The future site of the Millworks apartments on the former Owen’s site on West Market Street is shown. InkFreeNews photo by Patrick Webb.

By Patrick Webb
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Three projects are under development to bring more housing to Warsaw.

“The biggest goal here is to create market rate housing opportunities,” said Warsaw Community and Economic Development Director Jeremy Skinner. Skinner oversees large development projects in Warsaw and redevelopment districts.

“My goal is (to see the projects) to the finish line,” Skinner said.

Three projects, the Millworks, Reuben Williams Lofts and Buffalo Street Projects, are aimed at “new talent attraction,” said Skinner, such as high school and college graduates looking at their first jobs.

The projects will be mixed use, with residential and commercial spaces, such as coffee shops or eateries, Skinner said.

Millworks

The Millworks will be an 85 apartment mixed use building on the site of the former Owen’s store on West Market Street, which closed in 2019. The city of Warsaw acquired the property with the Kosciusko Economic Development Corp.

A proposed rendering of the housing project at the former Owen’s Supermarket site is shown.

Plans to replace Owen’s with another grocery store “didn’t really pan out,” Skinner said. “So we began looking at a mixed use type development that would have some commercial space and high density residential downtown.”

“In 2023, KEDCO worked alongside (Warsaw) to develop and distribute a request for proposal that was distributed to more the 60 developer contacts throughout the state of Indiana,” said KEDCO Project Director Terry Sweeney. “Five developers submitted proposals, and after interviews, AP Development was selected.”

According to AP Development’s website, “amenities will include a rooftop deck for resident use, resident bike storage and dog washing facilities.”

Skinner said construction on the Millworks project should start in late spring 2024.

Reuben Williams Apartments and Lofts

The Reuben Williams Apartments will redevelop the former Gatke property, which the city of Warsaw acquired in the early 2000s, Skinner said.

The former Gatke building in its current condition on Feb. 9. InkFreeNews photo by Patrick Webb

“I’ve had a few interested parties here and there, but nothing really came to fruition,” Skinner said. Discussions with Shelby Bowen and Rebar Development “ultimately culminated into the Reuben Williams Apartments, Warehouse and Lofts project.”

The project is named in honor of Reuben Williams, who served in the Civil War.

The Reuben Williams Apartments will have 83 residential units, Skinner said. Some commercial space could be converted into more units if needed.

Construction was estimated to start in 2023. However, funding from Indiana redevelopment tax credits wasn’t approved until the middle of 2023.

“Depending on the availability of and when those funding cycles come, sometimes can move the project back and forth,” Skinner said. He said the project hopes to start in the spring of 2024, including demolition.

Buffalo Street Project

The Buffalo Street Project was started in 2002, according to the city of Warsaw’s website, to revitalize Warsaw’s downtown.

“(Buffalo Street will be) a little less in terms of density, probably looking to try to get around 60 units,” said Skinner.

The Buffalo Street project initially envisioned relocating Warsaw’s town hall closer to Center Lake. Skinner said during negotiations, the town hall’s current location on Buffalo Street became available. The proposed town hall relocation spot may be repurposed to into a mixed use development. Plans for Buffalo Street are currently in development, Skinner said. 

Several town houses have been built, Skinner said, along with the Buffalo Street plaza. The city of Warsaw is looking for a developer for the mixed use portion. Skinner said that the mixed use portion of the Buffalo Street Project may be six to 12 months behind the Millworks and Reuben Williams. The Buffalo Street Project was also delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Redevelopment projects have a lot of nuance, whether it’s land acquisition, the challenges of acquiring land, redoing infrastructure and filling those gaps from an affordability standpoint,” said Skinner. Part of the challenge is “keeping those projects at a market rate that is appealing to those who may want to live or rent those spaces for businesses.”

“The cost of construction went up dramatically over the last three years,” said Skinner, which is a challenge for the projects. Another factor is funding.

“It’s really about the type of project, what the project is trying to accomplish and then going after those kinds of pots of money to put together a capital stack to make them work,” said Skinner.

Skinner recommends the public follow the city of Warsaw’s Facebook page to keep up to date on project developments. He also encouraged members of the community to attend the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission meetings. Meetings are recorded and may be viewed on the city’s website or YouTube page.