Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/1086494
I N D E V E L O P M E N T 2 0 1 9 3 It has been just over a year since U.S. Venture announced it was moving its headquarters to downtown Appleton. The proposed $54.5 million building is drawing more attention to the downtown, current projects and future possibilities. From new construction, such as a proposed new city library, to projects breathing new life into older buildings, such as the Gabriel Lofts project, it can be challenging to keep up on everything that's going on. The projects go beyond buildings: Jones Park is in the final stages of a complete redo while the Oneida Skyline Bridge's entry into the downtown is being reconstructed. Insight Managing Editor MaryBeth Matzek outlines some of the more note- worthy projects starting on page 4. Appleton and other communities in the region are turning to Opportunity Zones to jump-start their economic plans. While our InDevelopment event has a special session on Opportunity Zones, Insight reporter Jessica Thiel explains what they are and how they work. See her story starting on page 8. Whether communities turn to Opportunity Zones, TIFs or other funding options, economic development remains strong in cities throughout the New North. In Green Bay, for example, multiple projects are on the docket, including the $10 million Shipyard public recreation facility and Green Bay Packaging's new $580 million plant. And that doesn't include what's happening in the Titletown District adjacent to Lambeau Field. Read about Green Bay's latest updates starting on page 10. The City of Kimberly has taken major steps forward to transform a vacant paper mill property into a mix of apartments, single-family homes, restaurants and mixed-use commercial buildings. Read how Kimberly is transforming its riverfront starting on page 14. The Sheboygan FreshTech Innovation District continues to grow with the addition of new multifamily housing with plans to add retail and entertainment venues to the area. Turn to page 16 for more information. The cities and projects I mentioned above are just a snippet of what's going on throughout the region and highlighted in this special section. You can also learn more by attending InDevelopment on March 19 at the Red Lion Hotel Paper Valley in Appleton. One of the event's highlights is a networking session at the Fox Cities Exhibition Center where economic leaders will talk about their local opportunities. We look forward to seeing you there. InDevelopment shines spotlight on New North's many plans, opportunities By Brian Rasmussen, publisher, Insight Publications LLC W hen Jim Kumon, the co-founder and executive director of Incremental Development Alliance in Minneapolis, sees an older building or a vacant site in a downtown or nearby neighborhood, he immediately thinks: "How can we unlock their potential? Northeast Wisconsin has great buildings in its downtowns, and the question also is, 'How can we make best use of them in the community?'" Kumon brings his unique view to this year's InDevelopment conference. Before starting the Incremental Development Alliance, Kumon worked as an urban designer and developer with a diverse background of working in the design, transportation and real estate industries. While the Incremental Development Alliance is headquartered in Minneapolis, the nonprofit organization has projects across the country, with a concentration on the Great Lakes. Kumon says the key to attracting and keeping talent in a community is for its downtown services and neighborhood housing offerings to be in balance. "You can't work on downtown in a vacuum," he says. "The neighborhoods directly adjacent to a downtown need to provide housing choices accessible to all who make the downtown vital, both customers and workers of many income levels." Kumon's presentation comes at a time when multiple cities across the New North are looking at their downtowns and thinking about their future and what area residents are looking for. Creating more housing, for example, is an important part of what Appleton is looking to do with its downtown in addition to creating more space for retail or service providers. In Sheboygan, its downtown is part of that city's innovation district. Kumon's presentation is designed to help communities around the New North unlock the potential of their downtowns. Keynote speaker places focus on downtowns