September 6, 2021 – West Bend, WI – There’s a public hearing Tuesday, Sept. 7 as the West Bend Plan Commission reviews a change in a rezoning proposal for the southeast and northeast corners of S. Forest Avenue and Water Street.
One parcel is a parking lot and the other is the West Bend Transit location, 105 S. Forest Avenue.
While there’s no confirmation on plans for the parcel after rezoning, there has been a trend over the past 20 years in West Bend where jobs and industry have been swapped out for residential including Gehl Co., Enger Kress, Amity Leather, West Bend Company, West Bend Brewery and the old West Bend Elevator.
Photo is courtesy You Know You Are From West Bend If….
The above photo, circa 1955, shows vibrant industry with round-the-clock shifts at Gehl Co. and West Bend Company.
Old timers will recall when an officer had to be assigned to swing traffic during the afternoon on Highway 33 near the railroad track. Many of the factory shifts ended at the same time and caused a traffic jam. The situation got trickier when the train went through.
For the past two years the old Gehl Company property on Water Street and Forest Avenue has been developed into a Marriott TownePlace Suites, Trail’s Edge Apartments and Water Street Suites.
The area used to be zoned industrial and was changed to mixed use to allow for the hotel, office space and residential.
The West Bend Company is now home to Cast Iron Luxury Living and Rivershores Regency. The old Lynn’s Recycling was moved for Auxiliary Court Apartments. Enger Kress and Amity were remodeled to house apartments.
The West Bend Brewery is being razed to make way for apartments.
Remember in 2018 when the Amish built these apartments in West Bend?
West Bend Transit, a commercial trucking company, is across the road from the hotel and Trail’s Edge development and this week the Plan Commission is considering a zoning change on approximately 4.2 acres of land.
Calls have been placed to West Bend Transit and Ben Schloemer. As of publication, calls have not been returned. Early word is Schloemer has a long-term lease at the current West Bend Transit location.
No details have been released on any future development, other than the language included in the plan commission memorandum above.
The property, 105 S. Forest Avenue, is owned by Jamela/Michigan LLC of Milwaukee who purchased the lot in July 2015 for $940,000.
Tuesday’s meeting in the council chambers at City Hall is open to the public. The meeting gets underway at 6 p.m.
