tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post2071975292226845737..comments2023-11-02T04:58:34.355-04:00Comments on Libertarian Party of Allen County, Indiana: Harrison Square "Straw Poll" at Northwest Area Partnership meetingJeannette Jaquishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00226385515110623744noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-42206671065915421582007-03-20T14:04:00.000-04:002007-03-20T14:04:00.000-04:00Brian:Maybe and maybe not, it depends on the proje...Brian:<BR/><BR/>Maybe and maybe not, it depends on the project.<BR/><BR/>The City has obtained a lot of land... The City will incur a lot of demolition costs...<BR/><BR/>Some of the projects I listed would take up less space...<BR/><BR/>A casino is a fairly small operation...<BR/><BR/>Mike SylvesterLP Mike Sylvesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06918776704117318033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-87369663792827032122007-03-20T12:09:00.000-04:002007-03-20T12:09:00.000-04:00Wouldn't you agree that the land and demolition co...Wouldn't you agree that the land and demolition costs would be used for the other downtown development ideas that you have proposed such as a waterpark, casino, or aquarium?brian spauldinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15591871200284470320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-46443004497375675182007-03-19T16:58:00.000-04:002007-03-19T16:58:00.000-04:00Brian:Sure partner.I do not know what the financin...Brian:<BR/><BR/>Sure partner.<BR/><BR/>I do not know what the financing package is yet since the details have not yet been released; however, I think it is fair to say that ABOUT 70 - 75 million dollars will be spent by the taxpayers in one form or another for Phase 1 of the Harrison Square Project.<BR/><BR/>Heck we have ALREADY spent well over ten million dollars just to acquire the land... <BR/><BR/>Then we will pay demolition costs, etc...<BR/><BR/>The money does not grow on trees.<BR/><BR/>It comes from the taxpayers...<BR/><BR/>Mike SylvesterLP Mike Sylvesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06918776704117318033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-89606162979308880062007-03-19T15:29:00.000-04:002007-03-19T15:29:00.000-04:00"I do not think it well help anything except cause..."I do not think it well help anything except cause the taxpayers to spend a bunch on money on moving a baseball stadium...<BR/><BR/>Mike Sylvester"<BR/><BR/>How would the taxpayers spend a bunch of money Mike? From what I've read on the project, this comment doesn't make much sense. Can you explain this? Thanks.brian spauldinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15591871200284470320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-40171391619720279012007-03-18T16:04:00.000-04:002007-03-18T16:04:00.000-04:00Re: Kat's link...I wanna know what kind of prude c...Re: Kat's link...<BR/><BR/><BR/>I wanna know what kind of prude complains about a free Rolling Stones concert piped into their home. How ludicrous.<BR/><BR/>Now, that being said, I'm sure it will happen in Fort Wayne as well. Ask the folks at Legend's. They have complaints called in every time they host a band.Andrew Kadukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944123518135308325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-73160326138958173742007-03-18T15:56:00.000-04:002007-03-18T15:56:00.000-04:00Dave Corcoran:I 100% agree with you that no one pr...Dave Corcoran:<BR/><BR/>I 100% agree with you that no one project will make people move back here... That is true...<BR/><BR/>I am still amazed that SOME of the people who support Harrison Square are actually telling people that Harrison Square will cause people to move to Fort Wayne...<BR/><BR/>That is why several people keep bringing it up Dave. We are trying to "debunk" this myth...<BR/><BR/>Your next point is one you should reconsider in my opinion.<BR/><BR/>You do not go to Wizards games today and I do go to Wizards games.<BR/><BR/>My wife, both kids, and myself go to one or two wizards games per year. We have been going to see the Wizards play for about 6 years.<BR/><BR/>Let me describe the exact process that occurs when my family goes to a Wizards game:<BR/><BR/>We get in our car and drive to Memorial Stadium. <BR/><BR/>We get out of the car and walk into the ballpark.<BR/><BR/>We sit down and watch a baseball game. During the game we go and buy some food at the park and eat it while watching the ball game.