Money to purchase the property is coming out of a tax increment finance (TIF) fund.

The post City of Warsaw acquires 11-acre lot near Kohl’s in hopes of adding more development appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — The city of Warsaw is moving forward with developing a specialized park in downtown Warsaw near Jefferson and South Buffalo streets.

The city's Redevelopment Commission on Monday approved a plan to acquire the small lot, which is near the east-west railroad tracks and north of the Peking Restaurant. 

Main Street Warsaw's Downtown Development Director, Terry Sweeney, said they plan to rely heavily on grants for much of the funding.

The sculpture park will be fully fenced-in, and there will be opportunities for a chalk walk, kids' murals, and professional art installations, Sweeney said.

It would also be the city's first sensory park to feature specialized elements designed for children and adults with autism or sensory processing differences.

The proposed park was one of several projects that the city had hoped to receive funding through a statewide grant program, the READI 2.0 Arts & Culture Initiative, which was tailored to arts and recreation, but did not receive funding.

Jeremy Skinner, the city's director of community and economic development, also expressed support for the plan.

“Definitely a good project," Skinner said.

"I like the concept. I'm glad that it meets some of the things the parks department was trying to do in terms of the sensory and music and hitting a certain niche need within our parks department,” he said.

City Councilman Michael Klandaris, who sits on the Redevelopment Commission, expressed concern about the proximity of the park to the railroad tracks and noted that another newly developed park west of the Marsh Building was recently constructed.

The cost to acquire the property was $138,000, and Skinner said they have a long way to go to develop the park.

The post Warsaw moves forward with future sensory art park near railroad tracks appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW —  The city of Warsaw continues to look at new ways to attract industry and jobs, including the idea of establishing a newly designated state-supported industrial park. 

The city is exploring the idea and wants to access $350,000 from the Orthopedic Industry Retention Fund set aside specifically for the potential development of an innovation development district, which is essentially a large-scale industrial park

The property would fall between US 30 and Old 30, which runs parallel to the railroad access.

The money would be used for an IDD master plan, which would assess the availability of  utilities and transportation for such a park.

Skinner stressed that the IDD is a long-term plan and that the plan would have to gain state support.

Access to US 30 would be a key factor, and while additional interchanges have been discussed as part of a future revamped limited-access version of US 30, Skinner avoided specifically pointing to where an interchange might be constructed.

The city is eying property south of the Warsaw Technology Park along US 30 and could potentially tie in with a future interchange along U.S. 30. It could extend as far south as Old Road 30 near the Slate Auto plant.

Jeremy Skinner, the director of community and economic development for the city of Warsaw, said that while most industrial parks tend to be 200 to 300 acres, this would be upward of 1,000-plus acres.

Skinner said they plan to reach out to Kosciusko County officials to see if they want to participate.  

"At this point, we're just on the idea that we're trying to create a sales pitch to the state to consider looking at Warsaw and Kosciusko County as an opportunity to create a large investment in jobs," Skinnner said.

The city redevelopment commission on Monday approved a plan to access money from the orthopedic retention fund for the master plan.

Skinner was asked if this has anything to do with data centers, and he said that is not the case.

The post Warsaw explores the idea of establishing large state-supported industrial park along US 30 appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — City officials are moving forward with what would be the first phase of redevelopment of the old Warsaw Chemical property on Argonne Road. 

Logan Properties, a Fort Wayne firm, is working with the City of Warsaw on a plan to develop eight acres on the north side of the Warsaw Chemical property, which is now owned by the city, into a shell building that could be home to five to ten light industrial businesses on the northern portion of the property. 

Developer Martin Huttenlocker presented the plans to the City Redevelopment Commission on Wednesday and said they planned to demolish the existing building. 

The City acquired the Warsaw Chemical Properties as part of a bigger development vision that could even include a role for Grace College. 

If the plan comes together, the developer would invest $7 million in the project while the City would provide the land and offer tax abatement. 

Huttenlocker talked about the type of tenants they hope to attract. 

“Light manufacturers seem to be kind of the right fit — incubator-type space — groups that have maybe been around for a couple years that kind of need to move ‘out of their garage,’ so to speak, and get a real space," Huttenlocker said.

Jeremy Skinner, director of community & economic development for the city, said they believe there is strong demand for such development, and Huttenlocker said he's talked with Kociusko County Economic Development Corporation about two companies that have expressed interest.

The Redevelopment Commission on Wednesday approved a memo of understanding with the firm, and Huttenlocker said the building could be ready for occupation in early 2027 if everything goes as planned.

