KIMBERLY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – An area that’s been considered an “eye-sore” in Kimberly for almost a decade has another chance.
The village now owns the land and wants to move forward with renovation and officials are pledging that improvements will be made this year.
Nearly 10 years after it closed, the site of the former NewPage mill in Kimberly is set to undergo some changes.
Village of Kimberly Administrator Adam Hammatt spoke to WLUK
“The village is now in ownership of the property, and we’re going to be moving full steam ahead here very soon”
Jim Peerenboom owns a nearby bar and is anxious for some new activity.
“Anything would be an improvement, that’s for sure” Since the NewPage mill site closed in 2008, village officials say they’ve been working to get the riverfront property to reach its full potential.
Hammatt also says that’s because it was owned by an international company that wasn’t completely focused on this project.
“It’s been dragging on long enough. We need to get in and make some movement”
While the movement has been stagnant since ground broke on the “Cedars at Kimberly” back in August, the plan is still in place.
It will be a mixed use area with businesses, residences, and green spaces.
Now that the work is in the village’s hands, Hammatt hopes to bring that life back into Kimberly as soon as possible.
“It used to be a hub of activity, and now it’s not. I think a lot of people would like to see it go back to that.”
Peerenboom said, “If you got a lot of people, no matter where they work, they’re still going to be in the area. And that’ll help all of us… they still need a drink.”
Kimberly has now borrowed 13 million dollars for the project, that it eventually hopes to collect in future tax revenue from the development.
Village officials say they plan to get some preliminary work done this summer.
