DOWNTOWN BUILDING COULD BE DEMOLISHED
Building was damaged by a fire in 2022
Firefighter crews respond to a fire at the Lake Geneva Professional Building, 415 Broad St., in 2022. Plans have been presented to demolish the building and construct another one in its place.
A downtown Lake Geneva building that was damaged by a fire several years ago could be demolished with a new structure constructed in its place.
Representatives from Scherrer Construction, Inc. in Burlington presented plans to demolish the Lake Geneva Professional Building, 415 Broad St., to make room for a new, two-story building during the June 15 Lake Geneva Plan Commission meeting.
The lower level of the building would feature commercial businesses, and the upper level would feature six, long-term rental apartment units, including four two-bedroom apartments and two one-bedroom apartments.
Plan Commission member Kyle Cary said he is impressed with the concept plans and renderings for the project and feels it would be a welcomed addition to that area.
"As far as the building goes and the materials, I think it looks nice," Cary said. "It will be a huge upgrade. It will brighten the street."
Plan Commission member Doug Skates said the proposal is similar to a project that Jason Bernard, owner of Lake Geneva Architects, conducted in 2020, in which he constructed a new two-story building at 323 Broad St., which included commercial businesses in the lower level and residential units in the upper level.
"They dotted all their I's and crossed all their T's," Skates said. "What I've seen submitted looks very similar."
Mayor Todd Krause said the Lake Geneva Professional Building needs to be demolished, but feels the proposed building looks "too modern" for the downtown area. He said plans for the new building indicate that it would feature a flat roof and he would prefer it to have a pitch roof.
"There's just something about that flat roof that gives it too much of an industrial feel to me, at least," Krause said. "So if I had a recommendation, I would much prefer to see a pitch roof on it. Aside from that, I don't have a real issue with it."
More detailed plans for the project are set to be presented in the future. The project has to be approved by Lake Geneva City Council members before it may be conducted.
The Lake Geneva Professional Building was damaged by a fire in 2022.
Bailey Freeman, representative for Scherrer Construction, said the first floor of the building has been "gutted," but the second floor mostly has remained intact.
"I watched that fire that day," Skates said. "I sat down with the firemen and watched it burn. It was sad to see."
