Hey Locals,

It’s Halloween week, and if you’re looking for a good scare, you might attend tonight’s City Council meeting. Representatives are expected to pass the 2026 city budget – only after they attempt to exorcise a ghastly $19M deficit (due to state property tax cuts). What’s on the chopping block might give you a fright, too. More on that in Above the Fold.

We also talk about new trail projects underway, and county fire consolidation as well as the hottest local property on Zillow: the Pizza Hut mansion. Here’s a fun question: If you could buy it, how would you use it? We share ideas in briefs. Plus, we’re debuting a new (even briefer) section called Local Insights this week – available to paid subscribers only – where we share additional info and tips on stories around town.

In our To Do List, we have lots of excuses to don your Halloween costume this week at three dance parties and more!

A quick word of housekeeping: We received a lot of great feedback on our story for paid members last Thursday about a nonprofit Downtown that’s helped more than 100 homeless people access housing using their own income. We also got a few questions from readers about how to share our newsletters with friends or coworkers who aren’t subscribers. 

For the record: You are always welcome to forward The Local’s emails to other people. This helps us grow our network and lets more people know we exist. If you’re a paid subscriber, this applies to paid emails, too. Thanks again for your support!

Now, let’s get started!

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

Riverfront, trails + art, oh my!

City Council’s 2026 budget cuts tonight are looking spooky. 

What’s happening?

City Council is expected to approve the city’s 2026 budget tonight in what promises to be an extra-long meeting where members will discuss and decide on what could be $18M of proposed cuts*. The goal is to offset what some predict to be a $19M deficit in the city budget next year due to property tax reductions at the state level.

• To be clear: The actual cost of Indiana's property tax reductions won't be determined until spring, so local leaders are working off estimates. That's creating some conflict on council about how big of cuts to make* with Councilwoman Michelle Chambers calling the $18M figure too high and unnecessary.
• The bad news: Three areas that could face cuts are riverfront development (-$3.8M), trails (-$1.5M) and Arts United (-$500K).
• On the bright side: Councilman Scott Myers says the goal is not to “permanently cancel” projects, but to consider alternative funding sources.

So… what’s at stake? What’s being preserved? And how might progress continue on projects and trails despite funding losses?

We break it down for paid subscribers in Thursday’s email newsletter. 

• Despite potential budget cuts to trails, City Council gave unanimous preliminary approval to a $9M Illinois Road trail project last week that’s been decades in the making. The trail, which will connect Getz Road to Jefferson Pointe and into the Rockhill Park neighborhood, is pulling from multiple funding sources, including $1M from a state grant, $6.2M from place-based TIF (tax increment financing) and less than $2M in other local funds (spread out 2025-2027). Council President Russ Jehl, who’s proposing a $1.5M cut to the trails budget tonight, tells The JG* he encourages the city to fund more trails projects in a similar manner, using TIF instead of other sources, like Local Income Tax (LIT) funds, which will likely be needed to offset property tax losses in other ways.
• Fort Wayne’s “Pizza Hut” mansion, known as The Hamilton, could be yours for the (bargain?) price of $6.75M. The castle-like estate, built in 1997, sits on 40 acres in Southwest Allen County (including its own seven-acre private lake). It was originally home to Dick and Deanna Freeland, who once owned 48 Pizza Hut locations among other ventures. Check out this in-depth video tour of the home, which highlights its details imported from overseas and salvaged locally, like a chandelier from the Paramount Theatre in Fort Wayne (located at 121 E. Wayne St. before it was demolished in 1962). For the record: We don’t have an extra $7M lying around, but if we did, it seems like this property would be a good value for the price. It would also make an incredible Airbnb or event venue.
• Learn about state government (and eat free pizza) at a public panel lunch event on Nov. 5 – including what to expect at the Indiana legislature’s next session beginning Jan. 13. The panel, hosted by Brightpoint, includes local policy makers and Prosperity Indiana, a statewide membership organization for public, private and nonprofit members strengthening Hoosier communities. It will be held 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Allen County Public Library Downtown and cover how the public can get involved in the state’s lawmaking processes, as well as issues related to: “disruption at the state and federal levels; increasing costs for housing, utilities and other basic needs; and escalating challenges for social service organizations.” Space is limited, and free registration is required. 
• County officials might consolidate Allen County’s four fire districts into one countywide fire department – roughly doubling firefighters and expenses. On Friday, county council and commissioners reviewed the findings of a recent study by Purdue University Fort Wayne, which calls for hiring an executive county fire chief and increasing staff from 175 firefighters to 354 over the course of five years. This would increase staffing from 2.4 firefighters per station to six and increase the predicted budget for county firefighting to $70.9M in 2031 compared to $37.8M this year, The JG* reports. Commissioners are expected to discuss and vote on the proposal at a coming meeting.
• City Utilities is acquiring more land on Wagner St. for a future expansion of the water filtration plant – and it tells neighbors it will start taking better care of its properties there after they complained. In recent weeks, neighbors near the water filtration plant have complained about trash and neglect at city-owned properties, which have sat vacant for years. Last week at City Council, City Utilities officials acknowledged these concerns as “valid” and “accurate,” noting that construction on some of the lots will begin in 2026, and a full expansion of the water filtration plant is expected in the next five to 10 years.
• Just in time for Nutcracker season, the Arts United Center is reopening after 13 months and $40M in renovations. The building was originally designed by renowned architect Louis I. Kahn and opened 52 years ago. It added a new lobby, more accessibility features, new technology and new seating in its auditorium, bringing the 660-seat venue up to 725 seats – among other changes.
• The nonprofit Jennifer’s Harbor in Fort Wayne is raising funds to build the city’s first short-term crisis home for women escaping domestic violence. Last weekend, the organization held a concert fundraiser featuring local female musicians to raise money, and before the concert, they were about halfway to their $350K goal. The plan is to build a space called Abie’s Haven that offers 24/7 secure rooms to families and helps them transition to more permanent housing. Nationally, domestic violence has increased since the pandemic, and in Allen County, 1 in 3 women experience abuse compared to 1 in 4 nationally. 

