Private developer given another year on old church
By Angie Landsverk
The development agreement between the city of Waupaca and the owner of the former St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church property has been amended again.
“With the pandemic and the impacts of that, there hasn’t been a ton of interest,” City Administrator Aaron Jenson said of the property.
As a result, the city extended the date of the agreement with Nino Pedrelli to Dec. 31, 2021.
The previous agreement expired on Jan. 1.
The common council unanimously approved the amendment when it met on Jan. 5.
All council members were present for the virtual meeting.
Pedrelli, of State Street Realty Advisers in the Twin Cities area, owns the property.
Located at 223 S. Division St., the property is at the corner of State, Badger and Division streets.
The city bought the property in late 2018 for $100,000 and then negotiated a transfer of the property to Pedrelli for $1 so the property remained taxable.
He was then to come up with redevelopment proposals for it.
In September 2019, the council approved a two-month extension of the agreement.
The extension was until February 2020.
However, the council voted early last January to amend the agreement again.
This extension was initiated by the city.
It allowed for local arts community members to complete a feasibility study related to the idea of turning the building into an arts center.
Under that extension, a preliminary plan was to be presented to the council for approval by last June 16.
As part of that agreement, Pedrelli acknowledged the city was reviewing other proposals for the site, including the arts center idea.
Pandemic’s impact on development
The COVID-19 pandemic affected that timeline.
Last summer, the council extended the agreement with Pedrelli for a third time.
That is the extension which just expired earlier this month.
The pandemic also affected the feasibility of a $1.5 million campaign goal to turn the former church into an arts center.
That figure was based on the preliminary estimate of $950,000 to renovate the former church, which has been vacant for more than 16 years.
The fundraising goal also included about $550,000 to equip the center, cover construction contingencies and fund the first two years of its operation.
There is support to develop arts programming in Waupaca for people of all ages.
However, it is to adjust the fundraising goal to between $250,000 and $300,000, and to posptone the timeline for raising it.
The plan is to re-evaluate the economic situation and fundraising environment this spring.
The feasibility study’s recommendations also include putting resources into programming, considering partnership opportunities and investigating other possible sites for such a center.
In regard to the city’s extended agreement with Pedrelli, Jenson told the council he plans to bring the property back as a topic of conversation in the next couple months.
What the city can do to spur development in that area will be discussed, he said.
The updated agreement allows the city to receive the property back from Pedrelli.
As part of the agreement, Pedrelli acknowledges the city will review other proposals during the timeline.
If the city decides to proceed with an alternative proposal, he will transfer the property back to the city.
Any proposal from Pedrelli would receive equal consideration, per the agreement.
This includes granting him the right of first refusal to match any development project that involves a housing development for those age 55 and older.