Risks Will Have To Be Taken For Downtown Redevelopment

Officials with the Downtown Exploratory Committee and Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership say some risks will have to be taken to develop properties Downtown. DFP Executive Director Amy Hansen says they would like to create more Downtown apartments in current buildings, but some type of incentive program might have to be created for that.  She says that might involve bringing in a development team to get cost estimates. Meanwhile the committee suggested creating requests for proposals to redevelop other properties that are vacant. Committee Chairman Sam Meyer says that might involve buying a property and sending requests for proposals to developers. Hansen says the DFP is working on getting similar proposals for the Elks Club and Main Exchange, but they already have the cooperation of those owners. She says they could really be a catalyst for the areas they are in if they found good tenants. She says it could really change the neighborhood.