Single-family home project at old SMC site delayed

The latest plans for developing part of the former site of Shawano Medical Center were put on hold by the Shawano Common Council on Nov. 19 as the city is still awaiting a development agreement with Vans Construction.

The agreement is expected to be ready for the council’s blessing at its next meeting on Dec. 9, with plans to begin shortly thereafter on building six market-rate single-family homes on a piece of the land at Third and Bartlett streets. The city’s plan commission has approved the development agreement “in concept,” according to a letter that City Administrator Eddie Sheppard sent out to homeowners in the neighborhood earlier this month.

Construction will begin on the first home in January and continue for about two years.

Despite the lack of an agreement, the council heard from local residents regarding the proposal.

Shawano resident Dennis Nelson spoke against building the homes, feeling it was not fair to give away the lots to Vans Construction.

“My wife and I chose to move to Shawano about 20 years ago, and we bought a lot on Channel Trace from the developer. The development was developed with the city and the DNR (Department of Natural Resources). We bought a nice lot and paid good money for it,” Nelson said. “I just don’t think it’s fair to everybody else in the city of Shawano to have to pay good money for a lot and there’s no kickback or refund. I’m opposed to this idea of free lots.”

Shawano resident Jeff Zander had a different take, feeling the development should move forward, as it’s a design consistent with the current makeup of the neighborhood, which is mostly single homes. Zander said he owns two pieces of property near the old medical center site.

“We were very relieved to hear that the proposed development is going to be single-family housing, as opposed to the previous ideas that were going to be apartment houses, which were not compatible with the makeup of the neighborhood,” Zander said. “We look forward to a great new addition to our neighborhood.”

Sheppard noted that the city has been aggressively targeting single-family housing for the former hospital site because so many other residents have expressed a desire to see such housing in the area.

“We’ve said previously that was the fit,” Sheppard said. “We just haven’t previously got anyone interested who builds homes to participate in that.”

Sheppard noted that, if the city hadn’t offered rebates on the lots making them essentially free, the site would likely continue to remain vacant.

“We said, ‘What’s it going to take to get you to build single-family homes?’ and this is where we came,” Sheppard said. “They’re willing to put forth money up front to help cover the city’s costs and provide a guarantee that they’re going to do what they say they’re going to do. We feel really good about that.”

lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com