I’m completely ripping off The News-Sentinel’s headline above, but it’s too good not to. (BTW: Great headline, Caleb!) In his column today, Kevin Leininger comments on the proposed rezoning of 633 properties in a “downtown edge” zone. On paper, perhaps, the proposed changes — intended to codify earlier downtown improvements plans — don’t seem all [...]
Tag Archives: Downtown
Harrison Square financing: A primer
by Jon Swerens on June 4, 2008, in Downtown, Harrison Square
So, how does the financing of Harrison Square fit together? Here’s how the city’s Web site shows the relationships: OK, that clears that up.
Today’s rant: Abandon downtown!
by Jon Swerens on June 4, 2008, in Downtown
From today’s News-Sentinel: When you drive on our terrible streets or drop your kids off at schools that are in dire need of repair, just think of all that could have been done with the money being wasted on downtown. But don’t think about how the financing of Harrison Square actually works. From the city’s [...]
Will Harrison Square hate pedestrians?
by Jon Swerens on May 24, 2008, in Architecture, Downtown, Urbanism
Will the Harrison Square retail development in downtown Fort Wayne make pedestrians more or less welcome? And why would I ask the question, seeing as how there are so many pedestrians drawn on the architectural renderings? But there’s a potential problem with the above streetscape, and David Sucher’s Three Rules for urban design (PDF) addresses [...]
Can you reuse a parking structure?
by Jon Swerens on May 18, 2008, in Architecture, Urbanism
One of the best features of a typical urban stone or brick building is that it’s adaptable. A former clothing store can become a bank, or apartments, or offices. But what about parking garages? Can an underused parking garage be adapted to other uses in the future, or are we stuck with having to tear [...]
‘Urban excitement is possible close to home’
by Jon Swerens on April 29, 2008, in Downtown, Urbanism
This comment by Michael Bates of BatesLine in Tulsa was too good to be ignored: Two generations have been raised to see the tidy segments of the suburbs as normal and the city as a messy mix that needs sorting out. That’s starting to change, and a significant number of people have experienced the pleasures [...]
City may allow downtown to look like downtown
by Jon Swerens on April 29, 2008, in Downtown, Urbanism
This is great news: Revamp of zoning in works — City wants to ease the rules for downtown development The city hopes to rezone much of the downtown into this district, or a slightly less dense variation, and away from other commercial and industrial zoning. The rules are more conducive to a downtown, (city planner [...]
Message to Midwest: Change or die
by Jon Swerens on April 28, 2008, in Downtown, Urbanism
Today’s article at Next American City sets its sights on the Midwest: Richard Longworth (a senior writer for the Chicago Tribune) wants you to know two things: First, globalization is happening and it will continue to change the world. Second, if you live in the Midwest, you’d better be very afraid about your region’s chances [...]
Creating a pedestrian and bicycle friendly downtown
by Jon Swerens on April 23, 2008, in City culture, Downtown, Uncategorized
That’s the title of a promising event May 7 at the downtown Cinema Center. Dan Burden, executive director of Walkable Communities, will be leading an event that hopes to answer these questions: What are the elements that make up a pedestrian and bicycle friendly downtown? Learn what Fort Wayne can do to make our downtown [...]
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