Construction has begun on an 88-unit apartment development in the South Pier District of Sheboygan, where city officials have long tried to attract permanent residents and attract more commercial development.
The Portscape Apartments, a high-end $11.8 million residential community broke ground on Tuesday between the Sheboygan River inlet and Blue Harbor Resort. The project is being developed by Oak Creek-based HCI Properties.
The development includes 88 one and two bedroom apartments, to be built in two phases within nine buildings. The first building is expected to be completed in April 2017.
Phase two of the project is expected to open in spring 2018.
“Sheboygan and the outlining areas are showing a lot of exciting growth and expansion. And with this momentum we believe in the demand for luxury apartments in upscale, mixed-use destinations where residents can live, work and play – Portscape offers all of those components,” David Griffith, partner in HCI Properties, said in a statement.
In April, the city of Sheboygan approved the project and provided developers with $1.7 million in tax incentives.
The site is part of a 42-acre former coal yard that has been redeveloped since the early 2000s and now includes the Blue Harbor Resort.
Other development could be coming to the area. Greenfield-based apartment developer Ener-Con Cos. is working on a market study for the former Optenberg Iron Works property at 1403 and 1435 S. 7th St., just south of Blue Harbor Resort to develop the parcel into multi-family housing.