Hey Locals,

Summer is construction season in Fort Wayne, and if you're wondering what's happening with city projects, we have updates. Today's Above the Fold features a rundown of the most relevant information and answers a reader's question on Riverfront.

We also follow up on new developments in the attack at Pike's Pub and safety concerns of firefighters calling for the chief's resignation.

Plus, we continue our look into what's happening with homelessness in Fort Wayne, as we interview Just Neighbors, an organization inviting the public to a free block party this weekend to learn more about the largest segment of Fort Wayne's homeless population: families.

This month: We're partnering with Carmeli's Dough at Union Street Market to bring all paid subscribers to The Local a FREE doughnut. Learn how to claim your offer here.

Now, let's get started!

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

What's happening with all the projects Downtown?

We recap a Neighborhood Presidents meeting with key insights.

What's happening?

About two weeks ago, the City's Redevelopment Director Jonathan Leist gave a comprehensive update to neighborhood association presidents on several city projects, including the Lofts at Headwaters Park, North River, The Eddy (aka The Wedge), The Pearl, The Treeline District (former Pepsi site), The Landing Exchange and more.

Here are a few quick things to know:

• City leaders gave more insight into why they didn't accept bids from Chuck Surack and Daryle Doden (or Eric Doden) for North River. Leist called the area a "rare site" in the Midwest for its large, 29-acre expanse close to Downtown and the river. He noted the city typically gets 3-4 submissions from developers interested in local projects via RFQs, and North River attracted a record of 20, marking "a level of interest we haven't seen before on Fort Wayne projects." He says city leaders are still reviewing RFQs and have been meeting with neighborhoods to ensure future development fits the existing scale and vibe of the area. "It can't just be replicating the densest parts of Downtown on this site." He also notes the city will have to work closely with whichever developer it chooses to assist with public infrastructure. "We're not just trying to sell off the site based on purchase price alone."
• Extending public park space along Riverfront is a key goal. Leist says the city took public space into account when it chose the Indianapolis-based firm Browning to develop Fort Wayne's Treeline District (former Pepsi site). Browning pitched a one-acre extension of the popular Riverfront park and Tree Canopy Trail there rather than slating prime riverfront space for private use. The city hopes to share a full design with the public later this summer. The site will also include 250 apartments, retail and a public parking garage.
• The long-awaited Lofts at Headwaters Park near Club Soda is expected to open its parking garage in early July with 651 spaces. The project has been under construction (and experiencing delays) for years due to "surging construction costs and significant environmental issues," The JG* reported in 2023. The full six-story project by Indianapolis real estate developers Barrett & Stokely also includes 217 apartments, 15 townhouses and retail space, which will open about a year after the garage, Leist says.
• Plans for The Landing Exchange seek to bring more "affordable" units to the area. Leist says affordable units have been part of all phases of The Landing so far, including 70 mixed-income units in the first phase on Columbia Street, 21 mixed-income units in the second phase (Columbia Street West area), and 40 mixed-income units (eight affordable) planned for The Landing Exchange (phase three), which also has 5,000 sq. ft. of retail proposed for a grocery market. The Landing Exchange is expected to start construction in the parking lot next to Nawa later this year pending final approval from the state.
• The former Schaab Metal Products building at 1216 N. Harrison St. will have second-story outdoor dining with views of Downtown and the river. It's expected to "open in the next year or so," thanks to a partnership between the city and local developer Don Steininger.
• The Eddy, Barrett & Stokely's third riverfront housing project, is also expected to begin construction soon, pending approval from the state. It will include 112 apartments overlooking the river and the old Wells Street Bridge with underground parking, bringing another 236 parking spaces Downtown.
• City leaders are trying new tactics to "activate" privately owned properties that have been stagnant/underutilized for years. A neighborhood leader asked Leist whether the city could encourage property owners via tactics like, empty building taxes. Leist said the city is "certainly open to discussion." Director of Neighborhood Code Compliance Christopher Blauvelt said he's already working on a way to address vacant properties owned by people who are now-deceased, utilizing legal ads in The JG. He tells us:

“Twelve properties whose owners are deceased will have information about code citations published in the newspaper later this month. The legal notices are regarding orders to repair on the properties. Normally, property owners are notified with a letter and information posted on their property. But if the owner is deceased, the letter and posting are not considered legal unless also published in the newspaper. With the new notification process, Neighborhood Code expects that properties whose owners are deceased can now have liens placed on the properties, which could eventually put them into a tax sale and return them to the market. If the initial pilot of this process is successful, Neighborhood Code will continue with this process, as long as funding is available for the legal ads.”

Reader question: What's happening with Riverfront construction?

