City of Kewaunee Downtown Property Redevelopment RFQ

The City of Kewaunee is seeking Statements of Qualifications from developers interested in redeveloping the former Hamacheck Property, a 3.32-acre downtown site located along the Kewaunee River. This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) targets mixed-use development concepts that align with the City's Waterfront and Integrated Planning Documents. Proposed uses may include hotel, retail, restaurant, residential, lodging, commercial, and ancillary residential components. Respondents must demonstrate extensive development team qualifications, specifically experience in urban design, site planning, public/private partnerships, and place-making within the Midwest region. Submission requirements include ten stapled paper copies and one electronic copy, due by 4:30 p.m. on January 28, 2022, to Mayor Jason Jelinek. Respondents must provide comprehensive documentation of financial capability, including proposed financing approaches and the anticipated financial role of the City. The City will conduct initial reviews by the Committee of the Whole by February 28, 2022, and will select finalists for a subsequent Request for Proposal process.

The site is zoned B-2 Community Business District and is located within a FEMA flood zone, with prior environmental closure from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources requiring management of residual soil and groundwater contamination. The City owns the property and is not responsible for respondent costs incurred during the RFQ process. Potential financial incentives include Tax Increment Financing via Tax Incremental District #3, with the City potentially open to vacating public rights-of-way or amending zoning as appropriate. No specific set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types were explicitly mentioned in the documentation. All submitted proposals will be confidential and withheld from public view until after the RFP process concludes, in accordance with Wisconsin Public Records Law. One-on-one meetings and site tours are available upon request prior to the submission deadline, providing interested developers an opportunity to further assess the redevelopment potential of the site.