An Open Letter to the Shorewood Village Board

The 4450 North Oakland development deal currently under consideration by the Village Board of Shorewood may violate provisions of the Wisconsin Constitution and state statutes. I respectfully urge the Board to carefully reconsider moving this project forward. My concerns are outlined below:

1. Failure to Determine Fair Value of Public Property
The transaction appears designed to avoid determining the fair market value of the public property being transferred to a private developer. The potential value of this property is between $1.3 and $1.5 million, yet the proposed purchase price is $1 million or more below that figure. This discrepancy effectively constitutes a “gift” of public assets to a private party.

2. Potential Abuse of Discretion
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that a sale of municipal property may be voided if taxpayers establish a clear abuse of discretion by the governing body. Proceeding with this transaction without a professional valuation is, in my view, a textbook example of such abuse.

3. Violation of the Public Purpose Doctrine
The proposed deal is structured to ensure an attractive financial return for a private developer while providing limited public benefit. With only 19 planned units (serving an estimated 32 residents), the development would impact a negligible portion of Shorewood’s 13,500+ residents. Moreover, the 2020 housing survey prioritized housing for seniors and people with special needs over general “affordable” housing . . . yet those needs are being overlooked.

4. Failure to Explore Alternative Benefits for the Village
The Board has not considered how a fair-market sale of the property, yielding $1.3 to $1.5 million, could instead serve the entire community. These funds could help offset the operating budget deficit, finance the streetlight replacement program, or support new playgrounds for Shorewood families.

5. Community Concerns
Public opposition is strong. More than 239 comments associated with my 4 posts on the “Shorewood is Talking” Facebook page reflect residents’ dismay. Constituents are urging that the Board prioritize addressing budget shortfalls over subsidizing a private development.

Many residents are weary of successive village boards using the TIF program to remake our commercial district by diverting tax dollars from the general fund. Please consider uses that prevent the tax increases anticipated for 2026 and beyond, or that deliver benefits to more residents.

Jay Sorensen
Shorewood, WI