Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Redevelopment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council reviews options after developer rescinds Weinbrenner redevelopment RFQ response
Summary
City staff reported only one RFQ response for the Weinbrenner building, which was later rescinded; the council discussed parking, financing gaps, potential tax credits, interim occupancy, and whether to rethink the building’s future uses.
City staff told the Marshfield City Council that efforts to recruit a developer for the Weinbrenner (Weyburner) building have so far yielded only one substantive response, and the responding party later rescinded its submission.
Steve Barge, city administrator, summarized a December 4 debrief with the RFQ selection team and the withdrawing responder. Barge said the firm raised concerns about parking, infrastructure, and a significant pro‑forma gap that likely would require local financial participation (tax increment financing or other support). He said adaptive reuse projects can reveal additional costs once work begins and recommended exploring options to make the site more attractive to developers.
The Nut Graf: Staff outlined five follow‑up steps: (a) examine options to facilitate more parking (on‑street changes, Spruce Street improvements); (b) investigate street and utility issues that could affect feasibility; (c) have the city’s consultant reach out to additional developers who might be a fit; (d) recontact prior interviewees from last year’s process; and (e) consider alternatives such as interim occupancy, rethinking the project vision (business incubator, clinic, nonprofit use), partial demolition, or — as a last resort — full demolition.
Councilors debated tradeoffs. Alderman Fire and others urged consideration of affordable housing developers previously engaged; Alderman O'Reilly and others noted the building’s historic tower and said selective removal or partial demolition could create parking while preserving character. Staff noted Weinbrenner currently yields about $4,000 monthly rent from a tenant (lease expiring 03/31/2026) and that vacancy will raise maintenance and security costs if the city does not secure a reuse plan.
No formal action was requested or taken; staff said they would continue outreach and hold a staff walkthrough with the current tenant to identify maintenance issues.
