Project to on prominent corner to feature retail, offices
By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
The Burlington Common Council authorized the sale of two properties on East Chestnut Street to Burlington Core Upgrades II at its meeting on Tuesday, contingent on several items, including a developer’s agreement.
Burlington Core Upgrades, which has worked with the Burlington Community Development Authority the last two years, plans to purchase the two vacant properties for up to $70,000 – the current assessed value – for the purpose of turning them into a mixed-use downtown commercial development.
The developers have agreed to pay $15,000 with the remaining $55,000 to go toward clean up of the soil at site, which previously housed a gas station. If the remediation falls short of the $70,000, the remainder will be paid to the city.
The sale is contingent on the property getting a clean bill of health from the Department of Natural Resources.
The plan for the properties at 261 and 249 East Chestnut Street looks to enhance the downtown area near the Hampton Inn and downtown parking structure.
At the Common Council meeting, 2nd District Alderman Bob Grandi asked when Burlington Core Upgrades II, LLC – led by Tom Stelling and Bill Stone – expected to break ground for the development.
“Hopefully November is the start date,” Stelling responded.
At previous common council and CDA meetings, the two representatives discussed options, including, but not limited to, first floor retail space and offices on the third floor.
Stelling declined to reveal any of the potential tenants on Tuesday.
The two properties, which run at about 140-by-100 feet, are at the intersection of East Chestnut and Dodge streets.
Further conditions of the sale consist of the city and the developer working together to incorporate any future applications to the property, which may include property variances. The developer could create residential units.
The project originally dates back to 2008 when plans for the commercial building were originally announced. However, when the recession hit and potential tenants backed out, many of the investors also stepped away leaving the project in doubt.
Other matters
Meanwhile, prior to the Common Council meeting, the Committee of the Whole discussed the following items:
- The City of Burlington could buy its second Class B Liquor license from the Town of Burlington for $12,500, contingent on issuing the license to a new business, according to City Administrator Carina Walters.
Earlier in the year, the Town of Spring Prairie sold a Class B license to the city, which will be purchased by Gooseberries Market.
- Noting concerns about American with Disabilities Act compliance, the Committee of the Whole discussed upgrading the restrooms at Congress Street Ball Park, at a cost not to exceed $15,100.
• In addition to the two items above, the Common Council plans to consider the purchase of two ImageCast Evolution voting machines at its May 16 regular
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