LETTER: Council’s ‘incendiary’ words on condo plan were not justified

To Ozaukee Press:     

As owners of Port Harbor Center, we were disappointed by the incendiary comments made by members of the Common Council, as reported in the Ozaukee Press, with regard to our decision to put our development on hold until completion of the Blues Factory.       

We feel the council misunderstood the reasons for our decision, which was not intended to cause any interference with Gertjan van den Broek’s Blues Factory project.   

 However, the proposed footprint of the Blues Factory prevents acceptable lake views for eight of the ten units in our proposed condominium project, making it economically unfeasible.          

The original architectural renderings approved by the city Design Review Committee, and which appeared in the Ozaukee Press, showed open views with a pedestrian friendly harborwalk and a park area. It did not appear we could achieve the necessary space to match the renderings upon which we relied.      

With increasing interest rates and material costs, it became obvious that building condominiums behind a factory wall, at this time, would not be in anyone’s best interests. When the Blues Factory is completed next year, we will redesign a building that will fit the space.  In that regard, we are commencing the demolition of the former grocery store building and are committed to a development that will be a beautiful addition to Port Washington.                            

Jim and Karen Vollmar Don and Mary Ann Voigt

Port Washington