De Pere to apply for federal grant for affordable housing

By Lee Reinsch

Correspondent

DE PERE – A Community Development Block Grant could help transform a former assisted living facility into affordable apartments for those 55 and older.

The De Pere Common Council voted earlier this month to go forward with the application process for the federal grant, administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration.

It would help Northpointe Development convert the former 68-bed Birch Creek Assisted Living Community, 525 N. Tenth St., into a 55-unit development called Oak Meadow Senior Apartments.

The property would include 33 units for those whose income is at or below 50% of the Brown County median income and 21 units for those at or below 70%.

Rents will range from $650 to $1,110.

The project will involve gutting and renovating most of the building; replacing the roofing, HVAC and electrical systems; and redoing the landscaping and parking area.

It’s expected to cost around $9.6 million.

Northpointe has secured loans from WHEDA, along with investments from public and private funders, and is applying for $1.5 million in grant funds.

The developer’s other projects include The Rivers Senior Living in Oshkosh, Bayside Senior Apartments in Oconto and Kenwood Senior Living in Ripon.

In other business, the council voted to:

• Sign on with Security Luebke Roofing to replace a 1,045 square foot section of the roof at the De Pere Ice Center. Security Luebke bid $9,685 for the project. The failing roofing section is in the garage area which houses the Zamboni and the refrigeration plant.

• Sign an agreement with Cedar Corporation for consulting services and an analysis of the retaining wall and sheet pile wall at Voyageur Park, for a price tag of $7,200.

• Approve $3,000 in additional funding to complete the Fox Point boat launch furnace project, with money from the general fund. The project turned up short of funds after costs for WPS to install a gas line more than doubled since the original quote. In a memo, Director of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry, Marty Kosobucki, said the city had two options: wait till next year to install the gas line and meter or do it now. If it was to wait until next year, although feasible, the cost to heat the space would likely skyrocket.

• Accept a donation of $350 from the Woman’s Club of De Pere to the Recreation Scholarship Fund.

• Accept a donation of $500 Donation from Brown County Community Women’s Club for Activities/Community Center Facility Needs.

• Accept a donation of a first-aid table valued at about $583 from BayCare Clinic.

• Accept a $2,500 donation to the Recreation Scholarship Fund from the Wochinske Family Foundation.