AroundFortWayne

Protesting a demolition this morning…

This morning you are welcomed to join in a protest at the northwest corner of Clinton and Fourth Street from 7:30 am to 9:30 am.

The former Lake Shore and Michigan Railroad Freight Station is on the verge of being torn down to make way for… well, no one knows exactly what for – yet.

As you may remember, the former OmniSource buildings and blue wall were demolished last year after the property sat vacant for several years.  The City had an option on the property – during the last year or two of the Graham Richard Administration, but the Henry Administration let the option expire and lost control of the property.  This was the location for the North River Now Charettes conducted a few years back and has been the subject of development rumors for a possible water park, casino, IMAX, public park – almost an entire gamut of possibilities.  It was also the attempt four or five years ago to lure multi-millions of dollars of investment from the Ray Krock Foundation (of McDonald’s fame).

Since then, the economy has tanked and all efforts at redevelopment seem to have stalled – key word, “seem”.  There is currently a very viable proposal for the former freight house and land that would be a perfect fit for the property.  I don’t think they’re ready to go public, so I won’t spill the beans, but trust me when I say it’s one of the most exciting proposals for downtown I’ve seen since Parkview Field/Harrison Square.

This exciting proposal can still become reality without the freight house, but not only would the reality be a little less because of the loss, but our community at large will have lost another historic structure needlessly.

If you have time, the protest is again from 7:30 to 9:30 am this morning at the northwest corner of Clinton and Fourth Street.

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