‘The Landing’ Lands Developer
Mayor Tom Henry made the announcement along with other city officials. (Image courtesy Greater Fort Wayne Inc.)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA major project in downtown Fort Wayne is moving forward. Cincinnati-based The Model Group has been chosen to redevelop The Landing into a mixed-use property that will serve as a magnet for housing, businesses and entertainment.
The city says the project will represent the most significant mixed-use redevelopment of existing downtown property in decades. The Landing features 110,000 square feet of first floor retail and entertainment space and upper floor residential units.
"Our choice of The Model Group represents the next building block toward a total renewal of The Landing, which will help cement downtown Fort Wayne as a place where people want to live, work, and play as a regional destination serving all of northeast Indiana,” said Mac Parker, Chairman of the Fort Wayne Downtown Development Trust Board of Directors.
The city says officials are working with The Model Group to finalize a development agreement, which will take several months to complete. The city hopes to have work begin in late 2016.
Last year, the city announced it had acquired seven buildings and two parking lots, allowing the city to find a developer. The city worked with the Fort Wayne Downtown Development Trust, the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to acquire the properties.
According to Greater Fort Wayne Inc., The Landing is the city’s oldest commercial area, dating back to the 1830s. It originally served as a canal-boat hub for passenger and freight transport along the Wabash & Erie Canal.