The post City working with developer on light industrial project on north end of Warsaw Chemical property appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — The city of Warsaw is working to attract what's being described as a food-related business to be part of the Millworks apartment project, where the Owen’s grocery store once stood.

The city previously agreed to provide $1 million to the developer, AP Development, to cover the cost of surrounding street improvements, and on Monday, the city agreed tentatively to provide an additional $340,000 for improvements on the southeast corner of the apartment building (across from PNC Bank) where the business would be located.

The retail operation would span 2,500 square feet and would feature a rooftop balcony.

Jeremy Skinner, director of community and economic development for the city, discussed the plan Tuesday after presenting it to the City Redevelopment Commission.

“In conversations with the developer and the potential tenant, there was a gap that needed to be filled in order to get them to occupy the space. That gap had to do with finishing out the interior of the space," Skinner said.

He said the work would involve installation of heating and cooling, flooring and plumbing, all of which would remain intact if the tenant should eventually choose to leave.

The Redevelopment Commission is still working out final details on the agreement, and Skinner declined to identify the business, saying it's food-related, but avoided using the term "restaurant."

He said the company they're negotiating with is not part of a chain.

The 85-unit housing and retail project near West Market and South Columbia Street is expected to be ready for occupancy late this year.

The post Retail food operation in the works for Millworks apartment development in Warsaw appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Warsaw officials have been lobbying for years for a specific site for construction of a VA clinic, and on Monday, one official said they’re eyeing a location on CR 200N near Parkview Kosciusko Hospital.

Efforts to bring a VA clinic to Warsw have been underway for several years, and Jeremy Skinner, director of community & economic development, said Monday they found an entity that agreed to place it adjacent to other recently constructed medical offices along CR 200N.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs has increasingly relied on the use of third-party entities for construction projects.

Skinnner said they've been lobbying for that property because of its proximity to Parkview, Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital and US 30.

Skinner brought up the issue Monday at a city redevelopment commission meeting and said they are working on a memo of understanding that would be part of a sale of the land from Parkview Health to an unidentified LLC.

The clinic is expected to be about 16,000 square feet, and Skinner said they hope construction could begin this year or next.

The project is expected to cost roughly seven to eight million dollars, and Skinner said the city is ready to provide $1 million to cover some of the development costs.

Neither the MOU nor the financial transaction has been approved by the city, but Skinner addressed the rationale on Monday.

"When you think about the benefit that this will offer all of the veterans in Kosciusko County, people who have served our country, giving them easy access to the health care that they need in a shorter distance, a shorter travel ... that's definitely worth the city's participation," Skinner said.

He was also asked if the plan would come together if not for the city's financial support.

"They' ve been trying to put on (in Warsaw) for the last five years," Skinner said. "Does this help get it done? I think so, yes."

Money for the project would come from one of several tax increment finance funds controlled by the city.

The post City of Warsaw working to facilitate construction of VA clinic on CR 200N with $1 million contribution appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Autocam Medical CEO John C. Kennedy was so enamored with Warsaw's orthopedic workforce that his company reached out to Medtronic two days after the Warsaw company announced plans to move its Warsaw operations elsewhere.

They wanted to acquire the Medtronic plant along US 30, and even though that plan fell through, it gave the Kentwood, Mich., company a foot in the door. 

Autocam has been using space inside Medtronic's US 30 facility in the Warsaw Technology Park for roughly two years and has seen firsthand the type of workers they can attract.

"There's a unique culture here that I can sense that is very serious about manufacturing high-quality projects," Kennedy said Thursday at a groundbreaking for its future plant just west of the Medtronic property that he had earlier sought to acquire.

"It's unbelievable the amount of interest we get," Kennedy said. "We've had some ads we've run, and we'll get 100 applicants coming out of the Warsaw area, and these are good people."

"These are people that have CNC machining experience that we're looking for — very high caliber workforce here, and we have not seen that anywhere else in the country," Kennedy added.

Autocam Medical manufactures precision-machined surgical implants, instruments and components for the orthopedic industry.

Heavy machinery is already on-site, doing initial work ahead of the construction of a $70 million, 100,000-square-foot plant that will be home to 300 good-paying jobs.

City leaders are just as happy about Autocam's decision to expand in Warsaw.

The company is known for its training assistance and apprenticeships in the Grand Rapids area, and Kennedy said he has already talked with Kosciusko County Ivy Tech about similar training support.

