One of the biggest surprises – and announcements – from Mayor Tom Henry’s State of the City address had little to do with city government at all.A proposed $1.6 million office complex near the Cherry Hill addition has residents of the neighborhood crying foul.
Officials of Chestnut Group Inc. made an appeal before the Fort Wayne Plan Commission on Monday to gain approval of a three-office development on the north side of the 9000 block of St. Joseph Center Road.
And while a similar complex in that vicinity already exists, Cherry Hill residents say such buildings are an eyesore to an area known for its tree-lined streets, ponds and, most important, a golf course that would surround the offices.
Of the roughly 50 people in attendance Monday, most were there to voice their displeasure with developer Roger Delagrange of Chestnut Group.
They say when they purchased their homes, he didn’t reveal that he would be asking commission members to green-light office complexes and a rezoning change to professional offices and personal services from single-family residential.
As a result, they believe they originally paid a premium for their properties, which now will decline in value.
“Cherry Hill is picturesque and there’s no traffic,” said Steve Pequignot, a 60-year-old retiree, who was among more than a half-dozen people to address the commission. “Trees will be eliminated. We didn’t know about this.”
Cherry Hill resident Brad Gnagy said he feels misled. The more than 400 homeowners who paid $300,000 to $400,000 for their houses have been betrayed, he said.
“It’s unconscionable,” Gnagy said, adding that Delagrange profited from the property sales but wouldn’t have if the office development were originally in place.
Chestnut Group attorney Thomas Niezer said there was no promise in place as to future development. He also said that many studies have shown that when done properly, professional office complexes don’t detract from a neighborhood.
As he spoke, commission President Connie Haas Zuber had to chide some members of the audience for grumbling at him.
The plan commission will vote on the proposed office development at a meeting this month.
