Redevelopment Commission Gives Final Approval For Central Expansion
January 5, 2021 at 1:38 a.m.
By David [email protected]
Community Development Director Jeremy Skinner said the resolution before the Commission Monday was the final step in amending the Central TIF District to include most of the property from Fort Wayne Street south to West Winona Avenue and bookended on Columbia and Lake streets. He said the old Owen’s store site is not being considered at this time.
The Redevelopment Commission initially approved the expansion of the Central Development Area Dec. 7; the city Plan Commission approved Dec. 14; and the Common Council approved the expansion on Dec. 21. The Redevelopment Commission had to hold a public hearing and vote on the expansion at its meeting Monday, which it did.
The expansion will allow the council to consider expanding the riverfront district, which will allow the possibility of more liquor licenses in the economic development area.
No one from the public commented on the resolution at Monday’s meeting.
Commission President Tim Meyer asked if the area will now include the property on East Market Street acquired by HopLore. Skinner said it would.
He said the Owen’s property was left out of the expansion because it could negatively affect the TIF district at this time.
Skinner also said HopLore is still remodeling and not opened yet.
“The building already looks better. It’s made some good progress,” Commission Secretary George Clemens said.
“That will be a nice addition to the downtown,” Commission member Michael Klondaris said.
Klondaris asked when the riverfront expansion will go before the city council. Skinner said that resolution and a map will go before the council after he works with HopLore on the resolution.
Klondaris asked if HopLore was going to have a location on Argonne Road. Skinner said HopLore looked at Argonne, but they never officially considered it.
Meyer asked if HopLore was going to relocate their entire operation from Leesburg to the Market Street location. Skinner said he didn’t know, but they would have a tap room and he thought they were moving their production to the Warsaw location.
Commission Vice President Rick Snodgrass made the motion to approve the resolution, with Commission member Jeff Grose providing the second. It was unanimously approved.
The Commission also approved claims, including $500 to Clevenger Insurance for annual bonds of board members; $1,105 to Barnes & Thornburg LLP for ongoing legal services through Nov. 30, 2020, for a potential project at the Warsaw Technology Park; $2,108.16 to American Structurepoint for Buffalo Street reconstruction engineering work done in November; $130 to HPG Network to engage Rothberg Logan Warsco LLP to negotiate purchase of the old Owen’s store site; $133,433.55 to Selge Construction regarding work on the Buffalo Street Plaza project; and $3,449.50 to Plews Shadley Racher Braun regarding legal services on the Warsaw Chemical Co. property.
Skinner said they’re working with Warsaw Chemical on the business potentially donating the southern portion of their property to the city.
Mayor Joe Thallemer also gave the oath of office to four of the Redevelopment Commission members, having previously given the oath to member Snodgrass at his place. Snodgrass attended Monday’s meeting virtually. The oaths are required legally to be given in person and not virtually.
Meyer, Snodgrass and Clemens were retained as president, vice president and secretary respectively for 2021.
“I look forward to another year working with you,” Meyer told the other board members.
The proposed 2021 meeting dates and times were reviewed. Meetings are generally at 4 p.m. on the first Monday of the month.
Meyer congratulated Skinner on his new position of community development director, which went into effect Friday. Previously, he was city planner, and that position was taken over by Justin Taylor, who had served as senior planner.
“It’s important we have someone of Jeremy’s caliber to continue the projects of the council, of the Redevelopment Commission, of the mayor,” Thallemer said, congratulating Skinner on his new position.
Klondaris said the city was “so lucky” to have someone of Skinner’s caliber working for it.
“Thank you. These last, almost two decades, have been a great pleasure” to work for the community that’s trying to be better, Skinner responded. “I’m able to take this next step because of the staff that does all the hard work.”
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Community Development Director Jeremy Skinner said the resolution before the Commission Monday was the final step in amending the Central TIF District to include most of the property from Fort Wayne Street south to West Winona Avenue and bookended on Columbia and Lake streets. He said the old Owen’s store site is not being considered at this time.
The Redevelopment Commission initially approved the expansion of the Central Development Area Dec. 7; the city Plan Commission approved Dec. 14; and the Common Council approved the expansion on Dec. 21. The Redevelopment Commission had to hold a public hearing and vote on the expansion at its meeting Monday, which it did.
The expansion will allow the council to consider expanding the riverfront district, which will allow the possibility of more liquor licenses in the economic development area.
No one from the public commented on the resolution at Monday’s meeting.
Commission President Tim Meyer asked if the area will now include the property on East Market Street acquired by HopLore. Skinner said it would.
He said the Owen’s property was left out of the expansion because it could negatively affect the TIF district at this time.
Skinner also said HopLore is still remodeling and not opened yet.
“The building already looks better. It’s made some good progress,” Commission Secretary George Clemens said.
“That will be a nice addition to the downtown,” Commission member Michael Klondaris said.
Klondaris asked when the riverfront expansion will go before the city council. Skinner said that resolution and a map will go before the council after he works with HopLore on the resolution.
Klondaris asked if HopLore was going to have a location on Argonne Road. Skinner said HopLore looked at Argonne, but they never officially considered it.
Meyer asked if HopLore was going to relocate their entire operation from Leesburg to the Market Street location. Skinner said he didn’t know, but they would have a tap room and he thought they were moving their production to the Warsaw location.
Commission Vice President Rick Snodgrass made the motion to approve the resolution, with Commission member Jeff Grose providing the second. It was unanimously approved.
The Commission also approved claims, including $500 to Clevenger Insurance for annual bonds of board members; $1,105 to Barnes & Thornburg LLP for ongoing legal services through Nov. 30, 2020, for a potential project at the Warsaw Technology Park; $2,108.16 to American Structurepoint for Buffalo Street reconstruction engineering work done in November; $130 to HPG Network to engage Rothberg Logan Warsco LLP to negotiate purchase of the old Owen’s store site; $133,433.55 to Selge Construction regarding work on the Buffalo Street Plaza project; and $3,449.50 to Plews Shadley Racher Braun regarding legal services on the Warsaw Chemical Co. property.
Skinner said they’re working with Warsaw Chemical on the business potentially donating the southern portion of their property to the city.
Mayor Joe Thallemer also gave the oath of office to four of the Redevelopment Commission members, having previously given the oath to member Snodgrass at his place. Snodgrass attended Monday’s meeting virtually. The oaths are required legally to be given in person and not virtually.
Meyer, Snodgrass and Clemens were retained as president, vice president and secretary respectively for 2021.
“I look forward to another year working with you,” Meyer told the other board members.
The proposed 2021 meeting dates and times were reviewed. Meetings are generally at 4 p.m. on the first Monday of the month.
Meyer congratulated Skinner on his new position of community development director, which went into effect Friday. Previously, he was city planner, and that position was taken over by Justin Taylor, who had served as senior planner.
“It’s important we have someone of Jeremy’s caliber to continue the projects of the council, of the Redevelopment Commission, of the mayor,” Thallemer said, congratulating Skinner on his new position.
Klondaris said the city was “so lucky” to have someone of Skinner’s caliber working for it.
“Thank you. These last, almost two decades, have been a great pleasure” to work for the community that’s trying to be better, Skinner responded. “I’m able to take this next step because of the staff that does all the hard work.”
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