Event feature:

Watch: a horror movie at Rune on Halloween!

“Night of the Living Dead” with spooky snacks and cocktails

Film starts at 10 p.m. “Bring along a few friends, and enjoy a post trick-or-treat snack and cocktail,” an Instagram post says.

Pro tip: Visit Rune twice this week, and enjoy a Tasting Dinner on Oct. 29, starting at 5 p.m., in partnership with acclaimed Indianapolis Chef Johnathan Brooks of Milktooth and Beholder. (*Reservations required, and may sell out.)

Learn more about Rune with fall musings from Chef Sean Richardson on his Substack here.

More things to do…

Listen: to Fort Wayne Philharmonic: Holst and Mozart performance at the Clyde Theatre on Oct. 29, 7-8:30 p.m., featuring orchestrated classics and commentary. (Tickets start at $38) 

Do the mash: (the monster mash) at three Halloween-themed dance parties:

• Rootftop of Terror at Connor’s Rooftop on Oct. 30, 8 p.m.-midnight with DJs, cocktails and a costume contest. (free, 21+)
• Halloween Dancing with DJ Double K at The Fairfield’s Barrel Room on Halloween Oct. 31, 10 p.m.- midnight. DJ Double K has shared the spotlight with Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, Luke Bryan, Nelly, Outkast, and more. (free)
• Halloween Rave at Dae Gee Late Night on Oct. 31, 8-11 p.m., featuring DJ CEO. (Cover is $10 or $5 with costume).

Holiday shop: at Country Heritage's Annual Holiday Market outdoors on Nov. 2, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., including 70 local vendors (boutiques, home décor, accessories, candles, woodwork and more). The event is also collecting new and used winter coats in partnership with local charities and hosting a raffle to benefit them.

Learn: about ‘Runaway Hunts’: the Hidden History of Indiana’s Two Indian Boarding Schools at a lecture as part of the History Center’s 2025-2026 George R. Mather Sunday Lecture Series. All lectures are free to attend and held at 2 p.m. at the History Center. The speaker on Nov. 2 is Melissa Rinehart.

Attend: Fall Weekends at the Fort Wayne Zoo, beginning Nov. 1 and continuing on select weekends in November, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Browse: the YLNI Winter Farmers Market at its new indoor location Southwest, starting Nov. 1, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at Parkwest Shopping Center at 3811 Illinois Rd. Market leaders say this space offers the same vendors and vibes with more room for food trucks, parking and better heating than the former indoor location at the old Wayne Candy Factory building.

Celebrate: Frida for ALL / Frida para TODAS at Electric Works on Nov. 1, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The event honors Latino culture, women in the arts, and artists with physical disabilities inspired by the legacy of artist Frida Kahlo. It includes an Arts Market of local vendors, live performances, face painting and a Frida Look-A-Like Fashion Show.

Dine: at Restaurant Week on The Landing, Nov. 1-9, featuring discounted prix fixe menus at local restaurants.

Tour: a Sustainable Landscaping Open House in the 46807 with homeowners Jessi and Josh Spencer, who have transformed their lawn into a natural landscape. The event on Nov. 2, 2-3 p.m., is hosted with EcoFest Fort Wayne, at 3909 Old Mill Rd. It includes chances for the public to tour the property and ask questions about sustainable landscaping.

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Have a great week, Locals!

-Your Editor, Kara Hackett