A new partnership could soon boost efforts to improve downtown Fort Wayne.

The Downtown Improvement District and the Allen County-Fort Wayne Economic Development Alliance are working to create a new nonprofit organization, tentatively called the Fort Wayne Development Trust, which would be authorized to solicit money and acquire property for short- and long-term development projects. The DID's board approved a draft of the proposed agreement Monday.

Although DID officials have talked about taking a more hands-on approach to downtown redevelopment for years, the arrival in September of new Alliance President Andi Udris was key to forging a closer working relationship between the two organizations, according to DID President Richard Davis. Udris was deeply involved in previous efforts to revitalize the downtowns of Cleveland, Cincinnati and Kansas City, Mo., and has expressed interested in continuing that work here - something the Alliance has not previously done.

Although the city's Redevelopment Commission has provided funding and land for several projects - most notably Harrison Square - DID attorney Tom Niezer said it may be easier and cheaper for a private organization to approach landowners about a sale or donation.

The new organization would seek funding from foundations and other public and private sources, and could serve as a “land bank” until an attractive development opportunity presented itself. “This just doesn't work with our present structure,” said DID board member and City Councilwoman Karen Goldner, D-2nd.

Following ratification of a final agreement by the DID and Alliance boards, the new organization could be in place by next year, Davis said.

Davis, who has patterned some of the new organization's goals on a similar organization in Chattanooga, Tenn., said last year about $10 million would be needed initially. Chattanooga's River City Co. has attracted more than $1 billion to that city's downtown since 1986. In May, the DID brought Jack Murrah of Chattanooga's Lyndhurst Foundation to Fort Wayne to explain the River City Co.'s success. In 1986, Lyndhurst, other foundations and banks pledged $12 million to the project - something Davis hopes can be duplicated here.