NEENAH, WI — The redevelopment of the Shattuck Middle School property is on hold. The Neenah Common Council votes 5-4 against a rezoning request from Northpointe Development of Oshkosh. The company hoped to convert the current school building into senior apartment units while building townhouses and single family homes in the two blocks along Elm Street. Alder Todd Stevenson opposed the rezoning until some key questions are answered.
“I’m saying the city needs to become more involved,” Stevenson said. “Utilizing redevelopment opportunities we have available to us. Maybe in exchange for programming rights in the gymnasium or programming rights in the auditorium. We haven’t had those discussions.”
Alder Cari Lendrum, who lives near the Shattuck property, supports the rezoning because Northpointe adjusted the project to meet neighborhood concerns.
“Northpointe has listened to me and to us,” Lendrum said. “And given back a large chunk of green space, which we asked for. We also asked for a reduction in the number of rental units in the school and even to remove the rental townhouses to make room for the most request items from the neighbors which is single family homes.”
Northpointe co-owner Andy Dumke, however, says his company’s proposal has a limited time for action.
“I have to make a decision by December 15th,” Dumke said. “We only do a couple of these deals around the state each year and we have to get our ducks in a row to put these applications together. I mean, most likely, if it doesn’t move forward today, I’ll just move on to some other developments. That being said if it’s here still sitting here two years from now, I’m not saying I’ll walk away forever. But in the short term I’d rather move forward with some other development.”
Shattuck Middle School closes at the end of this school year. Neenah High School moves to a new building in 2023 with the current high school building taking over middle school operations.
