WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) -- Wausau Mayor Robert Mielke is calling 2018 a win for the city despite the setbacks that occurred with the Riverlife Development this spring.
"There are some things that didn't work out as they should have, but you know what that's life," said Mielke. "You can be all set to go with the best-laid plans and everything's ready, and it can still tear apart on you. That doesn't mean you throw it all way, you pick yourself back up and try to get things back online."
In mid-Spring it was announced that Barker Financial and developer Mike Frantz had defaulted on payments to Samuels Group, the contractor working on the foundation for the project. Work stalled for much of the summer while the city and the contractor waited out a cure period. Before that period was up the city put out a call for proposals to take over the foundations in the event that Frantz didn't come through.
After the cure period passed in August, it was announced that one local company and one company from Madison were interested in taking over the project. The city hasn't decided between 500 East Bay LLC and Oregon-based Gorman and Company yet but Mielke says a winner could be chosen soon.
"If everything goes right, if not here by the end of December certainly by January we will have things online," said Mielke. He went on to say that also includes the end of the negotiations over the bills left behind by Barker Financial before they were removed from the project.
He went on to say he plans on proceeding more slowly with the project after what happened between the city and Micon Cinemas, where plans for a movie theater in the Wausau Center Mall were announced but never fully materialized due to complications between the three parties involved. "Some of these economic development issues can take a little longer, they are very complex, and everybody's got to feel like they are getting a fair share including the city," he said.
Mielke also hasn't ruled out another chance for a deal with Micon Cinemas in the future. Discussions are also happening behind the scenes with both 500 East Bay LLC and Gorman and Company on the potential for other projects in the city in the event that one of them losses the bid for the Riverlife property.
Meilke says as the city heads into 2019 there's a lot of good, positive energy around it. While he doesn't expect building permits to set a record, he does credit new job growth with companies such as Great Lakes Cheese and WPS Health Solutions along with the proposed $40 million downtown Aspirus and YMCA health and wellness campus and a new HOM Furniture store in the Wausau Center Mall as reasons to be excited.
Other topics Mielke discussed with WSAU's Mike Leischner include (Timestamped):
Start of video- discussion on the future of the Riverlife development, which could see movement in the next few weeks.
3:00- Other projects bringing more jobs to the city
4:40- Official announcement of a new Hom Furniture location in the Wausau Center Mall and what that means for the building's future.
8:00- Mayor's thoughts on the Christmas and Holiday season.
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