Brooke Street Lofts Wins Coveted Community and Economic Development Award

The Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA) is excited to announce the Brooke Street Lofts apartments project has won a 2024 Community and Economic Development Award (CEDA) in the Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse category. The CEDA Awards were established by WEDA to recognize economic development projects, businesses, and organizations that have made significant contributions to the Wisconsin economy. Winners were recognized at the annual CEDA Awards ceremony, which was held September 26, 2024, in Eau Claire, WI.

Three CEDA finalists were selected in each of the four following CEDA categories: Business Retention and Expansion; Community Impact; Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse; and Talent Attraction, Development, and Retention. The winners in each category were announced and celebrated at the awards ceremony that was attended by over 200 economic development professionals from across the state.

“Economic development drives growth and prosperity throughout Wisconsin, attracting capital investment, creating new jobs, and providing an improved quality of life for residents. However, the hard work of economic development professionals is usually underappreciated and often unrecognized,” said WEDA Interim President and CEO Kathryn Berger. “The CEDA Awards provides a much-needed opportunity to celebrate economic development and the accomplishments of so many hard-working industry professionals. I am thrilled to congratulate each CEDA finalist and winner.”

The Brooke Street Lofts project won their CEDA Award in the Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse category, which recognizes innovative real estate redevelopment or reuse projects that demonstrate measurable and quantitative impact on employment and tax base, as well as sustainability measures, such as conservation of energy and water.

Brooke Street Lofts is a historic adaptive reuse preservation of The Northern Casket Company building and Winnebago Cheese Factory in Fond du Lac. At one time the property hosted thriving casket and cheese businesses and supplied jobs to hundreds of Fond du Lac residents. Eventually the buildings were abandoned, continued to deteriorate, and became a rundown eyesore for the neighborhood. These three-story brick buildings have been converted into 62 affordable housing units. The Northern Casket Company property also houses a community room, business center, fitness room, onsite property management office, and outdoor playground. The project focused on preserving as much historic detail and integrity as possible in these National Historic Register buildings, and created much-needed, affordable homes for the community. The $19.9M project, which was completed in October 2023, was made possible through the successful efforts of Envision Greater Fond du Lac, the Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development, the City of Fond du Lac, numerous funders and lenders, and Commonwealth Construction.

“The Brooke Street Lofts apartments is a catalyst project which added more affordable housing to our community. We’re thrilled to receive a CEDA award for what is a key project that serves as an economic generator that will spur significant growth in an underutilized corridor,” Sadie Howell, Envision Greater Fond du Lac President and CEO. “Commonwealth Construction has consistently invested in the City of Fond du Lac and brings yet another beautifully restored building that adds to the quality of life for residents.”

CEDA finalists were screened and selected by an impartial panel of judges comprised of key WEDA members and partners. The independent panel reviewed many projects that were submitted for consideration, but the 12 finalists and ultimately the winners were selected based on the significant economic impact each project has had on its respective community or region.

The 2024 CEDA Awards would not have been possible without the support of WEDA’s generous partners and sponsors, including the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation; Alliant Energy; Dairyland Power Cooperative; First Ring Industrial Redevelopment Enterprise; Madison Gas & Electric; US Bank; the Wisconsin Economic Development Institute; and Xcel Energy.