<BR/><BR/>When the game is over we get in out car and drive home.<BR/><BR/>We make NO stops unless the car is low on gas and we eat in the ballpark... <BR/><BR/>How on Earth is this going to develop Downtown Fort Wayne?<BR/><BR/>I do not think it well help anything except cause the taxpayers to spend a bunch on money on moving a baseball stadium...<BR/><BR/>Mike SylvesterLP Mike Sylvesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06918776704117318033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-50912071176928110662007-03-18T13:03:00.000-04:002007-03-18T13:03:00.000-04:00He especially liked the idea of drawing concerts (...<I>He especially liked the idea of drawing concerts (from the soon to be shut down Verizon Amphitheatre). I attend to agree.<BR/><BR/></I><BR/><BR/>Forgot to add that this sounds nice here in print but what about all those folks in the expensive adjacent proposed condos? <A HREF="http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=local&id=3862038" REL="nofollow">I imagine they'll throw a fit when Pink Floyd keeps them up late at night.</A> And I also imagine it'll do their property values no favours.Kat Coblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01989208841608754591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-1263725074924340592007-03-18T12:57:00.000-04:002007-03-18T12:57:00.000-04:00Stop with the people won't move here arguments abo...<I>Stop with the people won't move here arguments about the baseball stadium - it is an irrelevant argument.</I><BR/><BR/>Okay.<BR/><BR/>I was just answering initial statements I'd seen primarily at <A HREF="https://www2.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5379820661179845389&postID=1325908144777157379" REL="nofollow">Downtown Fort Wayne Baseball</A> where a person called 'Ed' and another person called Sam T. seem to think that this is indeed a good argument for the stadium.<BR/><BR/><I>The object of this game is to draw people (anyone) downtown so that other businesses like the restaurants and shops now have an audience to sell to.</I><BR/><BR/>I guess this is part of the problem with the pro-park side, because it seems that there is not a consensus as to what THEY expect to see other than 'a baseball field downtown'.<BR/><BR/>The pro-park side seems to change depending on the objection to the park. <BR/><BR/><I>OK, so we move that population from Coliseum Blvd to downtown (economic rearrangement). Fine, we think there is more opportunity for growth there</I><BR/><BR/>You think? Is there data to support this or is it going to be a very expensive hunch? <BR/><BR/><I>An indoor arena would only surive if they shut down the Coliseum.</I><BR/><BR/>Perhaps yes perhaps no. It might double the number of concerts and events booked in the city. <BR/><BR/> <I> An Aquarium is not likely to sell season tickets </I><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.tnaqua.org/VisitorInfo/Ticket_prices.asp" REL="nofollow">They do in Chattanooga</A>. Well, it's a membership, so that's not the same gate rate, I guess. So you may be correct here. But I don't know if that is a valid comparison, given the fact that the largest attendence draws for most minor league teams are either ticket or swag giveaways. <BR/><BR/><BR/><I>Casinos develop so their patrons won't leave - this won't create a community or atmosphere of variant entertainment downtown.</I><BR/><BR/>Now on this we do agree. Casinos are designed to be a self-contained money-seperation apparatus like airports or Disney World. However if you look at Disney World the surrounding areas have been able to build a thriving, albeit parasitic, economy. <BR/><BR/><I>I spoke to a former executive of Ft Wayne National Bank yesterday who said he was opposed to the project until recently. </I><BR/><BR/>And how much money does his bank--in which he likely still owns shares even though he is no longer employed there-- stand to make on development loans should the project go through? Cui Bono? <BR/><BR/>I'm afraid I have a much harder time accepting "pro" arguments from people who stand to profit directly from the proposal. Asking taxpayers to spend their money to enrich the downtown baseball proponents doesn't really sweeten the pot for me at al.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-73996362054568205372007-03-18T12:18:00.000-04:002007-03-18T12:18:00.000-04:00So David, based on your entire statement, Mr. Sylv...So David, based on your entire statement, Mr. Sylvester has been right all along about the fact that this is just rearranging what we have instead of creating new things.