The City of Fort Wayne has announced the selection of Interface Studio, LLC as the developer of a new downtown Fort Wayne Indiana plan and released a Downtown Plan 2026 Fact Sheet.
This new plan will replace the 2003 Blueprint for the Future. The City has updated the 2003 plan several times over the intervening 23 years, including the 2005 BluePrint Plus and the May 2016 Blueprint Plus Update.
With yesterday’s announcement, the City released a Downtown Plan 2026 Fact Sheet. Text of the release:
Downtown Plan 2026 Fact Sheet
What’s Happening
- The City of Fort Wayne is seeking to contract with Interface Studio, LLC and its team to develop a new Downtown Plan that will guide future investment, growth and development for the next ten years.
- Fort Wayne Community Development presented a resolution to contract with Interface Studio to City Council and it was approved on April 14.
- Contract cost: $330,605.
About Interface Studio, LLC
- Interface Studio is a planning and urban design practice based in Philadelphia and has been recognized with nine American Planning Association national planning awards.
- In the past five years, the firm has led downtown planning efforts for Raleigh, Durham, Fargo, Montgomery, Macon, Harrisonburg and St. Louis.
- In 2017, the firm earned the National Pinnacle Award from the International Downtown Association for the Grand Rapids Forward downtown plan.
- Interface will partner with:
- Merritt Chase, and Indianapolis-based landscape architecture firm,
- TYLinn, based in Chicago, for its transportation planning expertise,
- Ninigret Partners, of Providence, RI, for economic development consulting,
- All Together, of Evanston, IL, for community engagement and marketing.
- Interface Studio was selected by a review committee from a field of 13 proposals for their depth of experience with downtown planning for similar and larger-sized cities, their economic development expertise, their creativity, and emphasis on developing plans and achievable implementation strategies.
- The review committee consisted of Community Development staff and representatives from Downtown Fort Wayne and Greater Fort Wayne Inc.
Partners
- Development of a new downtown plan has broad support from community partners, with funding provided by:
- Allen County Board of Commissioners,
- Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne Richard D. Waterfield Charitable Fund,
- Downtown Fort Wayne,
- Greater Fort Wayne Inc.,
- Fort Wayne New Markets Revitalization Fund, and
- City of Fort Wayne Community Development Division.
Why now?
- Fort Wayne’s current downtown plan, Blueprint for the Future, was adopted in 2003. The last update to that plan was ten years ago.
- Since 2003, downtown Fort Wayne has been transformed with more than $1 billion of private and public investment.
- Catalytic projects over that time include Parkview Field, the Harrison, Ash Skyline Tower, Superior Lofts, the Urban Trail, Cityscape Flats, The Landing, The Bradley, Promenade Park, Electric Works, The Pearl and Pearl Arts Center, Riverfront at Promenade Park, the Arts United Center expansion and more.
- The transformation of downtown Fort Wayne, as well as changes in the economy and resources that are available, calls for a fresh look at what’s next for the heart of city.
Timeline
- Upon passage of the contract, Community Development will bring together an advisory group with key stakeholders and plan for an April kickoff.
- The public will have several opportunities, online and in-person, to engage in the planning process and contribute their ideas for the next chapter of downtown Fort Wayne.
What leadership is saying
- Mayor Sharon Tucker: “It’s vital to recognize where we’ve been and where we want to go in the future. Investing resources in an updated plan for our thriving downtown will help ensure ongoing opportunities to make Fort Wayne the best city possible.”
- Community Development Director Jonathan Leist: “It’s time to write the next chapter for downtown Fort Wayne. We are excited to work with downtown businesses and residents, surrounding neighborhoods, and our partners at Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne New Markets Revitalization Fund, SEED Fort Wayne, Greater Fort Wayne Inc., Downtown Fort Wayne and Allen County government to develop the next road map that will help propel our community and region to continued growth and success.”
- Alison Gerardot, Chief Impact Officer, Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne: “A strong downtown benefits the entire community. Supporting this plan helps ensure Fort Wayne’s downtown continues to evolve in ways that strengthen neighborhoods, expand housing and density, and create welcoming places where people want to live, work, and gather. We’re proud to partner with the City to develop a thoughtful roadmap that will guide the future of downtown and the community as a whole.”
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