Campus housing proposed at Sheboygan Center
Discussions were held on building campus housing along Interstate 43
SHEBOYGAN — For nearly three years, county officials have been discussing the feasibility of campus housing at the Sheboygan Center on the city’s west side
The proposal first surfaced in September 2022 when former Sheboygan County Administrator Adam Payne expressed how housing at the Sheboygan Center would meet both the needs of the county and nearby University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, Sheboygan Campus. Dr. Corey King, Vice Chancellor for University Inclusivity & Student Affairs at UWGB, also supported the proposal.
Last week, Sheboygan County Administrator Alayne Krause told WKTS News the project has been put on hold. "As for the housing, the proposal has been inactive for quite some time and there aren't any current updates to share.” The Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC) is working to identify financial strategies to make the project viable for private development. “At this time, the project has not been entirely dropped, but it remains on hold until a feasible financial path is established that will garner required returns for a private sector investment,” said Brian Doudna, Executive Director of SCEDC.
The land is not owned by the State of Wisconsin. “The property in question is owned by Sheboygan County, and therefore the University has given full deference to the County regarding any land use and development of the property,” said Kristin A. Bouchard, spokesperson for the University. “UW-Green Bay does not intend to implement any housing development as student housing.”
Doudna explained that a Request For Proposal (RFP) has been developed but has not been distributed to solicit proposals from developers. He said the tentative location discussed for a housing concept was the site of the former tennis courts. “The project continues to face implementation challenges, particularly due to limited financial tools and revenue streams to ensure the project’s financial viability,” said Doudna. “While the University would promote the units as housing options, it was not anticipated that this would be a substantial portion of the housing, nor would it be held as a student unit,” added Bouchard.
Several improvements to the campus have been made recently. Crews have been working since early May to replace lights in the parking lot. Just last week, the west parking lot was repaved. Last year, the east parking lot was repaved along with a new asphalt path connecting to the Aurora Medical Center.
The Sheboygan Center was constructed in 1963 at a cost of $1,034,000 on 72.56-acres of land in the Village of Kohler and was opened in September 1964. In March 1965, the land was annexed into the City of Sheboygan. Today, the Aurora Medical Center just south of the Center is still located within Kohler. While the main building of the Sheboygan Lutheran High School is within the city, the athletic field along the Taylor Drive Beltline is within the Town of Sheboygan limits.
Follow WKTS News on Facebook and X for the latest local news.