A battle is brewing on Warrior Row.

The Fort Wayne Plan Commission listened Monday as Richard Kriz II expressed his intentions to build what he hopes will become a four-unit student housing complex on the same grounds Indiana Tech offered to buy.

In January, the plan commission gave the college the go-ahead to build a $4.3 million dormitory on East Washington Boulevard, but buffers, likely trees, were required to provide some privacy for a 7,500-square-foot lot Kriz owns. Indiana Tech offered the landowner $25,000 for his small lot, but he said the college low-balled him.

So, on Monday Kriz and his attorney stood before the commission during its public hearing to discuss a student residence that could feature one- and two-bedroom apartments.

“I don’t know what the cost will be,” Kriz said. “I’m hoping it will be less than ($1 million). We’re still in the planning stages. All I can say is they will be nice apartments.”

Judy Roy, vice president of finance and administration for Indiana Tech, said she was aware of Kriz’s plans, but officials at the school haven’t changed their position. They say Kriz’s land is worth $300 and that $25,000 is a more than generous offer.

“Basically, we’ve moved on and have no need for the property now,” Roy said, adding that construction on the Warrior Row dormitory will wrap up later this month. “We feel we made him a fair offer.”

Indiana Tech’s housing will include beds for 96 students. The existing Warrior Row dorms are townhouse-style units designed for juniors and seniors. The new hall would house mostly freshmen.

As for Kriz, he said while his first choice would be to service college students, “we could rent to other people.” Amenities and rental prices are still being determined, said Kriz, who owned a three-apartment complex on his site for seven years or so before razing it in the late 1970s.

The new Warrior Row is a three-story dormitory that spans 30,000-square-foot at East Washington Boulevard between Walter and Schick streets. Some features at the residence hall include rooms for two students, bistro furnishings, flat-screen TVs and a fireplace.

If Kriz receives a rezoning approval from the plan commission and City Council, his student residence will be sandwiched by Indiana Tech property.

“I hope it blends in and looks nice with the surrounding property,” Roy said. “We’ll have students moving in August.”

Kriz said building a student housing facility, “is the only thing that made sense.”

Erin’s House building pitched

In other business, the plan commission heard plans by Erin’s House for Grieving Children to erect a more than $1 million building on the grounds of the future Northeast YMCA, near St. Joe Center and Maplecrest roads.

The 13,000-square-foot building will allow the non-profit organization to operate from its own location and quit leasing space at the Parkwest Shopping Center on Fort Wayne’s southwest side. For nearly 20 years, Erin’s House has assisted more than 15,000 children and their families.

The project requires a primary development plan and rezoning approval.

The Plan Commission will take action on both projects at 5 p.m. Monday at Citizens Square.

pwyche@jg.net