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City to write grant for potential Tavern Ballroom development

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By Correne Martin

 

In support of a new Tavern Ballroom development in downtown Prairie du Chien, the city is writing a grant requesting financial assistance through the Community Development Investment (CDI) Grant Program of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. 

“We’ve had two successful CDI grants in the past, one for the Waterfront Hotel and another for Café Hope and Unity Adult Day Care,” City Planner Garth Frable shared at the Aug. 16 Prairie du Chien Common Council meeting. 

The project is proposed by the owners of The Tavern, Patrick Igou and Ryan Fox. It would equal a $400,000 investment in a historic downtown building, which was the very first city hall in the late 1800s. Frable said the city would be assisting by applying for $190,000 in grant funds, which would then be matched, dollar for dollar, by The Tavern’s proprietors. The city is not on the hook to provide anything financially but is essentially acting as the grant administrator.

Frable said the Tavern Ballroom would be a renovated space on the second floor of the existing establishment, which houses the bar as well as Muddy Waters Pizza Pub currently. The business would be a place for live events and music. The upgrade would include installation of an elevator and bathrooms.

“We can apply for up to two of these CDI grants per year, so we wouldn’t be affecting our ability to seek another,” Frable stated. 

Fisher Street crossing

A public hearing is set for Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the Prairie du Chien Common Council meeting, regarding the possible discontinuation of the Fisher Street public railroad crossing on St. Feriole Island. Citizens are invited to attend the meeting and share their comments and questions.

This closure was brought about after Blair Dillman petitioned the city to close the crossing. Dillman is the adjacent property owner of the Dousman House. 

According to City Administrator Chad Abram, local emergency personnel aren’t keen on its closure and, due to frequent parking of railroad cars on the island in that location, there has been some concern about losing a crossing. 

City Planner Garth Frable told the council at its Tuesday night, Aug. 16, meeting, that if the council chose not to move forward with closing the crossing, following the October public hearing, he didn’t think the proposal would go any further with the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad company or the state of Wisconsin. 

Downtown guidelines

The Design and Preservation Commission’s guidelines for the Blackhawk Avenue Business District were approved unanimously during the Aug. 16 council meeting. 

Alderman Nate Gilberts had a few questions for Commission Chair Chad Fradette prior to approval. He wondered about the guidelines asking for no sandblasting to brick or mortar and referring to signage in the downtown. 

Fradette and Frable reiterated that these are guidelines, which means any property owner could propose action that might go against the grain. However, the purpose of the guidelines and the commission is to foster a conversation about certain aspects new design intentions. 

Frable said that sandblasting of brick and mortar can blow off the face of soft brick, thus causing more rapid deterioration of the brick’s integrity over time. 

Fradette ensured Gilberts that if someone would need to sandblast for a specific reason, then the commission would consider it, case by case, and still potentially approve doing so. 

Regarding signage, the commission’s goal is that whatever is selected for an entrepreneur’s plans can simply be discussed before it’s installed. This includes neon signs.

“If someone comes with an idea of a nice looking sign that fits into the downtown, it’s going to get the approval of the commission,” Fradette supposed.

Alderman Jaaren Riebe understood and eventually motioned to pass the guidelines, summarizing the point at which approval would be need. He said, on a lighter note: “We’re not talking about neon bar signs, but more if someone who wanted to put up a hot dog joint and have a large neon hot dog sign.”

The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 6, at city hall.

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