Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Shawano officials are considering the purchase of several downtown properties for potential future development, including one owned by Mayor Jeanne Cronce and her husband.
The properties in the 200 block of South Main Street lie between the vacant Crescent Pitcher Show at 220 S. Main St. and a vacant lot already owned by the city adjacent to St. James Day Care.
They include a vacant retail property at 224 and 226 S. Main St., and residential properties at 228 and 232 S. Main St.
According to City Administrator Brian Knapp, the city received an offer to purchase the property at 232 S. Main St. from Dennis and Jeanne Cronce in November, prior to any filings in the spring election race for mayor.
The city subsequently received an offer to purchase the vacant retail building and residence just to the north of that.
The city’s industrial and commercial development commission recently recommended purchase of the Cronce property for $58,000 and the adjacent retail space and residence for $62,000. The prices were arrived at by an independent appraisal, according to the city.
The money would come from the Tax Incremental Finance district the city established for Main Street and which runs from the Main Street bridge south to Sunset Avenue.
TIF districts are areas where municipalities invest in infrastructure, such as sewer and water, to attract development where it might not otherwise occur, or to make improvements, such as eliminating blight.
Whatever increase in tax revenue that results from development in those districts goes to paying back the debt the municipality incurred from making improvements to the district.
However, TIF revenue can also be used for administrative costs and other TIF-related expenses, as well as incentives and other tools for promoting development.
The Shawano Plan Commission also recommended approval of the purchases at its meeting Wednesday. The Shawano Common Council will take it up next week.
Assistant City Administrator Eddie Sheppard said that, in addition to development possibilities, the property purchases could open up future use of the former Crescent Pitcher Show.
“There’s been interest (in the theater), but the drawback is availability of parking space,” he said. “This could help move that development along.”
Sheppard said the vacant retail space, built shortly after World War II, is still structurally sound, but the two residential properties are in disrepair “and probably need to go.”
Dennis Heling, chief economic development officer for Shawano County Economic Development Inc., also told the commission Wednesday that the two homes don’t fit in along Shawano’s downtown Main Street.
“It’s the wrong place for residential,” he said.
“I think the future would be really bright if this was acquired,” Heling said.
Knapp said the properties, if purchased, could be turned over to the city’s Redevelopment Authority for marketing and management.
“They would take responsibility and help decide what is appropriate,” he said.
The plan commission voted unanimously to recommend purchasing the properties. However, Cronce abstained on the vote regarding her property.
The vacant lot next to the St. James playground, meanwhile, could be leased to St. James for temporary use until the city has a development offer for the property.
A lease agreement for that lot will also go to the Common Council next week that would allow St. James to use the property at no cost. It would make the day care responsible for maintaining the property.