• Last week: a reader noted that construction on Riverfront phase IIB appears to be at a standstill on the north banks of the St. Marys River where signage has been up for months. They asked us to look into it.
• For a quick refresher: Riverfront Phase IIA was completed earlier this year between Promenade and Headwaters parks on the south side of the St. Marys. Phase IIB (in question) will be a $40M expansion of the Riverfront Public Open Space and elevated Tree Canopy Trail, as well as boat docks, a universally-accessible boulder mound, a hammock grove, walking trails, an amphitheater, and landscaping.

Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Director Steve McDaniel and Deputy Director of Planning and Landscape Chad Shaw say:

"To recap the area, Phase IIb will cover the north side of the Saint Marys River from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge to the Harrison Street Bridge on the east side of Promenade Park, and from the Wells Street Bridge to Ewing Street Bridge to the west of Promenade Park. 

As of June 16, construction continues northeast of Harrison Street, where the Esplanade’s bioswale is taking shape with new perimeter concrete walls. Foundations for the cascading steps are underway with the installation of H-Piles, and the steps will be formed over the next few months. Site grading between Harrison and Calhoun streets is ongoing. Coordination with the electrical utility also continues, with changes to transmission and distribution expected.

Later this year, look for visible site improvements including hardscape, pavers and landscaping. Work in the North Lawn area, near Fourth and Clinton, is anticipated to begin in the coming months. Phase IIB is expected to be complete by Summer 2027."

• Safety concerns for firefighters and the public are far from over after last week's city-led news conference,* says President of the Fort Wayne Fire Department (FWFD) union, Jeremy Bush. Following the union calling for Fire Chief Eric Lahey's resignation, Mayor Sharon Tucker and Lahey shared statistics about Fort Wayne's emergency response systems last week to quell public concern. But the FWFD's union (IAFF Local 124) posted a response on Facebook, saying there's more to the story. We spoke with Bush, who prefers to wait to share more information at this time, but says Lahey's and the city's statistic on the number rigs out of service is too conservative (not counting times Battalion Chief's vehicles have been out of service). He also takes issue with Lahey saying the FWFD should reduce the number of firefighters required per rig from four to three as a way to address staffing shortages, which goes against safety standards from OSHA and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). He notes firefighters have been working overtime to keep rigs in service for public emergencies, but calls the situation "unacceptable and unsustainable." "In June alone, 150 firefighters have worked 48-hour shifts to keep fire apparatus in service," Bush says. The city and union remain in contract negotiations. Stay tuned for updates.
• Last week, many citizens showed up to tell City Council: People are watching to see how Fort Wayne responds to the "hate crime" attack against a Black man at Pike's Pub in Waynedale. The victim, James Simmons, was not present, but local advocate Bri Andrews spoke on his behalf, presenting council with a petition with more than 6,900 signatures and calling for them to support a review of the pub's liquor license by the Alcohol & Tobacco Commission and consider shutting it down for known ties to the Outlaws Motorcycle Gang. Council noted that since the pub is not in city limits, it's out of their jurisdiction, but said they stand with the community in calling for accountability for the attackers and the pub. City Councilman Geoff Paddock noted that in the 10 days following the attack, which went viral on social media, Pike's Pub did not issue any public apologies. Last week, six men were arrested related to the incident, including the boyfriend of Pike's Pub's owner. (One man was released after evidence showed he wasn't at the scene.) The Allen County Sheriff's Department is leading the investigation. Councilwoman Michelle Chambers is following up on a review of Pike's Pub, and State Rep. Phil GiaQuinta is calling for stronger hate crime laws in Indiana.
• Thousands of Fort Wayne area residents protested the Trump administration's actions as part of national "No Kings" protests in Downtown on Saturday. The demonstration on the Allen County Courthouse lawn lined several blocks of Clinton and Main streets; organizers estimated 5,000 people participated. Demonstrations also took place across the country and in 47 Indiana communities in direct response to President Trump’s military parade in Washington, D.C. Steve Shine, Allen County Republican Party chairman, defended the Trump administration, saying: "Protesters are confusing strong leadership with authoritarianism.” He cites reduced border crossings, inflation rates, and gas prices as well as "a series of Executive Orders enhancing the U.S. Business climate more favorable to encourage making products in the country." Protesters tell The JG* it's not merely a matter of what Trump is doing, but how he's doing it, calling his actions unusually "discriminatory and kinglike” compared to previous American presidents from both parties. The protest also collected more than 2,500 items for local food pantries.
• 89.1 WBOI surpassed its fundraising goal at a recent event seeking to offset losses from impending state and federal cuts that could reduce its budget by $200,000. The local NPR affiliate brought in $59,436 – surpassing its $50,000 goal. WBOI gets more than 50% of its annual budget from donations from more than 3,000 Indiana households. It also receives about 9% from the national Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which is facing severe cuts under the Trump administration in what critics have called the "most serious threats in its history." A current bill seeks to rescind $9 billion previously approved by Congress for the CPB, which would dramatically affect local stations like WBOI and PBS Fort Wayne. The bill passed the House but is still under consideration by the Senate, where it is receiving pushback from Democrats and some Republicans.
• Citilink is inviting the public to review its draft plan for updates to fair transit service at a public input session tonight, 6-7 p.m. at the Allen County Public Library Main Branch. The event (in Meeting Room C) includes discussion of new universal bus shelters at key stops and improved ADA-compliant signage coming in late summer. You can also provide feedback online, Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly reports.
• A new report says Indiana homeowners are paying $400 more in insurance premiums since 2021.* That marks a 16% increase 2021-2024, which the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana says has "strained the budgets of existing homeowners" and is "pushing homeownership further out of reach.” The report utilizes data from the Consumer Federation of America, noting it's "likely still conservative because they don’t account for increases in property value." The Fair Housing Center is calling for greater transparency on the topic and more data.
• Hot Chickz Nashville Hot Chicken at 1716 E. Pontiac St. is bringing customers from across town to the Southeast side. Councilwoman Rohli Booker tells WANE 15 the locally owned restaurant has been "a wonderful addition to the Pontiac Street revitalization efforts.” It is run by Co-owner Adel Algermi who says the chicken comes in multiple flavors, ranging from no spice to Reaper, which brings "happy tears.” Customers on Facebook also say they have the "best pickles."

