some of the above artist rendered images are provided by the City of Fort Wayne or developers of the project

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Harrison Square Calendar

Daily Listing

Daily Listing

• 1st - Removal of The Palace Restaurant's sign.  Return
• 3rd - The Redevelopment Authority, a group responsible for financing Redevelopment Commission projects, approved the lease between the Authority and the Commission.  Return
• 5th - City announces that the hotel in the Harrison Square project will be a 250-room Full-Service Courtyard by Marriott.  Details and new rendering of the proposed hotel.  Return
• 6th - The Fort Wayne/Allen County Convention & Tourism Authority, which oversees the Grand Wayne Center, approved $2.5 million in funding for the Harrison Square project to go towards the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel.  The funds will be provided annually for 10 years in $250,000 increments.  City Councilman Tom Smith, R-1st asked that the board not approve the funding and insist that the city go back to Hardball Capital for the funds.  Councilman Smith feels that more citizens would support the project if Hardball Capital increased their contribution to the overall project.  Instead, the board unanimously approved the request, but added a resolution asking the City to go back to Hardball and ask about more money for the project.  Return
• 10th - Ordinance G-07-06-26 vacating the alley between the Centro America Restaurant and Auto Tyme, Inc., for the Harrison Square project passed approval.  Councilman John Shoaff, At-Large, asked if there was any value in maintaining the alley in the event Harrison Square did not materialize.  He was told that removing the alley would help tie properties together and that it serves no purpose.  Photos of the alley: photo  1  |  2  | Centro America Restaurant | Auto Tyme, Inc. | Return
• 12th - Site Development Plans were filed with the City Plan Commission's and will be considered in their August 27, 2007 meeting.  A public hearing has been scheduled for August 20, 2007.  On Monday, the plan commission will consider rezoning the entire 15 acre Harrison Square area as a central downtown district.  Earliest voting opportunity would be the July 23rd meeting.  City Council would then have to approve any zoning changes.  An ordinance was introduced at the City Council meeting on the 10th that would allow this.  The ordinance was sent to committee for debate.  Return
  • John Kalb, an outspoken opponent to the Harrison Square project, has sent a letter to Allen County Prosecutor Karen Richards asking her to investigate and possibly file charges against several city employees in regards to the property purchases in the Harrison Square area.  Kalb says that city personnel cut checks in January for the land that this violated the statutes regarding use of TIF funds.  City Attorney Tim Manges has stated that the statute allows TIF funds to be used to purchase property outside a TIF area as long as it benefits the existing TIF area.  As reported by Indiana News Center.  Return
• 15th - The Fort Wayne Fire Department practices roof-top entry into the soon to be demolished Belmont Beverage Store.  Photos | Return
• 16th - Mayor Richard Graham announced the City has reached a Definitive Agreement with Hardball Capital (the baseball park) and Barry Real Estate (retail/condominium development).  The Definitive Agreements with Hardball Capital were presented to the Redevelopment Commission who will be the sole governing body responsible for approval.  City Press Releases | Return.
  • The Definitive Agreement with Acquest Realty signed for the Courtyard by Marriott late in the afternoon.  Return
  • Several resolutions were discussed at the Redevelopment Commission's meeting including Ballpark Licensing, Ballpark Management, Hotel Agreement, Lincoln Parking Agreements and the contract for the site demolition. Return
  • The entire project hinges on the City building a walkway between the Embassy Theatre and the new hotel.  This is the only option available to the City as a walkway across Jefferson Boulevard into the Grand Wayne Center is not practical.  Tunneling under Jefferson Boulevard is not possible because of water table issues.  The Hotel developers insist they must have connectivity to the Grand Wayne Center to make the hotel viable.  Cost of this walkway will be between $800,000 and $1 million.  Deputy Mayor Mark Becker stated that the $1 million set aside by the city to help maintain Memorial Stadium on Coliseum Boulevard could instead be used to pay for the walkway now that it appears the older stadium will be demolished.  Return
