City Center

The City Center was identified as a major potential catalyst site in the Downtown Redevelopment Plan, based on its size (17 acres), location along the river, and the potential for mixed-use developments. Acquiring these properties creates an opportunity to advance key goals the community set as part of the downtown planning process.

There are many reasons why the City of Oshkosh is acquiring these properties:

• Building a dependable tax base for years to come
• Creating a more vibrant destination for residents and visitors
• Leveraging its prime riverfront location to attract new investment in downtown Oshkosh

While the businesses currently operating at City Center properties are valued and add to the vibrancy of our downtown, filling the vacant parcels on our riverfront will help the area reach its full potential. We anticipate that creative deliberation and redevelopment will position the City Center riverfront parcels as a major regional draw for downtown Oshkosh.

Potential uses of the City Center could include retail, housing, restaurants, office or civic spaces, public gathering spaces, and recreational amenities. Final uses will be shaped by community input, market demand, and planning studies.

This acquisition builds on other strategic investments the City has made in the downtown to help realize the goals of the Downtown Redevelopment Plan, such as:

• Mill on Main: This housing and commercial project is adding about 300 units and 20,000 square feet of commercial space to Oshkosh, transforming the downtown and revitalizing the Sawdust District. Mill on Main is expected to bring $47 million in new property value, along with renewed vibrancy to the District.
• ThedaCare: This new health campus is adding jobs and health access opportunities to downtown Oshkosh. Additionally, this project returns access to emergency rooms to downtown for the first time in 25 years. The taxable portion of the project is about $34 million - a sizable contribution to the property tax base.
• The Grand Oshkosh: Oshkosh's own opera house - a major tourist draw - will be renovated through a public-private partnership with the City and The Grand Oshkosh, Inc. Once complete, the economic benefit from the tourists drawn to the downtown for programming at The Grand is estimated to be $3.5 million annually, which is nearly double its current impact.

Our community has been planning for how to more fully activate our downtown for more than 25 years, and public input has been sought throughout this planning process. Here is a brief timeline of some of that activity of the past, as well as planned activity going forward:

• 2000: Downtown Action Plan approved by Council on October 10, 2000
  • Minutes from October 10, 2000 meeting
• 2014: Riverfront Visioning Summary Report
  • Minutes from January 13, 2015 meeting where report was presented to Council
• 2017: Imagine Oshkosh: A Master Plan for Our Center City
  • Video of presentation from Houseal Lavine (November 14, 2017)
  • Discussion to approve the plan (same meeting)
  • Imagine Oshkosh: Existing Conditions Report
• 2018: City of Oshkosh Comprehensive Plan Update 2040
  • Video of presentation from ECWRPC (September 25, 2018)
• 2024: Downtown Redevelopment Plan
  • Presentation to Common Council (May 28, 2024)
  • Presentation to Parks Board (July 8, 2024)
• 2026, April 22: Presentations to Council at a special meeting
  • GO-EDC Presentation
  • City of Oshkosh Presentation on Survey Results
• 2026, May 6th: Public Information Open House
  • May 6th from 4:00 - 5:30 pm at City Hall (215 Church Ave) in Council Chambers (Room 406)
  • City staff from Community Development and GOEDC staff will provide a brief presentation and answer questions regarding the potential project and downtown redevelopment.
  • Please submit your questions in advance using this Google form. This will help staff answer as many questions as possible in a limited amount of time.
  • This event is open to the public.
  • Individuals who participated in the survey will receive a personal invitation to attend and the event will be shared on social media to encourage all interested residents to attend and participate.
• 2026, May 12th: Common Council meeting
  • Council will consider a resolution to direct staff to proceed with an offer to purchase City Center.
  • Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 12th at 6:00pm at City Hall (215 Church Ave) in Council Chambers (Room 406).
  • Members of the public will have an opportunity to speak on this item. You are encouraged, but not required, to register in advance by visiting our speaker registration page. You can also use the kiosk outside of Council Chambers the evening of the meeting.
    • Note: Registration lets the Mayor know who wishes to speak, and to ensure that minutes are accurate.
• 2026, May 19th: Plan Commission meeting (item tentatively included)
  • If Council approves the resolution at the May 12th meeting, Plan Commission will review the offer at their May 19th meeting and provide a recommendation for Council.
  • Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 19th at 4:00pm at City Hall (215 Church Ave) in Council Chambers (Room 406).
  • Members of the public will have an opportunity to speak on this item. The chair of the Plan Commission will call forward those wishing to speak; there is no registration.
• 2026, May 26th: Common Council meeting (item tentatively included)
  • If Council approves the resolution at the May 12th meeting, they will still have to approve the offer to purchase at their May 26th meeting, which will include a recommendation from Plan Commission.
  • Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 26th at 6:00pm at City Hall (215 Church Ave) in Council Chambers (Room 406).
  • Members of the public will have an opportunity to speak on this item. You are encouraged, but not required, to register in advance by visiting our speaker registration page. You can also use the kiosk outside of Council Chambers the evening of the meeting.
    • Note: Registration lets the Mayor know who wishes to speak, and to ensure that minutes are accurate.

