Germantown staff to compile vacant-storefront and commercial-lot data; EDWC invited to advise

Village staff told the Economic Development Commission that they are assembling data on vacant storefronts, large lots for sale and commercial/warehouse availability to inform economic-development strategies.

Administrator Krecklow said staff pulled together a map and a list of lots for sale (properties five acres or larger) used in a separate board discussion; he proposed the commission focus first on a manageable study area—County Line Road—to collect vacancy and ownership information. He advised that commercial industrial vacancy and warehouse-space data are typically maintained by commercial brokers and regional research groups; those brokers may share summary reports but guard raw proprietary data.

Commissioners suggested leveraging the Economic Development & Workforce Council (EDWC) resources and commercial-broker subscriptions to obtain vacancy and market reports. Staff said EDWC representative Christian Cheslock is unavailable on Nov. 11 but could attend on Dec. 9; staff will explore what EDWC or broker-provided reports might be available and return with a County Line Road vacancy/ownership list at the Nov. 11 meeting.

Why it matters: Commissioners said having targeted, owner-contact information and market-level vacancy data would allow the commission to be a resource for prospective businesses and generate ideas for reuse of empty storefronts and larger lots.

Ending: Staff will return Nov. 11 with County Line Road property data and follow up on broker/EDWC resources; EDWC participation possible Dec. 9.