Property acquired by Door County through tax foreclosures is helping Sturgeon Bay develop affordable housing. The county transferred several parcels to the city, which are located off of Egg Harbor Road. Sturgeon Bay Mayor David Ward says some of the properties would provide a mix of affordable single-family homes and multiple residential developments. He adds such projects would benefit the city and the region.
Sturgeon Bay previously provided property from Wiretech Corporation to Habitat for Humanity to develop a subdivision for low-income residents. Door County Administrator Ken Pabich agrees that giving up tax-foreclosed properties for such development is a better investment for the community.
Other communities are also looking at giving up tax-foreclosed properties to develop housing. Duluth, Minnesota is actually holding a “contest” for similar lands. Any developer that can come up with an achievable and sustainable housing development gets the land free.
