Water Work

Winnebago County focuses on shoreline developments

By Jeanne Wieland

Professional Realty and Development Corp.'s Marina Place project is attracting the interest of other condo developers along the Fox River in Menasha. Photo courtesy of Professional Realty and Development Corp.

Winnebago County has more water than any other county in Wisconsin.

The county boasts 30 lakes, but it's the waterfront properties along the Fox River that have benefited in recent years from a steady stream of attention. Tra-ditionally, land along the river was home to various industries. But developers are finding the time is right to redevelop the riverfront sites with commercial projects, entertainment venues and high-end condominiums and apartments.

The city of Neenah is seeking to maximize use of its riverfront by completely reconstructing a park on the edge of its downtown. The $3.5 million project — more than $1 million of which was gener-ated through private donations — is a first step in the city's plan to create a riverwalk along the Fox River. The city is revamping Shattuck Park, which sits on a half acre on the river, to improve access to the waterfront and to make it a destination for residents and visitors.

Chris Haese, Neenah's principal planner, said the upgraded park will greatly improve the area. An old boathouse in the park was deteriorating, so the city had it demolished and removed and then relocated a nearby boat landing. The new park also will feature a fountain and an amphitheater.

"This park is being designed to be a location for various community events," Haese said.

The $6 million Marina Place replaces an old bank, some open paved areas and an old Elks Club on the Fox River shoreline in Menasha. Rendering courtesy of Professional Realty and Development Corp.

The riverwalk project, which may take 15 to 20 years to complete, also involves the reconstruction of two city bridges to make them more pedestrian-friendly.

High-end condominiums are planned for the north bank of the Fox River, Haese added, and the Holiday Inn near Shattuck Park recently made about $2 million in major remodeling improvements to go along with the redevelopment in the area.

In the city of Menasha, Professional Realty and Development Corp., Middleton, built a $6 million condominium/apartment project on the Fox River called Marina Place that opened in late fall. Marina Place features 41 apartments and 12 luxury condominiums, said Marianne Lippold, PDRC's residential property manager.

"The interest level in condos and apartments on the river is definitely there," she said.

Jessica Beckendorf, Menasha's associate planner, said the Marina Place project is a great improvement to the site. A 1960s-style bank, some open paved areas and an old Elks Club were removed to make way for the condo/apartment project. Tax incremental financing dollars were used to help with the project, which seems to have sparked the interest of other developers. Beckendorf said more condos are slated to be built along the river this year.

"The city, in the future, is looking to do more with its waterfront," she said.

hile there certainly is interest in those areas with riverfront views, the rest of Winnebago County isn't exactly sitting stagnant.

Alta Resources, a call-center firm, is constructing in downtown Neenah a $20 million office building that should be completed later this year. A 900-space parking ramp is going up next to that project.

A $5 million Aurora Medical Center project is under construction in Neenah as well, and a major commercial development project that will feature new retail and service businesses is going up along Highway 41.

Jerry Bougie, Winnebago County's planning director, said the entire county is experiencing great growth due to its stable and growing employment environment and its good schools.

"We've been at a fairly aggressive pace for the past 15 years," he said.

Bougie gives at least partial credit for the steady growth to the county's industrial-development loan program, which allows communities to borrow money for improvement projects — everything from industrial parks to construction for specific businesses or industries — at half the prime rate. They have five years to pay back the loan, he said.

"Folks exposed to this program are very happy with it," he said.

Bougie said it has been especially fun to see the creative ideas that communities such as Oshkosh and Neenah are bringing to the Fox River area.

"We've got some dynamic communities doing great things on the riverfronts," Bougie said.

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