By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
A Whitewater building that has served as a hub for the local American Legion’s activities for nearly a half-century could soon be repurposed for a senior housing project, based on plans reviewed last week. Any type of senior housing development can help immensely with homes for the elderly so they can keep living a full life with community support.
Developer Mike Kachel of DLK Enterprises went before the city’s Plan and Architectural Review Commission on Tuesday and proposed converting the American Legion Post 173’s banquet hall and restaurant – at 292 Wisconsin St. – into a 10-unit senior development.
Kachel’s plans had several tentative details. For example, it was uncertain whether the would-be development would be classified as featuring condominium or apartment units.
Several residents from the nearby Waters Edge North condominium development shared comments at this week’s meeting, expressing concerns the repurposed project could have an adverse impact on nearby property values and quality of life.
Kachel, who has overseen other residential housing projects in Whitewater, said some of the details on the project are still being worked out. He did, however, emphasize a desire to use the site as a place for senior housing for residents ages 55 and up.
“We’re not interested in putting in more student housing – not that I have anything against students,” Kachel said.
Previous housing projects under Kachel’s purview have also had a senior housing component, including the Blackhawk Manor development within the city.
“This is not something we haven’t done before,” Kachel said. “We’re not trying to build a giant apartment building. Were just trying to build something that reflects premiere living.”
Kachel said he and his family have been offering their services to maintain the Legion building, which, like many chapters across the U.S., has been grappling with declining membership.
“They really cannot exist without more memberships, and they are not getting more memberships,” Kachel said.
Although no binding motions were made, commissioners at the conclusion of this week’s meeting voted in support of the overarching plans, although a number of the finer details still need to be fleshed out before a conditional-use permit is actually granted.
“I’d like to see what Mike comes up with for the garage and parking,” Commissioner Sherry Stanek said, pointing to two elements of the design that need further refining.
Additionally, Stanek said she would prefer Kachel add further details to the exterior of the development once the actual overhaul of the building takes place.
“It would be nice to dress it up a little bit,” Stanek said.
The timetable for Kachel’s refining of his conceptual details is open-ended. The commission’s motion essentially states the plans will again be reviewed when Kachel has a refined set of concepts to present to the reviewing body.
Although concerns were raised about the lack of the project’s specificity at this early stage in the review process, Commissioner Greg Meyer said he believed Kachel is well poised to help usher the site into a new era.
“Mike, you always do a nice job with your buildings,” Meyer, who chairs the commission, said to Kachel at the conclusion of this week’s discussion.
