Three national leaders recently visited Fort Wayne to assist Fort Wayne UNITED in a strategic planning process that will further expand efforts to help all black males in the community reach their full potential. In order to move Fort Wayne UNITED's work forward, the Fort Wayne UNITED steering committee is launching seven subcommittees, Education, Employment, Justice, Health, Clergy, Emerging Leaders and Program Implementation. Read more. Visit website.

Northeast Indiana Developer Biggs TC Development will be able to build 25 new single-family homes in the Renaissance Pointe neighborhood thanks to tax credits awarded by the State of Indiana. The homes will be lease-to-purchase and similar to others Biggs has built in the neighborhood. They will sit on properties the City's Community Development Division acquired through the Blight Elimination Program. Read more.

New pay-on-foot parking equipment has been installed in the Redevelopment Commission's Civic Center and The Harrison parking garages.  The equipment will eliminate the need for parking attendants and should speed time needed to leave the garage. The new equipment will allow the Hilton, the Courtyard and other businesses to validate parking tickets electronically and provide a better customer service experience. The average life of automated parking equipment is between eight and ten years. The Civic Center had no automation and The Harrison equipment was nine years old.

New housing could soon be coming to the City-owned property at McKinnie Avenue and South Anthony Boulevard. The northeast Indiana Regional Development Authority recently approved a $2.4 million commitment to Posterity Scholar House, which would provide affordable housing for single-parent families. The Housing and Neighborhood Development Services Board purchased the property in 2010 and demolished the deterioriating McMillen Park Apartments. Read more here.

If a renter has concerns about their property, such as water in the basement or a furnace that doesn't work, the first call should be to the landlord. If, after several days and repeated calls, the landlord does not respond, the renter may call 311 and ask for a Neighborhood Code officer to visit the property. If there are violations, notice will be sent to the property owner in an attempt to gain compliance. Read more here.

Kelly Lundberg is now leading the City of Fort Wayne's Office of Housing and Neighborhood Services as the new Deputy Director for Community Development. Lundberg takes the position previously held by Heather Presley-Cowen, who recently left to pursue her business as a consultant. Read more. 

Want to learn how City government uses native plants in local projects? Community Development Landscape Architect Stacy Haviland will talk about how and why native plants are used alongside streets and sidewalks in a presentation at the Home and Garden Show on March 4 at 4:30 p.m. at the Memorial Coliseum. Click here for more information about the show.