Hey Locals,

We’ve talked about Electric Works a lot lately, but something we haven’t covered is: What’s happening on East Campus? Recently, we’ve been getting questions and some concerning reports about the subject, which we’ll be diving into in this week’s Above the Fold newsletter on Thursday, breaking down the impacts on local law enforcement and neighborhoods.

In Briefs, we update you on the status of City Council’s proposed data center moratorium and task force, as well as a new local deli near Riverfront and Allen County’s surprisingly sunny outlook on its budget despite SEA1 property tax cuts.

In our To Do List, we have several art-related activities, including Art This Way's two-day festival on Broadway, celebrating 10-years of murals Downtown. Plus, more local art and music at a Downtown pub and a chance to get crafty at the Coliseum.

Don’t forget: This month, we’re partnering with Welcome Back Records to bring all paid subscribers 10% off any purchase (up to $100). And be sure to say hello to our Contributor, Chrystel Lopez, who is also Store Manager for the shop!

Now, let’s get started.

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

How is Electric Works affecting its surrounding neighborhoods?

And what's happening on East Campus?

What's happening?

Last week, we reported on a few key promises Electric Works made to Fort Wayne and to what extent they’ve been fulfilled about five years into the 10-year vision. A few questions that have come up in the process are: How is the project affecting its surrounding neighborhoods (for better and for worse)? And what's happening with East Campus?

For a quick refresher:

• The West Campus of Electric Works is the 12-acre area on the west side of Broadway that has been redeveloped by RTM Ventures, bringing new life to buildings that had sat unused for years. The project won the 2025 Cook Cup for Outstanding Restoration awarded by Indiana Landmarks.
• The East Campus, on the other side of Broadway (bordering McCulloch Park), remains undeveloped – and as we’re finding out – unsecured. 

In Thursday’s Above the Fold newsletter – for paid subscribers only – we’ll fill you in on what's happening at East Campus and explore the effects (both positive and negative) that Electric Works has had on its surrounding neighborhoods thus far.

• City Council debated the merits of Councilwoman Rohli Booker’s proposed data center moratorium and task force. Last week, Council members disagreed on whether to move forward with the moratorium or whether the City’s Department of Planning Services should take the lead, The JG* reports. Booker noted the department is considering its own moratorium, which may better define hyperscale data centers and related zoning classifications. Her ordinance also calls for the creation of a nine-member board to review data center proposals, made up of people with expertise in utilities, natural resources, public health, and more. Despite several requests by Google to vastly increase its number of diesel generators on campus in recent months, City officials told Council last week that Google is in compliance with its tax abatement and is a top 10 taxpayer for the county. But Councilman Russ Jehl (R-2) disputed how the data center’s tax increment financing revenue is being used, noting it was promised to Southeast Fort Wayne, but only $1M has been used in the district. Council will revisit the topic on Oct. 13.
• Neighborhoods near Lutheran Park are seeking to stop its proposed sale by the Boys and Girls Club, as announced earlier this year. Historic South Wayne Neighborhood Association organized an awareness event at last weekend’s Fort4Fitness race, highlighting the park’s importance to the race route, as well as efforts on behalf of neighborhoods to preserve the community greenspace and fund its operational expenses. Historic South Wayne is currently circulating an online petition and has established the 07 Green Fund at the Fort Wayne Community Foundation to collect donations for the cause.
• Allen County Commissioners delivered a surprisingly sunny outlook regarding the much-discussed effects of state property tax changes in SEA1, saying they “will have no negative impact for Allen County.” Commissioner (and tax lawyer) Ron Turpin credited the county’s growth and its “blend of residential, farming, industrial and commercial properties for the upbeat outlook,” WANE 15 reports. The county’s study by Baker Tilly indicates continued business growth and Local Income Tax (LIT) adjustments will help the county weather property tax income reductions, noting that building permit totals in Allen County “surged from $1 billion annually a few years ago to nearly $4 billion last year, with a similar pace expected again this year,” WANE reports, noting: “The study suggested unincorporated Allen County residents could see their LIT rate fall to approximately 0.97%, but Fort Wayne and New Haven residents could see their rate rise slightly to around 1.7% to cover higher municipal service levels. SEA-1 caps the combined maximum LIT rate cap across all units at 2.90%, which Turpin did not see as a possibility for local lawmakers.”
• A new local deli is coming to the Schaab building near North River. “Think old school deli with various meat, cheese and grab-and-go foods, with a walk-up counter where prepared-to-order charcuterie boards can be bought and enjoyed on-site or on the go,” The JG* reports. The deli will be operated by Zebadiah Boetcker, who also owns Pufferbelly Ice Cream inside the train depot on Cass St. near Promenade Park. After Sept. 30, the depot will close and move to an out lot on the north side of the Schaab building property on Oct. 15.
• The City is hosting a public meeting on Sept. 30, 6-7 p.m., about safety and accessibility changes coming to the Broadway and Taylor corridors. The meeting will be at Electric Works (1690 Broadway, Building 19) in the Crawford Room, with two hours of free parking in the surface lot south of the building or Union Street Garage. During the meeting, the City will share plans and next steps for the project, which includes adding a new low-speed, single-lane roundabout at the intersection, as well as pedestrian refuge islands, lighting/crosswalk improvements, and ADA accessibility upgrades. 
• Aqua Indiana, which provides utilities for Southwest Fort Wayne, is seeking to increase its proposed rate hikes – despite concerns expressed by the City of Fort Wayne regarding its previous, lower request. On September 16, the company resubmitted its request to the state, citing errors in its original proposal. “Instead of a 32.6 percent rate increase, they’re now projected to go up 40.7 percent, meaning customers could be paying about $10 more per month,” WANE 15 reports. In June, City Utilities filed a petition against Aqua Indiana’s previous rate hike, and the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission will discuss the case on Dec. 7.
• The “final piece” of the Pufferbelly Trail – the Vann Family Bridge over Coliseum Blvd. – is closer to completion, thanks to a $1M contribution from the Allen County Fort Wayne Capital Improvement Board (CIB). A few weeks ago, the City announced that the bridge’s budget came in about $2.5M above the estimate, with land acquisition costing $800,000 more than budgeted. The CIB’s contribution reduces the shortfall to $2.3M, The JG* reports. City officials say they are exploring design changes to further cut costs before their construction contract expires in 90 days. They're also seeking funding from the Northeast Indiana Strategic Development Commission and Allen County commissioners.

• Shop: local art at JK O-Donnell’s Art-A-Licious event on Oct. 1, 5-9 p.m., presented by Creative Women of the World – with live music and a $1K juried art prize. ($10 suggested donation)
• Celebrate: 10 years of Art This Way, a Downtown Fort Wayne program transforming the city through public art, with Art This Way Fest on Oct. 2-3, on the Broadway Corridor – with new mural unveilings, art vendors, live painting, buskers, food trucks, and live acts, including The Strumbellas and Tank and the Bangas.
• Craft: to your heart’s content, with the Fort Wayne Rubber Stamp and Scrapbook Getaway at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, featuring washi tapes, stickers, and other paper-crafts with hand-on classes, demonstrations, and take-home projects. 
• Learn: about lasers and how they are used in space exploration at Science Central's Halloween Laser Spooktacular on Oct. 2, 5-7 p.m. ($5 + general admission)
• Dress up: for Zoo-loo-ween, and trick-or-treat with your favorite animals and characters in costume at the Fort Wayne Zoo – all October long – with different themes each weekend. Stop by Oct. 3-4 for Tractor Harvest Weekend, and meet the farm animals!

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Have a great week, Locals!

-Your Editor, Kara Hackett

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