Environmental remediation is beginning on the former OmniSource property, or what has become known as the North River site, which includes 29 acres along Clinton Street just north of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge.
News release from the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana:
Progress continues on North River site: remediation work begins
Fort Wayne, Indiana (August 10, 2026) – Environmental remediation funded by the approximately $3 million the Fort Wayne Redevelopment Authority was awarded from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Indiana Brownfields Program is beginning on the North River site, which includes 29 acres along Clinton Street just north of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge.
For two decades, the site has seen little activity, but today trucks are scheduled to begin removing soil that has been impacted from previous commercial and industrial uses. The City of Fort Wayne’s Redevelopment Department has contracted with environmental consulting firm IWM Consulting to lead this first phase of the work, which is expected to continue for approximately six months.
“It’s exciting to see this work beginning,” said Redevelopment Director Alec Johnson. “This highly visible property in the heart of our city has been blighted for decades and now we are taking significant steps to make it a safe, vibrant asset for the neighborhood and our community.”
Meanwhile, North River master planning remains on schedule with the Fort Wayne Redevelopment Department working closely with master developer PB Development. The North River District master plan will serve as the strategic blueprint for how the 29-acre site will be used and how it will be funded. It will set plans for:
- public infrastructure (roads, public transportation, utilities, sidewalks, trails);
- a variety of housing types (for rent, for purchase, multi-unit and single-family, affordable and market-rate);
- commercial uses (businesses, hotels, restaurants, shops);
- recreation and green spaces; and
- public facilities (the North River Fieldhouse and other possible attractions).
An advisory committee made up of local development professionals, community and neighborhood leaders and residents from the Bloomingdale Neighborhood and Wells Street Business Corridor are advising Redevelopment staff and PB Development as they create the master plan, which is expected to be complete by the end of the year.
The master plan will also move forward planning for the North River Fieldhouse, which will establish Fort Wayne as a key youth and adaptive sports tourism destination. Spanning 160,000 square feet, the facility is anticipated to accommodate various indoor sports and activities, including basketball, soccer, volleyball, wrestling, cheerleading, pickleball, baseball, flag football and more. Recent feasibility studies estimate the fieldhouse will generate approximately $36 million in economic activity annually, primarily from visitors coming to Fort Wayne for tournaments.
The North River site was previously used as a rail yard and scrap yard, dating back to 1902. It has not been actively used since 2006; the City purchased the property in 2017.
The City of Fort Wayne Indiana also released list of questions and answers about the North River site work.
North River Remediation questions and answers, 8/10/26
What is being removed from the site?
Surficial fill, or a mix of materials such as rock, sand, soil and debris that is not native to the property is being removed from the site. It contains contaminants and debris commonly seen on former industrial sites, as well as materials left behind by previous property owners – like old construction materials, concrete, metal, and parts of the former railroad turntable.Where will it be taken?
It is all being handled by professional remediation contractors who ensure it is stable and then take it to a local landfill and one in Claypool.How much fill will they remove?
The contractors will be removing the top two to six feet of fill to prepare the site for commercial use under the Indiana Brownfields Program.How much will it cost?
We anticipate spending the full $3 million in grant funding on this phase of remediation. Additional funds will be required for future phases.How will you pay for further remediation if you use most of the funds?
We will continue to collaborate with our partners at the state and federal levels to access additional funding as well as look for other sources. The site is extremely large, so we know this will take place in phases over multiple years.Are there any dangers to nearby residents?
No. These contractors are experts in remediation and are trained in safely removing contaminated soils from brownfield sites. The impacted soil has been on the site for decades and it’s exciting that we are finally able to begin removing it from the neighborhood.
Download the North River Site Work Q and A.
Related Images:
