Former Zak Property Soon Under Development

The city purchased the former Zak property in July 2021 for $580,000. Source: City of Sturgeon Bay. File photo.

The Sturgeon Bay Common Council gave final approval Tuesday to a pair of recommendations related to the future development of a 17.8-acre parcel the city owns on the west side between South Neenah Avenue and Shiloh Road.

The council approved the city hiring R.W. Baird for consulting services to create Tax Increment District (TID) #9 at that site, known as the former Zak property.

Community development director Marty Olejniczak said Baird, which the city uses for consulting services to create new TIDs, will charge the city $7,000. The council also approved hiring the Cedar Corporation for engineering services at the site, with the city’s portion estimated to cost from $20,000 to $25,000, depending on stormwater management design.

City administrator Josh Van Lieshout said the engineering services amount to an initial step to develop the property.

The site is also where the council voted in February to approve a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the city and Howard Immel, Inc., effective through the end of this year, to design and construct a 50,000-square-foot building and space for about five tenants in the industrial park. Immel will share costs with the city for the engineering services provided by Cedar Corporation.

Under the MOU, the city will provide the vacant former Zak property along South Neenah Avenue and some level of financial incentives for construction. However, the MOU does not bind the city to any level of financial incentives or a specific development agreement.