SHEBOYGAN – A groundbreaking ceremony was held Wednesday for North Town, a 99-acre mixed-use development located northeast of the I-43 and WIS 42 interchange in the Town of Sheboygan.
The project, which is a collaboration between Van Horn Development and the Town of Sheboygan, will have over 600 residential units when finished, including six mixed-use buildings with apartments, retail and commercial space, 80 town homes and 80 single-family homes in pocket neighborhoods.
The development will also feature 100,000 square feet of commercial space, a 90-room extended stay hotel, and a town square with retail, dining and professional services.
Since it is located in a semi-rural setting, Van Horn wants North Town to fit into its surroundings by both preserving and enhancing the natural landscape. The architectural design will echo this concept by using natural materials and daylight.
The idea for North Town was first proposed two years ago, according to Chris Merklein, Vice President of Van Horn Development.
“This project started as a friendly conversation between Town of Sheboygan’s Chairperson Dan Hein and me at the Sheboygan Lakers Ice Arena. It is amazing how far we’ve come since that day, almost two years ago. Working with the Town of Sheboygan has been an absolute pleasure. North Town is unlike anything else in the area. It will fulfill a much-needed housing demand and present a unique opportunity for businesses to thrive,” said Merklein.
Hein is also pleased to have an ambitious project such as North Town being built in the Town of Sheboygan. “The town is excited to be partnering with a local developer who has a stake in our community. We are hopeful this project will kick start other development in our business corridor,” said Hein.
Hein also noted that the property cannot be annexed, “guaranteeing the property and the development stay in the Town of Sheboygan.”
After the initial infrastructure is completed, Phase I of the project will begin in October of this year with two mixed-use apartment buildings totaling 134 residential units. The buildings will have retail and commercial space on the first floor, and mostly one and two-bedroom apartments on the second, third and fourth floors. Construction on Phase I is expected to be completed in Fall 2023.
Phase II will begin in Spring 2023 with a proposed 90-room extended stay hotel, Home2Suites by Hilton. Phase III will include town homes and single-family homes on the eastern part of the property. Van Horn will work on the homes’ design concept during the winter months, with groundbreaking occurring in Spring 2023, according to Merklein.
For its commercial spaces, Merklein said Van Horn would like to attract local and regional businesses. The company is currently accepting tenants for the initial 24,000 square feet of commercial space.
