Two public hearings, approval of three resolutions and two agreement approvals by the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission advanced the Gatke, Marsh and Owens projects a little further Monday.
The first public hearing was on Resolution 2023-08-01 confirming a declaratory resolution for the Gatke Allocation Area.
Warsaw Community Economic and Development Director Jeremy Skinner explained, “We started this a month ago and it made its way through the various boards. You approved the initial declaratory resolution. This will be the confirming resolution confirming that declaration.”
After the Redevelopment approved the initial resolution last month, the Plan Commission gave their approval and then the Common Council approved, returning the matter to the Redevelopment Commission on Monday for final approval.
“Once you give this approval, that will basically reconstitute the Gatke property, which will restart its clock on a 25-year lifespan for that property (TIF). Not the Winona Interurban, that will stay the same,” Skinner said.
He said the Gatke property was included in the Winona Interurban TIF back when the city acquired the property in about 1999. An environmental cleanup was done on the property, and the city had to pay back grants from IDEM for that cleanup.
“Since that time, we’ve been trying to redevelop that property, and now that we have a developer on board, we’ll reset that clock 25 years,” Skinner said.
Rebar Development of Fishers plans to develop the former Gatke property into a mixed-use and housing project for approximately $18 million.
Commission President Tim Meyer opened the public hearing on the resolution, but there was no one from the public who spoke for or against it. The Commission approved the resolution unanimously.
The second public hearing was on resolution 2023-08-02 confirming a declaratory resolution for the Warsaw Central Development Area.
Skinner said the process for this one started about two months ago when the Redevelopment Commission approved a declaratory resolution. That was followed by approval by the Plan Commission, Common Council and then back to the Redevelopment Commission for the final public hearing.
The resolution adds the Owens and Marsh properties, along with some surrounding property, into the Warsaw Central Development District for the first time.
“Obvious reason: We’re working on the Owens development, which will allow us to incentivize that development through a TIF bond and then, with the Marsh property, we are acquiring the Marsh property in hopes of redeveloping that. So that gives us the flexibility to attract some development to that property,” Skinner said.
The Owens development is planned for housing and possible mixed-used by AP Millworks LLC.
Skinner said the Central Development District is the oldest district in the city.
Meyer opened the hearing up to the public and no one spoke for or against the resolution. The resolution was unanimously approved.
The next resolution before the commission was to authorize the final disposition. of the Owens property. Skinner said the resolution provides the Redevelopment Commission with the authority to dispose of the property for the residential project when the time comes. The resolution was unanimously approved.
The first agreement presented to the board was with Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors for their hourly rates and not a set contract to work on the bond for the Owens property on Washington Street and for any work that may be done on the Marsh property on Buffalo Street.
The second agreement also was with Baker Tilly for their bond services on the Gatke project.
Both agreements were approved 5-0.
“I would venture to say that these five things that we passed this evening are all really important,” said Councilman and Commission member Mike Klondaris.
The board also approved claims for: Wessler Engineering $825, for ongoing engineering for the airport lift station; Huntington National Bank, $1,000, administration fees for the Marketplace bond; Lake City Bank investment, $1 million, for the rotating investment for the Northern TIF District; Kosciusko County auditor, $10, and Kosciusko County recorder, $25, recording fees for the Matthews town homes on Buffalo Street deed work; Barnes & Thornburg LLC, $10,750.24, legal services for the Gatke, Marsh and Owens projects; Times-Union, $20.68, for legal advertisement for the additional appropriation for the Warsaw Tech Park; Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors LLC, $4,297.50, for ongoing project work; Graycraft Signs, $13,888.25, for refreshment of the wayfinding signs throughout the city.
Skinner noted during the meeting that Retail Strategies was coming into Warsaw on Wednesday to tour the city and look at the commercial spots and locations to get a lay of the land.
City officials also will meet with them at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Marsh property. The commission signed a contract with Retail Strategies giving them 12 months to try to find a developer for the Marsh property.