The story:Ìý°Â²¹³Ü°ì±ð²õ³ó²¹â€™sÌýDelafield Street apartments
Last we knew
Entering into an agreement with the city of һƷ̽»¨ÂÛ̳ in January regarding the future sale of 130, 200, 230, and 318 Delafield St. (the vacant land and former Public Works annex building across from City Hall), developer Mandel Group proposed a twobuilding, four-story, 219-unit apartment complex. Amenities for the project include underground and surface parking, a club room, fitness center, and dog run.
Lisa and Bob Salb, owners of the historic Blair House at 434 Madison St., retained an attorney to battle the city and proposed apartment complex.
The latest
At its Aug. 28 meeting, the Plan Commission approved the rezoning of the city-owned land from general business and institutional to multifamily residential zoning with a planned unit development overlay.
After hearing public comment about various concerns surrounding the proposed apartment complex, the commission chose to table discussion about the project’s final site plan and architectural review so Mandel Group can revise things based on commission and area resident feedback.
What's next
Mandel Group will return to the Plan Commission at its next meeting Wednesday evening. If the developer decides to revise plans based on feedback from the commission and the public, the plans could be smaller in scale with adjustments made to driveways.
Meanwhile, the city is also pursuing a new National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Blair House as the original listing from 1983 includes a portion of city-owned property at 130 Delafield St.
The story: Downtown һƷ̽»¨ÂÛ̳ Cobblestone Hotel
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After a few rounds of design plan adjustments following feedback from the Plan Commission, Cobblestone Hotels received architectural approval early this year for a 60-room downtown һƷ̽»¨ÂÛ̳ hotel at 704 N. Grand Ave., the former Associated Bank. Situated on 0.86 acres, the hotel will feature an indoor pool, Wissota Chophouse restaurant and 20 parking spaces.
Revised materials submitted by the developer feature variations in window spacing and a softened, gray-toned exterior color palette to blend more with downtown architecture.
Last we knew
After the winter kickoff of the former Associated Bank’s demolition, Cobblestone Hotels hit a snag when a sign posted on the building in late March temporarily halted the project. City staff said the contractor needed to pull the proper permits before continuing with demolition. A permit for demolition was secured in May, but in July, there still wasn’t any movement with the project as Cobblestone Hotels was finalizing its financing, according to city staff.
The latest
During its early September meeting, the Common Council extended the construction deadline for the hotel in an amendment to the development agreement. Under the amended agreement, the project will now be completed by May 31, 2026, rather than the original Jan. 1, 2025, deadline. The developer will also receive $1 million in financial assistance.
Cobblestone Hotels told the council it secured new financing. It hopes to remediate asbestos by the end of this month, tear down the bank by the end of October and start construction on the hotel in November.
The story: Mukwonago Community Library renovation
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In 2020, the Mukwonago Community Library received a space needs analysis and expansion study from Engberg Anderson Architects. The analysis and study revealed that the library’s longterm space needs included a 12.5% reduction in staff space to make the first floor more efficient. Nonetheless, the firm recommended an increase in the library’s footprint of no more than 5,000 square feet in order to accommodate the MCL’s services over the next two decades.
The latest
In July, the Mukwonago Community Library adopted a renovation study from Engberg Anderson Architects that served as an update to the 2020 analysis and study. The board also approved the firm’s proposal for Phase 1 design development.
The $2.7 million, three-phase renovation would occur over six years. Phase 1 would include renovating staff space, relocating the teen area, and building three study rooms and a 20-person meeting room. Phase 2 would relocate existing bathrooms and create two family restrooms along with a new MetaSpace 511 for maker programming and area for book display. Phase 3 would swap and enhance the adult and children’s collection locations.
The latest
Once construction begins on the renovations, each phase is expected to take about two years. The library will remain open and operational during each phase.
On Tuesday, the MCL’s Buildings & Grounds Committee will discuss and possibly act on the progress of Engberg Anderson Architects’ Phase 1 design development. The MCL did not respond to request for comment about the renovations.
The story: Hartland Westrock Residences
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Many Hartland Plan Commission and Village Board meetings have been marked by the discussion of a 267-unit multifamily community on the former Palmer Sand & Gravel site at 700 W. Capitol Drive, less than a mile from downtown Hartland.
In November, the Joint Review Board considered all documents, resolutions, and public comments made on the development at the old quarry. No questions were raised, and the creation of TID #7 was approved, proposing to pay costs totaling about $18.2 million.
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In April, Hartland handed down final approval for the land’s rezoning and the planned unit development agreement with developer Three Leaf Partners, founded by Milwaukee Bucks player Pat Connaughton.
The project will feature 10 24-unit garden-style stacked flat buildings and three nine-unit, three-story townhome buildings with rear garages. Amenities include a clubhouse, fitness center, pool and pet exercise area.
What's next
Construction on the Hartland Westrock Residences is now underway. According to Three Leaf Partners’ website about the Hartland Westrock Residences, Associated Bank has taken the lead on construction financing alongside Johnson Bank and Greenwoods State Bank. The developer also noted that the development will be delivered in phases, with the first units available for occupancy in summer 2025.
The story: Welshire Farm project in Town of Delafield
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In January, the Town of Delafield rezoned the Thomas family farm properties from agricultural to planned district development to make room for 212 living units. The development is bordered by Interstate 94 to the south and Elmhurst Road to the east. Some residences will be very close to, but not on, Pewaukee Lake.
Neumann Developments is spearheading the Welshire Farm subdivision that will include single-family homesites on quarter-, third-, and halfacre lots and side-by-side condominiums. Amenities include 40 acres of preserved land for neighborhood trails and green space.
The latest
The developer took ownership of the 150-acre parcel of land on May 17 for a total of $6.4 million.
The Delafield Town Board approved plans for the subdivision at its June 25 meeting. At that time, Neumann Developments said it anticipates building roughly 30 homes annually, with the subdivision completely finished in six or seven years.
What's next
Construction has begun on the Welshire Farm project, and the development will be built in phases, beginning on the west side of the property with 10 condominium duplexes and 45 single-family homes. Neumann Developments did not respond to The Freeman’s questions about future phases of the project.
The story: һƷ̽»¨ÂÛ̳ County budget
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һƷ̽»¨ÂÛ̳ County is looking at a $5 million budget gap going into the 2025 budget.
һƷ̽»¨ÂÛ̳ County Executive Paul Farrow previously said there will be some position cuts. Departments are already recommending some to maintain their budget. It is up to the County Board and Farrow to work together to figure out whether there is a need to explore new revenue options for 2026-2027.
The latest
Farrow previously announced the creation of a budget task force made up of municipal leaders and business representatives who discussed what the county budget may look like over the next five to 10 years.
The three main options the county has for a new revenue stream would be a wheel tax, a sales tax or an increase to the tax levy. The county could go to referendum to do an increase to the county levy.
A referendum would be similar to what school districts do when they go out for referendum for operations or to build a new school.
What's next
In August the һƷ̽»¨ÂÛ̳ County Board heard a Budget Task Force report by Raftelis, County Department of Administration Director Andrew Thelke and County Chief of Staff Shawn Lundie. Emily Uselton of Raftelis said they assessed the challenges the county is facing, opportunities, the resources available and how they are being deployed.
The task force felt the sales tax could address the preliminary budget gap.
Farrow will present the 2025 Proposed County Executive Budget at the County Board’s next meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
