Departments move into new home

The Port Washington police and fire departments have a new home.

The departments essentially completed the move from their former home in downtown to the new $31.9 million public safety building this week.

After a parade of fire and ambulance apparatus traveled from the existing station at 104 W. Washington St. to the new building Tuesday evening, the Fire Department began operating out of the new facility at the corner of highways 33 and LL.

The Police Department was expected to leave its station at 365 N. Wisconsin St. and begin operating from the new building on Wednesday, although there is still work to be done on the structure, Ald. Dan Benning said.

“There’s still a significant punch list of things to do,” he said.

As the departments moved to their new home, aldermen on Tuesday night took the next steps to sell the city-owned property on which the former stations stand for a residential development.

Aldermen gave their initial review to proposals to amend the city’s comprehensive plan map and rezone the land to accommodate the project by PFD Redevelopment.

They also approved a developer’s agreement with PFD Redevelopment — an entity comprised of Fine Line Carpentry of Port Washington and two partners, Paul Schueller and Peter Herrmann, who each own houses next to the site — to facilitate the reuse of the property.

Ald. Mike Beaster cast the lone dissenting vote, echoing statements he made when voting against the purchase agreement with PFD Redevelopment in May.

The purchase agreement calls for the city to receive $465,000 for the property but specifies that the city will reimburse the developer for the cost of moving and burying power lines to the property and demolishing the police and fire stations — a clause reiterated in the developer’s agreement.

These costs are capped at $464,999, so if the costs meet or exceed the cap, the city will net $1 for the sale of the property.

“I just think the city should have gotten something,” Beaster said.

He also questioned why the land is being used for higher-end housing.

“I see a lot of gentrification in Port Washington,” Beaster said. “I want to see young people put their roots down in the community.”

PFD Redevelopment has proposed creating The Seven Hills Collection on the site.

Plans for the development would have 20 townhouses in nine buildings — eight buildings of two units and one of four units — with a public courtyard and green space.

Four different, complementary designs will be used for the buildings, which would vary from three to four stories. Units range from 2,175 square feet to 2,817 square feet.

The developer’s agreement calls for PFD Redevelopment to begin site improvements by June 1, 2027, with completion set for Dec. 31, 2029.

If the developer doesn’t begin work on time, the city can terminate the agreement with written notice, the agreement states.

The agreement also specifies that the developer will pay impact fees to finance improvements to city facilities such as the wastewater treatment plant, parks, the public safety building and library intended to serve future residents.

Items not being moved to the new public safety building will be sold during an online auction by Bichler Auction Services.

The auction is expected to run from Sept. 16 to 23, with items purchased picked up on Sept. 25 and 26.

Any items left after the auction is completed will remain in the building when it is sold and become the responsibility of PFD Redevelopment.