Field trip to a job site:
Case High, Park High
students see possible
futures in construction
When working in the construction field, it’s important to be prepared for inclement weather and the chance of having soaked feet. One worker keeps socks in his lunchbox.
That was one piece of advice, among others, that Ron Dietzman, heavy equipment operator with Excavating Unlimited, told Case High School and Park High School students visiting several home construction sites during a Racine Unified School District Academies of Racine field trip on Wednesday.
The Academies of Racine — engrained at Case, Horlick and Park high schools — were launched to prepare students for college and the workforce, offering small learning communities that provide real-world experiences with local businesses and professionals.
Amanda Kurt, vice president and managing partner of Union Grove-based Kurk Concrete organized the field trip; planning began for it last year. She noted this field trip was a new venture and unlike any others.
About 100 students from Case and Park construction classes traveled around Mount Pleasant and Caledonia to five work sites on a rotating schedule throughout the morning and afternoon, with a break for lunch. The goal of the tour was to showcase home building and the opportunity for a career in residential construction in Racine County.
Kelli Steenrod, academy coach at Park, noted the schools appreciate Kurt for organizing everything.
“This is just a great opportunity for all the students here,” Steenrod said.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 4% growth in total U.S. construction jobs between 2021 and 2031. On top of that, the Associated Builders and Contractors trade association estimated the industry is facing a shortage of around 650,000 workers this year.
Kurt has contacts in the construction industry who were willing to allow the students on-site when nudged, she said.
“They never have sites to tour,” Kurt said.
She mentioned 90% of new Kurk Concrete employees come from RUSD schools, so she wanted to make sure current students receive the best opportunities before they graduate.
“I need to foster the relationships in the development industry with those students,” she said.
Work sites included those from developers Harpe Development, Joseph Scott Homes, Synergy Homes and the nonprofit Racine Habitat for Humanity.
Since all five sites are in different stages, students were able to see a wide variety of work in progress.
Topics covered included the increased demand for housing in the area, construction job demand, what it’s like working a construction job and some basic aspects of blue printing and receiving municipal approval for a home development.
Steenrod called the field trip “a different world” for students.
The trip showed students how jobs in various fields are connected, she said. Construction students on the field trip from Park also included engineering, automotive and manufacturing students.
Steenrod emphasized that this field trip was different from traditional classroom learning and gets students on site to see the step-by-step process.
“You get to see it upfront instead of just talking about it,” said Montae Sutton, a sophomore at Park.
Sutton said he is considering construction as an occupation after high school.
Nehemiah Walker, also a sophomore at Park, added that the field trip was “interesting.”
Wendy Kurt, office manager of Burlington-based excavating contractor RLP Diversified, said she enjoyed speaking to students and being on the job site, because usually she’s in the office.
She told a group of female students that it’s possible these days for women to work in construction.
“I’ve been around construction my entire life,” she said. “I don’t want to work anywhere else, except construction. It’s something different every day.”
Dietzman noted his mantra going into speaking to the students was: “I’ll teach you anything you want to know as long as you want to learn.
“All you’re trying to do is show them opportunities.”
Milwaukee-area single-family home builders
Ranked by Home starts, local, 2023
| BUSINESS NAME WEBSITE |
ADDRESS PHONE |
HOME STARTS, LOCAL, 2023 | HOME STARTS, LOCAL, IN 2024 THROUGH MAY | PRICE RANGE | LIST SAMPLE SPECIALTIES | TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
N27 W24025 Paul Ct.
Pewaukee, WI53072 262-232-8520 |
263
|
118
|
$355,000—$615,000
|
Affordable new-construction homes
|
Matt Neumann, Steve DeCleene
|
|
|
2
|
11600 W. Lincoln Ave.
West Allis, WI 53227 414-321-5300 |
163
|
108
|
$475,000—$780,000
|
Builder/developer; residential home/lot; spec homes, scattered-site construction, professional drafting, designers, sales consultants, job superintendents
|
Michael Kaerek
|
|
|
3
|
5116 N. 126th St.
Butler, WI 53007 262-307-9115 |
130
|
63
|
$400,000—$800,000
|
Customer-focused, semi-custom home builder; forward-thinking land developer
|
Jeff Kleiner
|
|
|
4
|
N27 W24075 Paul Ct.