<BR/><BR/>Somebody's using EBIDTA at the expense of the taxpayers here...Andrew Kadukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944123518135308325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-90094264043714310912007-03-18T11:21:00.000-04:002007-03-18T11:21:00.000-04:00Kat,I lived in Austin for 5 years and I talked to ...Kat,<BR/><BR/>I lived in Austin for 5 years and I talked to the owners of the DraftHouse about a franchise in the Midwest while I was looking to move back. At the time, Houston was as far as they wanted to go.<BR/><BR/>Here is where I am going to make a bold statement.<BR/><BR/>NO SINGLE PROJECT THAT YOU PUT IN DOWNTOWN FORT WAYNE WILL MAKE PEOPLE MOVE HERE.<BR/><BR/>Stop with the people won't move here arguments about the baseball stadium - it is an irrelevant argument. Also, it doesn't matter if we draw people outside of Fort Wayne. The object of this game is to draw people (anyone) downtown so that other businesses like the restaurants and shops now have an audience to sell to. You must draw people downtown - It doesn't matter where they come from. This is about creating a community of establishments as a result of drawing people downtown. If the ballpark gets built and no other businesses start - it was a total failure.<BR/><BR/>The ballpark is not going to make people move here. The ballpark is not going to draw people from Muncie or Valparaiso. That is not the point. The point is to bring people downtown so that other businesses can start. OK, so we move that population from Coliseum Blvd to downtown (economic rearrangement). Fine, we think there is more opportunity for growth there.<BR/><BR/>An indoor arena would only surive if they shut down the Coliseum. An Aquarium is not likely to sell season tickets Casinos develop so their patrons won't leave - this won't create a community or atmosphere of variant entertainment downtown. It will create one that people go to and then leave. Everytime I go to Michigan City, I stay until 2 am and then leave - that casino created nothing for that community other than a casino.<BR/><BR/>I spoke to a former executive of Ft Wayne National Bank yesterday who said he was opposed to the project until recently. He especially liked the idea of drawing concerts (from the soon to be shut down Verizon Amphitheatre). I attend to agree.davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04694074301523870435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-56198105461592112152007-03-18T10:35:00.000-04:002007-03-18T10:35:00.000-04:00Ok, the more I think about the "no cars" concept, ...Ok, the more I think about the "no cars" concept, the more I have this vision popping into my head....<BR/><BR/>It's Christmas time...and people are out shopping. There's a Meijer store...lots of people...<BR/><BR/>There are literally hundreds of open parking spots, but instead of using them, people are driving around in circles trying to find one...<I>if only 10 feet</I>....closer to the building.<BR/><BR/>I usually grab the first spot I see, and I inevitably end up walking right by lines of cars (still driving in circles looking for that "close spot") that have been there half again as long as I.<BR/><BR/>Yeah, people around here won't walk.<BR/><BR/>What the hell was I thinking?Andrew Kadukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944123518135308325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-48277079769726523942007-03-18T10:04:00.000-04:002007-03-18T10:04:00.000-04:00Cars are not allow on Mackinac Island in Michigan....Cars are not allow on Mackinac Island in Michigan. Jefferson Pointe is about the size of a city block and it has a lot of foot traffic. But usually the "no cars" concept works better in warmer climates.<BR/><BR/>Here is an idea I had last night. Remember the mural on the retaining wall in front of Science Central? It was a work of art for a while, then it was insisted that it was a distraction. So they painted over it, and it bacame an eyesore. So they tore it down. It was also said that the painted mastadons were a distraction as well, so we don't have them anymore.