City Inches Toward Public-Private Partnership at Delphi
Community Development Authority will be involved with acquisition.
Oak Creek has taken another step toward a public-private partnership to redevelop the Delphi site.
The Common Council on Tuesday gave the go-ahead for the city’s Community Development Authority to participate in the acquisition of the former Delphi property, 7929 S. Howell Ave.
Among other advantages, doing this allows the CDA to potentially receive grant funding to help the city purchase the site, City Attorney Larry Haskin said. Oak Creek previously committed $2 million toward acquiring the 85-acre parcel, while Wispark, a subsidiary of We Energies, will spend $6 million.
The CDA is a quasi-government body that functions as the city’s economic development organization.
The terms of a public-private partnership are still under negotiation. One possible outcome, Haskin said, is that the city could wind up a part-owner of the property.
Mark Verhalen, a current School Board member and former alderman, said that's a scenario the city should avoid.
"It's really not the city's job to be in real estate speculation," he said.
But Haskin and Oak Creek aldermen said approving the CDA's participation was a more broad move that allows for greater flexibility.
"There are pros and cons as to whether the city should or should not be on the title," Haskin said. "This simply gives us the opportunity to explore those options."
Unchartered waters
Haskin noted that redevelopment is new territory for Oak Creek.
While a suburb like West Allis has years of experience in redeveloping old industrial sites, Oak Creek has really only dealt with new development.
The Delphi and lakefront both fall in that redevelopment category, and that means a new approach.
"We are in a brand new world in terms of redevelopment," Haskin said, "both at the lakefront and Delphi."
Mark B
9:41 am on Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Local government should keep it's nose out of this and let the market work. They will already have a say in what eventually gets developed on the Delphi site via the planning comission.
Theresa
9:03 pm on Thursday, May 5, 2011
I think the Delphi area should not be used for the library or city hall. The citizens of Oak Creek lost a lot of jobs when Delphi shut down. They need to build something for the entire city not just a few city employees. Something to bring back some jobs.
We have a site to expand the high school. Use it. The Howell and Puetz area is too busy to deal with the high volume of student traffic both on foot and in cars. Bring in jobs .We build these elaborate city buildings to say hey look what a rich city we are .Meanwhile many of the residents need jobs.
Connie Ploch
9:39 am on Friday, May 6, 2011
WHY not attract business to help pay taxes on such a premium site? If City Hall moves to the former Delphi Site what happens to citizens taxes---just another tax increase???
Resident of O.C. Paul
10:09 am on Wednesday, June 22, 2011
What is so wrong with the current Library and City Hall, all I see is that the Mayor and other city officials just want to spend money on something they already have. I can imagine what is going on in their minds...SPEND SPEND SPEND...IT"S NOT OUR MONEY!!!
Catherine A Roeske
10:21 am on Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Wouldn't it be great to have the city government LISTEN to the people! The City of Oak Creek has no right to spend this kind of money in this economy. It's disgusting. Bring in jobs for all the Oak Creek residents that need one. That would be looking forward to our future. Building these city monstrosities is only diminishing our future to debt that falls back on the very people begging not to make these poor decisions.
Resident of O.C. Paul
10:25 am on Wednesday, June 22, 2011
The city government LISTENING to the people that they are supposed to be representing...what a concept...They only listen to themselves.