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Oshkosh council authorizes staff to prepare offer to buy 118 High Avenue, discusses property strategy in closed session
Summary
Council authorized staff to prepare an offer to purchase 118 High Avenue (the 'Gunderson' property) and entered closed session to discuss bargaining strategy related to several downtown parcels and the Grand Oshkosh redevelopment; council members said city control of the parcel would be advantageous regardless of the Grand project outcome.
The Oshkosh Common Council on June 16 authorized city staff to prepare an offer to purchase 118 High Avenue, a parcel contiguous to city-owned public parking near the Grand Opera House.
Council discussed whether the purchase required open-session disclosure before going into a closed session. After brief public comment and staff confirmation that background materials had been posted with the council packet, a motion was moved and seconded to go into closed session under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(e) to discuss competitive bargaining strategy for multiple properties, including 101 Commerce Street, 201 Pearl Avenue (City Center), 114 High Avenue (Thompson Studio), 118 High Avenue (Gunderson property), and potential sale/leasing related to the Grand Oshkosh.
Council later reconvened in open session and took a roll-call vote to authorize staff to prepare an offer for 118 High Avenue. "Having this property under the city's control is advantageous to us and resolves issues that community development deals with on an annual basis," the mayor said during the open-session discussion before the vote.
The authorization directs staff to prepare an offer; it does not bind the city to a final purchase price or closing and leaves further negotiation details to staff and future council action. Council noted they expect continued partner coordination with county and private stakeholders on downtown redevelopment matters. The meeting adjourned after a schedule of upcoming workshops and orientations was announced.
