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 would create 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 considering 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 City acquisition, followed by 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 potential acquisition would build 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.

We are anticipating that this potential project will be discussed at the following upcoming meetings. These discussions will likely be focused primarily on the potential acquisition, as that would be the first step, but the public is welcome to comment on the acquisition and any potential future use.

• Public Information Open House - May 6th
  • 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.
• Common Council meeting - May 12th
  • 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.
• Plan Commission meeting - May 19th (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 for those wishing to speak; there is no registration.
• Common Council meeting - May 26th (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.

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 potential project in a variety of ways. If Council approves 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.
• This potential project is anticipated to be discussed at several upcoming meetings regarding the potential acquisition of the property. The public is welcome to attend and speak at any of these to provide input on the acquisition, as well as any potential future uses.
  • Public Information Open House - May 6th
    • May 6th from 4:00 - 5:30 pm at City Hall (215 Church Ave) in Council Chambers (Room 406)
    • 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.
    • City staff from Community Development and GOEDC staff will provide a brief presentation and answer questions regarding the potential project and downtown redevelopment.
    • 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.
  • Common Council meeting - May 12th
    • At this meeting, Council will be reconsidering Resolution 26-194 from the April 21st meeting.
      • This resolution is to direct staff to proceed with an offer to purchase the property at a price not to exceed $12.5 million.
    • 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.
  • Plan Commission meeting - May 19th (item tentatively included)
    • At this meeting, Plan Commission will be reviewing the proposed purchase agreement (if Resolution 26-194 is approved by Council on May 12th) to provide a recommendation to 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.
  • Common Council meeting - May 26th (item tentatively included)
    • If Resolution 26-194 is approved by Council on May 12th, the Council will consider the purchase agreement at the May 26th meeting with the 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.
  • If staff are directed to proceed with an offer, 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 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

Is this a done deal?

No. Over the last several months, Council has directed staff to continue working on evaluating the property and its potential. At the April 21, 2026 meeting, Council considered a resolution to direct staff to proceed with the acquisition of the City Center properties. Council amended the resolution to provide an upper limit to the purchase price - $12.5 million - and then laid the resolution over to the May 12th meeting so that the public would have an opportunity to weigh in on the resolution before final action.

The next step is that the resolution will be considered at the May 12th agenda. If approved, staff would draft a purchase agreement with the owners, which would then go to the Plan Commission for their review and recommendation. Staff anticipates that this would happen at their May 19th meeting.

Following the Plan Commission's recommendation, the purchase agreement would appear on the May 26th Council agenda for their final consideration. If approved, it would authorize the City Manager to submit the offer to purchase City Center.

If acquired, what would happen with the current tenants?

Current leases are in place and would be honored for the immediate future. If the City proceeds, any changes affecting tenants would 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.

If acquired, 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 would be a part of the process and 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 would allow 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 would be 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 could this be 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 would 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.

Would 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.