Hotel proposed on Main Street in Prairie du Chien
Several parcels of property along Main Street in Prairie du Chien, between Blackhawk Avenue and Wisconsin Street, are being developed. Broken concrete that had been there was brushed to the side, the soil leveled and some more soil added. According to city meeting documents and a member of the plan commission, the land is being readied for a hotel. (Photo by Correne Martin)
By Correne Martin
A new hotel is being proposed for private property in downtown Prairie du Chien, by Sheckler Development LLC, according to city meeting documents. Earth moving equipment has been visible there the past few weeks, digging concrete and refilling with soil.
In addition to several closed session city council discussions with Sheckler Development, plan commission member Tom Nelson confirmed that the commission heard from representatives of the Scott and Jill Sheckler family in open session at its June 18 meeting. They discussed the proposal for block 123 of the union plat, aka three and a half parcels on Main Street between Blackhawk and Wisconsin streets, across from the River District Hotel, formerly AmericInn.
“They’re going to need an extra portion of city property,” Nelson said. “I hope the hotel will go on their property and then parking will be on part of the city’s parcel on the corner (of Blackhawk and Main) for public parking.”
Phone calls and messages to Scott and Jill Sheckler for comment on the development have gone unanswered.
City Attorney Lara Czajkowski Higgins said there is no development agreement to be reviewed publicly yet and that the closed session discussions between the city and the Shecklers have simply encompassed negotiating a contract.
Nelson is a longstanding member of the parks and rec board and St. Feriole Island reuse committee, the creator and builder of the adjacent Lucky Park on Blackhawk Avenue, and owner of the property for sale, behind the Sheckler pieces, where Willy and Nellies once stood. Bearing in mind these qualifications, Nelson shared, he recently approached the mayor and a few city employees with a proposal for further development of this major corridor to include a park-like setting.
“Considering a high number of tourists visit southwest Wisconsin and northeast Iowa because of our greatest natural resource, the Mississippi River, we have the opportunity to continue making West Blackhawk Avenue the cultural gathering place for tourists, guests and locals to enjoy the gateway to the island,” Nelson stated. “Therein lies the potential for development.”
Nelson explained that if the Sheckler family completes this hotel project, a tax stimulus could be created from the hotel and property taxes, allowing for a continual source for developmental funds.
Currently, Nelson’s vision for the park includes examples of names, grants, signage, landscaping, basic design work, utilities, etc. He’s also conceived aspirations for the river slough development he’d like to see, from the proposed hotel location, across Blackhawk Avenue, behind Rowdy’s D&D Bar & Grill, to the Crawford County Administration Building. Such work would involve dredging the backwater, removing the concrete abutment under the bridge, and creating a small public and private boat dock development and walking trails from Lucky Park to Louis Street—all on public land.
Nelson admits his desires are not immediate realities, but he views the Sheckler development as the time to get the conversation started for the future.
According to the Crawford County Register of Deeds Office, the Scott and Jill Sheckler Revocable Living Trusts acquired the real estate from Paul and Annette Jackson in 2008.
