MENASHA — More than three years after a fire destroyed the former George A. Whiting Paper Co. mill, Menasha city officials say redevelopment plans are still on the horizon, but they’re asking for patience.
Austin Hammond, the city’s mayor, assured residents that the city has not forgotten the former mill site, but redevelopment is still years away.
“It is on our minds and on our radar,” Hammond told The Post-Crescent on Monday. “But things take time, and it isn’t something that’s been forgotten by the city.”
The former paper mill burned down in May 2021, and while cleanup efforts followed, the site has seen little progress since.
Here is what to know about the former Whiting paper mill.
What are Menasha leaders planning for the former Whiting mill site?
Andrew Dane, Menasha’s new community development director, said the city aims to execute an actionable redevelopment plan for the site by 2026.
Dane said an environmental assessment at the Whiting mill, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants, is currently underway. He said the final report, expected within a month or two, will help the city determine the best use of the site.
Hammond said potential uses for the parcel, either housing developments or an outdoor recreational area, are of particular interest to him.
Menasha’s experience with the mill reflects a broader trend across the Fox Valley. Dane said that redeveloping sites like the Whiting mill typically takes 10 to 30 years due to factors like property ownership, liability, and funding for the cleanup of the post-industrial space.
“The turnaround to successfully redevelop these sites is measured in decades, not years,” Dane added.
What is the current status of the former mill’s property?
Last December, the city’s common council voted to remove the perimeter fence surrounding the burned-out Whiting mill, citing ongoing expenses.
Since August 2021, the city has been paying $500 per month to rent the fence, according to Hammond.
The fence is expected to be taken down by January or February, and the common council is keeping its options open for additional safety measures including putting up a few signs for trespassers, the mayor added.
In August 2021, the city hired B.E.S.T Enterprises, a De Pere-based contractor, to stabilize the site in preparation for future redevelopment.
The former Whiting paper mill in Menasha is seen on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
Jesse Juedes, general manager of B.E.S.T Enterprises, confirmed that his company completed the project in early March 2022 and has been paid more than $235,800.
Juedes said the scope of the project included demolishing burned-out buildings and disposing of regulated waste such as asbestos.
The city opted to keep the perimeter fence, which was installed at the initial stage of the demolishing work, for ongoing security concerns, he added.
The property remains under the ownership of Tom Danz of Danz Real Estate.
Danz told The Post-Crescent in an email that he is aware of the decision to take down the fence but refrained from making any further comments.
He said in September 2022 that his business would not oppose foreclosure, as it could provide a redevelopment opportunity for the mill site.
What caused the fire in 2021?
The cause of the fire remains unknown, and the investigation into the fire is still open.
“Currently, the cause of the fire is still undetermined,” said Shane Krueger, deputy chief of the Neenah Menasha Fire Rescue in a statement. “None of the information reviewed to date has been substantiated.”
The former Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue Chief Kevin Kloehn told The Post-Crescent in 2021 that the fire was likely caused by unauthorized occupants inside the vacant building. A media release jointly issued by the Menasha Police Department and Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue stated the fire was not caused by an act of nature.
Lieutenant Peter Sawyer of the Menasha Police Department encourages the public to reach out to him or Krueger if they have any information related to the investigation.
What is the history of the Whiting paper mill?
The former mill, known as the George A. Whiting Paper Co., was one of Wisconsin’s smallest and oldest paper mills, operating in Menasha since 1882.
The mill closed in 2016 and had been vacant since the closure.
Tom Danz purchased the paper mill from the Whiting family in 2014. His goal was to keep it operating as a craftsman-type mill — the mill made high-end art paper, scrapbooking, and Kona paper.
However, the business struggled to achieve sufficient sales to remain viable, he said in 2016.
Danz had been the company’s president and COO since 1999 and CEO since 2011.
It had 28 employees and was represented by the United Steelworkers union.
Zhen Wang is a business reporter for The Post-Crescent. Reach her with story tips and feedback at zwang@gannett.com or 920-993-7117.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Whiting paper mill site: Menasha’s redevelopment plans to take shape by 2026