Renovations to Eden Green Apartments could begin in 2013

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The city is looking to pour millions of dollars into renovating the Eden Green Apartments.

"Over the years of coming through here, I just seen the place just going down and down," said Norris Daniel, who lived here when the building was first built in the 1980's.

The Fort Wayne Plan Commission approved a rezoning request for the construction of townhouses Monday. Heather Presley-Cowen, Deputy Director for the City of Fort Wayne's Division of Community Development, said nearly $20 million of private and public funding is going into the project.

"In recent days, months, and years, it's become more of a focus because it was identified as one major barrier to development in the area," she said.

Millennia, a Cleveland-based developer, was the company selected for renovating Eden Green. The company plans to tear down and rebuilding a couple buildings, changing the exteriors to look like the new homes in the area, providing programs for tenants such as child care and after-school activities, and more.

"New name, new look, new tenants in some cases, I think this is just the best of all worlds for this neighborhood," said Presley-Cowen.

The city council must approve the project.

Once approved, Millennia will have to wait until February to find out if it will be awarded tax credits from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. Once that's approved, construction will begin 60 to 90 days after the developer gets the funds.