Harrison2

Bridge firm hired

The Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission Monday gave preliminary approval for the city to hire MSKTD to design the walkway bridge between the Courtyard by Marriott and the Embassy Theatre. While no contract was signed at the meeting, the commission unanimously approved paying the local firm $29,500 for the work on the proposed $300,000 bridge.

The entire walkway project is estimated to cost $1.8 million, which also includes work on the inside of the Embassy. The walkway was a requirement for the Courtyard developers to build downtown, as it will provided covered access to the Embassy, which has covered access to Grand Wayne Center.

The commission is expected to approve a formal contract next month.

Absent signing

It was no surprise to see many Harrison Square supporters at the construction site Tuesday to affix their name to the final large steel beam to be placed in the ballpark. Mayor Tom Henry, supporting members of the Fort Wayne City Council and the private developers from Hardball Capital were present to christen the project with their John Hancock.

Yet at least one supporter of the project, Councilman Tom Didier, R-3rd, couldn’t make the event. Not wanting to miss out on having his name on the beam – the names will be covered before the ballpark is open – he asked someone to write it up there for him. Ozzie Mitson, spokesman for Mayor Tom Henry, obliged.

Noticeably absent from the event was former Mayor Graham Richard, who helped spearhead the entire project. Less noticeable in their absence were councilmen Tom Smith, R-1st, John Shoaff, D-at-large, and former councilman Don Schmidt, R-2nd, who opposed the project.

Condo prices

While the asking prices for condominiums at The Harrison are considered by many to be higher than most housing in Fort Wayne (they range from $149,000 to $359,000), critics are wrong to argue the costs are equal to luxury housing in larger cities.

One example is the W Atlanta Downtown Hotel & Residences, a 28-story hotel/condominium project being constructed by Barry Real Estate. Prices for one of the 76 condominiums range from $400,000 to $4 million, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. The Atlanta condominiums range in size from 862 square feet to 2,761 square feet, meaning they are similar in size to Fort Wayne’s smallest units, but the $4 million Atlanta condominium will understandably get a bit of space.

The Chronicle also reported construction is well under way for the project, which is part of a larger $1.95 billion development by Barry, and about 20 percent of the condominiums have been reserved. You must be a subscriber to the Chronicle to read the entire article, but here is the free section.

Condominium cost

When Harrison Square was announced, part of the project included a $14.5 million condominium/retail building. Yet when The Harrison applied for its tax abatement, it listed a cost of $20.3 million.

The change was simply the difference between an estimate and reality, according to Jim Irwin, project manager for Barry Real Estate, which is building the luxury condominiums.

Irwin said as the company began to put together its budget, it was clear it would take more than $14.5 million to do what they wanted.

“To do the type of luxury product that we want and need to do for the market, it’s a $20 million price tag,” he said.

Greg Leatherman, executive director of development, said the increased price is a good thing because it is additional private investment in the $130 million project. He added that additional investments in the hotel and Harrison building make Harrison Square a $130 million project versus a $120 million, as previously reported.

Truck route changes

Harrison Square is intended to bring more people downtown, but it could also lead to fewer trucks.

The City Council Tuesday will debate a bill to prohibit through trucks on Washington Boulevard, Maumee Avenue and Jefferson Boulevard. Currently trucks are only allowed on those routes between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., but the bill would prohibit them at all times.

The specific sections are Washington from Jefferson to Indiana 930, Maumee from Division Street to Washington and Jefferson from Freeman Street to Division.

The bill’s intent is to relieve any potential safety hazards with truck traffic and increased pedestrian use downtown.

Abatement filings

In case anyone has an interest in reading the actual tax abatement filings for the Harrison Square condominiums or hotel project, I have provided them in pdf format. Click the links below.

Hotel abatement

Download hotel_tax_abatement.pdf

Condominium/retail abatement

Download harrison_tax_abatement.pdf

Condo numbers game

The actual number of condominiums sold from The Harrison project seems to depend on who you ask. Greg Leatherman previously told me it was nine, but Jim Irwin, project manager with Barry Real Estate, recently told another news outlet it was only four or five.

Leatherman cleared up the discrepancy with an apology, saying he was told the wrong number. As of Friday, five people have completed deals to buy a condominium. He said there are more than nine people in the pipeline to buy the units as soon as some engineering work is done, but it wasn’t accurate to classify them as closed deals. Leatherman said he expected the number of sold condominiums to be closer to 20 in a few weeks.

Commissioner critic

Allen County Commissioner Linda Bloom made her feelings about Harrison Square known when talking with the Evansville Courier & Press in a story that ran Sunday.

While most of the story focused on the expansion of Memorial Coliseum – with the possible expansion of Roberts Stadium in Evansville – the story did mention Fort Wayne’s downtown development at the end.

Bloom told the newspaper that city leaders billed the project as a way to bring young professionals back to Fort Wayne, but she doubted the possibility.

“Would my children move back? No.” Bloom was quoted as saying. “Build it, and they will come? I don’t think so.”

Extra memorial events

Memorial Coliseum General Manager Randy Brown said he will have money in his 2009 budget to demolish the Wizards’ current facility on Coliseum Boulevard.

But that doesn’t mean it will be crushed to rubble as soon as the first pitch is thrown downtown. Brown said he is looking to get a few extra events in Memorial Stadium next summer, including a possible concert. He said the stadium will remain open through next spring in case the downtown stadium isn’t quite ready for opening day.

Brown said people should expect Memorial Stadium to fall in August or September 2009.

Public park designed

The Fort Wayne Board of Park Commissioners Thursday is expected to approve the design and budget for the public park portion of Harrison Square.

As previously reported, the $500,000-park will be mostly financed by a $300,000 gift from the estate of Robert E. Meyers, former Fort Wayne mayor. Additional park financing includes $150,000 in park bond money and other private donations.

Al Moll, parks director, said there will be special recognition of Meyers at the park, and it is possible it will be named Meyers Park at Harrison Square. The public park will include a small water area, small amphitheater, benches and landscaping. It will be open to the public when Fort Wayne Wizards’ games are not in progress, and will be used as part of the larger ballpark during games.

The public park will sit between the hotel and ball park, near the southwest corner of Jefferson Boulevard and Harrison Street. Here is a sample of the park's design, click on the photo for a larger image.