ARCH wants to know city's plan with homes near Parkview Field

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The Architecture and Community Heritage, or ARCH, wants the city to reinvest in homes near Parkview Field.

The Redevelopment Commission met earlier this week to discuss ways to improve four acres west of Parkview Field. Many homes in that area are vacant and condemned.

"We'll be enabled to obtain a critical mass of property we believe might be a great place for additional new housing to be constructed downtown," said Greg Leatherman, executive director of the Redevelopment Commission, after Monday's meeting.

Michael Galbraith, ARCH executive director, is aware of the potential project. He said it's a great move the city is working to revitalize downtown. He wants the Redevelopment Commission to consider rehabilitating the homes near the field, instead of tearing it down and building new housing.

"I think we want to make sure that we don't only invest in brand new things, but that we continue to reinvest in things that really had matter to the people of Fort Wayne for a long, long time," said Galbraith.

He said he understands the city is in the preliminary stages of this project. Galbraith plans to make a call to Leatherman to find out their exact plan. There's no exact timeline when that call will be made.