widening would reduce congestion and improve traffic flow, national studies show the opposite is actually true: Adding lanes increases congestion by incentivising driving. This makes us curious about the decision to prioritize road widening projects in 2025, versus other measures, like road diets, which not only calm traffic, but also improve equity, safety and the environment for everyone. Last year, City Council withheld funding for the Urban Trail Downtown largely because it called for a road diet on Washington Boulevard. We're curious if (and how) the Urban Trail will progress this year, and what more is being done to support people to who need transportation beyond personal vehicles, like efficient roadside trails or Citilink bus service. In fact: Investing in smarter infrastructure design might reduce the need for law enforcement to monitor and penalize people's driving, too.

3. Neighborhood + small business growth: As part of what's next for the city, Mayor Tucker listed several initiatives to advance neighborhoods and business corridors, connecting them to Downtown. Perhaps most notably: She announced a new Connected Neighborhoods Initiative Grant that encourages all neighborhoods in the city to form likeminded groups and apply for grants of $1M to improve their areas. (Grants will be awarded to two neighborhood groups in both 2025 and 2027). The program is largely funded by the land-sale proceeds from the Google data center. Tucker also mentioned redeveloping and repurposing "legacy industrial properties" Southeast and studying retail corridor opportunities along South Calhoun Street, Waynedale and East State Village. "The end result will be an action plan featuring investment opportunities and places we can help grow, where gaps may exist," she said.

• Why we're watching: The Google data center was a massive and controversial project approved in 2024. We're curious how residents will respond to its ongoing economic and environmental outcomes, for better and for worse. It will also be interesting to see what neighborhood groups form to apply for funding and how they utilize it. As Downtown and many of its nearby neighborhoods have evolved in recent years, there are still noticeable gaps in investment on the Southeast side and along the historic business corridors. It will be interesting to see what develops there– and what has staying power – despite what appears to be a tough retail market for small business in 2025. Speaking of that: There are still a lot of vacant storefronts Downtown, not to mention new mixed-use developments underway adding to the stockpile. It all makes us wonder: What's going to fill those spaces?

What else? We cover more things to watch in our premium newsletter.

• Union Street Market has a new burger tenant by the owner of Flora & Lily's Mexican Kitchen, Lily Diaz. Following the entrance and exit of Powers Hamburgers last year, a new burger spot called Savor Burgers & More opened at the Electric Works food hall on Feb. 22, serving daily, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. A news release says its menu includes burgers, lettuce wraps, chicken wings and more. “We are excited to begin this journey at Union Street Market and hope the community will come along with us," Diaz says. We hope to learn more about the venture soon and share updates on Union Street Market in coming weeks. Yesterday, Union Street Market's Instagram launched a new "Union Street Stories" series, sharing reels about its vendors' backstories, starting with Gibli.
• A state bill seeking penalize nonprofit hospitals (like Parkview Health) for charging high prices was amended, potentially minimizing its effects. The proposed HB 1004 passed the Indiana House (68-26) last week, moving on to the Senate. However, lawmakers made some changes. It originally sought to reverse the nonprofit status of hospitals charging more than 200% of Medicare prices and tax them like their for-profit peers. However, lawmakers amended the bill to only affect hospitals charging upward of 300% of Medicare prices (adding that those charging more than 265% will be penalized but retain nonprofit status). The Guardian previously reported that the bill (as originally proposed) would have meant "millions annually in tax obligations for Parkview Health." It said: "Between 2011 and 2023, Parkview charged commercially insured patients an estimated 233% of the Medicare’s reimbursement rate on average, one of the highest price levels in the country." It is unclear how Parkview might be affected if the legislation is enacted as it now stands. Both Parkview and IU Health have been accused of exorbitant pricing* and tell WPTA 21 they are working with legislators. IU Health says they believe the bill is "moving in the right direction."

Plus: Fort Wayne Food Tours, the future of a popular library program and a neighborhood survey. We cover it all in our premium newsletter.

• Attend: the grand opening of The Fairfield event center on Feb. 27, starting with a ribbon cutting at 3 p.m. (and doorbusters for the first 50 people in line). At 7 p.m., the West Central Quartet will perform with a special debut of the fourth floor ballroom.
• Brunch: at the grand opening of a new location for Tiny Little Donuts Downtown inside Sweets on Main on March 1, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Toast: to cocktails (or mocktails) at a new field-to-bottle distillery at Country Heritage Winery. The venture, is born out of a partnership between winery owners and farmers,* Jeremy and Jennifer Lutter, and hospitality industry vet Laurie Miller. It serves their signature Backroads Distilling Co. spirits in a new venue called The Stillhouse onsite, featuring an expansive bar, 20 tables and 16 speciality cocktails – along with "decadent food."

What else? We share more things to do in our premium newsletter.

Support The Local!

Our independent news publication is run by just two locals, Kara and Mike. We are 99% funded by our paid members, and we'd like to keep it that way. If you've enjoyed reading our newsletter so far and have found value in the service we provide, we'd love to have you become a paid subscriber. Help us keep going by upgrading today, and receive our premium newsletter and perks!

Got a story tip or idea?

Let us know at thelocalfortwayne@gmail.com.

Have a great week, Locals!

-Your Editor, Kara Hackett