County seeking appraisals for Ameriprise land for possible parking garage in Warsaw

Here is a view of the Ameriprize Financial lot on Fort Wayne Street, which county officials are considering to acquire for a parking garage. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.
By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — City and county officials are eyeing a tract of property as they consider constructing a city-county parking garage in Warsaw.

Kosciusko County Council approved plans to seek appraisals for property currently used by Ameriprise Financial, which is north of the American Legion on Fort Wayne Street.

The proposal would be partially funded with money set aside by the state for OrthoWorx, with additional funds from the city and county.

County Attorney Ed Ormsby said the county will make an offer based on the average of two appraisals and alluded to a backup plan that councilwoman Kimberly Cates then asked about.

“Do I understand that your proposal is that we make an offer, and if they don’t approve it, we take it by eminent domain? Is that what your intentions are?” Cates asked.

“That’s likely, but the commissioners haven’t decided to institute an eminent domain. We go down this procedure first,” Ormsby said.

No other elected officials provided any other insights on the plan on Thursday night.

The land is east of a county-owned parking lot, which sits at the corner of Lake and Fort Wayne streets and would likely be part of the overall parking garage design.

Council President Tony Ciriello pointed out that Thursday night’s move does not mean the county is committed to constructing a parking garage.

Here is a view of the county-owned parking lot to the west of the property the county is trying to acquire for a city-county parking lot. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.