The Gatke property is located at 2321 S. McKinley St., Warsaw.

WARSAW — The Warsaw Plan Commission approved both the preliminary and final replats for the Gatke Property during the meeting held last night, Aug. 13.

The single lot will be divided into two lots. Lot #1 is 1.99 acres and includes the warehouse building that could be rehabilitated. Lot #2 is 1.21 acres and includes the power plant and one other existing building. Both of those buildings will most likely be demolished in the future.

City Planner Jeremy Skinner explained the reasoning behind the replat. The city is currently applying for an OCRA grant to declare the property as blighted. This grant would provide money for demolition but requires that the land can’t be redeveloped for four years.

By separating the lots, a potential grant could be used to demolish the buildings on Lot #2 while immediate redevelopment could take place on Lot #1. The properties could then be combined back into one lot in the future.

The Warsaw Redevelopment Commission is currently drafting an economic development agreement with Michael Kinder & Sons, Fort Wayne, for the Gatke property. The proposed project would include the rehabilitation of the 20,000 square-foot existing building into a multi-use space. The building could then be used for retail, eateries, art production or professional offices. Michael Kinder & Sons are rehabilitating the building and would then lease the spaces out to interested businesses.

The commission approved suspending the rules and passed both the preliminary and final replats for the property.

Skinner announced that the city recently hired Aeriel Jones as an assistant city planner. This move means that Justin Taylor will now take over Warsaw Plan Commission duties, leaving Skinner to concentrate on Warsaw Redevelopment Commission.