Hey Locals,

In late-June, news broke about the city quietly transferring ownership of a public parking lot near Broadway to the nonprofit Wellspring – the lot where you might park for a show at the Brass Rail. Last week, several small business owners who protested the lot's transfer were successful in stopping it. We explain what to know.

We also learn about Citilink's new hybrid-electric buses, and the city responds to questions on the Treeline District coming to North River.

Last, but not least: we were invited to a special Street Food Night last week at Banh Mi Pho Shop, featuring some delicious dipped sandwiches, skewers, grilled corn and more! Follow their Instagram for details on their next event, and be sure to try their new viet coffee. Details in the To Do List!

Don't forget: This month, we're partnering with Dirt Wain to bring all paid subscribers one FREE month of their basic food scrap composting plan (a $21.50 value). Simply use this link to sign up.

Now, let's get started.

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

Broadway businesses successfully preserved a public parking lot.

We share what to know and key considerations on Downtown parking.

What's happening?

In late-June: news broke that the city's redevelopment commission quietly began transferring ownership of a public parking lot on the corner of Wilt and Van Buren streets to the nonprofit Wellspring Interfaith Social Services. Upon learning about the transfer through the grapevine, Dane Leitch, Owner of Aaron's Fine Rug Gallery, spoke on behalf of several Broadway businesses at a June 25th City Council meeting, saying many who rely on the lot were frustrated and confused about why the transfer was happening – and why they weren't informed. (The only initial report of the transfer was a small blurb in The JG following the redevelopment commission's meeting on June 10.) "We were told in no uncertain terms (by the city) our input was not required, so it was not sought," Leitch says. Still, he and about 20 other business owners wrote to the city, asking them to retain the lot.

Last week: in response to public outcry, the city and Wellspring decided to cancel the lot's transfer, ensuring it will remain open to the public as city property. A statement from the city on Friday says: “City officials and Wellspring have heard the request from neighbors and businesses to keep the Wilt Street parking lot as a city owned lot for the benefit of the general public and local businesses. While both parties were working to ensure that parking would remain available to those groups as part of the proposed sale, we believe it is in the best interest of all involved not to move forward with the land transfer at this time. We appreciate the input from the community on this matter." Leitch sees this as a win for civic engagement. "I read it, and I sent a response back that said, 'wait, they listened to us' with a big question mark, and they did and it's fantastic," he told WFFT 55.

Why it matters

As Mayor Sharon Tucker recently said: "Transparency and trust are key components of a healthy and desirable community." It's encouraging to see city officials respond to public input, particularly on a matter that affects small business.

But when it comes to Downtown parking – and particularly surface parking lots – there's more to the conversation than meets the eye. Contrary to popular opinion, there's actually more than enough parking Downtown already.

We explain more in our premium newsletter.

• Fort Wayne Citilink is getting nearly $11 million from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to replace much of its fleet with new hybrid-electric buses. General Manager/CEO at Citilink John Metzinger tells us: "Currently, 21 out of 37 fixed-route buses are hybrid-electric. Five diesel buses will be replaced with new hybrids, bringing the total to 26, or 70% of our fleet." The grant will fund seven other buses replacing older hybrid buses, too. "The new buses will use Allison Transmission’s e-Gen Flex hybrid drive," Metzinger says. "This will allow the bus to operate purely on battery power within geofenced areas of the city. For example, Citilink could geofence the Downtown area or Southeast Fort Wayne to minimize the impact of emissions within targeted areas of the city."
• Powers Hamburgers is opening a new location at Union Street Market at Electric Works soon, which could become permanent with enough support. A small fire at the old Powers building in June caused the burger joint to close and relocate temporarily this summer. About two weeks ago, another local food business ACME provided Powers with its food truck so it could serve from its parking lot for the next four to six weeks. Powers tells The JG* its new booth inside Union Street Market is also "temporary," but could become permanent "if the community is out there." It will be interesting to see if this longtime local favorite can help stabilize an ever-changing list of vendors at the market, too.

Plus: tours of new restaurants, City Council updates and new schools. Read all about it in our premium newsletter.

Details on the Treeline District.

We asked the city and developers a few questions about their plans. Here's what they said...

What’s happening?

A few weeks ago, city officials announced they will be working with Indianapolis-based Browning Real Estate Partners to redevelop the more than seven-acre, former Pepsi warehouse site along North River, starting in 2025. This will become the Treeline District – a mixed-use destination with housing, retail, parking and extended riverfront space, including a new park connected to the Tree Canopy Trail and existing amenities. The first phase is expected to include about 250 apartment units, 7,500 sq. ft. of retail and a public parking garage, as well as street and utility infrastructure improvements.

We sent the city and Browning four questions. Here's what they said.

1. What does it mean to re-establish the street grid? What will that look like?

The Pepsi distribution facility was a sprawling site on land that covered about 7 acres just north of downtown. As the facility grew over time, there was a loss of both a north-south and east-west transportation connection for all modes of transportation through the site. We have heard consistently from the neighborhood and key stakeholders that they would like to see those connections reestablished so that there is east-west and north-south connectivity through the site. We are working with the developer and our public works team to re-establish those connections as part of the overall redevelopment.

2. How will the project make height transitions with the neighborhood?

Our city team and the developer are aware of the neighborhood’s preference for a stepped down height on the north side of the site adjoining 2nd Street. Everyone involved recognizes the importance of having an appropriate transition into the heights in the single family residential area to the north while allowing for increased height and density further south on the site as was shown in the rendering of the site near the current 1st Street. 

3. Does Browning have plans to work with neighbors in the area, and how?

Yes, of course. City Redevelopment and Browning have a series of meetings scheduled with neighborhood representatives, business leaders, and key stakeholders (already underway) to discuss the preliminary concept for the site.  Redevelopment and Browning will be working with the neighbors, property owners, other city and county departments, utilities, and permitting agencies to refine the development concept into a final product over the coming months.  Browning was selected to redevelop the site in part because their preliminary plan was most in line with previous planning documents that have been adopted with robust public input, such as the Riverfront Implementation Framework.

4. Will any buildings along Wells Street be demolished/replaced? 

The first building at the Pepsi site is planned for the northeast corner of the site near Harrison Street and 2nd Street, away from Wells Street, so those decisions are still being made while this first project can move forward without impacting Wells Street. 

• Try: new viet coffees at Banh Mi Pho Shop on Fairfield Ave. made with beaten egg yolks with sweetened condensed milk, resulting in a creamy sea salt caramel taste, reminiscent of crème brulée. Owner Thao Nguyen told us about these last year, saying: “Vietnamese coffee is really good; it’s sweet and strong, and it’s something you don’t think of very often in America. It doesn’t have a big market share here like other coffees, but we want to change that.”
• Learn: where your food comes from at a FREE "Follow That Food!" dinner hosted by Indiana Humanities at Wunderkammer Company on July 17, 6-7:30 p.m. Panelists include local farmers from Prairie Hills Farm, Hawkins Family Farm; and Heartland Communities.
• Root: for your favorite taco in Rune Restaurant's Taco Fight June 17, 5-8 p.m. The walk-in event features a faceoff between Chef Sean Richardson and sous chef Kody Aswegan for guest votes. Tacos are $5 each with options for 2 sides and 2 cocktails or other special beverages.

What else? Learn about more events in our premium newsletter.

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Have a great week, Locals!

-Your Editor, Kara Hackett