Finding a place to live in Wittenberg became much less difficult Oct. 28 after S.C. Swiderski officially opened its 60-unit apartment complex near Nueske’s processing plant in the Wittenberg Business Park.
In 15 months, the apartment company has turned 7 unused acres into a place where 100 or more people are expected to live, and more than 60% of the apartments already have tenants. The final building in the complex is expected to open Dec. 15, but SCS representatives couldn’t wait to celebrate as visits to certain apartments and food trucks complimented the big unveiling.
Bill Switalla, Wittenberg Village Board president, praised the effort that is expected to make it easier for local businesses to find workers to keep their enterprises chugging along.
“This is an amazing project,” Switalla said. “I never saw this coming to Wittenberg, but I am very grateful, and the village of Wittenberg is very grateful. It’s a long time coming.”
Switalla noted that, besides helping workers wanting to live closer to their jobs, the apartments will be filled with elderly and younger people eager to make a fresh start.
“The elderly, they don’t want to take care of their homes anymore,” Switalla said. “For all this to come true, we’re already seeing many people moving in and very much love it. For the businesses in our community, we’ve really needed it. It will hopefully fill a lot of jobs and open positions.”
Switalla said Wittenberg is growing, and that it’s a nice place for people to live.
“Swiderski definitely made it a whole lot easier,” Switalla said. “This was not a hard project at all for the village of Wittenberg.”
Jessica White Wing-Clark, board member for the Wittenberg Area Chamber of Commerce and Wittenberg-Birnamwood School Board member, offered similar praise for how the new apartments will help improve the quality of life in Wittenberg.
“This is such a great day for Wittenberg,” White Wing-Clark said. “There was a lot of late nights, early mornings, long days, planning and collaboration that went into making this happen.”
Wittenberg has remained a small community at the junction of two major highways, but growth is on the horizon for the small village, White Wing-Clark said.
“Some of us that were born and raised in this area know that this is a huge, impactful thing for our people in the area, as well those we might attract,” she said. “As a member of the chamber, we have 44 businesses that are part of what we do to try to build the area in the way of business.”
White Wing-Clark added that she knows of two families who work at local businesses that have moved into the apartments. She also has a family member who has taken up residence.
“There’s three families right there that have been positively impacted by a vision that started long ago,” White Wing-Clark said. “It provides the high-quality housing we need. It allows our local work force and families to stay right here, and it’s really hitting close to home. Seeing our neighbors find a home is the ultimate proof of success. It shows that this property is all about people, families and the future.”
Of the 60 apartments, 24 have attached garages, and five of them are designed as garden-style apartments. There are 13 different floor plans set up, with all of them ranging from one to three bedrooms.
“With so many layouts and living options, there’s truly something for everyone at SCS Wittenberg,” said LeighAnna Emunson, SCS area manager. “Of course, a community like this takes more than beautiful buildings to make it successful. It takes a dedicated team of people working behind the scenes every day.”
Emunson said the Wittenberg community has made SCS employees feel right at home as they work to grow the community.
“We’re proud to be part of this community and look forward to making lasting relationships with the people who live and work here,” she said. “Today is an exciting milestone for SCS Wittenberg, and we look forward to seeing this community continue to grow and thrive for many years ahead.”
Pedro Paulete, SCS construction manager, said he hopes the apartment complex will serve the village well as it tries to grow its economic development.
“This is a development that we’re really proud of to bring to the village of Wittenberg,” Paulete said.
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
Visitors check out one of the apartments that is part of the new S.C. Swiderski complex in Wittenberg. More than 60% of the apartments are already occupied, and the last of five buildings is expected to open its doors Dec. 15. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