Pewaukee, WI53072 262-542-5750 |
107
|
47
|
$500,000—$1,000,000
|
Certified energy efficiency and green building, semi-custom single-family home and lot packages
|
Tim O’Brien, MattNeumann
|
|
|
5
|
1830 Meadow Lane
Pewaukee, WI53072 262-542-9494 |
91
|
49
|
$350,000—$1,100,000
|
New homes on buyer’s lot or builder’s, RediHomes and condominiums
|
Paul Bielinski, FrankBielinski
|
|
|
6
|
W199 N5539 Boxwood Blvd.
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 608-226-3016 |
84
|
34
|
$449,990—$1,500,000
|
Quality builder, no construction loan, strives for customer satisfaction, guaranteed completion date, includes landscaping, driveway
|
Matt Cudney
|
|
|
7
|
N63 W23849 Main St.
Sussex, WI 53089 262-932-4188 |
75
|
28
|
$400,000—$1,000,000
|
Attached and detached single-family and condominium homes with clubhouses
|
John Wahlen
|
|
|
8
|
175 N. Corporate Drive
Brookfield, WI 53045 262-884-9550 |
68
|
35
|
$500,000—$1,500,000
|
Quality semi-custom home builder; build on client’s lot or builder’s; home/lot packages; land developer
|
Dave Tanner
|
|
|
9
|
4039 80th St.
Kenosha, WI 53142 262-842-0600 |
57
|
39
|
$380,000—$900,000
|
Family-run, builds quality homes in multiple subdivisions throughout southeastern Wisconsin
|
Jonah Hetland
|
|
|
10
|
8338 Corporate Drive
Mount Pleasant, WI53406 262-632-7373 |
38
|
23
|
$425,000—$1,800,000
|
Custom homes, large portfolio of plans as well as a variety of homes ready for immediate occupancy
|
Kurt Kamm
|
|
|
11
|
8501 75th St.
Kenosha, WI 53142 262-694-1677 |
33
|
17
|
$300,000—$1,800,000
|
Fully custom single/multi-family homes, 3,500-sq.-ft. showroom
|
Dustin Harpe, PhilAnderson
|
|
|
12
|
3726 N. Booth St.
Milwaukee, WI53212 414-562-6100 |
30
|
32
|
$160,000—$180,000
|
Affordable houses built with families in need
|
Brian Sonderman
|
|
|
13
|
6520 W. Layton Ave.
Greenfield, WI53220 414-988-8519 |
26
|
14
|
$400,000—$2,000,000
|
New construction single-family homes and two-family
|
Dean Magner
|
|
|
14
|
N118 W18531 Bunsen Drive
Germantown, WI53022 866-569-2500 |
25
|
20
|
$405,000—$1,200,000
|
Semi-custom, custom residential home builder
|
John Stoker
|
|
|
15
|
700 Pilgrim Pkwy.
Elm Grove, WI53122 262-797-3636 |
25
|
12
|
$600,000—$3,200,000
|
Custom homes, luxury condominiums, exclusive subdivisions, land development, real estate brokerage
|
Craig Caliendo, John Harlos
|
|
|
16
|
P.O. Box 191
Kansasville, WI53139 262-385-0709 |
19
|
9
|
$475,000—$1,200,000
|
Custom and semi-custom affordable single-family, residential new custom homes
|
Kurt Lazarski, KevinLazarski
|
|
|
17
|
N118 W18531 Bunsen Drive
Germantown, WI53022 866-705-7000 |
14
|
12
|
$770,000—$3,200,000
|
Custom home builder with in-house designers, experienced ownership team
|
John Stoker
|
|
|
18
|
W193 N10975 Kleinmann Drive
Germantown, WI53022 262-415-5740 |
14
|
8
|
$1,000,000—$15,000,000
|
Custom home design, custom home building, interior design
|
Lisa Moore
|
|
|
19
|
18880 Toldt Woods Drive
Brookfield, WI 53045 262-235-3125 |
13
|
8
|
$530,000—$1,400,000
|
Building forever homes, specialize in custom builds
|
Michael Lawrence, James Fuchs
|
|
|
20
|
S75 W17237 Janesville Road
Muskego, WI 53150 262-971-1002 |
10
|
3
|
$700,000—$1,300,000
|
Custom and semi-custom homes
|
John Jewell
|
|
|
21
|
N50 W13740 Overview Drive
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 262-783-4700 |
9
|
6
|
$700,000—$2,000,000
|
Custom and semi-custom home building, remodeling
|
Deron Butler
|
|
|
22
|
1025 W. Glen Oaks Lane
Mequon, WI 53092 262-241-8740 |
9
|
4
|
$500,000—$3,000,000
|
Custom homes specifically focused on the customer; emphasis on quality, customer communication
