Wausau City Hall. MWC file photo.
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The Wausau City Council has voted to amend the development agreement with the Wausau Opportunity Zone, including a price hike on one of the remaining downtown parking ramps should the city ever want to unload the property.
Alders voted to remove a clause allowing WOZ to purchase the ramp for $1 with language that would require such a sale to come at a fair market price. Alder Tom Kilian said with the price of everything going up these days, it doesn’t make sense to sell the ramp for less than the cost of many household basics.
“These are strange times but the fact that it costs more to buy a gallon of gas than multiple parking ramps in Wausau, Wisconsin; I find that disconcerting,” said Kilian.
Community Development Director Liz Brodek said it’s important to remember that the item is being included in the agreement to cover all bases regarding the redevelopment of the property. “This is [only] on the occasion that the city [has no desire to] operate the ramp which is really not in any foreseeable future. We just want to account for a possibility.”
Alder Gary Gisselman says he also doesn’t see a future where the ramp isn’t needed, calling it an important piece of the downtown infrastructure. “It serves HOM Furniture, it perhaps serves a small part of the courthouse, and hopefully future development within that whole block.”
Kilian went on to suggest that even if the fair market value didn’t pass, the council should still find some sort of middle ground “out of respect for the people of Wausau.” Alder Lou Larson previously proposed the change, saying many of his residents were growing tired of seeing the city give up property for the price of a Washington.
But the fair market value amendment passed on an 8-1 vote. The agreement as amended then passed 8-1 as well.
Alders Doug Diny and Lisa Rasmussen were not present for Tuesday’s meeting.
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