Drexel Town Square Update Coming Tuesday

An official update on the Drexel Town Square development plan is scheduled for Tuesday's Oak Creek Common Council meeting.

Wispark President Jerry Franke will be joined by several development partners at a presentation that will include a history of research and actions leading up to the development plan, according to a report to council members.

City officials say residents will be able to provide input at a separate presentation on Feb. 11.

Tuesday's council meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Oak Creek City Hall, 8640 S. Howell Ave.

Plans for the Drexel Town Square have drawn criticism in recent weeks after a report that developers were negotiating with Meijer Inc. to open a 192,000-square-foot store that would anchor the development, near the corner of Drexel and Howell avenues.

Residents and some city officials have been cold to the idea of a big-box store as part of Drexel Town Square, while others say one may be necessary to drive traffic and other retailers to the site.

The Drexel Town Square project aims to create a new downtown for Oak Creek on the former Delphi site. The city and Wispark, the development arm of We Energies, envision apartments, a "Main Street" with shops leading to a town square, restaurants, retail and a new city hall and public library.

An update on the new library and city hall is scheduled to follow the Drexel Town Square presentation.

Stay up-to-date on the redevelopment project with Patch's Drexel Town Square page.