<BR/><BR/>The problem is that Fort Wayne has been such a flat, gray, boring place for so long that whenever someone puts something colorful up, it's distracting to drivers. <BR/><BR/>So let's start having murals, sculptures, and other public works of art. They don't have to cost any tax money if we can get sponsors. Beer causes more accidents than any plaster elephant ever did, but no one proposes making this a dry county. Attractive female joggers are way more distracting than any mural, but nobody is going to send the Vice and Virtue squad after them. Any idiot who has an accident because of a painting should be forced to take the bus.Robert Endershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15592475828737641009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-60641511736447443742007-03-18T00:46:00.000-04:002007-03-18T00:46:00.000-04:00Doug,I thought that was the purpose of the bus mal...Doug,<BR/><BR/>I thought that was the purpose of the bus mall in Fort Wayne years ago.<BR/><BR/>(I'm sorry, I guess that reads as snide. I don't mean to be.)<BR/><BR/>I was maybe 11 or 12 when they did the "bus mall" but from what I understood it was supposed to be a section exactly like that. Closed to all but foot traffic and bus traffic I thought it was meant to both encourage use of mass transit and offer an attractive shopping experience in the downtown area that would spur regentrification efforts.<BR/><BR/>And here in Nashville we have had mixed success. Our foot-traffic-only Printer's Alley is legendary for the wine/women/song atmosphere. <BR/><BR/>However, we did try closing a portion of 2nd Avenue along the Riverfront in order to recreate that type of Eurotourist vibe. That experiment failed miserably, with several of the bars and restaurants going out of business. Only after they reopened that portion of the street to auto traffic has it experienced any type of revitalisation.<BR/><BR/>So I guess urban foot malls can do well in the right context, but it may be like juggling eggs.Kat Coblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01989208841608754591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-30274289342679500602007-03-18T00:42:00.000-04:002007-03-18T00:42:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Kat Coblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01989208841608754591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-26213441310152622802007-03-17T23:43:00.000-04:002007-03-17T23:43:00.000-04:00Doug,It has been done in the US, and successfully,...Doug,<BR/><BR/>It has been done in the US, and successfully, I might add. Albuquerque, New Mexico, has a chunk of its downtown dedicated to foot-traffic only. It's called Old Town Albuquerque, and it is really cool. Resaurants, pubs, many shops...including art, pottery, leatherworking, jewelery is big, and the sidewalks are all canopied clear to the street (which is used as a walkway unless the occasional car w/ disability-indicating license plates slowly makes its way to the wheelchair accessible sidewalk accesses. The sidewalks being covered and large are key...because sidewalk vendors are welcome and encouraged to setup shop. A map of Old Town Albuquerque can be found here:<BR/><BR/>http://www.albuquerqueoldtown.com/map.htm<BR/><BR/>You'll notice that there are large parking lots and gardens surrounding Old Town, so it really does make for a great place to blow a day if you're out there.<BR/><BR/>I like it. You may have something! I wouldn't even be surprised if such an area would work well in conjunction with a ball park, so that way everyone who is already pot-committed to the Pink Elephant can have their way too. Obviously, the funding for the park is still at issue...but at least surrounding it with unique commerce might eventually offset any negative budgetary impact that may be realized. The more unique businesses that are created under the TIF, the better the chances of success overall.Andrew Kadukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944123518135308325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-49363753335001115262007-03-17T22:40:00.000-04:002007-03-17T22:40:00.000-04:00To All,David asked several really good questions. ...To All,<BR/><BR/>David asked several really good questions. I am glad to see that some questions are being asked regarding Ft. Wayne.<BR/><BR/>I would like to think outside of the box for a minute here. Let us NOT assume that we can BRING anything into downtown to save it, but rather to create an environment that WOULD attract unique businesses to the downtown. This would in turn bring JOBS and money.