July 26, 2019 12:45p
(WGTD)---The next step in the process of creating a Pleasant Prairie downtown from scratch will be to get the experts involved.
For the past eight months, some 50 citizen-volunteers have been working various aspects of the project. Their ideas were presented at a two-hour-long meeting at village hall Thursday evening that was attended by a couple-hundred residents.
The next step is to interest developers and planners. A 'Request for Qualifications' was issued a few weeks ago, with a response deadline of Aug. 9th. The village has an aggressive schedule in mind that includes signing a developer by this fall and breaking ground on the project's first phase next year.
A 180-acre tract near village hall has already been assembled.
The project is expected to be a mixed-use development that’ll include retail, dining and various public amenities, all blended into the natural features of the site. The village is aiming to create a unique and memorable experience for those who visit, and in the process, create an identity that goes beyond corporate parks, outlet stores and subdivisions.
Some of the ideas that the various committees have come up with conflict while others overlap. They include developing a town square, amphitheater, civic center, art gallery, beer garden, trails, observation towers, public market and more.
It's anticipated that the developer who is eventually selected will buy in to many of the ideas, but will also be tasked with determining what's practical and feasible.
Village Administrator Nathan Thiel also had a word of caution at the meeting. Private investment won't be enough to cover the costs of developing all of the eventual public amenities. "There will need to be a commitment from us as a public to assist in the financing of these spaces," he said.
The development is also expected to include upscale housing.
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