From an award-winning rebuild of its Main Street to breaking ground on hundreds of new workforce housing units, the city of Waupaca has accomplished much in the last few years. But there’s more to come in this small town with big dreams. The city of Waupaca invites you to contact us to learn more about why Waupaca is the perfect choice for your next residential, commercial or industrial project.
Waupaca’s River North Development
The city of Waupaca is working creatively with its development partners to provide more quality housing for everyday people in the River North Neighborhood Development. This 80-acre TIF district with access to the Waupaca River and within walking distance to the Waupaca Foundry, Fox Valley Technical College, Sunny Day Child Care Center, and numerous parks and trails will soon offer hundreds of housing units. Now in the first phase of a multiphase development, Howard-based Tycore Built is preparing to break ground on the construction of 124 apartment units and 32 single-family homes with starting prices of $249,900. In future phases, Tycore Built anticipates construction on 76 owner-occupied housing units and 120 apartment units for a total value of $69 million.
Also in the River North Neighborhood Development, occupancy is expected this fall for the 45-unit River North Cottages developed by Mosaic Ventures, LLC. Made possible with competitive 9% housing tax credits awarded by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, this project will do even more to address an unprecedented housing shortage in Waupaca. Stemming from a history of underbuilding, Waupaca today has a job-to-housing unit ratio of 1.9 jobs for every housing unit — far in excess of a normalized ratio of 1.3-1.5. Waupaca’s historic investment in workforce housing will be complemented by the city’s new resident recruitment campaign (WeAreWaupaca.com) to promote the many reasons to call Waupaca home.
Runway Drive sewer extension
The city of Waupaca will soon complete a significant expansion of its sanitary sewer system, bringing critical infrastructure to an underdeveloped area surrounding the Waupaca Municipal Airport. The sanitary sewer extension — a condition of a multimillion dollar industrial development project near the airport — will open up adjacent plots for commercial, industrial and/or residential development. With proximity to the airport and easy access to — and visibility from — U.S. Highway 10 (average annual daily traffic of 20,300), Waupaca’s Runway Drive is ready for development.
Churchill Street Corridor
The location of Waupaca’s newest TIF district, the Churchill Street Corridor, links Waupaca’s vibrant downtown to U.S. Highway 10. Home to a diverse mix of retail, restaurant, service and repair businesses, and close to major employers including the Waupaca Area School District and ThedaCare, Churchill Street has seen major investment in recent years — especially by H.H. Hinder, an award-winning craft brewery that anchors the district. H.H. Hinder is in the midst of an expansion project that includes a 400 capacity events space. When complete, the brewery will become a destination not just for beer aficionados but for concerts, weddings and fairs. Despite Churchill Street’s strengths, the corridor has a few high-profile parcels that are ripe for reuse and redevelopment. TIF incentive is available for developers interested in commercial or residential projects in a city undergoing a renaissance.
Contact
Jarod Kivela, Community and Economic Development Director
jarod.kivela@waupacawi.gov • 715-942-9912 • cityofwaupaca.org
InDevelopment Conference 2024
KI Convention Center, Green Bay • Tuesday, Sept. 17 • 2–7 p.m.
For event agenda and details on presenters, read the 2024 InDevelopment Report.
