Fort Wayne Details Next Steps For ‘North River’
(photo courtesy City of Fort Wayne)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe effort to redevelop a 29-acre property in Fort Wayne is moving forward. The city has listed the next steps in the project, which aims to bring new life to the former rail and scrap yard, which has sat vacant since 2006.
The city announced plans to acquire the property for $4.6 million in early November, describing it as "an important gateway into downtown." The Fort Wayne City Council approved the acquisition, which closed in late November and funding for which was approved by the Allen County-Fort Wayne Capital Improvement Board.
The next step in the redevelopment process, according to the city, is working with the Indiana Brownfields Program "to receive a letter indicating the program is comfortable with the North River property being used for future development. The program may ask for some additional soil sampling work to be conducted. This is a customary practice when a site goes from one type of use to a different type of use."
The city plans to issue a Request for Qualifications beginning February 8 to determine interest from the private sector for potential development opportunities. A Request for Proposals is expected to be issued after that point.
The city is also expecting to have the property rezoned to allow for future development more suitable for the area than industrial use, for which it is currently marked. Officials are planning to continue engagement with nearby neighborhoods and stakeholders to keep them informed of the ongoing process.