Downtown plaza to reopen this fall after upgrade

August 3rd, 2016

Mounds of brown dirt have replaced the green grass,hard-hatted construction workers substitute for lunch-time diners and the sounds of heavy equipment, not food-truck barkers, fills the air. But some time this fall all will return to normal — only better — thanks to the first upgrade of the plaza in front of the Indiana Michigan Power Center in 20 years.

Developer Bill Bean bought the 27-story building, Fort Wayne's tallest, in 2014. I&M owns the plaza, however, and work that began several weeks ago will replace old honey locust trees with new ones, install new grass, concrete and bricks and improved lighting. Sidewalks will also be reconfigured to make room for more food trucks, which are a popular attraction during warm weather and the Downtown Improvement District's "Lunch on the Plaza" events that were forced to relocate to Freimann Square temporarily due to construction.

"I&M looks forward to reopening the plaza later this year and for the return of Lunch on the Plaza next summer," spokesman Tracy Warner said. I&M has not disclosed the project's cost.