January 3, 2021 – West Bend, WI – The fate of the old West Bend Brewery appears imminent as the cubby hole on the south side of the building that was home to a mother Great Horned owl and her owlets has been boarded up.
It was 2018 with Ric Koch was out riding his bike and spotted the owl nesting in the old air duct in the side of the building. Since then the owls have become a seasonal focal point for city folks.
On Tuesday, January 5 the West Bend Plan Commission is going to review a concept plan to redevelop the old brewery site at the northeast corner of N. Main Street and W. Washington Street (415-485 N. Main Street).
The developer wants to level the former West Bend Brewery and bring in 181 apartments and retail space. HKS Holdings, LLC, plans to purchase and redevelop the former West Bend Brewery site at the intersection of N. Main Street and E. Washington Street.
As a part of the redevelopment, a land use and zoning change was discussed to change the land use for the southern portion of the development from transportation and commercial to mixed use and park and recreation. As a part of that change, the zoning would also be changed from B-2 Central Business District to MXD Mixed-Use District. The land use change and zoning change would make the entire development consistent for land use and zoning as mixed use.
The mixed- use land use designation for this one-acre area is consistent with the lands to the north and east. It would also serve as an alternative land use to transition from the commercial uses to the south and west along with the industrial use (utility substation) to the east. Staff has evaluated the change of use and feels this is an appropriate transition within this area.
The owners of all property within 200’ of the amendment area have been notified and as of this date staff has not received any questions or general inquiries and no one expressed any opposition to the proposal.
If the Plan Commission would find the land use change to be acceptable, the Plan Commission will need to approve the resolution acknowledging the change and recommending the change to the Common Council.
Old West Bend Brewery to be leveled
There will also be a public hearing January 5, 2021 on a rezoning request for the approximate 1.0 acre of land located immediately east of North Main Street and north of Washington Street, at 415 S. Main Street, from B-2 Central Business District and M-1 Light Industrial District to Mixed Use District.
The Plan Commission reviewed and endorsed a concept plan for the redevelopment of this area on October 6, 2020 and the zoning request is consistent with development proposal.
The purpose of the rezoning is to facilitate the redevelopment of this property and the property to the north as one coordinated development.
The rezoning is not consistent with the recommended land use of the 2020 Comprehensive Plan for the City of West Bend at this time but a 2020 Comprehensive Plan amendment has been requested and scheduled on this agenda. Upon approval of the 2020 Comprehensive Plan change by the Plan Commission and the Common Council, the zoning request would be consistent with the 2020 Comprehensive Plan.
The owners of all property within 200’ of the amendment area have been notified of the public hearing and as of this date, the planning staff has not received any inquiries or comments.
HKS proposes a mixed-use development with 181 high-end apartment units and a commercial space for retail or a restaurant.
“We want to bring luxury, riverfront living to beautiful downtown West Bend,” said Tyler Hawley, Principal, HKS Holdings, Inc. “Our design is intended to optimize views and access to the Riverwalk and downtown amenities. We look forward to becoming a part of the downtown neighborhood.”
Through a private sale, HKS is purchasing the approximately 3-acre site.
Many of the living units will have walk-out patios to the Riverwalk and views of the river and downtown.
A public hearing is also being scheduled for February 2, 2021 as plans are reviewed to make the location of the old brewery a Tax Increment District.
The Plan Commission at is October 6, 2020 meeting reviewed the concept plan for the
redevelopment of the old brewery site as a mixed use development located at the northeast corner of N. Main Street and W. Washington Street (415-485 N. Main Street).As a part of the redevelopment, the City is proposing to create a new Tax Increment District (TID) to help facilitate the redevelopment of the three-acre development and adjoining lands. The first step in the approval process is to set a public hearing at a Plan Commission meeting to discuss and approve the project plan and the boundary area of the TID.
The City of West Bend requests that the Plan Commission set the public hearing for February 2, 2021 for the creation of TID #15.
If you remember, three years ago in 2017 there were plans to raze the brewery and when news first broke neighbors were disappointed and heart sick at the loss of another piece of history in West Bend.
Shirley McDaniel Schwartz My heart that has no skin or money in the game says “ no, no, no.” My brain, as simple as it is, sees the problems and the money needed to take an old building and make it doable in today’s codes. I hope whatever is done is tasteful for downtown and the history it holds and not the ultra modern, industrial look that says nothing to the history of downtown West Bend.
Russ Lange There surely can be something that could go into the building to preserve it and not another multi family building.
West bend dont need no more apartments. So much other stuff could be done to fix it up!!
Kevin Carsner Maybe Husars and Tennies Ace Hardware should go in it together. They do want to own all of downtown. Let’s just Not demolish another piece of history. Why can towns overseas have buildings 100’s of years old and still be in service? Oh, I know why. Government doesn’t have their hands in every little bit of it.
Richard Frank Is the WB Company Apartments 100% occupied that more are needed? Sad to see bits and pieces of Historic West Bend removed bit by bit.
Adam Bunkelman West Bend can find more ways to destroy the history than saving it.
Joan Dow Why can’t it be rehabbed in its current state? Leave the structure and history. They did it with the Enger Kress building. And Amity building. Maybe think outside the box. It can’t be cheap to tear it down!!
Chris Weston That is sad that so much of West Bend’s history has become irrelevant.
