According to Indiana News Center, Mayor Tom Henry has asked Barry Real Estate to reconsider options for the housing component of The Harrison. As you know, recently released numbers indicate that only 4 or 5 condo units have been sold. (Sold meaning contracts have been signed and funds committed.) One of the options he is asking for is for units to be leased rather than sold.Â
One of the biggest concerns I have had about this project from the start has been about the lack of diversity in the residential portion of the project.  A housing study completed in January 2006 stated there is a demand for luxury condominiums in the downtown area. However, building 60 units of only luxury condos for sale leaves no room for leverage of the investment and as the old saying goes, puts all our eggs in one basket. I think we’re now seeing the hazard involved in all our eggs in one basket in that the targeted segment is not committing to the condos.Â
In his interview with INC, Mayor Henry states that the City is asking the developer to consider other options for the building. Included is the possibility of a mixture of leased and flat-out purchased units, or even all leased apartments. When asked if he will follow through with his intention of purchasing a unit, he stated it will depend on which way the developer goes. If the developers sticks with purchase-only units, he will go ahead with his purchase. If it’s a combination or leasing only, he probably will not.
The significance of the City asking Barry Real Estate to reconsider, especially when Barry has yet to begin construction on the building, is huge. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
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Comments I wrote on NorthRiverNow’s Blog about this subject:
I hadn’t even considered possible ramifications of such a public statement by Mayor Tom Henry. I wonder if he thought this through before talking with INC? I really hope this project isn’t coming apart, but one has to wonder after the controversy last Friday over actual units sold.
It does make one wonder if some have been shying away from committing due to perceived dangers from the economy or what exactly has been said by all those potential depositors of $1,000 a condo who are now not so forthcoming. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Hey guys – A LARGE MAJORITY OF AREA RESIDENTS were against this unneccessary project! Could this, just possibly, be the reason for what mayor Henry calls “cold feet”?
It seems like Fort Wayne will never learn – you can lead property taxpayers to a project, but, you can’t make them get involved! Will we ever learn that ONLY PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT/INVESTMENT REALLY HAPPENS! All else is a sham – and our
leaders(???) will blame everything else but their “go it with tax dollars”