Committee selects three-bedroom modular design for 1019 West Bridge Street site

The Wausau Economic Development Committee voted Tuesday to move forward with a three-bedroom modular house proposal for 1019 West Bridge Street, selecting the larger layout after staff reported the two proposals received offered the same price. Tammy, an economic development staff member, told the committee the department issued a request for qualifications in April and received one response from a modular-home contractor, Solutions for Affordable Homes. The vendor submitted two layout options—a two-bedroom and a three-bedroom—both priced at about $240,000; staff recommended the three-bedroom because it fits the narrow lot and offers more bedrooms for resale or long-term occupancy. "Since the price is the same, why would we want to do the three-bedroom?" Tammy said, adding that the three-bedroom fits zoning setbacks and lot dimensions better on the roughly 60-foot-wide lot. The committee discussed timing and funding. Tammy said the contractor estimated a build window of roughly six to 12 weeks depending on foundation timing and that an earlier start this year was uncertain; staff expects construction at the latest in spring of next year. The project cost proposal included a recommended 10% contingency to allow for change orders, raising the maximum project budget to about $264,000. Staff also said the project would be financed using the city's program income funds rather than ARPA money; the sale price for the finished house is expected to be roughly $140,000 to $175,000, with the city holding a secondary silent mortgage that would be forgiven after 20 years as gap financing to maintain long-term affordability. Alder Tierney moved to proceed with development using the three-bedroom design and Alder Killian seconded; the motion carried on a voice vote. Staff will negotiate details with the proposer, finalize a construction schedule, and return to the committee with any material changes or financing specifics.