Airbnb tours: A 100-year-old urban loft getaway in Downtown Fort Wayne

In January, Fort Wayne made Better's international list of five of the best places to visit in 2022 as an up-and-coming Midwestern town. So if you are booking a flight or a road trip to the Summit City this year, where are you going to stay?

While Fort Wayne has plenty of hotels, including a new boutique hotel Downtown, some opt to live more like locals at Airbnbs. Fort Wayne has more than 300 Airbnbs listed online, ranging from high-end carriage houses Downtown to rustic cabins in the woods. We're getting to know a few of the owners and managers behind these spaces and touring their Airbnbs for design inspiration. 

This week, we meet an owner and property manager/designer duo, Alex Haggard of ASWE Investments Inc. and Katrina Nichols, both of whom live and work in Fort Wayne. They tell us about their Airbnb, a 100-year-old urban loft getaway at 1126 Fairfield Ave.—only steps away from all the action at Parkview Field, the Embassy Theatre, and more.

Alex Haggard, property owner, and Katrina Nichols, property manager in the top floor of their Airbnb on Fairfield Avenue in Downtown Fort Wayne.

IFW: Tell us a little bit about yourselves.

KN: I have lived in Fort Wayne my whole life. I have a background in interior design (degree from now-Purdue Fort Wayne).  I’m an investor and own rental properties. I also stage homes and can set up an Airbnb. I also handle property management and am a real estate agent for Keller Williams. 

I love all aspects of home design and real estate. I have three children, and my husband is a contractor. We have done several flip homes in the past decade. He and I did the staging and design work for this property.

AH: Born and raised in Fort Wayne, I graduated from North Side High School. I have always had a passion for real estate and purchased my first rehab in 2002. I currently own several commercial properties in and around Fort Wayne. I currently own and operate FAK Logistics Inc. located in Downtown Fort Wayne. In addition to real estate and logistics, I also invest in small businesses mainly in Indiana.

The living room area features local art from Jill Weikart.

IFW: Tell us a little bit about your Airbnb at 1126 Fairfield Ave.

KN: It’s a 2-bedroom, 1.5-bath loft-style condo that’s 100+ years old and about 1,000 square feet total. The house features a separate top floor and bottom floor rental, each with their own backyard space with great views of downtown. Both the bottom and top floors have kitchens with modern appliances. 

Our Airbnb is very close to the Embassy Theatre and Grand Wayne Center. It’s a great location for people traveling to Fort Wayne for work. We get a lot of families coming in for weddings. Weekend getaways are also popular due to the nightlife Downtown now. It also doesn’t hurt that Starbucks and McDonald's are 50 feet away, too.

The kitchen on the top floor.

IFW: How would you describe the design style?

KN: Modern and contemporary with a Bohemian flair.

The back bedroom on the bottom floor.

IFW: How much did you have to renovate your property to achieve your ideal look?

AH: We spent $195K on the renovation, and it took almost two years to complete.

Bunk beds in one of the bedrooms on the bottom floor.

IFW: What is your favorite room/space? Tell us about it.

KN: The first-floor bedroom and loft kitchens.

AH: I really like all the rooms that display the original brick walls.

The stairs going up to the loft area on the top floor.

IFW: In addition to your space, do you offer any other perks to guests at your property?

KN: There’s a guidebook online, offering suggestions for things to do Downtown. 

The kitchen area on the bottom floor.

IFW: What have guests said about their stay on your property? Any recurring comments/things they enjoy?

KN: A lot of them comment on the unique style. They love the location and that it’s very clean and modern.

The kitchen area on the bottom floor.

IFW: What do you think makes your property special, compared to others locally on Airbnb?

KN: The design style is unique and dramatic with the loft and brick walls.

The living room area on the bottom floor.

In your opinion, what makes Fort Wayne a great place to live and visit?

KN: It’s very family-friendly, and I really love all the new construction Downtown. Home values are still very affordable compared to other parts of the country, too.

AH: Fort Wayne is a wonderful place to raise a family. Great schools, great people, and lots of things to do. 

The living room area on the bottom floor.