There is no doubt there is a major construction boom going on in the Sheboygan area. Many parts of Sheboygan are or will see new commercial buildings or apartments under construction. This is a result of the proactive approach of the Sheboygan Planning Department. Planning staff and City leadership have partnered with the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation, the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce and the Sheboygan Squared Business District to hold Annual Developer Summits to promote Sheboygan as a site for developer’s consideration.
This is a review of projects by type that have been developed or approved in the last year. New industrial construction projects include: Sayco Polymers, a polyethylene water pipe, wire and cable company, is constructing a two-story 10,994 sq. ft. corporate office building valued at $5.1M. Old Wisconsin Sausage is constructing a 150,000 a sq. ft. manufacturing facility, for $10M. Approximately 30-40 new employees will be added to the existing workforce. Torginol, a manufacturer of decorative resinous flooring media, has completed a 2,500 square foot addition valued at $813,000.
Gardner Denver Thomas moved into a vacant 61,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility to operate light manufacturing and repair activities of their vacuum pumps for the medical industry. The facility will create 30 new positions. 3 Sheep’s Brewing Company purchased the former Coca Cola facility on North Avenue to operate a Craft Brewery and Tap Room. The Rehabilitation Center of Sheboygan purchased the former Pick N Save on Calumet Drive to operate an indoor storage facility.
New commercial projects include ACUITY Insurance, who continues to construct a 640 car parking structure and additions to their galleria and 240,000 sq. ft. of office space to their campus. This project started in 2014 and is slated to be completed in 2017 at a value of $75M. ACUITY announced the hiring of 150 new employees in 2016.
In October 2015, plans were approved for Parker Johns Barbeque & Pizza to build a new shanty on Sheboygan’s Riverfront. This project will bring 30 jobs and add about $500,000 in value to the riverfront. In December, the Common Council approved an offer to purchase from the John Michael Kohler Arts Center to purchase 39 acres of the former Schuchardt Property to allow the Arts Center to build a state of the art visual storage 60,000 sq. ft. facility to house their vernacular artist environments. The project has a value of $20M and will be constructed over the next three years.
St. Nicholas Hospital is completing a $15M renovation of the ICU and Surgery Center. Aurora Health Care is constructing a new building addition at the Aurora Vince Lombardi Cancer Center located at 1222 N. 23rd Street. Pier 17 opened for business on Sheboygan’s riverfront and employs about 25 staff members
A 2013 housing study revealed that Sheboygan had a severe shortage of market rate apartments. Residential projects were made a priority, Tax Increment Financing District 16 was formed and in October of 2015, the City executed a developer’s agreement with Oakbrook Corporation to build 81 market rate apartments. The project includes 4,054 sq. ft. of retail space in Sheboygan’s downtown on the former Boston Store property. This project is valued at $10.2M with construction beginning in May. In January 2016, the City executed a developers agreement with LCM Funds to building 91 luxury market rate apartments on South 8th Street. The project has a value of $15.1M and construction is set to begin in June 2016.
In November 2015, construction began on an 80-unit market rate housing development off Union Avenue on the City’s southwest side. This project is valued at $5.1M. In May of 2016, work is planned to begin on another 80-unit apartment development on the City’s west side. This project is estimated to be valued at $5.2M. Provided low-income tax credits are received by the Gorman Company, work would also begin on a conversion of Washington Elementary School into 42 Section project of 42 housing units with an estimated value of $7M.
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