<BR/><BR/>Back in 2004 I backpacked around Europe for 40 days. I traveled briefly through 8 different countries. One of the things I thought was REALLY neat was the fact that many cities allowed NO traffic in certain sections of the city. These areas seemed to allow limited delivery trucks an minor use of personal cars, but after that people walked. There were a LARGE number of unique shops all over the place. Each shop would cater to different tastes and allow for a tremendous shopping bonanza for anyone who wanted something unique or crafted.<BR/><BR/>I throw this idea into the pool of ideas that have already been offered. I would propose making a section of Ft Wayne off limits to traffic and invite in special shops. I would also ease regulations to have sidewalk cafe's and food served.<BR/><BR/>Imagine a downtown with a little chocolate shop next to a cheese shop next to a gellato shop next to a fine watch shop next to a ...<BR/><BR/>The list could go on and on.<BR/><BR/>The negative impact of this would be that a massive restructuring of current traffic patterns would need to be addressed. When I was in Europe this did not cause a parking problem. People were used to either walking downtown or taking public transport. People would simply have to shift mental gears for here and problems would be minimized.<BR/><BR/>As far as I know this hasn't been done anywhere else in the United States. Thus, we would not be following an example we would be leading in a new direction. Even if it is done elsewhere in the US it isn't done in the Midwest.<BR/><BR/>Just a radical thought out of the box from a radical Libertarian.<BR/><BR/>Respectfully,<BR/><BR/>Doug HornerDoug H 3rd Dist Rep LPINhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17176858569875097868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-5316121093025976702007-03-17T22:26:00.000-04:002007-03-17T22:26:00.000-04:00Oh gosh. My bad, Sam. It's your DAD I've had mult...Oh gosh. <BR/><BR/>My bad, Sam. It's your DAD I've had multiple disagreements with.<BR/><BR/>You I've never met.<BR/><BR/>Sorry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-21040117817747389972007-03-17T22:21:00.000-04:002007-03-17T22:21:00.000-04:00Sam (Assuming you're Sam Talarico) You and I have ...Sam (Assuming you're Sam Talarico) <BR/><BR/>You and I have met on several occasions, although I'm betting you don't remember it as I was going by my maiden name at the time. We disagreed back then as well. <BR/><BR/>I'm so sorry you think of my comments as bashing Fort Wayne. They are anything but. I love Ft. Wayne dearly. I have VERY close ties to the community to this day. <BR/><BR/>I'm just trying to point out that the Fort Wayne I love is often handicapped by outsized and misconstrued plans. <BR/><BR/>RE--<BR/>Thanks for visiting JAPF. I've been a freelance writer for years now, but I've also been a licensing and contracts manager in art publishing, which did require my in-office presence. Hence the concern about distance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-30742587988825942522007-03-17T21:46:00.001-04:002007-03-17T21:46:00.001-04:00Mike,If Fort Wayne forbids development along the o...Mike,<BR/>If Fort Wayne forbids development along the outskirts of town, then developers will simply continue to build just outside of city limits. If the county prevents them from doing so, developers will build just outside the county line. Some people prefer to live in the country, some prefer to live in the city.<BR/><BR/>Since the FWPD is responsible for law enforcement within city limits, the sheriff's department should focus on its roll in enforcing the law in rural areas. Putting the department deep within city limits would mean longer reponse times whenever someone in some trailer park is beating their wife again.<BR/><BR/>I don't know about a casino. It is typically the older generations who play the games of chance, like the lottery and slot machines. Younger people tend to bet on sports, and they don't need a casino to do that.<BR/><BR/>Kat,<BR/>This town is very libertarian compared to most places in the country. Don't let the "City of Churches" label fool you. Here, people sin on Saturday, confess to their sins on Sunday, and brag about their sins on Monday. If strip clubs weren't frowned upon, they wouldn't be so much fun.<BR/><BR/>Sure there are no publishers around here. That is why I mail my manuscripts to publishers. You seem like an aspiring writer, but you should realize that distance from you publisher doesn't matter as much as distance from your subject matter does. Good luck on that novel about FW, I look forward to reading it.<BR/><BR/>Sam T.