APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – This week, Appleton city leaders voted down a land purchase from Outagamie County to move the proposed exhibition center project forward.
Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson says he wants to re-open talks regarding the land on W. Lawrence Street.
“We wanted to get in sooner rather than later and try to at least throw into the mix another proposal for the city to entertain,” said Nelson. “I think that I have a responsibility to step up, get involved and offer another counter-proposal to keep this alive.”
The deal, for $2 million, was rejected on an 8-6 voted Wednesday night. One of those against the proposal was Alderman Kyle Lobner.
“We were buying a lot for roughly twice its assessed value and replacing the parking they were losing by giving it up,” said Lobner. “That’s roughly the equivalent of buying someone’s house, paying double the market value for it and then building them another house.”
Lobner, however, says that wasn’t the biggest reason he voted no.
“The shift that we made this year from a model that involved the project being privately owned, to the city owning the project,” Lobner said, adding he was surprised the council had the 8 votes against.
Lobner also cited concern with regards to the future ownership of the Paper Valley Hotel.
Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director Pam Siedl told the Appleton Post-Crescent that the proposed site, across the street from the Paper Valley Hotel, is the only site under consideration for the expo center. The current plan also called for the hotel to manage the center.
County Executive Nelson says he can only help with the areas of concern directly involving the county.
“If it’s about the ownership question or the finance question, that’s something the county, has nothing to do with,” said Nelson. “But if it comes down to land and parking, that’s something where we can play a constructive role.”
Lobner says he’s willing to listen to another way to make the $27 million Fox Cities Exhibition Center viable again.
“The price of the land is not the sole concern here, there are other issues that needed to be resolved, even if the land were being given to us for free,” said Lobner.
