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City plans for plaza

Waupaca to create downtown public space

By Angie Landsverk


The city of Waupaca is partnering with the owners of Danes Hall to design an outdoor public gathering space at the end of North Main Street.

“I think it’s very important to do this right,” Michael Koehler said during last month’s common council meeting.

He is the primary owner of Danes Hall and is splitting the cost of the design contract with the city.

The common council voted 9-0 that evening to approve a design contract with SEH Engineering at a cost not to exceed $19,900.

Ald. Steve Hackett was absent.

The cost is being split evenly between the city and Koehler.

The city’s share is being covered out of funds allocated toward the cost of this year’s County Trunk E bridge reconstruction project that it shared with Waupaca County.

Funds remain as the city did not use all it allocated for the project.

Creating a plaza is a continuation of redevelopment efforts in and around downtown, said Brennan Kane, the city’s director of community and economic development.

“We’re fortunate to have a family with local ties to the community investing and revovating,” he said in regard to Koehler and his brothers Jack and Joe.

They formed Danes Home LLC in early 2017.

That followed the August 2016 purchase of the building, which is located at 301 N. Main St.

“I did this because in my heart, my family loves Waupaca,” Koehler said of their decision to renovate Danes Hall.

His children are the family’s sixth generation to have walked through the building.

Main Street is scheduled to be reconstructed in 2021.

Kane said this provides an opportunity to create a plaza adjacent to Danes Hall.

That is because the intersection of Main and Water streets is planned to be converted to a four-way stop, and realigned to provide for safer vehicular and pedestrian movements.

What is public right of way and what is owned by the Koehler family are unknown, as a survey or topographic work has not been completed in the area.

As a result, the city and Koehler began discussing early this year the idea of sharing the costs of the conceptual design and future engineering of the plaza and surrounding public/private vehicular parking and access.

“We have to decide what is going on with the roads and parks so we do it right,” Koehler said.

While some of the property involved is not his, he is willing to contribute to the cost.

Koehler said the property next to Danes Hall is a significant geological site with its granite.

“This is where the first settlers came to Waupaca,” he said. “That is why it’s so historic.”

Of Rasmussen Park next door to Danes Hall, Koehler said, “The gardens there are probably the most beautiful in the city.”

His family wants to preserve Danes Hall, offering a place where people may gather.

“I think everybody wants to make this project come back to life,” Koehler said.

When completed, Danes Hall will have coffee and bakery in the lower level and event space on the main and upper levels.

Danes Hall originally opened on Nov. 29, 1894.

“Nov. 29 is the target date,” Koehler said of this year’s reopening of it.

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