Hello Neighbors!
It’s another grand day in the ol’ West End Neighborhood. After around 30 days straight of below freezing temperatures, we’re getting a bit of a teaser of spring! I have to remind myself it’s still February so there’s undoubtedly more cold weather ahead, but I’m not complaining about several days in the 50s. Just might have to go dust off the porch swing!
Winter Mixer
Don’t forget the WCNA Winter Mixer, this coming Monday, February 23rd from 5:00 to 7:00pm. Once again we’ll be at Electric Works Union Street Market up in the mezzanine (upper) level. We’ll provide an assortment of snacks and there will be a cash bar available. This is a great opportunity to meet new neighbors!
Transportation in West Central
We had another great membership meeting this past Monday (2/16). Great attendance so thanks to all of you who came. Tom Cain presented a fascinating look at the history of transportation in West Central through the centuries. Imagine hundreds of horses – all that goes with them… and comes from them – parading down our streets and alleys. He also connected the Cold War era with our large number of one-way downtown streets, designed to get people out of the central city quickly in case of a nuclear attack. Really interesting stuff, which we do every month.
You can view the minutes for all of our past meetings here.
Casino Discussion
What I do want to call out from the meeting is the discussion around a potential casino in northeast Indiana. Several local leaders, including Mayor Sharon Tucker and Greater Fort Wayne, Inc., have come out strongly in favor of a new casino being located in Fort Wayne – seeking to bring the tax revenue to city coffers. We are watching this development closely. Additionally, the WCNA is aggregating information on casinos on our website. If you have an article or study you’d like for us to include, please send it to info@westcentralneighborhood.org. The WCNA reserves the right not to include any materials it deems inappropriate.
Here is the current position of the WCNA, as determined by your Board of Directors:
- Our focus will be on the location of the casino and not whether it should or shouldn’t happen. For example and only for illustration, if the decision is made to develop a casino in Steuben County or somewhere not proximal to West Central (e.g., I-69 at Coldwater), the WCNA will take no position.
- If it looks like there is a real possibility of it happening AND being located in West Central, we will get engaged. This will include:
- Attempting to bring in relevant leaders and speakers to inform our residents
- Providing resources and information that would be helpful to members, including where public input sessions are being held
- Communicate regularly with the membership through Facebook and other means
- Seek input from the membership and residents, both at meetings and potentially through web surveys, to inform a position
- Communicate our collective position to local leaders and elected officials
Based on past efforts for casino development, this one should also move slowly allowing us time to react. In the meantime, we encourage you to begin your own personal due diligence starting with the materials at the link above.
Hope to see you on the front porch real soon!
Joel Sauer, President
(260) 433-3672
2026 Board Officers
- Membership: Anita Kuker membership@westcentralneighborhood.org
- President: Joel Sauer president@westcentralneighborhood.org
- Secretary: Bethany Pruitt secretary@westcentralneighborhood.org
- Treasurer: Chris Todd treasurer@westcentralneighborhood.org
- Vice President: Kelly Benton VP@westcentralneighborhood.org