Electric Works developers plan to request rezoning for parts of the west campus

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Fort Wayne’s NBC) - The developers of the Electric Works project told Fort Wayne’s NBC News that they will plan to request rezoning for parts of the west campus for their Phase II.

The much anticipated Electric Works development is far from being finished, however, leaders with the main contractor, Weigand Construction, has committed to making sure the public can see the progress of the construction.

Officials said they are prepared to do monthly video updates over the next year and a half to document the transformation of the abandoned General Electric campus on Broadway into a $440-million commercial and entertainment complex.

“It’s a great way to kind of show a monthly progress on site. It’s a large site so it’s a way to get that holistic view of what’s really going on out here and how much is going on here and what we’re all touching at a single time,” said Cody Michaud with Weigand Construction.

On Monday, Fort Wayne’s NBC News caught up with the developers of the project, RTM Ventures.

Kevan Biggs told Fort Wayne’s NBC News that they plan to make a request of rezoning parts of the west campus within their phase 2 timeline. He said the area that would be impacted is north of the railroad tracks and west of Broadway Street.

Biggs added half of that area is currently zoned as urban corridor, which allows the developer to build residential and commercial buildings. He said the other half is currently zoned as residential, and the developers would like to rezone that area as urban corridor as well.

The developers shared that they plan to create new structures within that specific area including the following:

• Six-level parking garage
• Apartment buildings
• Child care facility
• Fitness center
• Courtyard
• Outdoor pool

Fort Wayne’s NBC News talked with Alisha Braden, who lives across the street from the campus, to get her thoughts on the announcement. She’s lived in the area for more than two decades, she shared.

Braden said she’s excited about the new businesses coming into the area. She said the old abandoned General Electric buildings impacted the surrounding neighborhoods for many years.

“With the busted windows, we felt the area was not the greatest,” Braden said. “It seemed like we were in the between where nobody cared and didn’t really do much over here.”

As the project continues to progress, Braden said she hopes it will help revive some of the surrounding neighborhoods that she believes have been overlooked, which can create a stronger community for her kids.

“I want them (her kids) to feel that community feeling,” said Braden. “It’s a big city, but we’re a great community, but it doesn’t seem that way when you’re isolated, but I want them to see that it’s a great place.”

Fort Wayne’s NBC News walked down the block and talked with Braden’s father, Ernest Dunn.

Dunn said the new businesses within the Electric Works campus would provide easier access to resources for people like him in the area.

“I don’t get out much because I’m disabled,” Dunn shared. “Just to be able to walk across the street to some of the stuff is going to be great, instead of getting in my car and just driving.”

The developers of the project were originally going to make the rezoning request Monday night at the Plan Commission meeting. However, city leaders told Fort Wayne’s NBC News that there were not enough members present, and as a result, the Plan Commission had to reschedule the meeting to next Monday.

The developers told Fort Wayne’s NBC News that they plan to make a request to rezone parts of the west campus next Monday.

Copyright 2021 Fort Wayne’s NBC. All rights reserved.