Downtown Mixed-use Infill Devlopment

About a decade ago Brunsell Lumber announced it was moving its downtown Verona truss and panel manufacturing operation to another location. The move left empty industrial buildings along the Military Ridge Bike Trail, formerly a railroad line. The City of Verona established a TIF district to purchase the property and remediate contamination.

Vacant site of former Brunsell facility in 2001

Dane County awarded a BUILD grant of $17,500 in 2001 to hire consultants and plan for the redevelopment of the Brunsell site, and for a new civic plaza across Main Street from the redevelopment site. Vierbicher & Associates facilitated a planning process that created the Redevelopment Plan for the Downtown Trail Corridor.

The Redevelopment Plan describes a vision for the area:

"Ten years from now the area of the downtown where the Military Ridge Trail crosses Main Street is considered the hub of Verona. At this juncture, residents can mingle with visitors, visit a farmer's market, have coffee or dinner on an open air patio, be entertained by jugglers, see a puppet show or participate in a winter ice carving contest.

"This area is a place where the City's elders and children can have fun in a comfortable and safe environment. This area is accessible from the entire community and region by multiple means of transportation including bicycle, walking, public transit and automobile."

The City, through a Request for Proposal process, selected The Alexander Company to redevelop the site as a mixed-use residential and retail project. The City Council approved a plan in 2002 for 26 condominiums along the bike trail, and 8,000 square feet of retail space fronting Main Street. Approval of the project also required a variance from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources from their standard requirements that buildings be set-back 75-feet from the trail. Dane County awarded a loan of $125,000 through it's Commercial Revitalization Loan Fund (funded by CDBG) for development of the retail portion of the project.

At the ground breaking for the redevelopment, Mayor Volker said, "It has been our vision for a long time to do something in our downtown, to revitalize it. This project goes a long way in helping us with our vision, and it's great to see it come to fruition." Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, who also attended the groundbreaking, added, "This project is real mixed-use, a balance between retail/commercial and housing. It is something that people will invest in and really love." (Source: "Rail District Project Steams Ahead: 'Shops on Main' Set for Verona," The Capital Times, July 15, 2003, by Bill Novak.)

Sketch of proposed plaza and 2001 photo of area.

The plan calls for a new civic plaza to serve as a central gathering point and focus for the downtown area. It will border the Bike Trail and include a shelter and a Veterans Memorial.

The City of Verona further increased their investment in the downtown area by locating a new Senior Center about one block from the redevelopment site. The new Center is connected to the redevelopment by the Bike Trail. Dane County awarded a CDBG grant of $115,000 towards the construction of the Senior Center.
 

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Last Modified: September 7th, 2004