Wisconsin Builder | City Lights

BACK IN TIME

Pewaukee redevelopment hearkens back to 1800s

New retail buildings compliment last year's lakefront renovation

By Jessica Gosz

Pewaukee's downtown redevelopment is taking the village back to "Old Main Street." Construction on the 20,000-square-foot building began in April 2002 and is scheduled for completion in September. The building, designed by the Zimmerman Design Group, Milwaukee, with Oliver Construction, Oconomowoc, as the general contractor, will feature restaurants and boutiques on the first floor and office space on the second floor. The large building will look like a series of retail stores.

Pewaukee's downtown redevelopment is taking the village back in time.

"We're trying to pick up on the character of Pewaukee 100 years ago," said Steve Bach, senior design architect for Milwaukee's Zimmerman Design Group, the architect for the redevelopment.

In order to achieve this feel, Zimmerman has designed the redevelopment's main building with signs, lighting and other styles from the Victorian period, Bach said.

According to Jim Siepmann, president of Siepmann Realty and developer of the project, two main buildings are the focus of the redevelopment work.

He said one of the new additions will be a two-story, 20,000-square-foot building. He said the first story will feature restaurants and boutiques while the second will house office space.

Bach said that although the building is actually one large structure, it will actually look like a series of retail shops.

"There will be different facades, window treatments and colors; some will be brick, some will be wood," he said.

The first floor will also feature double-hung windows, Bach said.

Siepmann said the building will have about nine different storefronts and the look of a dynamic, old downtown streetscape.

A second downtown building will also take on a new look. The 2,500-square-foot structure will most likely be used as a restaurant, Siepmann said.

Portions of the building, the former Pewaukee Lake Coin Laundry & Dry Cleaners, will be renovated, other areas razed and all will be "heavily remodeled," Bach said.

Siepmann said work for the two projects began in April 2002 and is scheduled for completion in September. The estimated cost is $3 million, and Oliver Construction, Oconomowoc, is the general contractor.

Planning for the future

The look of the downtown is not the only aspect that goes back in time. Pewaukee redesigned its lakefront one and a half years ago, and the new retail area will provide the finishing touches to the village.

Pewaukee began its redevelopment journey in the mid-1990s. Plans were developed and community meetings were held to gain input from interested groups and a variety of individuals.

Wider sidewalks and additional landscaping are helping to shape Pewaukee's downtown. The Pewaukee Lakefront Redevelopment Project was the 2001 Main Street Program award winner for the best downtown public-improvement project. The final landscaping and sidewalk work was completed in the spring of 2000. The town's current redevelopment project will compliment the completed lakefront work.

Positively Pewaukee became part of the state's Main Street Program in 1996, with a goal to "focus on buildings, improvements and promotions to bring people to the downtown," said Donna Baldwin-Haut, executive director of Positively Pewaukee.

The Pewaukee Lakefront Redevelopment Project was the Wisconsin Main Street 2001 Best Downtown Public Improvement Project winner. The $1.3 million project included new infrastructure, a beach house and concession stand, a kiosk, a wider beach, landscaping, terraced seating, lighting, banners and wider sidewalks. Construction took place during the summer and fall of 1999, and the final landscaping and sidewalk work was completed in the spring of 2000.

"We're looking to improve looks to attract new and vibrant businesses," said Baldwin-Haut of the village's redevelopment project.

"Additional changes in the downtown will compliment the lakefront."

Although the names of those businesses are not yet known, Baldwin-Haut said they will include restaurants, boutiques and businesses "typically compatible with a downtown."

The proximity to the lake is also exciting for the developer and architect.

"We're trying to take advantage of the view of the lake," Bach said.

Siepmann agreed.

"It's a charming spot to be building," he said.

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