Germantown holds purchased Main Street parcels, approves state demolition grant for Flower Source buildings

The Village of Germantown continued to hold two parcels it purchased near the Main Street–Fond Du Lac Avenue corridor while debating how to redevelop the Village Center.

Resident speakers and trustees on Monday night urged a range of approaches — from immediate sale to uses such as additional parking, parkland or targeted redevelopment — as the board approved a state grant application to help pay demolition costs for the Flower Source buildings on one of the parcels.

Why it matters: The parcels are adjacent and were acquired because they offer an alternative access point to Main Street that village officials say could relieve congestion at the Main/Fond Du Lac intersection. How the village handles those lots affects downtown traffic, future private investment and the village tax base.

Village Administrator (name listed in meeting materials as Village Administrator) told the board there are two distinct parcels: roughly five acres of vacant land accessible from Main Street and a smaller parcel with an old two‑story office building accessible from Fond Du Lac Avenue. The village has not actively marketed the parcels for sale pending further planning work but has held talks with nearby Main Street businesses and at least one business that explored expanding at the site but found the economics did not work, the administrator said.

The board voted to approve a resolution supporting an application to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) “bridal sites redevelopment grant” (as described in meeting materials) for up to $250,000 to offset demolition and certain cleanup costs at the Flower Source site. Village Administrator explained the grant would offset demolition and limited remediation costs, potentially reducing the village borrowing that the board has already authorized for site work.

Resident Melanie Smythe said she reviewed the village’s earlier strategic plans and asked that whatever outreach or planning follows be publicized before contracts are signed. “Before we do anything, I would like this plan…to be publicized and presented to the residents before any work happens and before any contracts are signed,” Smythe said during public comment.

Several residents who spoke urged caution about immediate large investments and recommended pausing major work until a broader village center plan is settled. Scott Heffley, a resident who serves on the Economic Development Commission, said the village should make use of in‑house or contracted grant writers rather than relying solely on outside consultants.

The board discussed options: listing the parcels for sale as‑is; demolishing buildings and addressing drainage and minor contamination before marketing; improving the parcels for public uses such as parking or green space; or issuing a request for proposals soliciting developer ideas after clarifying zoning and acceptable uses. Trustees noted some minor environmental contamination likely tied to historical pesticide use in topsoil and a leaking storm sewer that will require remediation or capping prior to development.

Trustees and staff also reviewed prior contracting related to grant writing: the village had engaged a consultant earlier in initial contacts with WEDC but staff said the village will administer any grant and that consultant work had been paused while the board considered next steps.

Board members encouraged patience: several trustees recommended waiting for the village center planning work and related county or school‑district discussions before committing to demolition beyond urgent safety work.

Ending: The board approved the WEDC grant application for the Flower Source site and instructed staff to continue outreach with businesses and to evaluate cleanup and demolition options; trustees said they will revisit marketing, RFPs or further improvements after the broader village center planning process advances.