|
Bill Mikkelson, FredDahms Jr., CameronMikkelson, JohnMikkelson
|
|
|
23
|
P.O. Box 321486
Franklin, WI 53132 414-690-2533 |
5
|
5
|
$800,000—$2,700,000
|
Luxury single-family home builder
|
Steve Wamser
|
|
|
24
|
34580 Meadow View Ct.
Oconomowoc, WI53066 262-646-5977 |
5
|
2
|
$800,000—$2,000,000
|
Green building, single-family custom homes, historic rehab, LEED rated
|
Matt Zach
|
Pleasant Prairie: Conceptual plan for 10 two-unit Willow Grove Condominiums project gets OK
The conceptual plan for the proposed Willow Grove Condominiums development calls for 10 two-unit buildings on 6.21-acres of vacant property, generally located east of Highway H (88th Avenue) and north of 68th Street. The newly approved plan replaces initial project proposals from March 2020 that consisted of 13 single-family lots.
The conceptual plan for the proposed Willow Grove Condominiums development calls for 10 two-unit buildings on 6.21-acres of vacant property, g…
“The new conceptual plan for the Willow Grove Condominiums blends in nicely with the single-family homes in the area,” said Jean Werbie-Harris, the village’s community development director. “In addition, the development team has tested the two-unit building concept in another area of the village and found condominium housing is in demand.”
The new Willow Grove conceptual plan calls for 20 ranch-style owner-occupied condominium units with full basements and two-car or three-car attached garages. The buildings are planned to have one unit with two bedrooms at about 1,625 square feet and another unit with three bedrooms at approximately 1,690 square feet.
The design of these condominiums is similar to the Green Bay Trails Condominiums development, located on the southeast corner of Highway 165 and Old Green Bay Road.
Pleasant Prairie Village Board approves change to condominium development
-
PLEASANT PRAIRIE — A condominium development that’s been in the works the last two years in the village continues to move forward, but now with an adjustment to the overall plan.
The Village Board on Monday night unanimously approved a request on behalf of Harpe Development to change the six units in the Green Bay Trail condominiums from three- to two-family.
Community Development Director Jean Werbie-Harris told the board the developers were facing some challenges with marketing the three-unit setup.
“The two-family units that they have been building with larger garages are much more desirable and sellable than the proposed three-family buildings,” she said. “The developers had very few leads on anyone inquiring about the three-unit buildings, but they have had many prospective customers for the two-unit layout.”
Werbie-Harris
Werbie-Harris said that one unit in each of the six affected buildings will feature a three-car garage. With the approval of the change, she said it’s anticipated that all remaining units will be completed next year.
With the adjustment, the number of total units will change from 46 to 40, Werbie-Harris said.
The development is located on four lots in a 14-acre parcel at the southeast corner of Old Green Bay Road and 104th Street.
According to the original plans, the ranch-style condos have a range from 1,600 to nearly 1,700 square feet in the lower units, with upper units up to 2,276 square feet. The original pricing for the two-family units was listed at $299,000, with three-family units at $349,000.
Monthly homeowner fees are expected to range from $200 to $220.
The board also unanimously approved a zoning text amendment to the Planned Unit Development to reflect the changes in the original developer’s agreement.
Developments receive Village Board approval
Ashbury receives OK
The board approved the same motion for the Ashbury East Subdivision, which will divide the 9.89 acres of vacant land east of 94th Avenue and north of Bain Station Road into 19 single-family lots and one outlot.
Construction by Harpe Development will begin around July 27. The lots will have an average size of 14,593 square feet, with single-family lots ranging from 13,180 to 20,201 square feet.
The original conceptual plan for the land between Ashbury Creek and Fountain Ridge Apartment Complex was initially presented in June 2016. The developers of the apartment complex sold that land to Harpe Development.
Plans advance for 13-home subdivision in Pleasant Prairie
Plan for proposed Green Bay Trail Condominiums moves forward
PLEASANT PRAIRIE — Preliminary plans for 20 multi-unit condominiums at the southeast corner of Old Green Bay Road and 104th Street will move forward after Plan Commission approval Monday night.
