Harrison planners missed golden opportunity
Link (JG)

“I am of the opinion that the city and the developer missed a golden opportunity. That opportunity would have been for the city and developer to have done just a little more homework and done what a lot of cities have chosen to do regarding developments similar to this project. One must ask why the two entities did not settle on one structure that could house both the hotel and the condominiums – this is the wave of the future. Look at any major city – they are all doing it.

I would think the economies of scale are obvious, the residence, tourist, convention-goers and others would benefit by this symbiotic relationship. As an individual who grew up in “The Fort” and moved away courtesy of the Army and then later in life moved back to Fort Wayne, I have watched city after city attempt to recreate themselves as destination cities, and in order to be that, they must have a vibrant downtown venue. I believe that Parkview Field will be that venue, and I applaud Fort Wayne for thinking outside the box and bringing a sporting venue to downtown. However, they still have lessons to learn from previous misadventures and previous missteps and regarding tax dollar utilization to the best of their ability.”

Machinery group up for another challenge
Link (JG)

“TekVenture will sponsor Chain Reaction Challenge 2 on March 7 in the Great Hall of the Allen County Public Library.

As with last spring’s initial challenge, teams of as many as six people will build linking machines that trigger one another’s tasks by pulling a string.

The event is sponsored by TekVenture, a non-profit group that hopes to open a public art and technology laboratory downtown.”

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“TekVenture will have a free informational workshop from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday in the theater at the downtown library. A machine will be demonstrated there.

This year’s challenge theme is “Around the Square,” a tie-in to the downtown Harrison Square project that is to feature a baseball stadium, hotel, condos and retailers.”

King Gyros conquering fish, baklava
Link (JG)

“King Gyros on West Jefferson Boulevard relies on fast, hot, made-to-order food much different than the stuff the sub and burger joints put out. When I saw construction crews remodeling the place, I was worried that it was changing, but I was relieved during my first trip back when the guy working the drive-through window said nothing had changed except the building, which was overdue for a facelift.

You still place your order at one window and pick it up at another, and the dining room layout is the same, but the new booths, stools, tasteful paint scheme, ceiling and wall coverings make it much more appealing to the eye.

And there is little doubt that Parkview Field, the baseball stadium being built across the street as part of the Harrison Square project, had something to do with the upgrade.”