GE Plans to Keep Fort Wayne Sign Dark

(Image of GE Fort Wayne Campus Courtesy: Save Our Fort Wayne General Electric Campus.)

Listen to this story

Subscriber Benefit

As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now

This audio file is brought to you by

0:00

0:00

Loading audio file, please wait.

Speed
1.00

• 0.25
• 0.50
• 0.75
• 1.00
• 1.25
• 1.50
• 1.75
• 2.00

As General Electric continues its exit from Fort Wayne, the company says it doesn’t plan to re-light its iconic neon sign. The company says concerns of the sign’s age, weathering and vandalism at the historic campus are driving the decision.

Those concerns include "numerous" recent break-ins, according to GE spokesman Matt Conkrite. The company is continuing its process of withdrawing remaining operations in the city. Its final days in Fort Wayne are expected to be in January.

GE has maintained a presence in the city for more than a century and confirmed plans of its exit early this year. There are nearly 20 buildings still on its Fort Wayne campus, but the thousands of employees that worked for the manufacturer in the city at its peak has shrunk to dozens this year.

Many are calling for reuse of the property, including a group called Save Our Fort Wayne General Electric Campus, which recently received the support of Greater Fort Wayne Inc.