The Manitowoc Common Council has made the former Mid-Cities Mall area on Magnolia Avenue and Memorial Drive a “blighted” area.
This comes after the city did inspections on the area of a former JCPenney and Younkers Department Store.
Wisconsin state law says a blighted area means structures that need improvement because they are so deteriorated and can cause health issues.
According to a fire department inspection report, since the JCPenney store was removed the parking lot has been degrading with uncapped drains and uncovered access panels existing.
The report also says sinkholes have formed in several locations and tall weeds and grass populate the area. A second report says much of the same of the Younkers building but also says there has been vandalism with broken windows, ruined ceilings, and mold growing around the building.
Second District Alderman Chad Beeman, who represents the district the area is in, says he has gotten questions about the property from a “Majority of people throughout the town…Since I was elected in District two it was one of the main questions I’ve had.”
Alderman and Finance Committee Chair Jim Brey says this is the first step to trying and doing something with the area.
He said it gives the Council, “The ability to start the process of hopefully not a foreclosure or taking over the property in a sense but to hopefully get the property developed in a nice way for the community of the city of Manitowoc.”
But until the owner of the building gives a response, Brey the city must wait before anything can be done with the building because they don’t own it.
