Warsaw celebrates three-phase restoration of Hodges subdivision streets, curbs and sidewalks

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Editor’s note: For transparency’s sake, the reporter of this story lives in the neighborhood featured in this report. He and his wife bought their home in the middle of the project.

By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — Warsaw officials on Wednesday recognized one of its biggest neighborhood road reconstruction projects in recent memory while also touting a state funding program that could be in jeopardy.

Mayor Jeff Grose and Public Works Superintendent Dustin Dillon celebrated the milestone by distributing summary sheets of the project to each household and asking for input from residents about their satisfaction and any problems they had experienced.

Dillon said while the city often talks with residents before major road projects, this week’s follow up approach is something different.

Both said they received very few complaints during the work.

Roughly 80 households in the Hodges addition near Lincoln Elementary saw their roads, sidewalks, and underground wastewater reconstructed over the past five years in a three-phase effort that cost about $3 million, nearly half of which came from the state’s Community Crossings Grant program.

The state funding was established in 2016 and the city has tapped into it repeatedly for a total of more than $4 million for various projects including Hodges, an older neighborhood named after former mayor.

Mayor Grose grew up in the neighborhood, represented the area as a city councilman for two dozen years, and is happy with the results.

Those who venture onto the east end of Beyer Farm Trail now travel through the new section via Lindberg Drive.

The subdivision is quiet, has a mix of younger and older families, and went decades without much attention.

The work was prompted in part by the Warsaw School District’s decision to renovate the nearby Lincoln Elementary, which was followed by the city’s massive sidewalk improvement project to the west.

The Hodges program was first started at the very early part of Covid under Mayor Joe Thallemer and a previous public works superintendent, Jeff Beehler.

The area had drainage issues and safety issues with the sidewalks, which lacked ADA compliance, Dillon said.

Many of the sidewalks sloped right into the street without a curb.

“There was a drastic need out here … and it turned out beautiful. It looks really nice,” Dillon said.

Grose noted that some of the residents have lived in the same homes for decades.

“It’s nice to see taxpayers here, close to town, close to school, getting lots of infrastructure put into their neighborhood,” Grose said.

Phend & Brown did the first two phases, while Niblock Excavating was responsible for the third, which wrapped up a few weeks ago with a final paving.

Dillon and Grose hope to consider any advice or criticism from the recent work as they look forward to future projects.

Next on the city’s wish list is East Clark Street between Cook and Maple streets.

Grose said the Hodges project could not have happened without the state funding.

Dillon expressed concern about the future of the Community Crossings program, which has become a significant part the city’s road work planning.

“This is a great example of what Community Crossings is all about. That’s changed a little. We don’t know exactly what they’re going to look like with HB 1461,” Dillon said.  

“It may stay neutral but there are going to be some changes to the program … our major focus with the city of Warsaw is just making sure we’re prepared any way possible to capitalize off it like we did here,” Dillon said.

 

 

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