Vandenburg Heights

Summary: The Vandenburg Heights project involved the conversion of former military housing into a subdivision of 42 single-family, owner-occupied homes and 68 rental duplexes. In addition to extensive rehabilitation and modernization of the housing, the project required a complex partnership involving the Army Corps of Engineers, the City of Sun Prairie, and a private-sector equity investor.

Wisconsin Partnership's role: Development consultant

Staff contact: Dave Porterfield

Status of work: All homes either rented or sold in 1992

The Vandenburg Heights project grew out of a decision by the U.S. Army to dispose of 110 units of housing formerly occupied by military personnel and their families. Located in the City of Sun Prairie, the homes were all in need of rehabilitation and modernization.

The Wisconsin Partnership was hired to analyze the financial feasibility of transferring the property from public to private ownership with the City of Sun Prairie acting as a conduit. The Partnership also analyzed the market for the rehabilitated properties and assisted the City in negotiations with the Army Corps of Engineers for the bulk purchase of the entire subdivision.

A partnership between the City and Heartland Properties, a subsidiary of a utility holding company, was proposed and the properties were transferred by the Army in early 1992. The Partnership was then hired to plan and manage project construction and supervise the sale of the single-family homes. Demand for the homes was so high that 22 were sold through a lottery. The rest were sold on a first-come, first-served basis.