FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) – The city is currently reviewing requirements for qualifications for 20 development teams for the North River property in downtown Fort Wayne.

BACKGROUND: City reviewing submissions for North River redevelopment, working with local businessmen

City Redevelopment Director Alec Johnson says this is a preliminary period where they are looking to see if teams can really manage a project of this magnitude.

Because so many developers are interested, he says they most likely will need to create a shortlist of candidates that they can dig deeper into.

“We may continue and interview those three and continue the process. Maybe at that point, even asking them for some more meat on the bones, so to say. Maybe a little more about a conceptual plan and how they want to go about financing what they’re offering in that regard,” Johnson says.

RELATED: Local businessmen speak about contention over North River Property’s future

Johnson says to keep the integrity of the review process Chuck Surack and Daryle Doden will just be assisting for now, but that has room to change.

“I hope beyond just offering advice or consultation that they can be a meaningful part of the development within this process,” says Johnson.

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