  • Hardball Capital will pay an additional $500,000 to build four additional luxury suites, increasing the total to 16.  All of the original 12 have been sold and Jason Freier, Hardball Capital, believes there is demand for more suites. Return
• 17th - City Council Meeting.  The City Council votes to put off a vote on a bond issuance ordinance which includes the lease between the Fort Wayne Redevelopment Authority and the Redevelopment Commission for the Harrison Square project area. This is to allow the Council time to examine the agreements and details included.  Discussion and introduction of the Definitive Agreements to City Council occurred with various city officials presenting the agreements and answering questions.  Final discussion and possible vote will occur on the 24th.  Definitive Agreement | Return
  • The Downtown Holiday Inn Hotel is sold to the Metropolitan Hotel Group | Return.
• 19th - The City may not seek approval of the Stadium Management Agreement with Hardball Capital at Monday's Redevelopment Commission meeting.  The Indiana Court of Appeals recently ruled that the Family and Social Services Administration broke state law when it granted a no-bid contract to operate the Fort Wayne State Development Center.  Don Schmidt-2nd asked in Tuesday's City Council Meeting if the City can award a contract to Hardball without opening it up for bidding.  The first response was that a sports facility such as the baseball stadium would be territorial and there would be no need for bidding.  This was followed by a promise that the issue would be researched.  John Kalb, a vocal opponent to Harrison Square, sent a letter to the Redevelopment Commission threatening to sue the Redevelopment Commission if they proceeded without requesting bids.  Schmidt stated in an interview with WANE-TV that no one else may wish to bid on the contract besides Hardball, "...but let's do it right the first time."  Related Journal-Gazette Article on FSSA ruling.  Return
• 20th - The City posts updated Financial Data and an updated Funding Relationships Chart on its' website.  Return
• 23rd - The Redevelopment Commission votes unanimously to approve all resolutions related to the Harrison Square project.  All Commissioners were in attendance save Steve McElhoe.  The meeting started with a statement by Tim Manges, City Attorney, that the statue cited in John Kalb's letter to the Redevelopment Commission (I.C. 5-23-5-2) does not apply to the City of Fort Wayne as the City did not incorporate this section into its' own code.  If you go back to the 1st chapter, the applicability of the article specifically states the situations when this code is relevant.
  • Lodigan Inc. announces the sale of the Downtown Holiday Inn.  Press Release | Return.
• 24th - The City Council voted to approve the Bond Issue.  The vote was exactly split as it was in April for the funding resolutions.  This was the final say the City Council will have on the issue.  Aye votes: Didier, Hayhurst, Hines, Pape, Talarico Jr., and Crawford.  Nay votes: Schmidt, Shoaff and Smith. Return
  • Once seating in the Council Chamber filled up, the doors were shut and no one was admitted.  The reason given was that the noise level outside the Chambers was quite high.  The reason for so many people being outside waiting for entrance was that the Omni Room was not available for the overflow crowd as it was being used for another purpose.  Approximately 90 people were shut out of the council meeting. Return
  • Crews begin removing the Downtown Holiday Inn's signage.  A vinyl sign proclaiming, "Ft. Wayne Inn" appears in front of the building. Return
• 25th - Martin Construction has begun moving in demolition equipment at the Belmont Beverage property.  Photos | Return
• 26th - Demolition kicks off at Belmont Beverage.  The building is completely down by the end of the day.  Photos
  • Last day of classes at the MLK Montessori School. Return
• 27th - Councilmen Don Schmidt, John Shoaff and Tom Smith issue a statement regarding the project's initiation and handling. Return
  • Allen County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Michael McAlexander responds to John Kalb's letter alleging several criminal violations by City officials in their handling of property purchases for the project.  Her decision is that no criminal laws have been broken.  Letter | Return
• 30th - The Palace Restaurant is demolished.  Photos | Return.
  • Moving begins at MLK Montessori School.  Return
• 31st - Signage is removed from the MLK Montessori School.  Photos: 28521 | 28523
  • Harrison2 is reporting that John Kalb has now asked Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter to investigate his allegations of how the city purchased property for the Harrison Square developer. Return

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