What's happening?

In recent decades, Fort Wayne has prided itself on its low cost of living and family friendliness, and perhaps rightly so. But one elephant in the room is the rising number of unhoused families who continue to face challenges with rent, evictions and safe, affordable housing.

• In fact: While there’s limited reliable local data on homelessness (for many reasons), the most recent data available indicates families make up 60% of Fort Wayne’s homeless population, and children alone account for 40%. At Just Neighbors, a nonprofit that offers a short-term emergency shelter for local families, children (ages 17 and under) make up about 85% of the clientele, according to Interim Executive Director Shirley Rork.
• This week: Just Neighbors is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a free block party on June 21. It's inviting the public to tour its facilities at 2325 Santa Rosa Dr., meet its team and gain a broader – perhaps more accurate – perspective of what being homelessness in Fort Wayne means.  

Learn more about the event and the challenges facing homeless families in our full story on Just Neighbors here.

Why it matters

A reader recently asked us whether homelessness is increasing Downtown, and as we've conducted interviews and research on the topic, one repeated point is that the homeless individuals you might see Downtown are only a small portion of the broader homeless population that exists citywide – and the whole phenomenon is linked to deeper challenges across the state and country. We are working with city leaders, the FWPD, nonprofits and a reader of The Local who's experienced homelessness firsthand to gain more information on the topic, as it relates to so much of what makes Fort Wayne a welcoming, affordable and inclusive place to live.

Stay tuned as we share more in coming weeks.

• Glide: across the pond at the Fort Wayne Zoo on a new ride in swan-shaped paddle boats (located across from the gift shop).
• Celebrate: Juneteenth at the ACPL Main Branch, including a lecture and panel on the Emancipation Proclamation on June 19 at 3 p.m. You can also attend the annual Macknificent Freedom Fest on June 21, starting with a ceremony at 10 a.m. at Weisser Park, followed by a promenade to McMillen Park where there will be vendors, food and more activities.
• Get outside: for the Summer Solstice in Fort Wayne at Solfest at Metea County Park on June 21, noon-10:30 p.m., featuring local music, food, and brews, as well as a special Rooftop Yoga class on The Landing by Discover Yoga on June 20, 7–8:15 PM. ($25-$30 + reservation required)
• Shop: the annual Covington Art Fair on June 21-22 at Covington Plaza, featuring local, regional and national artists. You can also shop the Garden's monthly Night Market with art show opening, live music, food trucks and more on June 18, 6-9 p.m.
• Listen: to Poetry in the Park at Fox Island on June 21, 1-3:30 p.m., on the topic of Abundance & Nourishment. ($10 cash entry)
• Browse: Artlink's annual Members’ Showcase, celebrating local artists who make Artlink possible through their membership and support, June 19-20.
• Dance: at the annual GreekFest at Headwaters Park June 19-22.
• Drink: at the Fort Wayne Zoo's first Rock & Roar summer music series of the year on June 19, 6:30-9:30 p.m., featuring local bands, beverages and speciality menu items. (21+ only)
• Dine: at a free concert by Alicia Pyle & The Locals at the Allen County Public Library on June 18, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. with food trucks on site.
• Speed-date: at two singles events at The Fairfield: one for Neurodivergent Singles on June 17, 5:30-8 p.m., and one for Games & Golf on June 23, 6-8 p.m. ($25 each)
• Cheer on: the Fort Wayne FC against Lexington SC on June 18 at 7 p.m. at the University of St. Francis. ($15-$35)
• Play: on the new Lakeside Park Playground – one of six new playgrounds opening this year.

Got a story tip or idea?

Let us know at thelocalfortwayne@gmail.com.

Have a great week, Locals!

-Your Editor, Kara Hackett