Redevelopment of Neenah Burger King site on hold, but city isn't out any money
Reader question: What's happening with the Burger King property in Neenah? The city appropriated $100,000 in incentives for an orthodontist office, but nothing has been built.
Answer: Neenah agreed to provide as much as $100,000 of taxpayer money to assist Keesler Orthodontics with the redevelopment of the former Burger King restaurant at 977 S. Green Bay Road.
The December 2019 development agreement called for Keesler Orthodontics, operating as Muskrat Love LLC, to clear the site within six months, which was done, and to construct a new office building worth at least $800,000 by Jan. 1, 2024.
A Dec. 31, 2022, completion date for the building had been discussed by staff and elected officials before settling on Jan. 1, 2024, but even the later date seems unrealistic now. No plans for the office building have been submitted to the city for approval.
I attempted to reach Jeffrey Keesler, managing member for Muskrat Love, for an update, but my calls weren't returned.
Chris Haese, Neenah's director of community development and assessment, said he recently discussed the project with Keesler.
"COVID really has affected their business model, and they were at that point reevaluating whether to move forward with the project or not," Haese said. "I would not expect to see a building there" on Jan. 1, 2024.
Keesler Orthodontics currently leases office space at 1524 S. Commercial St.
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Thus far, the city hasn't paid any money to Keesler or Muskrat Love. The agreement for taxpayer assistance requires the new building to have a minimum value of $800,000, and it says the money will be paid only after sufficient taxes are collected on the property.
"We as a city have not invested a penny into that site yet," Haese said. "Some people think we have put a lot of money out there. We haven't."
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The agreement was successful in getting Burger King razed and the site planted with grass.
"The concern with a building like that," Haese said, "is it can continue to deteriorate and sale prices can continue to decline until it ultimately gets occupied by a less-than-desirable use and has more negative impact on the corridor than positive. From my perspective, if the parcel sits empty for some time, that's OK."
Post-Crescent reporter Duke Behnke answers your questions about local government. Send questions to dbehnke@gannett.com or call him at 920-993-7176.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Neenah Burger King site redevelopment paused, but city's not out money
