Hey Locals,

It’s a busy week in Fort Wayne. Several topics related to housing, homelessness and the future of Downtown came to a head at City Council last week. We fill you in on what to know and why it matters.

We’ve also got an update on the Google data center’s wetland impact and a new demand to increase the data center's diesel fuel storage by five-fold. 

Then: find free, live music by the Fort Wayne Phil this week (celebrating the start of its 2025-2026 season in October), as well as a heartfelt story about local treasure Hyde Brothers Booksellers that’s worth a watch. All that and more in the To Do List.

Don’t forget to join us for Local Trivia Night at The Fairfield on Sept. 24! Doors open at 7 p.m., and the games begin at 7:30 p.m. We’ve been getting some questions about teams, so here’s the deal: Up to five people per team, you can play alone, or we can assign you to a team when you arrive. Everyone planning to attend must RSVP for free to reserve their seat, so we ensure there’s enough space. If you haven’t heard about the event, learn more and check out the awesome prize packages here.

We also have a special food deal with The Fairfield this month! In September, all paid subscribers to The Local get $2 off a shareable Duck Fry Plate (regularly valued at $10.50), which comes with three house-made dipping sauces. (Hint: Join us for trivia, and redeem your deal then!)

This month, our newsletter is brought to you by AARP Indiana. Did you know they have a local team in Fort Wayne, hosting events and engaging the community on issues we care about at The Local, like transportation, civic engagement, healthy living and more? Visit their website for details!

Now, let's get started!

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

What to know about homelessness + housing…

Just in time for City Council’s vote on reauthorizing Downtown.

What’s happening?

Homelessness, housing and Downtown were hot topics at last week’s City Council meeting – with a vote on reauthorizing Downtown Fort Wayne (the organization) for the next 10 years expected tonight. 

You might remember: We recently covered challenges with homelessness in Fort Wayne, as well as what Downtown Fort Wayne (the organization) has been doing to address the issue with its Clean & Safe Committee.

So… what new information was presented about homelessness? What’s being done to expand local housing options? And how does Downtown Fort Wayne – the organization and the location – play into it all?

We break it down in this week’s Thursday newsletter – for paid subscribers only.

• As we mentioned above, City Council is expected to vote tonight on whether the organization Downtown Fort Wayne (DFW) will be reauthorized for the next 10 years. DFW is a nonprofit formed by City Council about 30 years ago to keep Downtown clean, green and active. At last week’s council meeting, Interim President Bob Walters said Downtown has become the “ultimate magnet,” attracting businesses and investments to Northeast Indiana. But Council President Russ Jehl noted that things are changing quickly, with reduced funding for the city (via state property tax reductions), increased retail vacancy, changing daytime work populations post-pandemic, and a perception that Downtown is becoming “unsafe.” 
• If you’re interested in providing input on wetlands and Google’s data center in Fort Wayne, you might have to contact state legislators. Last week, our report about the data center was shared widely on social media by Eco Fest Fort Wayne and local influencers. We made the story free and public and heard from several readers who contacted the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Wetlands Project Manager Evan White, who told them to contact state legislators for more information. (Find legislators here!) One reader asked whether filling some wetlands will impact others nearby, to which White responded: “We do not know,” and “it is certainly a risk that our current law does not account for.” Yesterday, WANE 15 posted another story, noting that Google data center developers, Hatchworks, LLC, are also seeking approval from IDEM for a “massive expansion of their onsite backup diesel generators,” which can be “large sources of pollution and noise.” Developers are asking to expand the number of on-site generators and diesel storage tanks from 36 to 179, holding more than 1 million gallons of diesel fuel. Citizens have until Oct. 4 to contact IDEM about this.
• The fledgling Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC) for entrepreneurs has controversial new leadership. The NIIC is a business incubator and workspace with a 55-acre campus near Purdue Fort Wayne, intended to support regional entrepreneurs and funded by a mix of federal grants, fee-for-service contracts, foundation investments and rentable space. Yesterday, The JG* reported that NIIC selected its new President and CEO as John McDonald (succeeding Mike Fritsch, who retired in December 2024). McDonald was previously CEO of a tech firm sued by investors in 2020 for “overstat[ing] revenue projections by millions.” McDonald has disputed these claims, and NIIC Board Chair and Parkview Health CEO Ron Double tells us the board was aware of the allegations. “John is a respected leader in Indiana’s innovation community, and we are pleased to have him lead the NIIC in accomplishing great things for the region,” Double said. 
• The Allen County Election Board approved shifting from 110 assigned voting precincts to 53 vote centers (open to all local registered voters), now pending state approval. The Election Board initially proposed 39 vote centers, but after citizens voiced concerns, the board increased the number of centers by 14. (Two voting centers in the original plan were also reassigned based on feedback, says Amy Scrogham, Director of Elections.) One of the most contentious points at the first public meeting was the number of voting centers in Southeast Fort Wayne, where many residents lack access to transportation. The original plan had three vote centers there, and the amended plan added three more within city limits at Faith Lutheran Church, the Urban League and Pilgrim Baptist Church. Under the amended plan, Allen County’s total number of voting locations will be reduced by 48.1%. View the new map here.
• Purdue Fort Wayne released the names of speakers for its annual Omnibus Speaker Series – one of our favorite local events. Each year, the campus hosts diverse, world-class voices on a variety of subject matter to “bring stories and insights that both inspire and challenge us.” This year’s lineup includes: Former advisor to President George W. Bush, Karl Rove, on Oct. 7; NBC journalist and longtime foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell on Nov. 18; Atlanta Hawks executive Melissa Proctor on Feb. 12; and podcaster and citizen journalist from “Under the Desk News,” V Spehar, on March 23. The series is free to the public (tickets required online or at the PFW box office). It has been underwritten by the English-Bonter-Mitchell Foundation since 1995. All speeches begin at 7:30 p.m. in Auer Performance Hall at PFW's Music Center.
• City Council amended the local public records ordinance and added protections for news media, nonprofits and academic research. City attorneys told council the legal department was getting “overwhelming” Access to Public Records Act (APRA) requests, primarily coming from people “out of town” seeking information for commercial purposes (like personal injury law firms seeking accident reports). Council amended the ordinance to allow the city to deny requests “at its discretion if it feels the request serves a commercial purpose, not one geared toward transparency,” WANE 15 reports. At the request of Councilman Geoff Paddock (D-5), council added a line to prevent restrictions from affecting “use in connection with the preparation or publication of news, for nonprofit activities, or for academic research.” It is unclear how this will affect the police department, and we are reaching out to learn more.
• Campbell Soup Supply Co. admitted it dumped contaminated wastewater into the Maumee River at least 5,400 times from 2018-2024, violating the Clean Water Act. According to a lawsuit filed by Ohio-based environmental agencies, the violations happened at its canning factory in Napoleon, Ohio and affect residents who live along Lake Erie and the Maumee – one of Fort Wayne’s three rivers. Environmental groups say the largest contaminant concern is phosphorus, which feeds toxic algae blooms, harming lake-goers and drinking water. Still, advocates say Campbell’s admission is a sign of progress, noting that the case will “help water quality in the river and Lake Erie, and demonstrates the power citizen enforcement suits have to drive meaningful environmental progress.”

