A long-vacant four-acre parcel of land with 450 feet of frontage along Lake Michigan could be developed into multi-family housing in Sheboygan.
Greenfield-based apartment developer Ener-Con Cos. is working on a market study for the former Optenberg Iron Works property at 1403 and 1435 S. 7th St., just south of Blue Harbor Resort.
Ener-Con purchased the property in 2012, and has had it listed for $1.6 million.
“At this point, it makes more sense for us to develop it,” said Alicia Hurst,” Ener-Con office manager, adding that the company is just starting to look at its options.
If the project moves forward, the development will likely include a 90-unit apartment complex with a clubhouse and a pool facing the lake. Apartments would range from one to two-bedrooms with a den, 975 to 1,530 square feet, Hurst said.
Because the development is right on the lake, it is too expensive to build parking underground, so the first floor would be parking, with units built above, Hurst said. The development would look similar to Ener-Con’s other development, The View at Towne Center, which is part of the Parkland Mall project planned in Muskego.
Hurst said the company is interested in moving forward with the project, which would likely begin in early 2017, because of the demand for multi-family housing in Sheboygan.
The land was zoned in the mid-2000s for multi-family housing and condominiums were planned on the site in 2006, however the plan never came to fruition, said Sheboygan County Economic Development Director Dane Checolinski.
“We’re talking about an entire city block, located right on Lake Michigan, any development there would enjoy spectacular views,” Checolinski said.
Checolinski said there are currently three apartment developments underway in downtown Sheboygan, but a thousand units are needed because of recent job growth in the county.
“Sheboygan is outpacing Madison’s growth in jobs created and we have less than 1 percent vacancy in apartments. Our sole mission is to get apartment developments. This could be a wonderful compliment to what is already happening.”
