Hey Locals, 

It’s (finally) starting to feel like summer in Fort Wayne, and more than just the weather is heating up this week. Tonight, there’s a large public hearing about the proposed quarry in Southwest Allen County at the Memorial Coliseum. We’ll be on-site, so we can report back with insights on Thursday.

For now: In Briefs, we fill you in on a local story getting national attention from civil rights activists and provide updates on how several Downtown projects are shaping up, including the city’s proposed homeless services center and Chuck Surack’s renovation of the former Scottish Rite.

We also dish on a new pizza restaurant where you can try funky fusions, like Thai and Indian pies. Plus, ways to get outside for free concerts, bike parties and more!

Don’t forget: In May, we’re partnering with Bravas to bring all paid subscribers to The Local a free order of patatas with any burger purchase for dine-in. 

Now let's get started.

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

Quarry quarrel:

What to know about tonight’s public hearing.

What's happening?

At 5:30 p.m. tonight, the Allen County Board of Zoning Approvals and Plan Commission are hosting a joint public hearing to discuss a proposed and highly controversial quarry in Southwest Allen County. 

• As we reported a few weeks ago: The $145 million, privately-funded project could create 100 jobs,* but local opposition to it has been strong and mounting, with those voicing their concerns, including nearby residents, Southwest Allen County Schools, IU Health, Mayor Sharon Tucker and City Council. However, because the quarry is not within city limits, the city has no official say in the matter.
• Since then: More has come out about the potential quarry, including City Councilman and physician Dr. Scott Myers (R-4), raising concerns about the health impacts of the quarry. His district nears the county land where the quarry would be located. Residents near the existing Hanson Aggregates Quarry off Sand Point Road and Ardmore Avenue also shared their experiences with The JG,* and others raised concerns about the Heritage Group’s* connection to a series of environmental violations at facilities in Indiana and Louisiana.

All of this is shaping up to be a contentious debate tonight as both the project lead (The Heritage Group) and the local opposition (Stop Homestead Quarry) present their cases to the county. The hearing also includes time for public comment, with each speaker capped at 2 minutes.

Stay tuned for Thursday’s newsletter – for paid subscribers only – where we’ll recap the outcome with insights on what's next.

• The death of 75-year-old Anita Ann Grayson at a Fort Wayne Tim Hortons is getting national attention from the media and civil rights activists. On May 13,* Grayson died at the eatery near Glenbrook Mall after getting into a two-minute fight with a 20-year-old employee there. The Allen County Coroner’s Office has not yet ruled on Grayson’s cause and manner of death, but says preliminary findings show there were “no significant contributory injuries” from the fight. Her family says she had congestive heart failure. So far, the Fort Wayne Police Department has released an edited video of the incident and a response timeline. But activists are protesting and calling for the full video to be released. On Friday, city officials told WPTA 21 they allowed the family to view unedited footage, but will not release it publicly. Grayson’s family has retained national civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump, who previously represented the families of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
• In preparation for tonight’s City Council meeting, Mayor Sharon Tucker announced the city’s proposed homeless services center Downtown has received $2.26M in philanthropic pledges. The center, now called Anchor Resource Center, made headlines recently for its controversial location near the Rescue Mission at 333 E. Washington Blvd. Tonight, council will discuss a proposal to approve funds for the city to acquire and renovate the building – a project estimated to be about $6M, with an additional $1.2M estimated for annual operations. "Approximately two and a half years of operating revenue has already been identified and pledged," a news release says. If approved by Council, Anchor Resource Center would lease the building from the city and provide services to connect people experiencing homelessness with housing, job training, employment, and mental and physical healthcare. Organizations involved include Parkview Health, Parkview Behavioral Health Institute, Lutheran Health Network, the Hope and Recovery Team (HART), Blue Jacket, and Avenues Recovery. 
• City Council gave preliminary approval to creating a new TIF district Downtown to support Chuck Surack’s renovation of the former Scottish Rite/Robert Goldstine Performing Arts Center. The project is set to receive about $8 million in local tax incentives (not cash) and millions from state and national sources, WANE 15 reports. Councilman Russ Jehl (R-2) was the sole opposition to the funding plan, arguing that departments like city utilities should foot the bill for some of the improvements, like relocating water lines. He attributed his opposition to the city’s budget crunch under state property tax cuts (SEA1). “Every million dollars that you give out for something for city utilities, that’s a million dollars less that you have for the park, for the road, for the bridge, and frankly for the general operating budget of the city,” Jehl says.
• The Find boutique in Downtown Fort Wayne is moving Southwest. The longtime Downtown shop will be relocating from W. Wayne St. to Shorewood Shops on Illinois Road. It’s hosting a moving sale, and owners say they will “miss the hustle and bustle” Downtown, but are excited to have “free and easy” parking for customers.
• Allen County officials are considering investing in more powerful computers to speed up election results for the November midterm. Last week, representatives of the Allen County Election Board presented to the Allen County Commissioners a detailed report on how the spring primaries went and why the vote counts took multiple days. While the county’s new vote center system has been popular with voters for its accessibility, it has required voting machines to hold more ballots – one for every precinct. This has slowed the machines. Election Board officials say software and equipment updates could solve the problem, and Commissioner Ron Turpin is considering bringing the pitch to County Council, which controls the county budget. 

• Dine: at a new local restaurant, Fusion Pizza, offering discounts and freebies for its grand opening on May 28 at noon at 10124 Auburn Park Dr. The shop “reimagines” pizza with Thai and spicy Indian fusion options, like chicken tika, as well as wings, fries, desserts and more.
• Listen: to live music at the Landing with Live and Local on May 29 at 7 p.m., featuring Psychedelic Cumbia and Latin Rock Band Los Electro. 
• Get outside: with the Fort Wayne Bike Party on May 29 at 6:30 p.m. at Lawton Skate Park, offering a 10-mile group ride on trails and street traveled at a “party pace.” 
• Watch: a 40th anniversary special screening of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth at Cinema Center on May 28 at 6 p.m. with a book signing for Bowie: Stardust, Rayguns, and Moonage Daydreams, featuring writer Steve Horton.
• Read: an op-ed by The Local’s Kara Hackett published in The JG* last weekend about leadership and turnover at Electric Works. Union Street Market’s Public Market Trust is scheduled to come before the CIB on Thursday, and we’ll report back with notes. 

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Have a great week, Locals!

-Your Editor, Kara Hackett

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