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Council to reissue RFQ for Winebrenner building with focus on market-rate mixed-use proposals
Summary
City staff said the council will send a revised request for qualifications for redevelopment of the Winebrenner building, shifting emphasis from lower-income housing to market-rate and mixed-use concepts after members expressed a preference for a project that kick-starts Second Street.
City staff said the council will reissue a request for qualifications (RFQ) for redevelopment of the Winebrenner building with clearer direction: prioritize market-rate or higher-end apartments and mixed-use elements rather than primarily low-income housing.
The city has worked with a Milwaukee-area developer, Jeffers, on a proposal that had emphasized lower- and moderate-income rental apartments and used financing sources tied to affordable housing. Staff said the developer was not opposed to mixed-use concepts but noted financing for affordable units often relies on programs such as low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC), which would not apply if the council shifts the project to market-rate housing.
Steve Barks said the council wants the first redevelopment on the corridor to serve as a catalyst for Second Street and therefore asked staff to refine the RFQ to solicit proposals for market-rate apartments and potential retail or café space. The city originally solicited qualifications in fall 2024 and received five submissions; four were advanced to interviews. Staff plans to advertise the revised RFQ widely across the Upper Midwest and expects to select a development partner later in 2025 if responses align with council direction.
Staff noted a Bowen housing study cited a continuing need for lower- to moderate-income housing in the city, but some council members said the Winebrenner site may not be the preferred location for that specific housing type.
No formal council decision on a developer was announced in the preview; staff said they expect interviews and selection work through the fall and possibly a council selection by November or later in 2025.
