Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Letters went out this week to property owners within and adjacent to the city’s recently established redevelopment district notifying them of the public hearing next month on the Redevelopment Authority’s proposed plan of action.
In an apparent attempt to assuage some of the concerns likely to come up at the Oct. 18 public hearing, notices were accompanied by an explanation of the RDA’s goals and objectives and several case histories of properties that have benefited from some of the financial assistance that could be available for property improvements.
The RDA has sometimes struggled over the past few months to win over the acceptance of property owners upset that their properties have been included in a blight elimination district.
The RDA district roughly follows the contours of Tax Incremental Finance districts already designated for blight elimination along Main Street from the Wolf River bridge on the north to Wescott Avenue on the south, and along Green Bay Street from Main Street on the west to Rusch Road on the east.
There are 391 properties within the boundaries of the RDA district. Just over half of them are considered blighted or in need of redevelopment.
Under state law, a municipality can designate a blight redevelopment district if at least 50 percent of the property within the proposed district is blighted, which means “a predominance of structures, buildings, or improvements that are dilapidated, deteriorated, obsolete, or conditions that are detrimental to public health and safety.”
The Shawano Common Council approved the RDA district boundaries last month, after hearing objections from about half a dozen property owners who attended the meeting.
Concerns included the impact on property values, and the possibility of condemnation proceedings and the use eminent domain.
City officials said they want to work with property owners to improve their properties, not acquire them.
The project plan for the RDA district is expected to prioritize properties and areas most in need of attention.
According to the notification letter, “the purpose of the plan is to promote renovation, restoration and, if necessary, redevelopment of specific areas within the district. The plan also identifies and provides resources for the purpose of renovation, restoration and redevelopment to interested property owners within the project area.”
The hearing will start at 6 p.m. Oct. 18 at City Hall, 127 S. Sawyer St.
AT A GLANCE
Projects that have taken advantage of incentives offered through the city of Shawano’s Tax Incremental Finance districts:
- Tower Clock Eye Center development. In 2015, Tower Clock Eye Center applied and was approved for tax increment financing funds in the TIF 6 blight elimination district, which allowed for renovation of a vacant building, now a new facility at 229 E. Green Bay St.
- United Coop redevelopment. In 2015, United Coop applied and was approved for a combination of tax increment financing funds in the TIF 6 blight elimination district. These funds assisted with the redevelopment of their blighted property and expansion of their business in the city.
- 153 S. Main St. revitalization. In 2015, the property at 153 S. Main, which many know as the former Qualheim’s building, was purchased by a development group to be renovated and made available for business opportunities in Shawano. The property was in such poor condition that financing for the renovation would not have been available without a tax incremental financing grant and a low-interest loan provided by the TIF 4 blight elimination district. The property has been completely gutted and stabilized. The owner is awaiting a tenant before completing the renovation.
- Dunham’s Sports Development. The Dunham’s Sports project in 2016 provided a much needed anchor to the Shawano Plaza. The site became attractive to the national chain because of the availability for TIF funding, which helped provide flexibility for the major undertaking of converting the former K-Mart facility into updated, more reasonably sized units. This project likely would not been done without the funding opportunities provide by the TIF 6 blight elimination district.
- Tom’s One Stop revitalization. The Tom’s One Stop project in 2016 called for the removal of fuel tanks, the fuel canopy and a dilapidated house. Without the tanks removed, the site might never be redeveloped or sold. The TIF 6 blight elimination district was able to support the tank removal, as well as the demolition of the canopy and house.