Well, everyone wants cover if the whole thing goes south on them. 
My view is that if you can make a strong enough case for what you're doing and get the support of the public, you don't need the consultants. As I said, I support the riverfront development, but I have already seen too much of the "we're going to do this, and we don't really care what your concerns are." The vote on the tax increase for it was just one example. The skids in favor of that were so well greased, the public never stood a chance. In my opinion, that should have gone up for a public vote. By the way, what's up with the city now wanting the Pepsi property for their own deal?
Pepsi is hot and cold about moving - but we still have the former NKP yard and NYC yard to develop.
Mayor Henry and city council do whatever they please. Apparently not enough residents are that unhappy with the whole thing, as they always seem to get re-elected.
nathansixchime posted:Pepsi is hot and cold about moving - but we still have the former NKP yard and NYC yard to develop.
I was always in favor of the Omisource property because of the sheer amount of traffic that would go by it every day, and possible tie-ins with Science Central being right across the street. My vision was always a big window in the side of the roundhouse backlit at night so that every car going down Clinton Street would look in and see a big shiny 765, or maybe even towed outside for a few hours and lit with floodlights announcing to the world "Here we are". Developing that property would seem to make the zoo train routing easier too. I had kind of grown used to the Pepsi property proposal too, but I wonder if long term that might have caused issues with more local residents. West Wayne would seem to be a last resort just because of it being so out of the way. I know plenty of lifetime Fort Wayne residents who have no idea that area is even there. I can't imagine why Pepsi would want to stay downtown though. That is a TERRIBLE location for what they do. This isn't just a holdup for more money is it?
There's actually been a site selected for them near the 469 Interchange and a building they could use. The land they're on now has been appraised between 2-3 million, but the cost to move is pretty significant. Depending on who you speak to at Pepsi, it just changes too often for us to be able to plan. The Omnisource site may eventually - after everything - be where it lands, but we've also included West Wayne as part of our request with Norfolk Southern.
steam fan posted:Mayor Henry and city council do whatever they please. Apparently not enough residents are that unhappy with the whole thing, as they always seem to get re-elected.
While Allen County is heavily Republican, the City of Fort Wayne is pretty solidly Democrat, and I doubt we'll ever see another Republican mayor. Even the last Republican mayor was a pedal to the metal lefty. Council seems to take a go-along to get along approach. Nobody there seems to have much concern with losing their job.
NathanSixChime, have you or anybody at the Fort Wayne Society have discussed about possibly buying NKP 587 and finishing her restoration? I honestly think she would be a good candidate for running when NKP 765 goes down for her overhaul. I would love to see number 587 back in action. I've never seen it before unless you count the home videos people have made and the 587 movie that was made circa 2000, I think.
Well the FWRHS has a LOT on their plate right now, and already have ONE Mikado to fix up. Right now they wouldn't even have room to keep #587 inside, so that would be an issue. If all else fails with the ITM, I would like to think that the FWRHS could be a last resort safe haven for #587, but I hope it doesn't get to that point. The cost to move the engine ANYWHERE is going to be expensive, and that money has to come from somewhere.
nathansixchime posted:There's actually been a site selected for them near the 469 Interchange and a building they could use. The land they're on now has been appraised between 2-3 million, but the cost to move is pretty significant. Depending on who you speak to at Pepsi, it just changes too often for us to be able to plan. The Omnisource site may eventually - after everything - be where it lands, but we've also included West Wayne as part of our request with Norfolk Southern.
It's ALWAYS good to have a plan B and even C on something like this. I'm just surprised Pepsi would drag their feet on this. Coca Cola moved out of the inner city at least 25 years ago, and they were less land locked then Pepsi is. I didn't think the Pepsi facility was much more than offices and a warehouse. I'm surprised moving would be THAT big of a deal. I have confidence that wherever HJ ends up, it will be first class, and I want it to be out where the whole world can see it, but you have to play the hand you are dealt.
Dieselbob posted:Well the FWRHS has a LOT on their plate right now, and already have ONE Mikado to fix up. Right now they wouldn't even have room to keep #587 inside, so that would be an issue. If all else fails with the ITM, I would like to think that the FWRHS could be a last resort safe haven for #587, but I hope it doesn't get to that point. The cost to move the engine ANYWHERE is going to be expensive, and that money has to come from somewhere.
Really? I didn't know. Which Mikado are they restoring?
FutureRail Productions posted:NathanSixChime, have you or anybody at the Fort Wayne Society have discussed about possibly buying NKP 587 and finishing her restoration? I honestly think she would be a good candidate for running when NKP 765 goes down for her overhaul. I would love to see number 587 back in action. I've never seen it before unless you count the home videos people have made and the 587 movie that was made circa 2000, I think.
I think it's safe to say we aren't interested in 587 - especially because it's a little distasteful to speculate on poaching another organization's equipment just because they're in a challenging situation.
FutureRail Productions posted:Really? I didn't know. Which Mikado are they restoring?
As for the other Mikado...
We're providing technical and mechanical oversight to the project, so only a small team from FWRHS will be working on 624 throughout the near future. The 765 is and will always remain the FWRHS' focus, but we've gotten creative in figuring out how to make progress elsewhere. For instance...
Thanks for the reply! Much appreciated!
Signed,
FutureRail Productions
