Fort Wayne, Ind. — Mayor Graham Richard today announced plans for public work sessions and the creation of a steering committee to build on the significant progress already achieved through the Downtown Blueprint for the Future. The goal is to take downtown revitalization to the next level.
Interactive work sessions will be held May 17-19 and June 4-7. It will bring together key stakeholders, elected officials, neighborhood leaders, and the general public to specify what downtown projects and goals should be fast-tracked for development. A steering committee will help guide the process and spearhead community consensus building. The committee will be chaired by Bob Taylor, President of Do it Best. George Huber with the Downtown Improvement District will serve as co-chair.
The work sessions are intended to celebrate the successes achieved, consider anew the recommendations contained in the 2003 Downtown Blueprint in light of changing conditions, emerging ideas and new resources, and develop community consensus to guide continued downtown revitalization.
The creation of the work sessions and the steering committee mark the midpoint in the life of the downtown five-year plan. Of the more than 70 projects outlined in the original document, nearly half have been accomplished or are underway.
"Downtown Fort Wayne is alive with opportunity," said Mayor Richard. "It's buzzing with construction projects, and new development ideas continue to emerge. The Downtown Blueprint has spurred much of this action. Working together with renowned consultant, Gianni Longo, we'll decide where to put our energies and resources to stimulate downtown growth, jobs, housing, and activity. We'll pick the projects, select the sites and identify the strategies to ensure success moving forward."
Nationally-recognized architect and planning visionary Gianni Longo will facilitate the meetings. He is a founding Principal of ACP Visioning & Planning, New York City and Columbus, Ohio. ACP is the firm currently engaged with the City of Fort Wayne and Allen County in Plan-it Allen!, the initiative to develop the community's first-ever, joint comprehensive land-use and development plan.
Regarded as a leader in strategic public engagement processes, Longo directed Chattanooga's "Vision 2000" effort in the mid-1980s that led to the renaissance of its downtown. More recently, he has been at the forefront of projects in New York City for Lower Manhattan and the World Trade Center site, Washington, D.C., Houston and the Knoxville, Birmingham and Kansas City regions, among others.
Additional expertise will be supplied by Jack Swarbrick of Baker & Daniels, Chris Paladino of Mansur Real Estate Services and Mike Higbee of Development Concepts. Each has been actively engaged in providing professional counsel to downtown development endeavors.
"Downtown is a showcase for our creative spirits and heritage," said Mayor Richard. "The momentum is building for a new downtown, one that contributes in all ways to the health of our community.
Since the Blueprint's unveiling late in 2002, the public sector has been a primary catalyst to implementation. The City has championed the creation of foundational elements to position downtown for private investment. These financial tools and resources include the downtown Community Revitalization Enhancement District, the 2005 CEDIT bond which dedicated $10 million to downtown projects, a $500,000 transportation enhancement grant focused on urban trails for downtown, and other urban tax incentives.