FORT WAYNE | Grand Wayne Center Marriott Hotel | 12 fl | Pro

[astyrrian]

City Announces Details of Response to Hotel Request for Proposals
Downtown hotel is key component of Harrison Square development

Fort Wayne, Ind. - The City of Fort Wayne today released more details on the proposal received for the downtown hotel component of the Harrison Square mixed-use development.

Acquest Realty Advisors, Inc. along with White Lodging Services Corporation has submitted a response, which calls for a full-service Marriott-branded hotel.

RFP highlights:
* $47 million private sector development
* 11-story, 250 room hotel tower
* 4,000 square foot junior ballroom
* Two 1,000 square foot meeting rooms
* 4,200 square foot signature restaurant and bar for hotel patrons and residents
* 1,200 square foot specialty coffee shop
* Outdoor pool, year-round spa and fitness center
* Developer supports the overall Harrison Square development and acknowledges the hotel, Grand Wayne Center and mixed-use development along with a baseball stadium would serve as a visitor and local destination place

The City of Fort Wayne now will enter into a negotiation period over the next four to six weeks to work on an agreement with the developer. The City expects to have an agreement in place by the end of the first quarter.

Acquest and White Lodging have hotels in Indianapolis, Chicago, Houston, Louisville, Ky., Austin, Texas, and Trenton, N.J. to name a few. Indiana-based White Lodging and Acquest each bring several years of professional, industry-specific experience to the project.

"We are encouraged to be moving forward as we work to create new catalyst opportunities in downtown Fort Wayne," said Mayor Graham Richard. "This is a great opportunity for our City and region to be a leader in economic development. A centerpiece gathering place that attracts jobs, businesses and residents will leverage existing assets and enhance community vitality."

The hotel would be a priority element in the multifaceted Harrison Square development. Project plans include residential condominiums, street level retail, a new minor league baseball stadium, and a parking garage in the initial $125 million phase.

Taxes generated from the hotel would assist the City in financing the public portion of the Harrison Square development. Harrison Square's first stage calls for a nearly 50/50 split between private and public financing.

Click the pictures below for larger views

http://www.students.ipfw.edu/~spaus01/hotel/Aerial+Views.jpg (http://bp1.blogger.com/_dU4PeM0ozQg/Rdtr4rS2IJI/AAAAAAAAAEY/uhfamg4rqSw/s1600-h/Aerial+Views.jpg)
http://www.students.ipfw.edu/~spaus01/hotel/Exterior+Elevations.jpg (http://bp2.blogger.com/_dU4PeM0ozQg/Rdtpk7S2IHI/AAAAAAAAAEI/ux6RTzmfHok/s1600-h/Exterior+Elevations.jpg)
http://www.students.ipfw.edu/~spaus01/hotel/Perspective+Views.jpg (http://bp1.blogger.com/_dU4PeM0ozQg/RdtpZrS2IGI/AAAAAAAAAEA/4KtEhxbJE0M/s1600-h/Perspective+Views.jpg)
http://www.students.ipfw.edu/~spaus01/hotel/Site+Plan.jpg (http://bp0.blogger.com/_dU4PeM0ozQg/RdtpQbS2IFI/AAAAAAAAAD4/01s1Ulyp4ew/s1600-h/Site+Plan.jpg)

Visit http://downtownfortwaynebaseball.blogspot.com for the latest on the hotel and the Harrison Square downtown revitalization project.

[KM1410]

White Lodging coming thru with another world class hotel design:puke:

[Strate]

How much has their previous designs looked like the actual thing? I'd almost rather have something from the interstate.

[exit_320]

it could be worse... somehow...

[cwilson758]

Oh, so this is what Indy's JW Marriott will look like, just bigger! Great!


<end sarcasm>

[DMRyan]

I don't think it's so bad. Let's be honest, Fort Wayne doesn't exactly get to be too choosy with their mid-rises. When was the last time something was built over 10 stories in downtown Fort Wayne?