City Council President Jack Wihite said he sees a parallel between Autocam and a company he spent much of his career with — Biomet.

"It appears that they are very much an on-the-job training company that also promotes from within as much as they can and helps get their employees the training and education they need to grow," Wilhite said.

"I find that very exciting for our young folks. In this day and age, when college is so expensive ... This is an opportunity for people to get a job, start to grow without having to put out a bunch of money up front and learn as they grow," Wilhite said.

It's also another chapter in the growing technology park that was launched roughly ten years ago by Jeremy Skinner, the city's director of community and economic development, who works closely with the city redevelopment commission.

Since its opening, the city has invested about $5 million in infrastructure into the park, while companies have added about $100 million in private investment.

That has spurred 555 new jobs in the park with an annual payroll of about $36 million.

"Today, we're here to start a great partnership with Auctocam Medical, and excited to see their new investment, 100,000 square feet," that will be added to the (existing) 510,000  (square feet), Skinner said.

Koscciusko County Economic Development Executive Director Peggy Friday recalled the day she met with Autocam officials about their intentions.

As it turns out, it was just hours after she and other officials learned about Slate Auto's plans to revamp the old RR Donnelley and Sons plant west of Warsaw for a future electric pickup truck manufacturing plant that will result in 1,900 new jobs.

After that discussion, Friday said she hopped in a car to meet with Autocam officials.

"We always remember where we were and what we were doing when something special happens," Friday said.

"We're really thrilled," Friday said. "It's projects like this that keep us as the orthopedic capital ... Thank you so much for investing in Warsaw."

Construction of the new plant is expected to be complete this fall.

The post Autocam Medical appreciates Warsaw’s orthopedic workforce — already! appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Warsaw officials are offering some expectations following the announcement last week by Dalton Corporation, a foundry that’s been in the city for more than 110 years, will close.

Two things appear to be obvious about the closing: The future remains unclear, and any possible clean-up of the mammoth industrial site spanning four blocks along Jefferson Street could take many years.

Dalton's parent company, First Brands Group LLC, acquired the foundry two years ago, filed for bankruptcy late last year, and then announced shortly before the new year that about 262 workers would lose their jobs in late February.

First Brands oversees numerous foundries and is also ending operations at a similar plant in Kendallville.

Jeremy Skinner, director of community and economic development for the city, said the closing is not surprising, given the struggles in the foundry industry.

The city is expressing a willingness to assist employees as they look for new employment.

In the meantime, the city is in a state of limbo with the property as officials wait for the bankruptcy proceedings to play out, a process that could impact the property's future.

Skinner kept open the idea that the existing use, in some form, could be resurrected.

“The foundry industry is changing dramatically, and it’s not surprising that we’re here at this stage, but there are always those niche markets, and so we’ll see what happens with the bankruptcy,” Skinner said.

“If it does not come back in some form of a foundry, it will probably be redeveloped into something other than industry,” said Skinner, who, along with Mayor Jeff Grose, offered their impressions of the situation for In the Know, the public affairs show you can hear this weekend on Kensington Digital Media radio stations.

The prospect that the land has sustained underground contamination — if determined to be the case — would also determine what might be permitted.

Some of Dalton's leadership team have already departed and Grose said they learned of the closing in a statement at the same time workers were notified a week ago.

They expressed a belief that if the plant fully shuts down that state and federal agencies would have a role in trying to clean up the property, above and below ground.

"We don’t really know what’s going to happen, but on behalf of the city of Warsaw, Winona Lake, the county …. We need to be at the table, and we need to work through what’s best for not only Dalton, moving forward, but also the community,” Grose said.

During this week's public affairs show, Grose and Skinner also addressed other issues, including economic development topics, reconstruction of Anchorage Road and the temporary movement of city meetings to the police station training room, which will happen in February.

In The Know can be heard at the following times:

News Now Warsaw (99.7 FM and 1480 AM):

Fridays at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Saturdays at 7 a.m. 

Sundays at 7 a.m. & 2 p.m.

WRSW (107.3):

Sundays at 6 a.m.

Willie (103.5 FM):

Sundays at 6 a.m.

The post Warsaw leaders say uncertainty a big factor in wake of Dalton Foundry closing appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — The city of Warsaw is moving quickly on one of the proposals pitched last month as officials work to establish a cultural arts district in the downtown.

On Monday — less than three weeks after the entire plan was unveiled — the city redevelopment commission approved plans to hire a firm to study the idea of establishing a festival street, which would transform part of a downtown road into a flat surface that can more easily accommodate festivals.

