Beaver Dam Common Council Approve Two Developers for Downtown Redevelopment

(Beaver Dam) The Beaver Dam Common Council last night put into place more pieces of the downtown redevelopment puzzle. Alderpersons approved a pair of developers agreements related to the Weyco Shoe Factory and former Thomas Chevrolet properties. Weyco, which is in the process of being converted into the Beaver Dam Lake Historic Lofts, has been awarded $1.7 million in Department of Commerce grants. The resolution allows the city to act as a conduit in collecting the grant funding for redistribution to the developers. Across the street, Silverstone Partners was approved for $90,000 in city grants for construction of senior living apartments on the Thomas Chevrolet property. The money comes from the city’s recent settlement with landlord Pete Knaup. The city also agreed to move ahead with plans to use $117,000 in stimulus funds to clean-up leaking underground storage tanks in and around the Weyco site.

The council also awarded a contract to Ace Plastering of Beaver Dam for façade restoration on the sides of the buildings left exposed after this summer’s downtown demolition project. The $54,000 contract was the second lowest but city officials say Ace had a better warranty and more effective plans for dealing with crumbling bricks.

Finally, the project agreement for the planned 2013 reconstruction of Highway 33 was approved. The reconstruction will cost $3.7 million in state and federal dollars and another half million in local funds. It sets in stone plans to reduce Front Street from two-lanes to one, with left-hand turn lanes, a pedestrian island and parking on both sides of the street.