<BR/>Mike is not responsible for Kat's posts. Mike and I are both recent college graduates who decided to buck the trend and stay. We like it here. Try taking a break and come back when you feel better.Robert Endershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15592475828737641009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-81218473256987225252007-03-17T21:46:00.000-04:002007-03-17T21:46:00.000-04:00Cheap shots about Mike's political acumen are perf...Cheap shots about Mike's political acumen are perfectly acceptable components to the discourse...but for some reason it's taboo to point out that Fort Wayne isn't necessarily a cultural or socioeconomic mecca?<BR/><BR/>I'm afraid I'm going to have to call <I>bullshit</I> on that one.<BR/><BR/>As a FW expat, Kat is in a unique position to offer some insight...and Sam, of all people, you should realize that you cannot see the forest for the trees.<BR/><BR/>I'm still waiting for ANYONE to explain to me how this "ball park" can function as a catalyst when virtually nobody goes to games. Don't get me wrong, I think the stadium and the Wizards will flourish for a year or two after the construction is complete, but then quickly thereafter, they'll be in the same situation they're in now (poor attendance, indifferent public opinion).Andrew Kadukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944123518135308325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-53232548118895094732007-03-17T20:02:00.000-04:002007-03-17T20:02:00.000-04:00After Reading Kat's condescending "bash fort wayne...After Reading Kat's condescending "bash fort wayne posts" and Sylvester' casino posts, I am at a lost for words. I have nothing more I can say. I need to stop visiting this blog before I lose my mind.<BR/><BR/>Sam T.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-76153225144449821622007-03-17T19:29:00.000-04:002007-03-17T19:29:00.000-04:00Well, thanks Mike and Andrew.I've thought about th...Well, thanks Mike and Andrew.<BR/><BR/>I've thought about this a lot, as I grew up in Fort Wayne politics. <BR/><BR/>Speaking of which, Mike, your casino idea is probably the best revenue-generating attraction possible.<BR/><BR/>However I don't see it playing in Ft. Wayne. It's not the most libertarian of places, and now with the flap over the strippers ::yawn:: trying to introduce any alternate idea that smacks of vice will fall flat.<BR/><BR/>Opponents will be nicely positioned to slam your proposal by juxtaposing it as a den of iniquity versus the apple-pie wholesomeness of baseball.<BR/><BR/>(A sport over which no one is ever tempted to gamble...)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-43537392523341455132007-03-17T17:17:00.000-04:002007-03-17T17:17:00.000-04:00That, Ms. Coble, is worthy of a standing ovation l...That, Ms. Coble, is worthy of a standing ovation like no other comment I have read on this subject to date.<BR/><BR/>Bravo.Andrew Kadukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944123518135308325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-41709275853832266342007-03-17T17:06:00.000-04:002007-03-17T17:06:00.000-04:00Kat:You make some great comments and I really thin...Kat:<BR/><BR/>You make some great comments and I really think that you hit the nail on the head...<BR/><BR/>Kat there is no doubt in my mind that the majority of Fort Wayne residents oppose moving the Baseball Stadium...<BR/><BR/>Moving the existing baseball stadium makes sense to a minority of Fort Wayne residents in my opinion...<BR/><BR/>Dave Corcoran:<BR/><BR/>I am much more in favor of Downtown development after talking to people like you and Scott Grieder...<BR/><BR/>I am in favor of INTELLIGENT Downtown re-development...<BR/><BR/>I currently think the BEST project for Downtown Fort Wayne is a full service casino. It would draw people from as far away as 100 miles. The best thing about the casino is that the casino developer would build the hotel, the parking garage, AND the casino all without a significant public investment...<BR/><BR/>A casino would bring actual jobs to Fort Wayne unlike moving our existing baseball stadium... Moving the existing baseball stadium does not create a single job in Fort Wayne. NOT ONE...<BR/><BR/>I currently think the next best project is a multi-use sporting facility. I think it would have to be an indoor venue that would draw poeple year around. I think a combination that included an olympic swimming pool with ice would be a good combination...<BR/><BR/>I CANNOT prove that my second option would work; however, I think that the VAST MAJORITY of Fort Wayne residents THINK that the second option will work better then moving a Single A baseball Stadium...