I kind of dig the slanted roofline.

[Unionstation13]

Wow, doesent get much plainer than that...
But its better than nothing, hopefully it will help downtown Ft.Wayne in its downtown revival. Though I personally think it disrupts the cities urban pattern and the fact that its sort of an eyesore.

[astyrrian]

When was the last time something was built over 10 stories in downtown Fort Wayne?

According to Emporis, 1989 was when the last building to have at least 10 stories was built - Standard Federal Plaza.

You have to go back to 1982 and Summit Square to find the most recent building over 10 stories.

http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/bu/?id=102432

[Ingersoll1978]

I like it too. Go Fort Wayne! I'd say yes to it in a heartbeat. It may not be extravagant...but it does look nice. It's a Marriott, not the W.

[ragerunner1]

Glad to see Fort Wayne is starting to get some development in its downtown. While the design may not be world class at least it is part of an overall mixed use project that should really help move downtown Fort Wayne in the right direction. Congrats!!!

[Powerslave]

God almighty, are there no other hotel developers besides White Lodging in this bloody state? Fort Wayne now gets to share in Indy's misfortune with it's own miniaturized version of our p.o.s. convention center hotel. Of course, Ft. Wayne is pretty bad when it comes accepting new development, so maybe this proposal will get shot down.

[Strate]

Are you kidding? Fort wayne approves anything and everything. A couple weeks ago a 300,000 sqft shopping center was approved out SW. Today another 265,000 sqft shopping center was approved for the same area.

[Indyman]

Glad to see Fort Wayne is starting to get some development in its downtown. While the design may not be world class at least it is part of an overall mixed use project that should really help move downtown Fort Wayne in the right direction. Congrats!!!

My thoughts exactly. Downtown development doesnt come by every day here in Fort Wayne and I think that any oppurtunity, even this, must be taken to create a better and more lively downtown. Then perhaps we can be more selective about the quality of projects, design wise. This is a postitive step forward for the city ecspecially in conjunction with the ballpark. :)

[Powerslave]

Are you kidding? Fort wayne approves anything and everything. A couple weeks ago a 300,000 sqft shopping center was approved out SW. Today another 265,000 sqft shopping center was approved for the same area.

I should have said 'new development downtown'. I was living in Ft. Wayne when Jefferson Pointe went up, but also when the city rejected the downtown arena proposal. For the city's sake I hope they go with Harrison Square but find someone with a little more ingenuity to develop a new hotel.

Those shopping center sites sound huge (how big is Jefferson Pointe?). Where exactly in the SW are they going?

[Strate]

I should have said 'new development downtown'. I was living in Ft. Wayne when Jefferson Pointe went up, but also when the city rejected the downtown arena proposal. For the city's sake I hope they go with Harrison Square but find someone with a little more ingenuity to develop a new hotel.

Those shopping center sites sound huge (how big is Jefferson Pointe?). Where exactly in the SW are they going?

Jefferson Pointe is 543,425 square feet of leaseable area.
71 stores and 3,448 parking spaces.

The following PDF is all about the place, with some images.
http://www.glimcher.com/controller/r5i/psm/file/view/Jefferson%20Pointe.pdf?id=786

The 300K one is gonna be at one of the enterances to Jefferson Pointe, the other one I'm unsure of right now.

[Unionstation13]

Well, I hope this helps Ft.Wayne and brings more life to the downtown of one of Indianas oldest cities.(note ft.wayne was a british fort in the 18th century.)

[jpIllInoIs]

I like the rendering of the new Harrison Sq hotel. With the overhanging slab at the roof line it is remminiscant of the Anthony Wayne Bank Bldg.

[Pilliod Njaim]

for a modern hotel, I've certainly seen worse. Hotels in general tend to look utilitarian and boxy. I'd take this and it's good ***s for ******** Fort Wayne.