Kenosha-based Harpe Development LLC, which owns four lots on 14 acres east of Old Green Bay Road and south of 104th Street (Highway 165), intends to construct six, three-unit and 14, two-unit buildings known as the Green Bay Trail Condominiums in the Lakewood Neighborhood.
Last month, the Village Board approved conceptual plans for the development, which is expected to break ground this spring and is anticipated to be completed within the next two or three years, according to Community Development Director Jean Werbie-Harris. The plans are expected to go before the Village Board on March 4.
According to the plans, the two-unit buildings will be ranch-style condos with an attached two-car garage and a full basement. There will be 1,626-square-foot units with two bedrooms and two baths, as well as 1,691-square-foot units with three bedrooms and two baths.
The three-unit buildings will have two stories each, with two of the units designed as a ranch-style offering with a three-car attached garage, full basements and two bedrooms and two baths. One unit will be 1,617 square feet and the other will be 1,629 square feet.
The upper unit will have 2,276 square feet of living space on the second floor and an entry foyer with extra storage space on the first floor. The upper unit will include a two-car, extra-deep attached garage, three bedrooms, two baths, an office and a covered deck.
Previous plans for site
Previously, in 2007, the Village Board approved plans for a larger, if not more dense, condominium development that, due to the economic recession, never was built.
Vintage Parc Condominium Development had proposed three, six-unit buildings and 12, four-unit buildings. During the conceptual planning stage, the comprehensive plan accommodating Harpe’s development was changed to reflect a new layout, which reduced the number of condominium units from 66 to 46.
Developer Dustin Harpe told the board the company has a similar development underway in Rochester in Racine County and believes the Green Bay Trail development will be successful.
“We’ve already seen quite a bit of activity,” he said referring to interest from prospective buyers.
The two-unit condos are expected to start at $299,000 with larger three-unit condos priced at $349,000 and monthly homeowner fees ranging from $200 to $220 that will include water, garbage and snow removal, among other services.
Harpe Development’s plan for 46 Pleasant Prairie condos wins approval
By Nick Williams – Reporter, Milwaukee Business Journal
Jan 23, 2019, 4:50pm EST
A proposal to deliver 46 condominiums to Pleasant Prairie took a step further this week as village officials approved plans by Kenosha-based Harpe Development.
Pleasant Prairie’s Village Board on Monday approved a conceptual plan for Green Bay Trail Condominiums to be built at the southeast corner of Old Green Bay Road and 104th Street.
Green Bay Trail will consist of 20 buildings. It will be split into six buildings of three, attached condominiums and 14 buildings of two, attached and ranch-style condos. The condos have six-inch thick walls with sound insulation in between, said Dustin Harpe, owner of Harpe Development.
Each condominium has two bedrooms and costs $299,900. There is a three-bedroom penthouse model priced at $349,900.
The condos include attached garages, full basements and stone fireplaces. The three-unit buildings will be two stories tall, with the third unit on the second floor. Two of those units will be ranch style with a three-car attached garage. The second floor home will have a two-car attached garage.
Dustin Harpe of Harpe Development anticipates beginning construction in May 2019.
More than a decade ago, the village board approved a similar project for condominiums on the same parcel, according to the village. Infrastructure construction began and some public improvements were installed, including underground utilities. The project stalled and was never completed. Green Bay Trail will use as much of the existing infrastructure that was installed as possible, per the village.
Village Board approves conceptual plans for Green Bay Trail condominiums
By TERRY FLORES [email protected] Jan 22, 2019
PLEASANT PRAIRIE — The Village Board on Monday approved conceptual plans for 20 multi-unit condominium buildings at the southeast corner of Old Green Bay Road and 104th Street (Highway 165).
Harpe Development LLC, owner of the vacant properties there, is proposing to construct six, three-unit condominium buildings and 14, two-unit condominium buildings to be known as Green Bay Trail Condominiums in the Lakewood Neighborhood.
According to the plans, the two-unit buildings will be ranch-style dwellings with an attached two-car garage and a full basement. There will be 1,626-square-foot units with two bedrooms and two baths as well as 1,691-square-foot units with three bedrooms and two baths.
The three-unit buildings will be two stories each. Two of the units will be ranch style with a three-car attached garage and full basements. One unit will be 1,617 square feet and the other will be 1,629 square feet.
