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‘We’re past due as an industry to grow up some’
October 21, 2024
MANITOWOC – Sitting vacant for about a decade, the old Manitowoc mall site will finally get a facelift.
Earlier this year, the City of Manitowoc sold the property to Green-Bay-based Tycore Built, which will develop the 37-acre site with new homes, apartments and commercial spaces.
“This has been a project that has been envisioned or wanted by the community in general for more than a decade,” Adam Tegen, Manitowoc’s community development director, said. “Working with a developer who came forward and expressed interest in the property and was willing to work with the city on what it wanted was a somewhat lengthy timeframe – to be able to acquire and work out a development agreement – was a huge success. It will be one of the biggest redevelopments ever approved for the city.”
Tegen said he’s thrilled Tycore Built saw a vision with the property and wanted to develop it.
“We’ve had interest in the past from developers, and we’d pass that along to the owner (of the property),” he said. “For whatever reason, those projects just never seemed to pan out after they left the city’s hands. So, I think that was a big reason the city said, ‘You know what, we need to get this property out of our control and let a developer take over.’”
Positive reactions
Alex Ryczek, director of business development at RealtyHive, said Tycore is equally excited about the project.
“It seems like there has been a positive reception,” he said. “We have a website (tycore.realtyhive.com/manitowoc) for that particular property. On the website, it talks about the City of Manitowoc, it talks about us a little bit and then the project. It has been in the news, and people have reached out to us and Adam.”
Ryczek said they wanted to give people an outlet where they can request some information or sign up to be on a waitlist for possibly buying a home or renting an apartment.
“We’ve had a large number of inquiries to that website,” he said.
RealtyHive has been a part of the real estate community for more than 32 years and frequently works in banking and the private sector.
The company was founded by Tycore Built CEO Wade Micoley more than three decades ago.
“Far and away, most of the comments we’ve heard have been positive in nature (with the project),” Tegen said. “The majority of the community is very excited to see that there is actually something coming.”
Another huge need in the community that has been expressed over the last several years, Tegan said, is the need for more housing.
“We need housing, whether it’s single-family or apartments,” he said. “The fact that we’re bringing housing on the site, in addition to the fact that it is being redeveloped, has been very well received.”
More on the project
Tegen said the $70 million project – Mariner Lux, which is located on the city’s far northeast side near East Magnolia Avenue and Memorial Drive – is expected to include at least 40 homes, 168 apartments and three commercial spaces.
“Those are the minimum expectations of the city from the developer,” he said. “We’re hoping that it will end up being a little bit more than that, but that’s kind of what they’ve agreed to provide.”
Ryczek said he thinks those numbers will be close to what will come to fruition.
“There are things that can adjust depending on how utility and design work goes,” he said. “We may add or lose a lot or two – it depends on all the technicalities.”
According to the RealtyHive website, specifics on houses include:
- Homes will feature full basements, high-efficiency heating, 2×6 wall construction, R-19 insulated walls, R-50 ceilings, passive radon venting and more. Selections can be made based on the progress of the build, with upgrades available.
- Plans vary from 1,065-1,916 square feet, with 2-bedroom/2-bath and 3-bedroom/2.5-bath options
- Two- or three-stall garages will be available
Apartments highlights include:
- Sizes will vary from 900-1,200 square feet
- 1 bed/1 bath and 2 bed/2 bath – with varying square footage of each – will be available
Other amenities are listed on the website.
Ryczek said engineer and design work should be completed this winter, with home construction beginning next spring.
“There are a lot of things that have to line up,” he said. “A really cold winter or a lot of rain early next year could change things, but we would like to be ready to kick off as soon as we can in spring with moving dirt and utility work. It will definitely be a multi-year project.”
Commercial spaces
To give those in the development food, lodging, convenience, etc. options, Tegen said the city set forth minimum expectations on the types of tenants for the site.
“We don’t want to see a commercial space that might be considered less than desirable,” he said. “During the development discussion, we agreed that, for example, if it’s going to be a gas station, it might be something like a Kwik Trip or a Grand Central Station, or if it’s going to be a quick eats place, a Firehouse Subs might be a good option.”
Ryczek said Tycore/RealtyHive doesn’t want to make any promises quite yet on what type of commercial spaces will be included in Mariner Lux.
“Currently, we have no specifics on what type of commercial spaces might occupy the development,” he said. “Obviously, the city has been in contact with the community, and people near the area have expressed interest in what they feel makes a lot of sense there. It’s what we think the community wants, what they’ve expressed interest in and what we feel is a good fit.”
Ryczek said there are plenty of options.
“What services aren’t really in that area that could be, or what businesses could help support that part of the community?” he said. “Things along the lines of food, convenience, a gas station or a store. Some other items are being considered, but mostly it revolves around convenience and food options.”
Ryczek said there’s even been talk about a hotel.
“If a hotel reached out and expressed interest, I don’t think that conversation would be turned down,” he said. “I don’t know if that is going to be a realistic result, though. I’m not saying we wouldn’t want someone from a hotel to come – not saying that – but maybe that wouldn’t be a good fit there. I’m thinking more along the lines of food and convenience items are what the community needs in that area.”
Motorcycle ride = development
Ryczek said historically, Micoley always wondered what was going to happen to the property.
“That property has been there for a long time,” he said. “Wade tells me a story about how he would take his motorcycle – over the last 10 or 15 years – and drive down a nice stretch there along the Lakeshore, and he always had his eye on that property – ‘Hey, what’s going to happen there?’ Now it’s a reality.”
Ryczek said Tycore/RealtyHive are doing projects all over Northeast Wisconsin.
“We probably have 10 different communities and housing projects we’re working on with different municipalities,” he said. “Because of that, we are always engaging with different city officials. We connected with Adam and took a tour of Manitowoc and different areas in their comprehensive plan. We saw a need for housing, and we think it’s a good fit. That’s kind of how it started.”
Tegen said the 37-acre site has been abandoned in phases over the years.
“It’s really three properties in all,” he said. “One was never really developed, one was the former mall and then there is a back portion, which has gone by several names as well.”
Tegen said with the mall, the city worked with the previous owner to have that building razed almost 10 years ago.
“There is one remaining building on the site currently being taken down,” he said. “In the next few weeks, that should be done. From there, Tycore will do its thing. The goal of the city is to basically turn over a piece of property that’s flat and ready to go for whatever infrastructure they’ll need.”
