By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — Eighty-six new apartments in downtown Warsaw should be ready by the time Slate Auto revs up its new electric pickup production a year from now just west of Warsaw.
That little fact was aired at Tuesday’s groundbreaking for Millworks, which will offer market-rate apartments where the Owens Supermarket once stood.
The $21 million project will feature numerous amenities, including a rooftop deck, bike storage and pet-friendly facilities.
There will be a courtyard in the middle, angled parking around the entire development, and a restaurant on the southeast corne of the lot.
The proposal faced numerous delays, and AP Development President Jon Anderson sounded eager to see construction commence.
He spoke at Tuesday’s groundbreaking as a nearby construction crew began some initial work.
“I apologize for the noise, but that’s why we’re here. This project will go fast now … Once we go vertical, it will go fast, and you will see it go up quickly. We plan to be open by this time next year if not sooner,” Anderson said.
When complete, the apartment complex will make the downtown feel a little bigger, says Jeremy Skinner, the city’s director of community and economic development.
“Our intent was to create housing opportunities, create density, and to support our downtown. This project does those three things,” Skinner said.
Expanding housing options has been a top issue that took root under former mayor Joe Thallemer and into the Jeff Grose administration, as Slate and another orthopedic manufacturer, AutoCam, announced expansion plans earlier this year.
Millworks is one of two apartment projects currently under construction. The other is Union Lofts on Jefferson near Argonne Road and Winona Avenue.
Millworks will arrive at a good time as the community works to provide housing to a fast-growing workforce.
“Slate Auto will be opening at the end of 2026 for full production, so we really want those folks to live here and be engaged … spend those dollars here in our community rather than leave the county,” said Peggy Friday, the CEO of Kosciusko County Economic Development Corp.
Anderson was complimentary of the city’s support, saying officials stood out mightily against other communities the company has worked with in the past.
Likewise, city officials said they found a good partner in AP Development for the project.
Funding came from several sources, including Indiana’s Regional Development Authority (for $3 million) and money from the city of Warsaw.
Mayor Jeff Grose, whose family shopped at the Owen’s store decades ago, thanked various people for their support in the project but said much of the credit goes to Skinner and former Mayor Joe Thallemer.
Thallemer also attended the ceremony and reflected on the lengthy efforts behind redeveloping the property.
“The moment it became available, that was the whole thought — that it would expand our urban core … we had a great opportunity to get it done,” Thallemer said.
Thallemer also tipped his hat to Rob and Nancy Gast, who owned a beloved bike shop behind the grocery store for many years.
“They owned a nice hunk of that property and they were very excited about the project and were willing to sell the old Tarkio Road bicycle shop,” Thallmer added.
