The former Gatke Corp. site is the future home of the Union Station Lofts in Warsaw. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW — The Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety on Friday, April 4, was presented with a payment application for $242,673.79 for construction concerning the Union Station Lofts project, which is the housing project on the site of the former Gatke Corp.

Rebar Warsaw LLC submitted the disbursement request and they have started construction at the site, having completed a “substantial” amount of the footers, according to a memo from Jeremy Skinner, Warsaw community and economic development director, on behalf of the Building Corporation, to the board

This is the third disbursement request for the project. Whitney Shilling, community and economic development administrative assistant, on Skinner’s behalf, told the Board of Works the pay request will be paid by the bond.

“This is real exciting and the wheels are in motion and things are happening,” Mayor Jeff Grose stated.

Whitney said the footers are almost done “so they are moving. Hopefully, within the next couple months, you’ll see some big changes.”

Councilwoman Diane Quance said if you stand on the hill and look down, you can see all the footers.

The Board of Works approved the pay application 2-0, with member George Clemens absent.

The approximately $20 million rehabilitation project of the existing Gatke warehouse, 2321 E. Winona Ave., by Rebar Development, as of a story in 2024, includes restoring the steel structure, 12,000 square feet of eight flex units, 4,300 square feet of commercial space and at least 75 market-rate one- and two-bedroom apartments with amenities.

Whitney also presented pay application no. 44 to the board for $2,580 from American Structurepoint for the Anchorage Road project. It is an Indiana Department of Transportation 80/20-funded project, which means INDOT will pay for 80% of the costs of the project. She said the city’s portion of the pay application will be paid out of the Economic Development Income Tax fund.

In other business, the board approved:

• The closure of Canal Street from North Indiana Street to the east parking lots and North Indiana Street, north of Canal Street, to Buffalo Street on Sept. 13 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the annual Family Safety Day, as requested by Warsaw-Wayne Fire Chief Joel Shilling . The actual event will be 9 a.m. to noon.

• The closure of the 100 block of North Indiana Street between Main and Center streets for Kosciusko County Historical Society’s Celebrating Women In High School Athletics even on June 28. The event is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., but the road closure is for 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• A contract renewal with First Due for 2025 for $23,495.35 and an additional $3,500 for the addition of the Command Module, as requested by Fire Chief Joel Shilling. The Warsaw-Wayne Fire Protection Territory Board approved the contract at their meeting Tuesday. First Due is the reporting and mapping software from Locality Medica Inc. that the fire department uses. The contract is for Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025.

• The new hire/change in payroll report as presented by Human Resource Director Denny Harlan. It included the new hire of probationary firefighter Keegan McCawley for the WWFT at $2,340.31 biweekly. McCawley begins working April 14.With the hiring of McCawley, Harlan said that will make the fire department 100% staffed finally. Harlan also presented, and the board approved, several travel requests.

• The outdoor seating plan for Generous Coffee, 121 W. Center St., as presented by City Assistant Plan Director Jackson Longenbaugh. He said it’s the same plan as they had last year.

• The contract with Wastewater Solutions Inc. for $14,940 for annual wastewater training, as presented by Utility Superintendent Brian Davison. He said they’ve done the contract and training since 2003 or 2004. Training will be for four hours each day for four days.