Thiensville plans to boost shopping district

Thiensville - As part of an overarching effort to improve and sharply define the village's downtown shopping district, officials are planning to purchase two vacant properties within the corridor.

Meeting as a Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, the Village Board voted to move forward on a proposal to purchase land at 128 N. Main St. and 136 N. Main St. Several businesses are currently located within the buildings on both parcels.

The village is planning to offer $172,000 for the lot at 128 N. Main St. and $125,000 for the lot at 136 N. Main St. In both instances, the offering prices are between 70 and 80 percent of the full market value.

While there are no firm redevelopment plans in motion for either parcel, village officials have touted the purchases as an opportunity to have more control over the destiny of the shopping district.

Once the purchase is finalized, village officials do plan to have the aging buildings sitting on the lots razed. Environmental remediation work - including asbestos abatement - is already under way.

"The sooner we knock these buildings down … the better off we'll be," Village President Van Mobley said. "These are valuable lots."

The board is scheduled to take a final vote on the plans at the next regular meeting Sept. 17. If plans do continue to progress, Village Attorney Robert Feind said the village is poised to purchase the properties by Oct. 1.

The properties currently house several businesses, including Riemers Flowers.

Several appointed bodies, including the Plan Commission, have reviewed the plans and favored moving forward with the land purchase.

NEXT STEP

WHAT:The Thiensville Village Board will vote on a proposal to purchase properties at 128 and 136 N. Main St.

WHEN: 6 p.m. Sept. 17

WHERE: Village Hall, 250 Elm St.