Nebraska Neighborhood Plan

            Nebraska Neighborhood Plan
            Nebraska Neighborhood Map

Overview

In 2003, the City of Fort Wayne Housing Strategy was adopted as an amendment to the City's Comprehensive Plan.  Following the recommendation of the Fort Wayne Housing Strategy, the Division of Community Development is focusing on planning at the neighborhood level.  Eleven planning areas within the city’s core have been identified for potential neighborhood plans.  The Nebraska Neighborhood was one of these areas. In September, 2007, the City of Fort Wayne Department of Planning and Policy received a formal letter of request from the Nebraska Neighborhood Association requesting a Community Development Area Plan be prepared for their neighborhood.   As is customary when defining the boundaries for CDAP planning areas, planning staff identified a geographic area tht best reflects comparable housing, development, and demographic characteristics.  Thus, the initial CDAP are included Nebraska, Hamilton, and North Highlands Neighborhoods.

After initial meetings in the summer of 2008, North Highlands declined to be included and Hamilton chose to withdraw due to the inactivity of its neighborhood association.  Thereafter, the plan focused solely on the Nebraska Neighborhood area.  Monthly planning meetings between Nebraska Neighborhood representatives and City staff continued until the finalization of the Plan in 2009.  In addition to monthly meetings, 2 neighborhood Open Houses and a door-to-door residential survey were conducted.  On February 23, 2010, the Fort Wayne Common Council approved the Nebraska Neighborhood CDAP as an amendment to the City's Comprehensive Plan.

The planning area for the Nebraska Neighborhood Plan totals approximately 629 acres and is located on the western edge of Fort Wayne's downtown. It was once the gateway to the City of Fort Wayne for travelers approaching from the west.  Through its role as a transportation gateway, and by the various transportation modes and corridors, the neighborhood has been physically shaped.  The Erie Canal and its feeder canal and 3 railroad lines crossed here.  Manufacturing and other industrial facilities  historically  formed the economic center of the neighborhood.  Housing for workers dominated housing development.  Repeated flooding has had a negative impact on the neighborhood's history. The decline of manufacturing has led to an increase in vacant commercial buildings, a decline in population and a change in housing needs.  According to the 2000 census, 2547 people and 1088 households live within its boundaries.  In recent years, construction of a major levee system has provided flood protection to the neighborhood.  In addition to important industrial history, the neighborhood contains Lindenwood Cemetery, Fort Wayne's most scenic and historic cemetery (listed on the National Register of Historic Places).  The Nebraska Neighborhood anticipates blending its history with renewed economic development along the West Main Street corridor.

For additional information about the Nebraska Neighborhood Plan, please contact the City of Fort Wayne Planning & Policy Department at (260) 427-1127.

Share this article