STEVENS POINT, Wis. (WSAU) -- An old controversial topic in Stevens Point government might finally be resolved. More than once, city officials have discussed getting out from the ownership of Edgewater Manor, the senior subsidized housing unit on Water Street next to the Wisconsin River. Around a year ago, the city put out requests for proposals to either purchase or redevelop the site. They issued the same request again recently.
Two proposals were offered. One from Affordable Senior Housing, which would utilize the existing building, do remodelling, and add some assisted living units on the ground floor. The other was from MSP which would have raised the building and put up a modern structure with underground parking.
Alderman Jerry Moore says the Edgewater property is not a full occupancy, but it is also not running in the red. He questions why the city should sell it. “I guess I am still at the point where I have not been convinced that the city needs to divest itself of an asset. There’s little understanding that has come through to me from either side that says that this is definitely going to fall down, it’s a horrible piece of junk and we need to get rid of it, and it’s digging a pit in our wallet.”
Mayor Andrew Halverson supports selling the property, knowing a new owner can improve the property and the services offered while putting the property on the tax rolls for the first time. “There’s a huge short term opportunity and simplicity with Affordable Senior Housing, and our residents are protected. You have a significantly more intricate but a longer term approach, where the upside is very large in terms of the size of the project that you’re talking about, and the residents still ultimately have the affordable options with that as well. I would highly suggest that the motion on the floor be turned down, and you deal with one of those options for sale.”
In the end, the city council voted 5-4 on the motion to not offer Edgewater Manor for sale, which drew applause and sighs of relief from over a dozen residents of the building including May Meyer. “We don’t need to make all of these renovations all at once. We can do it in phases and we can pay for it, and we’re going to work now to remove the stigma in the community to let people know that now it’s safe to move into Edgewater Manor, and we’re going to continue to publicize it.”