News release from the City of Fort Wayne:
Mayor Henry Opens Envision Fort Wayne Center
(March 31, 2014) – Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry today officially opened the new Envision Fort Wayne Center, 916 S. Calhoun St. The Center is a downtown storefront that will provide citizens with ways to learn about and contribute to community projects such as Riverfront Fort Wayne and the Downtown Fort Wayne Plan 2020 Update.
“Fort Wayne is on the cutting-edge for a community our size to have this outstanding center for public engagement,” said Mayor Henry. “It will provide an unprecedented way for citizens to engage with government and the community.”
A grant from the Knight Foundation is covering the costs for the rent, utilities, furnishings and equipment at the Envision Fort Wayne Center. City Planning Department employees will staff the Center and discuss ideas with visitors Tuesdays 2-6 p.m., Thursdays 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and Fridays 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Additional hours will be added during downtown festivals and events.Currently, the Envision Fort Wayne Center is filled with displays about riverfront development. Educational information about development opportunities and constraints, river water quality, river history and successful riverfronts in other communities is all available for the public to see. Throughout the riverfront study process, the displays will change and citizens will have opportunities to express opinions about possible riverfront concepts. Citizens may stop in any time the Center is open or schedule a time for their group to visit by emailing RiverfrontFW@CityofFortWayne.org.
“The Envision Fort Wayne Center is an ideal venue for gathering input from the public regarding our riverfront work,” said Pam Holocher, deputy director of planning and policy. “The Center will also have many other uses, including housing a summer internship program for urban design and architecture students and serving as a continual ‘open house’ allowing citizens to connect with City government.”