PLANS FOR REDEVELOPMENT
Simple Food Group proposes project for multi-use campus at commission meeting
Krause
Simple Food Group, which operates Simple Cafe and Simple Bakery & Market, plans to develop a multi-use campus that would include a cafe and bakery market, bakery production facility, event center and multi-family housing.
The Simple Food Group presented concept plans for its proposed multi-use development during the Lake Geneva Plan Commission meeting April 20.
The development, which would be built on 11 acres on Sheridan Springs Road near the Geneva Square shopping center, would feature a bakery production facility, cafe and coffee shop, event space, catering kitchen, food laboratory and 30-unit apartment building.
Officials from the Simple Food Group, which include former Mayor Tom Hartz, Young Cho and Lori Hartz, currently operate Simple Cafe and Simple Bakery & Market, 525 Broad St.
Cho said the facility would provide more space for the company to produce additional items.
"It will still be an artisan bakery but with increased production volume," Cho said. "We already do quite a bit of volume in the small space that we have and we are bursting at the seams, which is one of the drivers for us to create a larger space."
The development also would include parking lots and connection paths to bicycle and pedestrian trails and the neighboring Hillmoor property.
"Because of the way we're looking at the land surrounding the structures, there are places for people to hike, to wander, to sit, to enjoy the sun and to read a book," Hartz said.
The project still needs approval from the Plan Commission and City Council.
Mayor Todd Krause said Krause the proposed development would be a quality use for the property. "If there's a better plan than this, I would love to see it. This is amazing," Krause said.
"This is just going to be a huge asset to the residents. I look forward to the next steps."
Plan Commission member John Gibbs also was impressed with the proposal.
"I love it," Gibbs said. "It's beautiful."
However, Alder Joel Hoiland, who was a Plan Commission member during at the time of the meeting, said the plan might include too many amenities.
"That's a lot of stuff," Hoiland said. "It may be over programmed for this site."
City Council approved selling the property to Simple Food Group for about $750,000 on Jan. 26.
