Development has slowed here, drawing concern from mayor
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff writer
While the City of Burlington has been blessed with a number of successful new developments in the last two years – the new downtown hotel and the Veterans Terrace just to name two – Mayor Bob Miller has to admit things are quiet right now.
“There’s little to no economic growth taking place in Burlington at the present time,” Miller said.
Miller conceded the winter and the holidays do combine to keep things quiet this time of year. But he also said he would like to be able to say there are projects on the horizon.
“We have several irons in the fire,” Miller said. “Whether they will be ready to go by spring, I don’t know.”
One of those is the new auto parts store scheduled to go in at the old Department of Public Works site on Milwaukee Avenue. Miller said the closing date for the sale of the property is set for March.
“That could move up or back, depending,” Miller said.
The downtown retail building proposed for the site adjacent to the city’s new parking structure is also on hold, as the developer is still searching for enough tenants to make the project go forward.
One large project – the new Canella Response Television office facility in the Burlington Manufacturing and Office Park – is still on track, Miller said. He expects the company to make the move out there in April or May.
Miller said the city is working with the Racine County Economic Development Corporation in contacting companies in the area to determine whether expansion is in their future.
“I haven’t gotten all the results back from the RCEDC yet, so I hate to speculate,” said Miller, who added that the city is also working with that group to set up a possible building in the BMOP.
In short, though, the city is following the economic trend.
“As far as the city is concerned, we’re holding our own,” Miller said. “Which could be a good thing at this point in time, too.”
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