JANUARY 14-20, 2016 WWW.WHATZUP.COM FACEBOOK.COM/WHATZUPFORTWAYNE FACEBOOK.COM/WHATZUPFORTWAYNE ----------------------------Special Report • Riverfront & Downtown Development --------------------------- Making a Home for Millennials By Mark Hunter feeding of the millennials. have seen a steady increase in people interested in getting on For many, developing the riverfront in Fort Wayne has the rivers. Such curiosity has had the side benefit of chang- If you don’t build it, they will leave. Or maybe they long been a dream, but agreement on how to undertake the ing people’s idea of what the rivers have to offer. won’t come at all. project and, more importantly, how to dispel the perception “We had over 10,000 people get out on the river in “They” refers to the millennials. “It” refers to whatever of the rivers as unappealing have proved elusive. Until now. 2014,” Cara Hall said. “That’s pontoon rides, kayak rent- they want. In 2011, representatives of the regional partnership voted als. Everybody that goes out, even if they’ve lived here Like many medium-sized cities and regions across the anonymously on what the priorities of the region’s develop- their whole life, it just changes their perspective. Once they country, Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana face an aging ment should be. paddle through downtown to Headwaters with the skyline, population and young workforce willing they’re kind of in a park. I think each per- to relocate to fulfill needs that go unmet son that experiences it changes their mind, here. and they do care about the rivers more and Likewise, when employers consider a want to take care of them.” location for a new factory or offices, they Many of the people using the rivers look for an educated and skilled workforce are millennials, but they are not the only willing to put down roots and commit to a ones. Local high school rowing teams place. Otherwise, the employers, too will practice on the rivers and traveling busi- look elsewhere. ness people and convention-goers have Millennials, the 18- to 34-year-olds also discovered them. who grew up in a world of instant social “You know, we always talk about oth- connections irrespective of geographic er places and how cool they are,” Tim Hall boundaries, have become the demograph- said. “But we get people from all over. ic driving economic development across People just come to visit from out of town the country. Attracting and keeping them and they’re just blown away by our rivers is the puzzle cities and regions must solve and our greenway. I remember a guy who in order to avoid stagnation. was from Lake Tahoe just complimenting Of course, the success of the region us, saying you guys are way ahead of your depends on the whole population, not just time. Just hearing that from someone who one demographic. Everyone uses the roads comes from a place that’s so beautiful, and the parks and supports the businesses. coming here to little bitty Fort Wayne and But the current annual population growth being blown away by what we have and of just .7 percent lags behind “best prac- what we’re offering, feels great.” tice” regions that have around 2 percent The biggest perception that needs to annual growth. And that growth rate is not change, according to the Halls and Dan nearly enough to entice employers. Wire, executive director of the Tri-State “With the aging baby boomers, if we Watershed Alliance, is that the rivers are keep growing at .7 percent, in 10 years foul cesspools connected directly to the we’re actually going to have 9,000 fewer city’s sewers. Which is true, to a point. workers in our workforce,” said Courtney During heavy rains, the storm water and Tritch, director of marketing with North- sanitary sewers do in fact connect and east Indiana Regional Partnership. “When flow into the rivers. But Wire said that will I think about the numbers of businesses change. that are trying to find talent now, and tak- “Right now we’re 71 yearly discharg- ing 9,000 people away from that – that’s es, but they are going to be down to less not where we want to be going from an than five,” Wire said. “The city is halfway economic standpoint.” through an 18-year, $240 million plan to Northeast Indiana’s solution is the separate the street drains and the sanitary ambitious Road to One Million plan. The sewer.” plan seeks to boost workforce population Like the Halls, Wire has taken many growth while attracting quality employ- Clockwise from top: the Wells Street Bridge span- people who have never been on the river ers, basically by spending a ton of money on boat rides. He said they always come creating fun stuff to do and building cool ning the St. Marys River, Cara and Tim Hall; SWA away