Downtown Development Fuels Fort Wayne Housing

By Dan McGowan | Inside INdiana Business

Fort Wayne -

A spokesman for the city of Fort Wayne says a byproduct of continued downtown development is "off the charts" housing demand. During a tour of the city with Inside INdiana Business, John Perlich says downtown buyers range from young professionals to empty-nesters. The nearly $110 million Ash Skyline Plaza is the most high-profile project and it continues to take shape in the state's second-largest city. Its final piece, the 13-story Skyline Tower, broke ground in October. Perlich says additional riverfront, hotel and entertainment development are on the horizon.

Skyline Tower will cost $40 million and is slated to be complete in 2018.

The initial phases of development along the riverfront that are funded by the city's Legacy Fund are also coming together. Perlich says "we don't think that that project will ever be done because we want to continue to see that grow." He says two or three additional hotels and a decision on potential expansion of the Grand Wayne Center could also materialize in the coming years. Plans for a new, large-scale entertainment events center downtown have also gotten some traction.

Perlich says there is a "nice blend" of repurposed old buildings and new construction that is also helping drive interest in the city center. He says some of the same qualities that have long been the standard pitch lines of city officials -- affordability, schools and hospitality options -- are being complimented by growth and momentum he says is unlike anything in the history of the Allen County community.