[Strate]

Well, they axed it to 6 stories, and it is a "special urban" courtyard now. At least the design will change.

[Strate]

This looks so much better.

http://wane.images.worldnow.com/images/6750893_SS.jpg

City officials held a press conference Thursday afternoon to announce the hotel planed for the Harrison Square project will be a Courtyard by Marriott facility. The 250-room hotel will have a unique urban design according to Mayor Graham Richard.

The hotel will be six stories with about 6,000 square feet of meeting room space. It will have a restaurant, bar and coffee shop. Room service will be available even when the restaurant is open and there will be an indoor pool and fitness center.

These plans come just in time for the Allen County Convention and Tourism Board's meeting on Friday.

The board is expected to vote on approving $2.5 million for the Harrison Square project at that meeting. The city has asked the board to set aside $250,000 over ten years.

Last week the board put off voting on the proposal because it wanted more information on the hotel.

Now Mayor Graham Richard says all their questions should be answered. He hopes to get approval for the entire Harrison Square project from the plan commission by August.

That means final plans for the ballpark, hotel, condos, and retail space, are due to the plan commission no later than July 11.

If the city misses the July 11 deadline, approval would be delayed until September.

The original timetable called for construction on the ballpark to begin this fall with completion in time for the start of the Fort Wayne Wizards' 2009 season.

[hoosier]

The design is nice but it is a shame that the height was reduced.

[rob_1412]

The design is nice but it is a shame that the height was reduced.

As a forty-year resident of Fort Wayne, I can testify that it's typical. Most grand proposals here get watered down to about half in the actual execution, if they get done at all.

After seeing the first-class job on the Allen County Public Library, I've become cautiously optimistic - with the emphasis on "cautiously" - that Fort Wayne may be turning the corner. It's likely there will be more cuts on Harrison Square before any dirt is moved, and I just hope that in the process they leave room for it to grow to its full potential.

This is Fort Wayne, where vast concepts often give way to half-vast results.:ohno:

I'm skeptical, not cynical. My skepticism comes from experience, but I haven't given up hope. I just get impatient with the pace of change here. Remember, I said I'm cautiously optimistic.

[hoosier]

As a forty-year resident of Fort Wayne, I can testify that it's typical. Most grand proposals here get watered down to about half in the actual execution, if they get done at all.

After seeing the first-class job on the Allen County Public Library, I've become cautiously optimistic - with the emphasis on "cautiously" - that Fort Wayne may be turning the corner. It's likely there will be more cuts on Harrison Square before any dirt is moved, and I just hope that in the process they leave room for it to grow to its full potential.

This is Fort Wayne, where vast concepts often give way to half-vast results.:ohno:

I'm skeptical, not cynical. My skepticism comes from experience, but I haven't given up hope. I just get impatient with the pace of change here. Remember, I said I'm cautiously optimistic.


I can understand your skepticism and caution. Hopefully the new ballpark and this hotel will spur better projects in the future. You have to start somewhere, and the proposal overall is still a pretty solid one.

[rob_1412]

I agree. I'm 100 percent behind the Harrison Square proposal because I think it might bring in some new blood and change the city core's demographic, bringing it more into line with contemporary thinking in urban planning and design.

The generation of long-term residents that has held on to the status quo is gradually dying off or moving to the sunbelt. Many of them haven't seen downtown as it is, but have viewed it through the filter of their memories, with three fairly-large department stores, fashionable men's-wear and women's-wear stores, jewelers, restaurants, pharmacies, etc.

Many of the area's residents are second- or third-generation suburbanites with no memory or knowledge of a vital urban environment, and they view downtown with something between fear and loathing. If they work downtown, they drive to work alone, park in a garage attached to their office building, and after work they head back to the 'burbs. They do all their shopping in nearby strip centers or at Glenbrook Mall or Jefferson Pointe.

Fort Wayne needs fresh blood, and I think Harrison Square is a possible vital first step in attracting it.