Oshkosh Council reviews plans for infill workforce housing on Washington and Farmington sites

City staff outlined plans and policy choices for two city-led infill housing projects in Oshkosh—one on the Washington plat and a two-phase project on Farmington—during a council workshop, asking the council for guidance on income eligibility, developer roles and deed restrictions.

Kelly, a city staff member, told the council the projects respond to prior council direction and aim to create “additional houses, that are affordable in our community and then hopefully open up more houses for other people to move into.” She said abatement at the Washington site is complete, demolition contractors were mobilizing and a final plat would come back to council in a few weeks. Kelly said the city used ARPA to acquire the Washington site for $75,000, spent just over $200,000 on abatement and demolition, and currently estimates utility work at about $450,000. The council was told the Washington site would return 18 parcels to the tax roll.

On Farmington, staff said the project is in two phases and the city is closing on the second phase; that parcel will require a wetland delineation that could not be completed before winter. Staff’s estimate for phase 1 public-infrastructure costs was about $1.2 million, and about $1.1 million for phase 2. The Farmington layout discussed at the workshop contemplated about 31 lots.

Staff presented build-cost estimates gathered…