Potential Progress Being Made With Gatke Property
WARSAW — Progress may soon be made with the Gatke Property in Warsaw which has been abandoned since 1992. A memorandum of understanding was approved with Michael Kinder & Sons during the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission meeting held on Monday, Nov. 6.
The contract grants a six-month time period in which MKS will work toward developing the property. During this time frame, MKS will have the exclusive right of first refusal if a different buyer for the property comes forward. Through the MOU, the commission commits to sponsoring application and providing local match funds. The commission also pledges to enter a development agreement with MKS for the property’s redevelopment.
Economic Developer Alan Tio was present at the meeting to answer any questions. “We look for projects, like this one, where we can put a team together and get the project off the sideline,” explained Tio. “We will work with partners to find out if this property is a match for them … Really it’s just getting the green light to move forward and see what we can come up with.”
Along with approving the MOU, board members expressed their excitement in the project. “I think there’s a million ideas of what to do with that property, but no one has done anything,” said council member Jeremy Mullins.
It was noted that the commission and the city of Warsaw will have final approval of any projects that go into the property.
The public hearing phase of the airport annexation project is set to start in December. Advertising in local papers has been done and mailings have gone out to the approximately 80 homeowners who will be involved. Six public hearings will be held at Warsaw City Hall to discuss the annexation plans. The meetings will be held at 5 p.m. on Dec. 4, 10 a.m. on Dec. 7, 5 p.m. on Dec. 11, 11 a.m. on Dec. 13, 5 p.m. on Dec. 18 and 10 a.m. on Dec.19.
Once the public hearing phase is finished, an ordinance will be created and presented to the city council. The hope is to have the ordinance in effect by late 2018.
In other news:
- The council approved seeking bids for the tech park signage. The goal is to award bids during the December meeting in order to use this year’s funds.
- Ten claims were presented to the council and approved.
- The next meeting will be held at 4 p.m. Dec. 4.