Headline suggests: The Southside will be losing both of their YMCA

Yesterday's The News-Sentinel suggested that two YMCA branches will be closing. Kevin Leininger writes, ..city officials have said the orgnization intends to close its Old Fort and southeast family branches, consolidating them into a new branch..".
(I am still wondering what happened to the Y W C A'S)This new YMCA supposely will be built on land which had a major tire fire in 1997 and was later deemed a brownfield from many of the contaminants found in the soil.

According to the City of Fort Wayne's Website titled Phoenix Manor Groundbreaking Bowser Street Rises from the Ashes, "groundbreaking is set for 10 a.m. Monday, September 16, 2002 for Phoenix Manor, a 50 unit senior housing project in the 2300 block of Bowser Avenue. This construction is the second phase of redevelopment of the Bowser Street brownfield and is one of three planned for the community. Several homes already are under construction along Bowser Avenue and another 25 single-family homes are in the planning stages." I think there are at least a hand full of houses, not the 25 single family homes as promised, in the four years promise of hope given to African-American voters.

Back than the the land was taken by eminent domain from a private owner,"Fort Wayne’s Redevelopment Commission claimed the Bowser site four years ago, after the 1997 Labor Day fire burned 600,000 tires stored on the property. Since that time, the former Bowser Pump Plant site was designated a brownfield, allowing the City of Fort Wayne to seek federal, state and local funds for clean up and redevelopment of the land. “This latest project is a continuation of one of the finest examples of partnering between the public and private sector,” said former Brownfield Manager Greg Leatherman."

Now, "the built it they will come" dream was not successful for housings, it has morphed into a "new built it" type dream. Instead of housing, a brand new spanking new nonprofit)YMCA is the mirage. The article suggested that the land where the old YMCA is will be swapped for the land at the new location. And what will go into the old YMCA? It is to be converted into something or anything compatible with the new Renaissance Pointe project. The new Renaissance Pointe project replaces the old up from ashes theme of 25 single homes with 400 new homes.

One more question on my mind. Will the police station remain during this great transition or is the police getting ready to move into their new headquarters out at Southtown Centre?