Fort Wayne, Ind. (February 23, 2010) — Fort Wayne’s historic West Central Neighborhood has earned a new distinction.
This Old House magazine and Web site have named it the Best Old House Neighborhood 2010 for the entire state of Indiana.
“How cool is that?” said Mike Anderson, former president of the West Central Neighborhood Association and current board member. “This is a feather in our cap. It’s good for downtown.”
The magazine and Web site, spin-offs from the popular PBS TV show of the same name, honor one neighborhood in each state with the distinction each year. According to the Web site,
www.thisoldhouse.com, the neighborhoods selected for each state are “where the historic homes (and life-affirming DIY challenges they bring) are rivaled only by the community spirit that surrounds them.”
Located just west of downtown, West Central is described by This Old House as a place where “the majority of the statelier homes have been restored, but there are plenty of fixer-uppers still available — mostly sturdy little factory workers’ cottages packed with as many details and fine craftsmanship as their larger neighbors.”
The residential neighborhood developed during the city’s canal era in the 1830s according to the West Central Web site,
www.westcentralneighborhood.org.
The south side of the neighborhood features small cottage-style homes built for workers who could walk to nearby factories. The north side of the neighborhood, particularly along Washington, Wayne and Berry streets, features bigger homes built by early industrialists, according to the West Central Web site.
“This Old House was most interested in us for the Romanesque homes like the Castle Gallery,” Anderson said.
About a year ago association treasurer Chris Ruckman found out about the contest and sent information on West Central to This Old House.
West Central narrowly lost the 2009 contest, but This Old House re-nominated West Central in 2010, and this year the neighborhood won.
“We’re just honored and thrilled,” said Ruckman, who has lived in three different homes in West Central. “It recognizes that West Central is really not only a great place to live, but historic homes are surprisingly affordable.”
This Old House notes that, “Homes range from a very affordable $50,000 to about $250,000.”
In fact, “You can buy fixer-uppers for less than $10,000,” Anderson said.
This Old House ranked West Central high in categories including bargains; cottages and bungalows; Victorians; and walkability.
“You’re really at the center of the city,” said John Simerman, president of West Central Neighborhood Association. Residents take advantage of that location by walking to nearby restaurants and attractions.
This Old House mentions the neighborhood’s close proximity to Parkview Field and Mad Anthony Brewing Company.
The neighborhood also is popular among residents for its neighborliness. “We know all our neighbors,” Anderson said.
David Long, who works part time for the neighborhood association, said in the summer West Central residents take turns having back porch parties.
This Old House also mentions West Central’s annual home and garden tour, which attracts thousands, and its designation as a national historic district.
The Web site also makes reference to West Central’s “tough-as-nails neighborhood association.” Anderson agreed with that description, saying “we fight tooth and nail for our neighborhood.”
“We’ve probably got one of the strongest neighborhood associations in the city,” Simerman said. West Central has been involved in moving two houses in the neighborhood and just finished rehabilitating a small worker’s cottage in a combined effort with other agencies.
He believes winning the This Old House contest will help get the message out about the merits of living in West Central.
“It takes special people to live in an older neighborhood like this, he said — people who are willing to “fix up or just keep up with an older house. It’s always a labor of love.”
Simerman appreciates the neighborhood’s architecture, as well as the close proximity to museums and cultural events.
“If that’s something that’s important to you, being here is a really good place to be,” he said.