Humana property redevelopment brings new homes to De Pere

By William Kopp

Contributing Writer

DE PERE – Starting this fall, new high-end homes will be available in De Pere at The Bungalows of De Pere.

After Humana sold its campus near Lawrence Drive, due to an excess of office space, the properties’ surrounding 100-plus acres have been opened up for redevelopment by Atkins Development Group (ADG) to create high-end homes and apartments.

The original building on the campus is to be partially leased back to Humana through a deal made with Preserve Development — the company that purchased the office building along with the surrounding land for $25.7 million in July, 2021 — however, the company brought on ADG for the redevelopment of the surrounding 129 acres through the construction of 90 homes and an estimated 400 apartments.

President of ADG Steve Atkins, estimated the entire project to be completed by 2030, with construction of the homes and roadways already underway as of April 25 — and set to be completed within three years — and apartments to begin construction within a year and a half.

The overall project will bring over $100 million in new development to De Pere and the homes are estimated to cost between $500,000-750,000 and apartments will vary from $1,000-2,000 in rent.

The homes will feature one floor living with accessibility to building a basement in different models, seeking to tailor towards the 55-plus age range in that regard, while still finding themselves at sizes 1,600-2,500 square feet.

“We’ll have a big clubhouse for entertainment and have a workout facility in it,” he said. “[They’ll] have a nice kitchen, have a nice living room. In addition, we’ll have a resort style pool. Last but not least, pickleball courts. Pickleball courts are big now, especially among that demographic.

“In addition, we will provide all the snow removal during the winter and all the landscaping and lawn mowing in the summer.”

The apartments will also enjoy similar amenities including, but not limited to, underground parking; a pool and clubhouse of their own; as well as high end finishes; and walking trails surrounding the 129 acres of land.

While these homes and apartments will not be considered affordable housing, Atkins projected a favorable effect on property taxes with the development of the new community.

“This product is one of the most sought after products in the country right now,” Atkins added. “Everyone’s still quite busy. So people that need housing are finding a way. This adds a unique product that isn’t often found around here.

“Those people, especially when you get to 55, they like the independence of just locking the doors and taking off. And so, with the thought that the grass and the landscaping is taken care of, the snow is taken care of, they can take off for two or three months and not have to worry about it. And the other thing that appeals to them is being around like-minded people of their own age.”

More information is available from ADG on the Humana property right off of Lawrence Drive at 1600 N. Honeysuckle Circle, De Pere, or visit www.epconcommunities.com/wi/de-pere/the-bungalows-of-de-pere/ for more information.