The City is collecting feedback from the public on this project in a variety of ways. Since Council has approved the purchase of the property, the public will have additional opportunities to participate through future meetings and other engagement opportunities related to any proposed plans or redevelopment. Most, though not necessarily all, of those meetings would include an opportunity for public comment.

The City conducted a survey for public input March 12 - April 12, 2026. We collected 1,646 responses and staff continues to analyze the results. A high-level summary of the results was provided to Council at their April 22, 2026 meeting. Both the recording of the April 22nd presentation and the slides from that presentation are available for review.

The public can also provide feedback via email to members of Plan Commission and/or members of Common Council

• Plan Commission: pc@oshkoshwi.gov
• Common Council: city_council@oshkoshwi.gov

Letters to members of Plan Commission and/or members of Common Council can be mailed to, or left in the drop box at, City Hall: 215 Church Ave, Oshkosh, WI 54901

What happens with the current tenants?

Current leases are in place and are being honored for the immediate future. Any changes affecting tenants will include transparent communication and transition planning over time if necessary.

What due diligence has the City completed?

City staff has already completed some initial due diligence on the property. This includes completed appraisals, a Phase I environmental review, and a structural report. If the property is purchased, staff would move forward with a more detailed analysis to evaluate any additional issues or needs. This added review would help the City better understand the property and plan for next steps.

What is planned for the site, and what will be the City's role?

Future uses for the site have not yet been determined. The redevelopment of the site will most likely take many steps over time, including an analysis of what needs in the community could be addressed by the development, the timing of the development in coordination with the Jackson Street Bridge, and what the total development could bring as a connection to the central downtown. City staff will be a part of the process and will seek public input at multiple key points in the redevelopment process.

The city is exploring the purchase as a way to guide future redevelopment of a key downtown riverfront site. Public ownership allows the community to shape the property’s long-term use, support economic growth and ensure the site aligns with planning goals. The vision is to create a mixed use, vibrant and publicly accessible riverfront district that strengthens downtown activity in partnership with private developers. Exact uses will be determined through public engagement, market feasibility, and planning.

The City and our partners, such as Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation (GO-EDC), plan to work toward redevelopment that:

• Creates a distinctive downtown destination that rivals, but does not replicate, nearby cities.
• Connects Oshkosh's downtown with the riverfront through improved access, walkability, and visual cohesion.
• Increases property value, to expand the tax base and catalyze reinvestment in adjacent opportunity sites.
• Increases traffic to the site and surrounding area through a mix of uses and year-round activity.
• Develops a mix of housing, commercial, and public spaces that attract residents and new business, supports existing businesses, and stimulates continued development throughout the downtown area.
• Generates new employment opportunities by attracting a diverse range of employers, supporting small business growth, and creating jobs within the redeveloped space.

What is the long term financial impact for taxpayers?

By purchasing the site, taxpayers have a unique opportunity to guide the redevelopment that happens in their own downtown. Downtown investment is good for taxpayers because it helps the City get more value from infrastructure it already has, located in the heart of the community (as opposed to developments on our community edges); it strengthens the tax base in a compact area; it promotes increased foot traffic downtown, particularly for visitors; and it supports local business activity. A strengthened tax base means the financial impact of City services are spread across a bigger pie. Increased local business activity means more jobs. Added housing means more people living and spending in our community.

There will be additional costs associated with the redevelopment of the site, however, additional due diligence and analysis will need to be completed before staff will be able to outline what and how much those costs might be.

How is this being paid for?

There are a number of potential financing options to assist with the redevelopment of the site including, but not limited to the following:

Grant Opportunities

• Brownfield Grant (WEDC)
• Idle Site Loan (WEDC)
• Community Development Investment Grant (WEDC)
• Nonstate Grant (WI DOA)
• Potential support from state officials
• Community Project Funding - US Federal Appropriations
• Private fundraising

Other Funding Sources

• Tax incremental financing (TIF)
• State Trust Fund loans
• Resale of property

As this project develops, staff would continue to look for additional financial options.

How does this benefit our community?

Downtowns are often the emotional and economic center of a city. While Oshkosh benefits from a diverse economic landscape, spread throughout the community, our downtown houses historic landmarks and architecture, entertainment venues, and public gathering spaces. Strategic investment in our downtown can increase job opportunities, expand the tax base, encourage tourism, attract private investment, and support walkable, inclusive neighborhoods. When downtowns flourish, they often stimulate growth in other areas, generating a wave of positive change for a community.

Will City Hall move there?

Future uses for the site have not yet been determined. However, City staff do not believe that locating municipal offices on prime riverfront property is the highest and best use of the site and, therefore, are recommending against the idea of moving City Hall to the site.