APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The city of Appleton is hoping to breathe new life into a historical landmark, right in the heart of downtown.
“Mr. Edwards, O’Keefe & Orbison, Henry Ryan, all in the building,” Appleton Historical Society president Tom Sutter said.
A beacon built upon more than a hundred years of history, The Irving Zuelke building was first built in the 1850s.
“Candy shop in the first floor, WTAQ was on the 2nd floor, Irving Zuelke who sold musical instruments and who owned the building,” Sutter said.
Now, the city of Appleton hopes to give the building yet another new life in the form of apartments.
The community and economic development committee recently approved a plan to turn the building into a mixed use property.
The developer plans to use the first floor as retail space.
Floors 2-12 would become 66 residential units, ranging from studios to two bedroom apartments.
Jennifer Stephany, executive director of Downtown Appleton Inc. tells FOX 11 the city is seeing increased demand for urban living.
“Having that building in the heart of the district really lends itself to bring this new excitement and this new opportunity into the heart of the district.”
She says the fact that it’s a historical landmark only adds to that.
“I really hope they capture and maintain that integrity of that historical nature of that building because it brings so much character to the downtown.”
The plans are expected to go to common council for approval on Wednesday.
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