Administrator says ECDC has expressed interest in Marathon Hall dormitory; building needs extensive work

County Administrator Leonard updated the Extension Education and Economic Development Committee on an expression of interest from the Economic Community Development Corporation (ECDC) to acquire and renovate the former Marathon Hall dormitory at 518 South Seventh Avenue in Wausau.

Leonard said ECDC’s expression of interest proposes using the building for temporary housing for newly arrived refugee families, supportive housing for students and short‑term housing for unhoused women, along with nonprofit and workforce development uses. ECDC indicated a willingness to renovate at its own cost and to return the building to the county if it fails to execute the plan.

Why it matters: The county has held the unused dormitory for years; options include demolition, sale, or a conditional transfer to a nonprofit. Staff said renovation or demolition would likely exceed the approximately $170,000 set aside in a dormitory fund.

Condition and risk Leonard said facility staff prepared an assessment noting substantial condition issues. The structure is heavily concrete and would require significant investment to convert to individual housing units and meet code. “Suffice to say that building is in some rough shape,” Leonard said. He estimated that demolition alone could exceed the $170,000 dormitory fund balance and that renovation would likely require multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars.

ECDC proposal and staff caution Leonard told the committee the HR Finance and Property Committee directed staff to engage with ECDC to gather more detail and suggested that a formal offer, if made, should include timelines and protections so the county is not left responsible for renovation. Leonard said ECDC has expressed confidence it could raise funds to renovate but staff have not reviewed ECDC financials and that a nonprofit typically would not disclose full financial statements.

Supervisor concerns and next steps Supervisors asked about ECDC’s budget and long‑term viability, potential liability for remaining hazards (mold, asbestos) and whether the building shares campus utilities such as heat with other university buildings. Leonard confirmed the building is on the campus heating system and noted ECDC’s proposal acknowledges upgrades would be required. Several supervisors said they prefer a public process (RFP) that allows other nonprofits to submit proposals; others said they view ECDC’s interest as a low‑risk option compared with county demolition costs.

Leonard said staff will continue discussions, aim to meet with ECDC leadership, and return with a more detailed proposal; he added the committee requested a timeline that would allow any decision to be reflected in the upcoming budget if demolition or other action is necessary.