<BR/><BR/>We need to draw NEW people Downtown...<BR/><BR/>I also think that we MUST limit development at the edges of Fort Wayne, move the Sheriff Downtown, and start URBAN PLANNING.<BR/><BR/>With the exclusion of a casino; there is no silver bullet for Downtown. To re-develop Downtown Fort Wayne we need to do several things.<BR/><BR/>I have a question for you Dave!<BR/><BR/>In all of the public "ra-ra" events you have attended have you heard any of our elected officials discuss limiting development at the edges of Fort Wayne?<BR/><BR/>Mike SylvesterLP Mike Sylvesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06918776704117318033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11887973.post-35261890335601382982007-03-17T15:48:00.000-04:002007-03-17T15:48:00.000-04:00Which Average Ft. Waynian do you want to talk to? ...Which Average Ft. Waynian do you want to talk to? Because that city is anything but average. Part of the difficulty in city planning for the Fort is the disparate nature of its citizenry. I'm 36 years old, and for most of my life people have been talking about revitalising downtown. And they've had some great ideas--many for which I've had a nice front-row seat. <BR/><BR/>Over the years I've seen the following "city revitalisation plans", each met with varying success:<BR/><BR/>--reopening the Fort<BR/>--closing the Fort<BR/>--Opening the Art museum<BR/>--The Grand Wayne Centre<BR/>--The hotel next to the Grand Wayne Centre<BR/>--The Bus Mall <BR/>--Building One Summit Square<BR/>--Putting Big Santa on the Bank Building<BR/>--That new park with the ice-skating rink. <BR/>--The Mastadons<BR/>--The Civic Theatre<BR/>--The park next to the Civic Theatre<BR/>--The Botannical Gardens<BR/>--The Embassy<BR/>--The condos in old office spaces near the Grand Wayne Center by the Thirsty Camel.<BR/><BR/>(Why can't I remember the names of parks? I dunno.)<BR/><BR/>It's the cycle of life in Fort Wayne. Every few years someone who is good friends with somebody who designs or builds something decides that the city needs to revitalise Downtown and the thing their good friend designs or builds is just the ticket. So Fort Wayne, city of dreams (isn't that the slogan now?) decides that we can realise just one more little civic dream. So we build the thing that will take us one step closer to what we perceive will earn us the same kudos as the bigger cities like ChiTown and Indy. <BR/><BR/>Somehow it all gets subsumed back into the Fort Wayne character. What few people who are still in Fort Wayne fail to realise is that you have something the big cities desperately want. <BR/><BR/>A true sense of community. Of belonging. That's what ties Fort Wayne together in spite of itself. It's a town for families. All kinds of families. <BR/><BR/>And yes, the patter would have you believe that families want baseball with their apple pie. What they really want are good jobs. <BR/><BR/>I would desperately love to move back to Ft. Wayne in spite of the cold weather. But there aren't publishing houses and printers and authors' agents and licensing firms thick on the ground. Folks like me will not move back for baseball. <BR/><BR/>So if you want to reattract the expats, put some funding into true business development that will promote Fort Wayne as a good home for creative folk. <BR/><BR/>If you want to revitalise downtown, first realise that you are dealing with a town of families and a town with history and a town that loves to eat. <BR/><BR/>Get some more good restaurants down there. Get some <I>indoor</I> entertainment options. Look at something like <A HREF="http://www.drafthouse.com/" REL="nofollow">the Alamo Drafthouse</A> cinema chain. <BR/><BR/>Is it any coincidence that the biggest downtown revitalisation was hanging the Wolf & Dessaur Santa on the bank building? That's what brings people downtown. Fun things to do with the family <I>all year</I>. So put in a sportsplex with an indoor pool and tennis courts. Or even better, build an <A HREF="http://www.greatwolf.com/" REL="nofollow">indoor water park.</A> Those do very well in northern cities.<BR/><BR/>Either go big or don't go at all. This baseball field thing smacks of yet another Ft. Wayne revitalisation idea. <BR/><BR/>"We can build a half-assed version of what the bigger cities have, and it'll be good enough."Kat Coblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01989208841608754591noreply@blogger.com