Sheboygan to demolish former Senior Center, Naval Reserve Center
The building was originally constructed as the Lincoln Elemary School
SHEBOYGAN — The City of Sheboygan is reviewing bids from construction companies to demolish the former Senior Activity Center and U.S. Naval Reserve Center.
Located at North 5th Street and Wisconsin Avenue in the Ellis Historic Neighborhood, the city-owned building has sat vacant since the Senior Center moved to its current location on North 8th Street in November 2022. The city had sought bids for the complete razing, disposal and site restoration. Bids were due to City Hall yesterday.
Much like other city-owned properties, the former Senior Center has been neglected. Since relocating to the former Piggly Wiggly and Save-a-Lot store on North 8th Street, the weeds and bushes were allowed to grow out of control. When grass is cut, workers fail to remove the grass clippings from the sidewalk and street, leading to hazardous conditions. The city refused to consider converting the building into a homeless shelter in favor of other development plans not yet released to the public.
In 1968, nine homes were razed to allow for the construction of the $371,000 Lincoln School. One year later, the school opened and around 120 students attended class there. In 1980, the Sheboygan Board of Education approved closing Lincoln as a cost-saving measure.
In February 1985, the United States Navy purchased the school building for $195,000. The Navy was leasing the building from the school district for $36,000 per year when the Naval Reserve Center opened in January 1983. Sheboygan's old Naval Reserve was located where Harbor Winds motel is located present day, which is also owned by the City of Sheboygan.
The Naval Reserve Center closed in December 1995 as part of budget cuts by the U.S. Department of Navy. The city’s Senior Center bounced around Sheboygan in a variety of locations until settling into the Naval Reserve building in 1996. It grew steadily at its Wisconsin Avenue building, rebranding in 2007 to become the Senior Activity Center of Sheboygan.
Taylor Zeinert, the city’s Director of Planning & Development, told WKTS News there is significant maintenance and safety issues that render the building unsuitable for use.
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