The third unit will be on the second floor with a two-car attached garage. It will have 2,276 square feet of living space on the second floor and an entry foyer with extra storage space on the first floor. It will include a two-car, extra-deep attached garage, three bedrooms, two baths, an office and a covered deck.
Harpe anticipates starting construction this spring and expects the development to be completed in the next two to three years.
In 2007, the board approved the Vintage Parc Condominium development for the site, which included three, six-unit buildings and 12, four-unit buildings. However, no condominiums were built due to economic downturn.
For the Green Bay Trail development, the comprehensive plan was changed to reflect the new layout including a decrease in the number of condominium units from 66 to 46.
The Vintage Parc developer began partial grading, infrastructure and public improvements. The new development proposes to use as much of the existing infrastructure installed.
Village officials said Harpe will be seeking additional project approvals in the coming months.
Green Bay Trail condominium project advances
By TERRY FLORES [email protected] Jan 15, 2019
PLEASANT PRAIRIE — A developer’s plans for 20 multi-unit condominium buildings at Old Green Bay Road and 104th Street (Highway 165) will move forward after the Plan Commission approved the conceptual plans for the proposed project.
After a public hearing, the commission voted 7-0 Monday night in favor of the proposal which calls for the construction of six, three-unit buildings and 14, two-unit buildings, known collectively as the Green Bay Trail Condominiums, in the Lakewood Neighborhood.
The commission also approved a comprehensive plan amendment, which included a reduction on the number of condominium units.
The project, proposed by Kenosha-based Harpe Development LLC, is expected to come before the Village Board for consideration Monday.
Condo details
According to the plans, the two-unit buildings will be ranch-style condos with an attached two-car garage and a full basement. There will be 1,626-square-foot units with two bedrooms and two baths as well as 1,691-square-foot units with three bedrooms and two baths.
The three-unit buildings will be two stories each with two of the units designed as a ranch-style offering with a three-car attached garage, full basements and two bedrooms and two baths. One unit will be 1,617 square feet and the other will be 1,629 square feet.
The upper unit will have 2,276 square feet of living space on the second floor and an entry foyer with extra storage space on the first floor. The upper unit will include a two-car, extra-deep attached garage, three bedrooms, two baths, an office and a covered deck.
Start this spring
Community Development Director Jean Werbie-Harris said Harpe anticipates starting construction this spring and expects the development to be completed in the next two to three years.
The neighborhood plan at Lakewood originally called for a different development. In 2007, the Village Board approved the Vintage Parc Condominium development, which included three, six-unit buildings and 12, four-unit buildings. However, due to the economic recession in the years that followed, the development never materialized.
For the proposed new development, the comprehensive plan was changed to reflect the new layout, which included reducing the number of condominium units from 66 to 46, Werbie-Harris said.
Previously, the developer of the first condominium project began partial grading, infrastructure and public improvements, and as a part of the developer’s agreement paid the village just over $187,400 to be used to widen the intersection at Old Green Bay Road and Highway 165, she said.
Werbie-Harris said that work is expected to take place as early as late spring as part of the Main Street Market development, a 22-acre parcel at Green Bay Road and 104th Street, which includes Froedtert South.
46 condo units proposed in Pleasant Prairie
Construction could begin in May or June
by Alex Zank January 15, 2019, 12:54 PM
A Kenosha developer has plans to build a total of 46 condo units at the southeast corner of Old Green Bay Road and Highway 165 in Pleasant Prairie.
Plans submitted to the village call for six three-unit buildings and 14 two-unit buildings. The development is known as the Green Bay Trail Condominiums.
Construction of the 20 side-by-side condo buildings would begin sometime in late May or early June, assuming the project receives all necessary village approvals, said Dustin Harpe, owner of Kenosha-based Harpe Development.
Harpe said he’s pursuing the project because there is a lack of supply of this particular type of condo building in the area. He noted there already appears to be strong preliminary interest.
“Pleasant Prairie doesn’t really have much by the way of side-by-side condos,” Harpe said.
Harpe said three or four condos could be pre-signed by the end of the week.
The project is actually a reduction of 20 units relative to plans from 2009, which called for a 66-unit condo development at the same site. Because of this, infrastructure has already been built on the site, and would only need minor changes before the modified condo buildings could go up.
Harpe said 10 years ago he had originally planned for the buildings to hold either four or six units each, though it is now appears that the side-by-side condos sell a lot better.
“The demand and the price just doesn’t seem to be there yet (for four- and six-unit buildings),” he said.