Scott Williams, swilliams@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Scott Williams Aspirus Langlade Hospital has operated a clinic in Birnamwood for many years, but officials have talked to village officials about building a new medical building of some kind.
Leader Photo by Scott Williams Located in downtown Birnamwood, the vacant properties covered in grass could be revived as the site of a new Aspirus medical facility.
Another health care provider is making plans for a significant new facility in Shawano County.
Aspirus Inc., based in Wausau, has acquired property in downtown Birnamwood and told village leaders of plans for a new facility to replace an overcrowded clinic located across town.
Although details have not been disclosed, village officials say the development could constitute the biggest private business investment in Birnamwood in perhaps 20 years.
“It’s great,” village President Michael Sprague said.
The site covers nearly an entire city block along Main Street, including the former location of the Birnamwood Hotel & Bar and an adjacent former car dealership.
Aspirus spokeswoman Betsy Kommers said the company was finalizing plans for the site and would not be prepared to discuss details until after Jan. 1.
“Hopefully we’ll have some exciting news,” she said.
The development follows ThedaCare health system’s grand opening in September of a $50 million regional medical center in Shawano, on a site much larger than what Aspirus has acquired in Birnamwood.
ThedaCare spokeswoman Megan Mulholland declined to comment on the Aspirus project.
Aspirus operates eight hospitals and 50 clinics throughout Wisconsin and Michigan, including Aspirus Langlade Hospital in Antigo and a clinic built many years ago in Birnamwood at 400 Railroad Ave.
Aspirus administrators notified Birnamwood officials this summer that the company was interested in constructing a new health care facility in the community of about 800 people.
In a letter to the village, Aspirus representative Bonnie Block wrote that Langlade Hospital was exploring “a new medical building” in town.
Without providing details, Block wrote: “Your time and determination in making the village of Birnamwood a more prosperous, health-concerned community for all who live and work here are greatly appreciated.”
She concluded: “This is one step in the right direction in attaining that healthy, flourishing community for generations to come.”
Village Administrator Chris Jensen said he has not seen any plans for the new Aspirus facility, and he believes design work is still under way.
Jensen also said he was unsure what would become of the company’s existing clinic on Railroad Avenue.
“It sounds like they’ve outgrown it,” he said.
The village donated the former Birnamwood Hotel & Bar property, which the village had acquired and bulldozed previously. According to local officials, Aspirus also acquired the adjacent former car dealership property, which had been occupied for many years by water treatment consultant North Central Laboratories.
Both properties were vacant, and village officials responded positively to the concept of a medical facility in the village’s downtown.
“This will be a big plus,” Trustee Carol Resch said. “I think it’s going to just kind of bring the downtown back to life again.”
Sprague and Resch both said the Asprius project could be Birnamwood’s biggest private business development since North Central Laboratories erected its current headquarters about 20 years ago at 400 Lyons Road.
The departure of the old hotel and car dealership buildings have left a significant void downtown, Resch said. Village officials are willing to help Aspirus redevelop the site and generate new activity in the center of the community, she said.
“It fills the hole there,” she added. “It’s right on Main Street, so everyone’s going to notice it.”
The only business still operating on the block is Resch Insurance Agency.
Business owner Alan Resch, who is not directly related to Carol Resch, said his grandfather owned the downtown car dealership Beversdorf Chevrolet until about the 1970s. Resch said he is anxious to hear details of the Aspirus medical building proposal.
“We would welcome them as neighbors,” he said. “We’re excited about the possibility.”
