Manitowoc Committee of the Whole Reviews Redevelopment Proposals for Madison School and Lakeview Park - September 8, 2026
Manitowoc Committee of the Whole Reviews Redevelopment Proposals for Madison School and Lakeview Park - September 8, 2026
The Committee of the Whole met on September 8, 2026, at 5:45 PM in Council Chambers to discuss and take action on redevelopment proposals for the former Madison School site and adjacent Lakeview Park parcels. Community Development Director Adam Tegen provided background on the Request for Proposals (RFP) process, which was sent to 40-50 development groups. Two proposals were brought forward for consideration: one from Mike Howe Builders (in partnership with Vinton Construction) and one from Americon Construction and Three Amigos. The meeting included open session presentations, followed by a closed session for deliberation, and reconvened in open session with no final action taken.
Discussion Items
- Mike Howe Builders Presentation – Mike Howe presented a concept called “Madison Bluffs at Lake Michigan,” featuring 12 lots for 24 two-family condominiums on the bluff. The proposal is self-financed, with an estimated $2.5 million investment for demolition and infrastructure. Howe projected approximately $300,000 in annual tax revenue to the city once complete. He noted he has received five informal inquiries from potential buyers. The project would require no city funding, but a due diligence period is requested to assess soil conditions and existing structures.
- Americon Construction and Three Amigos Presentation – Jake Buzzwell presented three concept options for the approximately 8-acre site, with the preferred concept (Concept 3) being a mixed-use lakefront neighborhood. Concept 3 includes 13 detached single-family homes, 12 townhomes, a 273-unit apartment building, an amenity clubhouse and pool, and a developer-funded public overlook. The project is projected to generate over $30 million in incremental tax value. Buzzwell emphasized integration with the surrounding neighborhood, with building heights not exceeding existing 35-foot roof lines. The developers are seeking partnership and would ideally sell the single-family lots to a local developer. They have managed 13–14 hundred units across Wisconsin, with over $350 million in assets.
- Closed Session – Following presentations, the committee unanimously (9-0) moved into closed session under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(e) to discuss purchasing, investing, or competitive/bargaining matters related to the proposals.
Key Outcomes
- No formal action was taken on either proposal during the open session.
- City staff (Community Development Director Adam Tegen) was directed to meet with both developer teams to refine their proposals based on feedback received from the council during closed session.
- The meeting adjourned at 7:24 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, just gonna retalk a little bit. Probably okay. It is 608 that I will call the committee of the whole to order. Uh roll call for the committee of the whole. Um is anybody on Zoom? Okay. Uh we have uh members of the committee whole president with the exception of Alder Anderson and Alder Dunbar. Um so we'll move to our discussion action items tonight. We have one item, uh 26-0791, the redevelopment proposals for Madison School and Lakeview Park. Uh that's notice for closed sessions, so the committee can review them initially. Um so we're gonna move into closed session at this time. So notices here by given that the above general body may adjourn into a closed session during the meeting is authorized by section 19.851E. The Wisconsin statutes was authorizes the governmental body to convene in a closed session for the purpose of deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing in public funds or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session. The specific subject matter that may be considered a closed session is 26-0791. The redevelopment proposals for Madison School and Lakeview Park. The motion to convene in a closed session was made by all the person. Council President said quit. I just make a point of order. Yes, Mayor. I'm getting looks from Adam. I think he maybe wanted developers to speak first. I'm sorry, I don't know if yeah, if it's okay, I guess the thought was that the developers would present an open session, and then uh you the council could at that time ask questions and then after that go into closed session to create any. I may have missed that in your email to me. So sorry about that. That's a probably mistyped something. Uh no, it'll be mine. It's my fault. So we will hold off on that motion for a moment and let the developers um give their presentations before we go into closed session. So Adam, I'll turn the floor over to you. Okay, again, my apologies if that was unclear. Hopefully, the committee of the whole is comfortable with that approach. The intent was so that if there were any members of the public uh who are interested in this, that they would have the ability to at least hear the presentation from the developers as well. Um but uh ultimately I'll give you a little bit of background. So as you know, the city acquired Madison School from the district, um, and the intent was to look for potential redevelopment partners on that property. To that end, the city has set out uh sent out a request for proposals. We sent it out to about 40 to 50 different development groups, um, and ultimately we received two that um the internal review group felt were appropriate to bring forward to the committee of the whole for consideration. Um so the two development proposals are one is from Mike How builders in partnership with Vinton Construction, and I believe Mike will be going first on his presentation, and then the second is uh Marikon construction uh and their partnership group includes three amigos, which is more of the uh running arm of the company. Um but again after Mike is done, they'll do their presentation, and I guess I'll let you run it as you see fit after that. Sounds good. Thank you, Adam. Uh then we'll turn over to uh Mr. Hell. All right. Uh thank you for having me in uh looking at my proposal. Um Mike Howe, Mike How Builders and Manitowak. Um I know most of everybody in this room uh from working with you guys. Um I'll start with a little bit of uh background uh first. Uh it's we have um Mike How Builders has been in business since 2004. Uh we've been working in Manitow County, and we own East Point Rentals, East Point Land Development, Cobblestone Hotel Group were a part of Strand Adventures and the venue at Union Square with a redevelopment and we've done quite a few different projects in the city and the community, and uh I would like to think they've all been successful and we're moving forward. And I would like to think they've all been successful and we're moving forward.
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