astonished. places to live. group’s aerial view of planned riverfront promenade. “I personally have taken enough of the The 11-county Northeast Indiana Re- titans of industry for tours along the river, gional Partnership came up with the plan which includes “These are people from business, education, government and even though everyone is an individual, everyone reacts hiking and biking trails, improvements to parks and access officials, kind of the whole gamut of 10 counties, we’re 11 the same way,” he said. “Their jaws drop down, they’re spin- to rivers, as well as new housing and cultural centers across counties now (Kosciusko County joined after the voting) ning around in the seat on the boat and they’re saying oh my the region. Fort Wayne is the anchor, but smaller cities and and they voted to make downtown riverfront development in gosh, this is so not what I expected. People expected to see towns in each county have an important role to play. Fort Wayne the quality of life priority for the region,” Tritch this heinous toxic wasteland of a dump on the rivers. And The Indiana Economic Development Corporation in said. instead, they found a very beautiful, inviting environment. December rewarded the partnership’s plan with $42 million “And that was a huge step because this is people from all It totally misplaces your memory when you’re on the rivers. to get things rolling. The Road to One Million plan, which these different counties saying what happens in downtown You forget that you’re in an urban environment.” includes some 70 projects in the 11-county region, including Fort Wayne affects us too.” Wire said the shift in the thinking about the rivers is part 38 that are considered “near term,” was completed before Phase one the riverfront plan includes building a prom- of a larger shift in how employers see the importance of loca- there was any assurance of financial help from the state. The enade on the south side of the St. Mary’s River in an area tion. 38 near term projects call for an investment of $400 mil- bound by Wells, Superior and Harrison streets. The prom- “Seven years ago people started talking to me about lion over the next two years, Tritch said. The regional cities enade will connect with Headwaters Park. quality of life,” Wire said. “Now they call it quality of place. money will help jump-start the work, she said. Directly across the river is Fort Wayne Outfitters & I think that the business community as a whole recognizes In Fort Wayne two of the projects – riverfront develop- Bike Depot. The business rents and sells kayaks, canoes and that quality of life or quality of place is a positive return be- ment and the rebirth of the Landing – are important not only bicycles and also hosts events on the north bank of the St. to the economy of the city and the region but to the care and Mary’s. Since opening in 2007, owners Cara and Tim Hall Continued on page 13 2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- www.whatzup.com ------------------------------------------------------------ January 14, 2016 whatzup Volume 20, Number 22 e wrap up a look at what 2016 and beyond will bring with the third installment of a series of forward-looking features that began with last month’s piece on Arts United and the Saint Francis Performing Arts WCenter, followed last week by Mark Hunter’s story on Rick Kinney’s Clyde Theatre project. Hunter wraps things up this week with a comprehensive look at proj- ects that would reshape Fort Wayne’s downtown and riverfront. His piece, titled “Making a Home for Millennials,” begins on page two. Our cover story is on the State Ballet of Russia’s production of Romeo and Juliet, set for the Embassy on January 20. Although it comes to town right on the heels UPCOMING EVENTS of the holiday season and the Fort Wayne Ballet’s traditional production of The Nutcracker, if you love dance – or prodigious talent, for that matter – you should not be dissuaded. Michele DeVinney’s feature is on page 4. If it’s laughs you’re after, you should check out the 2016 All-Star Comedy Jam, also set for the Embassy. Deborah Kennedy previews the show on page 5. Thursday, Jan. 28 • 8pm • $10-$20 Also featured this week is local actor Albert Brownlee, one of the four stars of First Presbyterian Theater’s production of Two Plays on a Bench, specifically The Zoo January 20 | 7:30pm THE ACCIDENTALS Story part of the production. Jen Poiry-Prough’s profile is on page 6. There is, of course, more – record reviews, Evan Gillespie’s book review, Catherine Lee’s and Greg Locke’s commentary on the Golden Globes and the new Star Wars, ROM E O & JUL ie T Amber Foster’s restaurant review and, of course, the best art and entertainment cal- endars you’re going to find.