Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Redevelopment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves RFP to solicit developers for downtown Police and Fire block
Summary
Port Washington council approved release of an RFP seeking redevelopment proposals for the downtown Police and Fire block, favoring townhome-style residential development consistent with the downtown plan and aiming to release the RFP in mid-July with a selection by the Oct. 21 council meeting.
The Port Washington Common Council voted to approve and release a request for proposals to redevelop the downtown Police and Fire Block at 101 W. Washington St. and 365 N. Wisconsin St., with staff recommending the RFP proceed to solicitation. The motion to approve the RFP was moved and seconded and carried on a voice vote.
City planning staff presented the RFP and said the solicitation follows the downtown strategic plan that envisions a lower-scale residential neighborhood on that corner. Bob, city planning staff, said the intent is to "stick to the plan" and to favor townhome residential development on the site while concentrating commercial and active ground-floor uses on existing commercial corridors.
The nut graf: Approving the RFP starts a competitive solicitation intended to replace vacated municipal buildings with private development, add taxable value to the downtown and implement the downtown plan’s recommendation for lower-scale residential uses on the northwest corner of downtown.
Planning staff said the new public safety building is under construction and the city anticipates vacating the Police and Fire block when the new safety center is occupied, currently projected for September 2026. The RFP timetable presented to council calls for issuance in mid-July and a developer selection by the Oct. 21 council meeting.
Council members asked whether the city’s zoning would allow limited commercial or office uses. Bob said the RFP is intentionally focused on residential uses aligned with the downtown plan, but respondents may propose alternatives; the council can consider proposals that differ from the preferred use. One council member said they would not be opposed to limited commercial mixed with residential, but several members emphasized concentrating retail and food uses on existing corridors rather than diluting downtown commercial nodes.
Action: The council approved the RFP for developer solicitation by voice vote; mover and seconder were not identified in the audio record. Staff said they will post the RFP next month and return with a selection recommendation at the Oct. 21 meeting.
Ending: The approved solicitation begins the competitive procurement process; any selected proposal will later return to council for approvals required by zoning, site plan review and any development agreements.
