January 30, 2023 – West Bend, WI – Real estate sales records for the month of January 2023 have been released and it shows the properties at 105 S. Forest Avenue and East Water Street belonging to Jamela/Michigan LLC of Milwaukee have sold. The buyer is listed as F Street West Bend, LLC.
Jamela/Michigan LLC of Milwaukee purchased the lot in July 2015 for $940,000. The sale is dated January 17, 2023 and covers two parcels; both sold for $1,584,000 a piece. To be clear, the property sold and not the business.
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Taking a look at some recent history on that parcel shows there was a public hearing Sept. 7. 2021 as the West Bend Plan Commission reviewed a change in rezoning proposal for the southeast and northeast corners of S. Forest Avenue and Water Street.
One parcel is a parking lot and the other is the West Bend Transit location, 105 S. Forest Avenue.
While there’s no confirmation on plans for the parcel after rezoning, there has been a trend over the past 20 years in West Bend where jobs and industry have been swapped out for residential including Gehl Co., Enger Kress, Amity Leather, West Bend Company, West Bend Brewery, Lynn’s Recycling and the old West Bend Elevator.
Photo when there was industry, is courtesy You Know You Are From West Bend If….
The above photo, circa 1955, shows vibrant industry with round-the-clock shifts at Gehl Co. and West Bend Company.
Old timers will recall when an officer had to be assigned to swing traffic during the afternoon on Highway 33 near the railroad track. Many of the factory shifts ended at the same time and caused a traffic jam. The situation got trickier when the train went through.
For the past two years the old Gehl Company property on Water Street and Forest Avenue has been developed into a Marriott TownePlace Suites, Trail’s Edge Apartments and Water Street Suites.
That area, to the west of West Bend Transit, used to be zoned industrial and was changed to mixed use to allow for the hotel, office space and residential.
The West Bend Company is now home to Cast Iron Luxury Living and Rivershores Regency. The old Lynn’s Recycling was moved for Auxiliary Court Apartments. Enger Kress and Amity were remodeled to house apartments.
The West Bend Brewery has been razed to make way for apartments.
Remember in 2018 when the Amish built these apartments in West Bend?
West Bend Transit, a commercial trucking company, is across the road from the hotel and Trail’s Edge development and the Plan Commission considered a zoning change on approximately 4.2 acres of land.
Calls have been placed to West Bend Transit and Ben Schloemer. As of publication, calls have not been returned. Early word is Schloemer has a long-term lease at the current West Bend Transit location.
No details have been released on any possible future development, other than the language included in the plan commission memorandum above.
Below are the tax records for the property, 105 S. Forest Avenue.
This is a working story and more information will be posted when details are available.
On a side note: The other property sales show…
3650 W. Washington Street sold January 1, 2023 for $700,000. That parcel is currently home to Charcoal Grill. To be clear, the property sold and not the business. The buyer is reportedly “an affiliate” of the restaurant.
723 S. Main Street sold January 1, 2023 for $823,788. The parcel, owned by MJM West Bend, LLC traces to the Amity Apartments. The buyer is listed as JNG West Bend, LLC
When I worked at Pick Automotive in the mid 70’s, shifts had staggered start times to help with traffic. We started 10 minutes before the hour, I was normally home before 3:30 when other factories let out.