The redevelopment commission agreed to spend $30,000 for the study with Anderson Bohlander to look further at the concept.

The plan was pitched by Terry Sweeney, Main Street Warsaw's downtown development director, who also recapped four new programs that were launched in 2025.

Officials are currently eyeing part of North Buffalo Street as a potential location for the festival street, and the study will likely look at where it might be best to make the transformation.

Some officials have said North Detroit Street seems optimal for the project since it is near Center Lake and a proposed city-county parking garage.

The idea of a street festival is one of the biggest proposals that make up an expansive plan to add more artwork and amenities aimed at attracting more people to the downtown.

Main Street Warsaw has been studying the idea of a cultural arts district, which was fueled in part by a new Hyatt Palma Study, commissioned during former mayor Joe Thallemer's term in office.

No kind of cost estimate has been released because it's very preliminary, but officials admit it is an ambitious plan that would be costly.

Jeremy Skinner, the city's community and economic development director, talked about the vision Monday afternoon.

"Yes, there's a lot of money that would have to be found, but we can't find the money until we know what we're looking for. There's a lot of groundwork that needs to be done," Skinner said. "It's gonna take time, and it's not gonna happen overnight."

"We got a pretty good start here and a lot of good things that came out of the plan," Skinner added.

You can see the entire conversation from Monday's meeting with Sweeney's presentation at the 18:00 mark.

The post Warsaw begins work on studying festival street concept for downtown appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — What might be viewed by some as a million-dollar gamble by the city of Warsaw to revive the old Marsh property began to show promise last week as two purchase agreements started to take shape.

The city bought the land at the corner of South Buffalo and Winona Avenue several years ago in hopes of finding a grocery store or at least reversing what had become a deteriorating property.

Efforts to attract a grocery store of some kind did not materialize, and some on social media questioned the city's investment.

Last week, the city redevelopment commission reviewed contracts that will set the stage for the sale of the old Marsh building to an unnamed buyer for $1 million.

[caption id="attachment_120787" align="alignright" width="300"] Website photo from the Scooter’s Coffee website.[/caption]

At the same time, another contract is being prepared to sell the southeast corner of the parking lot to a company that plans to construct a Scooter’s Coffee drive-through shop near the corner of South Buffalo and Prairie streets. That sale price will be $225,000.

The transaction would provide a break-even situation for the city and result in coming months in a revitalized commercial area.

Jeremy Skinner, the city’s director of community and economic development, who is leading the discussions for the city in the sale, was asked if he was pleased with the new developments, which drew a chuckle: "Yes, absolutely!"

"It's been a challenge, but at the end of the day, hopefully, this will be a good spot for some retail shopping on that south side," Skinner said.

Contracts could be expected to be finalized in the next few weeks.

While the buyer of the main property has not been identified, many suspect the property will be turned into a large antique mall. The building also includes two adjoining storefronts on the north end that could be leased.

Skinner said he believes renovations to the main building probably won't be ready for nearly a year.

Major work, he said, will include the heating and cooling system. The roof, the floor, and the parking lot, plus aesthetic improvements to the interior.

“Without a doubt, it will be a substantial investment on their end,” Skinner said.

The city acquired the property less than three years ago during Mayor Joe Thallemer's tenure.

Thallmer now sits on the city redevelopment commission, which is overseeing the transaction.

“We all know how difficult retail has been, and the fact that there’s folks willing to step forward, and that this Redevelopment Commission is willing to work with them, it’s fantastic,” Thallemer said. 

“We’re basically getting back what we paid for the property at the end of the day. I feel good with where we are. Would it have been great to have a Safeway grocery store in there? Sure, but retail doesn’t seem to work like that anymore.”

Mayor Jeff Grose reflected on efforts to revive the property.

The city had worked to find a grocery store for the property, but with no luck.

"For well over a year, we spent a lot of dollars seeking a retail like that, and we were just unable to get it," Grose said. "So you pivot, move in a different direction, and wish for the good."

"At the same time, I wanna tell you that I appreciate our side of the net, trying to figure something out for the good of that building," Grose added.

The drive-thru coffee business will be yet another company specializing in coffee near the downtown.

Scooter's Coffee has stores in Mishawaka, Nappanee, Kendallville and Wabash.

Skinner said officials with the coffee shop are eager to begin construction.

The post Warsaw officials sound upbeat about $1 million gamble on Marsh property appeared first on News Now Warsaw.