Embassy - Last Chance For Money Grab

The clock is ticking, panic is about to take over, and it is that time to do or die! The 60 day walkway extension on the Harrison Square project is about over. But hang on taxpayers, Steve Brody, project manager for the city, claims we still have time to get a walkway deal done.

In Saturday's, The Journal Gazette, Benjamin Lanka reported the City claims the Harrison Square project is not about to fall apart. Wow, I was worried about that!

Brody, is the lead negotiator in negotiations with the Embassy. He trying to gain access to their building for the walkway. The walkway will connect the Harrison Square hotel to the Embassy/Indiana Hotel. A previously installed walkway connects from the Embassy to the Grand Wayne Center.

Kelly Updike, Embassy executive director said her first concern was over maintaining the theater's historic integrity, because of where the walkway would enter, she is convinced that is no longer a concern. Otherwise, she believed negotiations are going well.

Greg Leatherman, deputy director of development for the city, claimed the first design of the walkway was too expensive. That somehow they figured out they did not need one as wide and will cost less. Leatherman provided no details on the new cost or design. If this issue came up so late in the process how is it their is first walkway design completed?

Leatherman also said that because the walkway over the street would be narrower the required space within the old Indiana Hotel would be less. I have no idea on that logic but I will take his word for it.

Updike continued that with the smaller walkway, it would use less space in the Indiana Hotel, and they could use part of the third floor for storage and afford more flexibility for any potential future use. I repeat, I have no idea on that logic but now I will take her word for it.

Leatherman reports that White Lodging Services had no problem with the narrower walkway because White could still "tout" the covered access from the hotel to the convention center.

I ask people to just think about the following:

If White Lodging wanted to "tout" a walkway to the Grand Wayne Center they would have had it on their wish list from DAY ONE!

If White Lodging wanted to "tout" a walkway to the Grand Wayne Center they would have asked that it go directly to the Grand Wayne Center across Jefferson Blvd. Traveling from new hotel, walkway across a street, through part of a second building, across another walkway, downs some steps, and then you are at the front door of the Grand Wayne Center.

If White Lodging wanted to "tout" a walkway to the Grand Wayne Center they would have been willing to chip in some money on the deal.

If White Lodging believed they had to have this "deal breaker" they would have had someone make the two hour drive from Merriville, Indiana to Fort Wayne, Indiana to explain it to the City Council. That way it could have sailed through!

If White Lodging is so hung up on "walkways" why are they demanding one in South Bend? They are building an hotel right across from their civic center and there is no walkway! Yet the other hotel servicing the center has one.

Why would White Lodging be asking for two elevators? In general, small groups trickle to and from events at a Civic Center. It is not like a show letting out. Oh, the Embassy has shows and the exit from them is pretty rapid, so two elevators would be an ideal fit.

Brody, Leatherman, and Updike all report negotiations are slow going. Excuse me! Mr. Brody can walk to Mr. Leatherman's office right in the City-County Building. Mr. Leatherman is on the Board of Directors of the Embassy. He is in part, Updike's boss! Because of the Embassy Board of Directors has someone better suited to negotiate a deal then the City of Fort Wayne should hire them.

The only group that benefits from this is the Embassy. Is one more grab for a handout from Harrison Square. If the Embassy wants a walkway, then pay for it. Somehow I doubt it.

Then again we could end with some other "Show Stopper!" Just maybe Lincoln Life will see the additional money grabs and they will ask former employees Brody and City Controller Pat Roller to help them out. Oh, that is right, they fixed them up pretty darn good on a parking garage. Well, maybe they will be content then.