Downtown Fort Wayne residents won't have to look at an eyesore any longer.
The empty Duemling Clinic Building is finally going to be demolished.
Several children's groups have big plans to rebuild, and neighbors couldn't be happier.
"We used to call this house, 'House on the Asphalt Prairie,' because all the surrounding buildings have been torn down and replaced by parking lots," says neighbor David Sowards.
This home avenue neighborhood has changed around Sowards in forty five years.
The next change is this- the abandoned Duemling Clinic Building is finally coming down.
"I've heard that they were going to tear it down for several years. And it did seem like we heard they were going to do it in December, but that was like two months ago, and they haven't really started yet," Sowards says.
This week, the Fort Wayne City Council approved a tax abatement of over $800,000 to a group who plans to tear it down, and build a shelter for teens who have aged out of foster care.
"A lot of people say it's creepy, but my opinion is I'm happy they're tearing it down, because they're making it into something better," neighbor Kiera Wilson says.
"I'm happy to see that the site's being reused. It sat vacant for a long time and people have questioned- Will it ever be re-developed?- And we're finally seeing the answer to that, that it will be," Fort Wayne Director of Community Development John Urbahns says.
Local advocacy groups 'Specialized Alternatives for Family and Youth' and 'Stop Child Abuse and Neglect,' lead the $5.5 million project.
Sowards says it's a great investment for his street.
"We welcome new people to the area, and we hope they'll get the help that they need," Sowards says.
We spoke with people at both of the advocacy groups today, and they say the property's sale is expected to be finalized next month.
The empty Duemling Clinic Building is finally going to be demolished.
Several children's groups have big plans to rebuild, and neighbors couldn't be happier.
"We used to call this house, 'House on the Asphalt Prairie,' because all the surrounding buildings have been torn down and replaced by parking lots," says neighbor David Sowards.
This home avenue neighborhood has changed around Sowards in forty five years.
The next change is this- the abandoned Duemling Clinic Building is finally coming down.
"I've heard that they were going to tear it down for several years. And it did seem like we heard they were going to do it in December, but that was like two months ago, and they haven't really started yet," Sowards says.
This week, the Fort Wayne City Council approved a tax abatement of over $800,000 to a group who plans to tear it down, and build a shelter for teens who have aged out of foster care.
"A lot of people say it's creepy, but my opinion is I'm happy they're tearing it down, because they're making it into something better," neighbor Kiera Wilson says.
"I'm happy to see that the site's being reused. It sat vacant for a long time and people have questioned- Will it ever be re-developed?- And we're finally seeing the answer to that, that it will be," Fort Wayne Director of Community Development John Urbahns says.
Local advocacy groups 'Specialized Alternatives for Family and Youth' and 'Stop Child Abuse and Neglect,' lead the $5.5 million project.
Sowards says it's a great investment for his street.
"We welcome new people to the area, and we hope they'll get the help that they need," Sowards says.
We spoke with people at both of the advocacy groups today, and they say the property's sale is expected to be finalized next month.
