Where are the city employees today?

Not all the city employees, but quite a few were at the first of three workshops for the North River Now Community workshops . The meeting was held at the Downtown Allen County Public Library. There were few private citizens who were not connected to the project at the 11:30 a.m. meeting. The next two meetings will be held on June 14 and the 19.

So much for public input.

The meeting was a brainstorming session which contributed little beyond the discussion already held among the task force and the frequently asked questions pamphlet distributed by the task force.

The brainstorming session was more of an educational session disguised as a public meeting driven by four controlling questions:

Question 1: In 10 years, what type of uses do you envision on the current OmniSource Site?


Question 2: What are some of the traits or characteristics would make sense in the development design?


Question 3: What do you see in the future design of River North Now relationship with other nearby attractions such as Science Central?


Question 4: What potential negatives do you foresee and what are your concerns?

The answers were already predetermined.

However, the session provided an opportunity to discuss other amenities beyond the waterpark that appears to be the central idea for the development of the land owned by Omnisource. Since OmniSource headquarter has left downtown, over 29 acres of unused land would sit in the heart of downtown. Land sitting abandoned and could hurt the chances of promoting the City's downtown as thriving and vibrant.

The North River Now theme is not new it is a continuous of improving assets located in the downtown areas, that would be a burden on the taxpayers, like the Grand Wayne Center, the Allen County Public Library, Headwater Park, Lawton Park, Science Central, and the former YWCA, which is current a new school, Imagine. It is just an opportunity presented and the City is attempting to capitalize on the situation.

This sounds like some prime real estate development in the near future for commercial development along the riverfront.

This city has paid $4.3 million for the option to take part in this development. The next step is to determine the feasibility of different project for the property. A market analysis will be conducted by the Conventions, Sports and Leisure International, a specialty consulting firm. A design workshop will be shared with the public/city workers during a design workshop from July 23-26, 2007. The timeframe for the completion of the study is 120 days ending September 2007.

So much for public input.

scott from Downtown Fort Wayne Baseball was there blogging live.