• Listen: to free live music by members of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, celebrating the opening of their 2025-2026 season (which begins Oct. 4) with a series of community concerts. A few on our list are: 
  • Sept. 18, 7 p.m.: Catch a Wind Quintet outdoors at The Landing.
  • Sept. 19, 7 p.m.: Star Wars Night with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Brass Quintet at the Pitch patio at JK O'Donnell's, featuring a costume party and themed food and drinks.
  • Sept. 20, 11 a.m.: String Duo at Summit City Farmers Market at Electric Works
  • See the full schedule, including Stories in Music for children here.
• Fill: the Field for yoga at Parkview Field on Sept. 18, 5:15-7:15 p.m. The outdoor, all-ages, community yoga class features live music, concessions and special appearances by the TinCaps mascot, Johnny. ($10-15, proceeds support 3 Rivers Yoga Foundation.)
• Learn: the “emotional tale of Hydebrothers Booksellers” in a recent news feature on WANE 15.
• Browse: The Garden’s last Night Market of the season on Sept. 17, 6-9 p.m. The event features local art, music, vendors, food trucks and more.
• Support: the Literacy Alliance’s free education programs at its Laughs for Literacy fundraiser, including a night of stand-up comedy and food at Baker Street Centre on Sept. 19, 6 p.m. ($75 general admission, $125 VIP)
• Watch: The Waiting Game film and Q+A with filmmaker Michael Husain at Cinema Center on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. The film features the “incredible story of the ABA – a flamboyant rival league to the NBA – and its players,” which became “forgotten in a business deal gone bad. Husain has created over 200 hours of broadcast documentary work for ESPN, Discovery, A&E, HGTV, PBS, VH-1 and more. ($12 general admission.)
• Reminisce: at the annual Johnny Appleseed Festival, Sept. 20-21, starting at 10 a.m. at the Johnny Appleseed Park and Fairground. The free festival includes more than 200 vendors selling food, crafts, fall decor and more.
• Laugh: along to a touring performance by Bottoms Up Comedy at the Fairfield on Sept. 19, 7 p.m. ($20). The show features Josh Springer (Bottoms Up Draft System on ESPN & Bob and Tom), Tyson Cox (The Chive, Comcast, #1 iTunes comedy album), and Brian Pitre.
• Make reservations: to attend Rune’s fall Tasting Dinner on Sept. 24 (five courses, $115/person), the Dash-In’s Fall Wine Dinner on Sept. 25, 6-9 p.m. (four courses, $60/person), and Spoke & Ivy's first Night Market on Sept. 25, 5:30-8 p.m. ($45 dim-sum dish dinner with vendors)
• Shop: vintage home decor at Whitney & Sarah's Vintage Sale on Sept. 21, 2-5 p.m. at 1828 Florida Dr.

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Have a great week, Locals!

-Your Editor, Kara Hackett