City holds groundbreaking for Riverfront at Promenade
The city broke ground on this six-story, mixed-use building at the intersection of Superior and Harrison streets. Riverfront at Promenade will include apartments, townhomes, and a parking garage along with retail and office space. The first phase of work will be the parking garage, which is expected open spring of 2022. The grand opening is expected to happen the following year. Indianapolis-based developer Barrett and Stokely will make an investment of nearly $90 million on this project.
STAR Bank announces downtown headquarters
STAR Financial Bank is building a new corporate headquarters in downtown Fort Wayne. The company announced plans for a two-tower, mixed-use building with a public parking garage. The development will go up on an empty lot at 215 W. Main Street. The $43 million project will feature a 7-story north tower, a 3-story south tower, and the parking garage will have nearly 400 spaces.
Food and beverage tax is key to fund future projects
Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry says increasing the local Food and Beverage tax by a penny on the dollar is key to funding future projects. He was joined by Fort Wayne business and restaurant leaders to discuss the possibility of enabling the legislation. He says the plan would generate $6 million annually and $90 million over a 25-year time period. The city must first get approval from state and local legislative bodies. If that happens, the plan would only go into effect once it is determined that the restaurant industry has fully recovered from the economic downturn brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lead Paint Program offers remediation assistance to families
City Seal
The City of Fort Wayne’s Office of Housing & Neighborhood Services is offering a Lead Paint Remediation Program to help protect families from lead poisoning. The program provides qualified homeowners, rental property owners and tenants with assistance including; a lead-based paint risk assessment/paint inspection, lead-based paint hazard remediation, and temporary relocation if necessary.
Artists needed to design sculpture of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The City of Fort Wayne’s Public Art Commission is looking for artists to create a sculpture commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The public display will include quotes from King’s 1963 speech given in Fort Wayne. A committee was created at the request of City Council to help select an artist to install a memorial. It consists of community civic leaders, professionals in historic documentation, arts organizations and the faith-based community. Submissions are due by March 21, 2021.

(Photo of Fort Wayne's Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial bridge courtesy of Visit Fort Wayne.)
Nonprofits to receive nearly $400k in COVID-19 relief
The City of Fort Wayne will distribute $398,000 to seven non-profit organizations to prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19.The City’s Office of Housing and Neighborhood Services received $1.2 million from a special Community Development Block Grant aimed at helping with COVID-19 relief. In November, non-profits, faith-based organizations and public agencies that serve low-income residents were invited to apply.
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