News release from Ash Brokerage:
Commercial tenant announced for Ash Skyline Plaza
(February 5, 2016) – Positive momentum continues to build at the Ash Skyline Plaza as law firm Barnes & Thornburg has signed on as a long-term commercial tenant in the building.
A fixture of downtown Fort Wayne for 30 years, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country, with more than 600 attorneys and other legal professionals nationwide. Their approximately 30 Fort Wayne employees will occupy the south half of the Plaza’s sixth floor, which was built for commercial lease. As construction of the structure nears completion, officials are excited by the partnerships forming out of this transformational project, which began as a joint venture with Ash Brokerage and the City of Fort Wayne.
“Having the support and commitment of a respected firm like Barnes & Thornburg means a lot to us. It says a lot about their loyalty to Fort Wayne and the impact this building will have on our entire community,” said Tim Ash, CEO of Ash Brokerage, the largest independently owned insurance brokerage agency in the United States, serving independent and career agents, financial advisors and registered representatives nationwide.
“This year, we celebrate our 30th anniversary in Fort Wayne and signing this lease shows we are deeply committed to the city and region,” said Randy Brown, managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg’s Fort Wayne office. “At a time when Barnes & Thornburg is seeing strategic growth nationally as a firm, our roots in Fort Wayne are as strong as ever and we are proud to serve our clients and our community close to home. We are very excited to be moving into this premier space in the city and look forward to continuing our role as a community leader.”
“I continue to be encouraged by the positive momentum we’re experiencing in the heart of our city. The decision by Barnes & Thornburg to move its offices to Ash Skyline Plaza is to be commended,” said Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry. “The unique downtown development project that’s near completion is a tremendous investment that’s going to have a lasting impact on our community. Ash Brokerage and the other businesses that are part of Ash Skyline Plaza are assisting us in our efforts to be a local and national leader in economic development and quality of place amenities that make Fort Wayne a point of destination.”
In addition to Barnes & Thornburg, which is scheduled to move in to the Plaza mid-August, the building will also house the headquarters for Ash Brokerage on floors 7, 8 and 9. Ash’s approximately 250 Fort Wayne employees are planned to move downtown by the end of May. The structure also includes a city-owned parking garage, which is now open for monthly parkers and will be open for public parking soon.
Each of the street-level retail spaces will open at separate times, as construction and details are finalized. Occupants include a branch of Lake City Bank, a DeBrand Fine Chocolates store, an executive branch of the Fort Wayne YMCA, The Golden restaurant, and The Find, a sister store to The Trove in Roanoke. The remaining commercial occupant on the north half of the sixth floor will be announced soon.
Construction of the adjacent Skyline Tower, a development of Great Lakes Capital, is expected to start later this year and will include 124 apartments, as well as retail and office space totaling 170,000 square feet.
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