WARSAW — Conducting a reorganizational meeting, according to state statute, the Warsaw Redevelopment Authority met briefly Wednesday morning, Jan. 20.

Following the election of officers, including George Clemens, president, and Max Mock, vice president, Jeremy Skinner, city planner, updated the authority board on the Buffalo Street Project.

“The project is moving ahead and we’re in the design phase,” said Skinner. Bids on the project are expected in early spring with construction to start yet this year.

Steve Truman, authority board member, inquired about the acquisition of several homes north of the alley. Skinner noted acquisition has occurred and is all part of the project. He stated there are still some acquisitions to take place.

A packet is being prepared to present to the Northeast Regional Cities in an attempt to receive additional funds for the project. Skinner stated city and private funds are available for the project along with funds from the Castaldi Family grant, if additional funding through the regional cities is received it will be beneficial.

Skinner stated the entire project will focus on connecting the downtown area with the park and lake along with high density housing. “Key is the reinvestment of the downtown, marketing the city to get younger people to live and work in the community. This is the type of project appealing to the younger generation.”

He said the pitch to the regional cities will be to receive additional funding to help with the plaza design, construction and land acquisition. Funding for infrastructure work is available, which bidding should take place in a couple of months. “There’s a lot of utility work (to be done),” said Skinner, but the plans are to go to bid as soon as possible.

Other questions included housing and the location of the boat ramp. Skinner noted the city is working with developer Dave Matthews. Matthews is working on four different types of housing: town homes, condominiums, city homes and muse homes, to meet residential needs in one development. The housing will be a mixture of opportunities and costs. This development will be next to the downtown, park and lake, “making it a great atmosphere,” Skinner said.

Skinner stated conversions have been held with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources regarding the relocation of the boat ramp. Alternate sites have been proposed. “Our intent is to keep the ramp on Center Lake, but at a different location,” he said.