The City of Fort Wayne has been notified that the Indiana Supreme Court has upheld the Indiana Court of Appeals ruling that the City of Fort Wayne can complete the acquisition of the former Southtown Mall site with no additional liability.

The former owners of Southtown Mall had appealed the local trial court'€™s award of damages following the City'€™s condemnation of the site. The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court'€™s award. The Indiana Supreme Court has affirmed the lower court'€™s and the Appeals Court decision as to the value of the property and ruled in favor of the City.

“We are pleased by the Supreme Court'€™s ruling as we revitalize the Southtown area,” said Mayor Graham Richard. “Southtown Centre is creating hundreds of jobs and bringing new private investments to an underserved segment of our community.”

Several projects are moving ahead at Southtown Centre. Menards and Firestone have opened new stores. A new Wal-Mart supercenter will open in early fall. STAR Financial Bank and Wendy'€™s have agreed to build at Southtown Centre. The new U.S. 27/Southtown intersection has been built. A first of its kind Regional Public Safety Academy will break ground in July and is expected to open in late 2007.