A once touted downtown development has been shelved for the foreseeable future.
The Superior Street Row mixed-use project is no longer being pursued by the developers, according to Greg Leatherman, executive director of redevelopment for Fort Wayne.
Members of the city’s redevelopment commission questioned the status of the project earlier this week.
“I do not believe they are actively pursuing the project at this time,” Leatherman told the board.
Hartland Development in 2009 submitted a proposal to construct a $4 million mixed-use downtown development on Superior Street. The city planned to give use of 8,000 square feet of land, located just west of Club Soda, for $1. The city had valued the land at $65,335.
According to the submission from Hartland, the group has hired Morrison Kattman Menze Inc. as an architect and The Hagerman Group as construction manager and general contractor. The proposal from John McKay, Hartland president, also said the group has the finances to proceed with the project, which will be revealed during final negotiations.
McKay could not be reached for comment this week. In December of 2008, the development group said it secured a $900,000 community revitalization tax credit from the state. The plan included businesses on the first floor, which could be retail, food services or offices. The second through fourth floors would include residential lofts ranging from 1,000 to 1,300 square feet each.
Leatherman said talks broke off with the developer, whom he said he had not talked to in some time. He said he believed the difficult economy played a key role in the project’s stall.
The city is unlikely to actively solicit projects for the site in the near future, Leatherman said, but he would be willing to listen to proposals for development.
