Underway in Fort Wayne

The Harrison Square project in Fort Wayne has started construction. The story is from Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly and there is a bit about the difficulties in the project.

The city faced dozens of critics who decried the use of public funds for the majority of the project’s financing. The taxpayers’ portion of the bill is estimated at $64.3 million, while developers will pay $56.1 million.The city also battled accusations that the methods used to acquire land for the project and portions of its financing plan were illegal. Questions came from City Council members, residents and the media, and the project also was reviewed by state finance officials who had to approve and rate the city’s bond issue.

Republican mayoral candidate Matt Kelty called Harrison Square a “boondoggle” during a televised debate. City staffers were called “numbskulls” on one Internet site, and Leatherman said he also received several calls and e-mails with criticism that was not entirely constructive.

Then, there is this....

Not all of the plans are in place. The city continues to work on an agreement with the Embassy Theatre to allow a walkway connecting the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel to the Grand Wayne Center. The proposed walkway would pass through the theater and Indiana Hotel next door, and theater officials want to ensure it does not damage the historical features of the two buildings.

The walkway is important because hotel developer White Lodging Services has required it to go forward with the deal, and Harrison Square cannot be built without funds generated by the new hotel.

For more on the topic, go to the Downtown Fort Wayne Baseball blog.