Interesting information CFW. To be fair though, West Lafayette is adjacent to Lafayette. The total estimated population for Tippecanoe County in 2006 was 156,169 and Allen County was 347,316, so a little morethan double.
The area does have a strong college presence and that may have something to do with it. Who knows. It is also a lot closer to Indy and it actually has some topography.
All I know is that West Lafayette has a Qdoba Mexican Grill and an Einstein Bagels and Lafayette has a SuperTarget. Allen County, with over double the population, doesn't have any of those.
Lafayette is also one of 13 other Indiana cities to establish a Municipal Riverfront Development District. I would guess this also plays a factor in promoting growth and development in Lafayette's downtown.
Although Fort Wayne is the second largest city in the state, and we have a river running smack dab through our downtown, the city has yet to enact such legislation here.
Fort Wayne City Council was asked to establish such a district last fall, Andy. They decided to delay a decision, although it is unclear (at least to me) when they plan to take the issue back up. The riverfront development districts have been used in 18 other cities in Indiana (I believe Lafayette or West Lafayette was the first.)
Also- It's jumped to 18 cities now ? How quickly FW has fallen behind on this. I hope with the future development that may happen at the Omni Source property, the Riverfront Development District becomes a reality.
I do remember you speaking at the council meeting regarding this last year. Thanks for making the case for implementing a district here in FW.
Andy - if I am elected, count on me getting it moving. But hopefully this won't be something that drags on until next year. This is something that the City can do at no cost to the taxpayer which will help spur more nightlife downtown. I was quite frustrated last fall when the Council delayed it.
having went to Purdue and being familiar with the Lafayette Downtown area, I can understand why. The area is only one block from the riverfront, which has been completely redone. The area on the Purdue/West Lafayette side has been completely redone, with a movie theatre, has a lot of restaurants (non-chain) some shopping, including an REI like store that I used to work in, etc... The Lafayette area is only the circumference of one city block which houses the court house building. The four sides surrounding it have office space, some coffee shops, etc.. It's quant and comfortable. I can see why people would want to buy a condo there. They can walk to things of interest. Fort Wayne's downtown however, doesn't have the draw. I can envision a riverfront district with residential, restaurants and pubs, small village style shopping. It could tie right into Headwaters, could build off the German heritage of the city, even attract the young professionals. Gasp!
Instead we are focusing on building a baseball stadium, which we already have! Argh!
15 comments:
WL also has 30,000 college students
Purdue's student body does not make up for the difference in 240k living in FW compared to the 60k in WL.
Also, in FW - 12k students at IPFW, 3k at Indiana Tech, 2k at Saint Francis. That doesn't count the other schools around the area.
Also I've heard the remark - "I know so many young professionals that can pay for a $200k condo"
Same logic applies, "I know so many Purdue students that get $200k in university stipends"
Let's face it, the 30,000 students in WL are not the same as the students in FW.
IPFW and Ind. Tech are commuter colleges. Most students still live at home.
So what you are saying is that area students are not actually real students?
Interesting information CFW. To be fair though, West Lafayette is adjacent to Lafayette. The total estimated population for Tippecanoe County in 2006 was 156,169 and Allen County was 347,316, so a little morethan double.
The area does have a strong college presence and that may have something to do with it. Who knows. It is also a lot closer to Indy and it actually has some topography.
All I know is that West Lafayette has a Qdoba Mexican Grill and an Einstein Bagels and Lafayette has a SuperTarget. Allen County, with over double the population, doesn't have any of those.
Lafayette is also one of 13 other Indiana cities to establish a Municipal Riverfront Development District. I would guess this also plays a factor in promoting growth and development in Lafayette's downtown.
Although Fort Wayne is the second largest city in the state, and we have a river running smack dab through our downtown, the city has yet to enact such legislation here.
I'll save everyone the trouble:
"Zing".
"Status Quo".
"Young Professionals".
"No tourists".
"No waterparks".
"Condos, condos".
Fort Wayne City Council was asked to establish such a district last fall, Andy. They decided to delay a decision, although it is unclear (at least to me) when they plan to take the issue back up. The riverfront development districts have been used in 18 other cities in Indiana (I believe Lafayette or West Lafayette was the first.)
Municipal Riverfront Development District.
What's the hold up?
It seems to me we should be taking advantage of the rivers proximity to downtown.
Karen - Maybe by the time you are sworn in as a councilwoman you can help revive the proposal.
Also- It's jumped to 18 cities now ? How quickly FW has fallen behind on this. I hope with the future development that may happen at the Omni Source property, the Riverfront Development District becomes a reality.
I do remember you speaking at the council meeting regarding this last year. Thanks for making the case for implementing a district here in FW.
Andy - if I am elected, count on me getting it moving. But hopefully this won't be something that drags on until next year. This is something that the City can do at no cost to the taxpayer which will help spur more nightlife downtown. I was quite frustrated last fall when the Council delayed it.
having went to Purdue and being familiar with the Lafayette Downtown area, I can understand why. The area is only one block from the riverfront, which has been completely redone. The area on the Purdue/West Lafayette side has been completely redone, with a movie theatre, has a lot of restaurants (non-chain) some shopping, including an REI like store that I used to work in, etc... The Lafayette area is only the circumference of one city block which houses the court house building. The four sides surrounding it have office space, some coffee shops, etc.. It's quant and comfortable. I can see why people would want to buy a condo there. They can walk to things of interest. Fort Wayne's downtown however, doesn't have the draw. I can envision a riverfront district with residential, restaurants and pubs, small village style shopping. It could tie right into Headwaters, could build off the German heritage of the city, even attract the young professionals. Gasp!
Instead we are focusing on building a baseball stadium, which we already have! Argh!
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