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Residential units may join businesses at Village Center |
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Written by Steve Ostermann
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Wednesday, 08 September 2010 18:11 |
Firm wants to add housing to commercial, office space in Washington Street complex
The Village Center may soon join the list of housing options in downtown Grafton.
The Plan Commission last month reviewed a concept plan calling for the use of the second floors of both Village Center buildings, 1206 and 1218 Washington St., by residential as well as commercial tenants.
The center, a cornerstone of Grafton’s downtown redevelopment projects, includes a 22,000-square-foot building facing Washington Street and a 14,000-square-foot building facing 12th Avenue. Both buildings currently have a mix of retail and office space allowed as part of a planned unit development.
First-floor tenants include Grafton Ski & Cyclery, Vino 100, Sweet Trio, Alterra Coffee Roasters, Badger Optical and A-Nails. However, most of the second-floor space has been vacant since the center opened in 2006.
The center is currently held in receivership by Community Bank & Trust of Sheboygan.
Fred Bersch of Siegel-Gallagher, a real-estate brokerage firm looking to buy part of the property, told the commission on Aug. 24 that adding a residential option could helped attract more tenants and make the center more economically productive.
Bersch proposed dividing the second floor of each building into two units, with either space available for residential or commercial use. Because the larger building has eight underground parking spaces, it’s more likely the residential units would be there, he said.
Village Planning Director Mike Rambousek said the concept plan calls for dividing the second floor of the largest building into units of 2,891 and 4,351 square feet and the 12th Avenue building into units of 3,680 and 1,031 square feet. Each division would also create areas shared by tenants.
In recent months, village officials have grappled with downtown parking problems, including complaints about congestion and proposed restrictions at and near the Village Center.
However, in a report to the commission, Rambousek said allowing residential units in the largest center building “would have nominal impact on parking in this commercial district.”
Rambousek said he and his staff preferred having second-floor units in the 12th Avenue building converted to residential use as well.
Commission members took no action on Siegel-Gallagher’s proposal, which would require the village to amend the planned unit development. That process would begin with Siegel-Gallagher
petitioning the commission for a zoning change.
Commission member Mark Paschke said adding the residential option would be an appropriate use in the buildings.
Village Administrator Darrell Hofland said the village is willing to work with developers to make the center more economically viable.
“In light of the lack of second-floor tenants, the hope is that this proposed use will result in a successful build-out of the center,” Hofland said. |
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Gauthier stays local with new headquarters |
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Written by Steve Ostermann
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Wednesday, 01 September 2010 16:01 |
 Biomedical firm plans to build 60,000-square-foot facility for growing business
The Village of Grafton will soon be home to a new 60,000-square-foot corporate headquarters for a local manufacturing firm.
Gauthier Biomedical Inc., one of the nation’s leading providers of orthopedic surgical instruments, this week announced it will construct the headquarters on Highway 60 in the Grafton Corporate Park to accommodate its expanding business.
The two-story building — which will have 32,000 square feet for manufacturing and 28,000 square feet for offices — will be constructed on a 10-acre parcel adjacent to the company’s current facility at 1235 Dakota Dr.
The firm said the new facility, which is expected to be completed by October 2011, will allow it to add as many as 75 employees.
“We are pleased with the tremendous growth of the company,” said Michael Gauthier, the firm’s president. “It is a testament to the exceptional work of our employees and the quality and innovation of our products.”
Established in 2000 in Brown Deer, Gauthier Biomedical moved its operations to Grafton in 2003. The firm designs and manufactures a line of proprietary spinal and surgical instruments used by leading orthopedic companies in the United States and abroad.
Company officials said the new facility will allow them to expand the engineering and production capacity.
The land where the corporate headquarters will be built is just west of Port Washington Road. The firm currently leases space in a building where it has about 60 employees.
Gauthier Biomedical hired Opus North Corp. to design and construct the new two-story building, which is described in a news release as a “state-of-the-art facility that will serve as an iconic showcase for Gauthier’s products.”
Village officials praised the company’s expansion announcement, which comes at a time when many area communities are seeing manufacturing firms downsize and close.
“Gauthier’s new facility reflects a long-term commitment in the village, and we welcome the opportunity to work with them on this new venture,” Village President Jim Brunnquell said.
Village Administrator Darrell Hofland said the company is expected to present design plans for review in the next few weeks, with approval anticipated by October. Pre-construction work at the site could begin this month, he added.
Construction is expected to begin in January 2011.
“The Village of Grafton has been very supportive in the planning of our new building,” said Stacy Gauthier, company vice president. “We are excited about our new location near I-43 and its proximity to other recent developments in Grafton.”
Hofland said the new building, which is expected to use half of the 10-acre parcel, has been presented by the firm as a first-phase development project. The remaining land, he said, has been earmarked for company expansion or use by other businesses.
Hofland said the village will work with the owner of the building leased by Gauthier to attract a new tenant.
GAUTHIER BIOMEDICAL has announced plans to build a two-story, 60,000-square-foot corporate headquarters next to the current facility it operates in the Grafton Corporate Park. Opus North Corp. was hired to design and construct the building, shown here in an artist’s rendering. |
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