Large industrial sites were the lifeblood of many Wisconsin communities in the 20th century, serving as major employers and economic engines for surrounding towns and cities.
The Great Recession and other declines in manufacturing led to factory closures, and in the years since, local leaders have been working through what to do with the vacant properties.
In Janesville, a large General Motors assembly plant on the city’s south side ended production in 2008 and hasn’t been in use since.
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Earlier this summer, the city took possession of the 240-acre property from a developer who had bought it from GM in 2017. City Manager Kevin Lahner told WPR’s “Wisconsin Today” that he and city staff are engaging community stakeholders to determine how the property should be used.
“We are looking at really anything and everything as it relates to the site,” Lahner said. “We’re really excited about turning it into something that everybody can be proud of.”
He said data center companies started contacting the city as soon as it acquired the property, but local leaders are still determining what the best uses of the land would be. A data center could be part of that use, but he’s formed an advisory board of community members and local business leaders to help shape those decisions.
Some southside residents have expressed concerns about having their perspectives properly represented in the process. Lahner said the city will have multiple opportunities for community input as part of a “comprehensive engagement process.”
“We want to do something that the vast majority of the community is going to support and that is realistic,” Lahner said. “So we have to make sure that we balance the input and then what can actually be built on the site.”
The property has been sitting vacant for more than 15 years, but the city isn’t going to rush through the process of developing the land.
Lahner expects the planning and engagement process to take a couple of years as they take their time to get it right.
Brillion Iron Works sees new life
Developers up in Calumet County have taken a similarly patient approach.
The former Brillion Iron Works foundry site closed in 2016. The city of Brillion worked out a deal with the local equipment company AriensCo to acquire and redevelop the site.
Daniel Ariens, vice president of Ariens Family Office, told “Wisconsin Today” the city maintains ownership of the 144-acre site but granted AriensCo a 99-year master lease to develop the land.
“The process is very much the same as Janesville, where we did a lot of community outreach,” he said. “I think it took us about a year and a half, but it was a lot of different city council meetings and public input sessions and just getting a feel for what the community wants.”
The broader redevelopment effort is called the Brillion Works District.
Its first project was a partnership with KinderCare to open a day care facility on the site in 2021. In 2023, AriensCo worked with Emplify Health to build a health care clinic.
Last week, Brillion Works director Elise Ariens announced they started construction on a 42-unit apartment complex.
“I think people are just ready to see some movement on the site that is anchored toward the residential part,” she said. “We also have converted the old foundry building into an AriensCo office, so that is pretty big for our site.”
These projects have provided steady development on the site over the last four years, but the site’s director expects the long term plan for building out the property could continue for another 20 years.
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