County Executive Falk Announces $50,000 in BUILD Grants to Local Communities for Downtown Revitalizations

August 02, 2005
Lesley Sillaman, Office of the County Executive (608) 267-8823 or cell (608) 669-5606
County Executive

Middleton, WI – Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk today at a press conference at the site of the vacant Sentry store in Middleton, announced three communities were the recipients of $50,000 total in BUILD (Better Urban Infill Development) planning grants for downtown revitalization. The City of Middleton ($20,000), the Village of Mazomanie ($16,000) and the Town of Windsor ($14,000) all received grants. “BUILD grants make a difference,” said Falk. “These three grants will help three communities plan for an old commercial strip mall on Allen Blvd. (County Road Q), a recreational area and a historic restoration for residents to enjoy.” The City of Middleton, represented by Middleton Mayor Doug Zwank at the press conference, plans to prepare a redevelopment plan for the Middleton Springs area, by planning for the redevelopment of a commercial strip mall, and improvement of access for pedestrians. The Village of Mazomanie, represented by Village President Jeff Wirth, plans to prepare a park plan for the section of railroad corridor that goes through the downtown, to provide open space, recreational area, and an amenity for the downtown that will add to the revitalization efforts there. The Town of Windsor plans to prepare a redevelopment plan for the railroad corridor portion of the hamlet of Morrisonville, including relocation and restoration into a museum, of the historic Morrisonville depot. Town Chair Alan Harvey said “Windsor is again pleased to partner with Dane County under the BUILD grant program, working to restore and reinvigorate areas of historic Morrisonville.” BUILD applicants must meet the objectives of the BUILD program, including making better use of existing infrastructure; locating community services, jobs and shopping in close proximity; stabilizing and enhancing existing neighborhoods, downtowns and other business districts; producing housing and jobs for low to moderate-income people; avoiding converting productive farmland on urban fringes and in rural areas; providing viable options to auto trips by supporting walking, biking, and transit; and having the potential to clean up environmentally contaminated sites. The results of BUILD are already making a difference in many communities, by providing new areas for residents to live, work and shop in their downtown areas. Some recent projects include Cannery Square in downtown Sun Prairie, the Shops off Main, a commercial and residential project in downtown Verona, and the new senior housing and retail space going up on Monona Drive at the former Kohl’s site. The Cannery Square project has created a new downtown neighborhood on the site of former industrial sites, with 127 new units, 41,000 square feet of commercial space, and more than $36 million invested in private and public funds. BUILD, a program created by Falk in 1999, has given (including today’s awards) 47 total grants to 20 communities at a total of approximately $770,000. ###