Alternative Concept Proposed for Shorewood to Preserve Parking and Deliver Affordable Housing

Affordable Shorewood Press Release
March 16, 2026

Alternative Concept Proposed for Shorewood to Preserve Parking and Deliver Affordable Housing

𝘐𝘥𝘦𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 ‒ 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘛𝘐𝘍 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘹 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘴

March 16, 2026 – Shorewood, Wisconsin – The proverb “necessity is the mother of invention,” often attributed to Plato, reflects the idea that difficult challenges can inspire creative solutions. In that spirit, Affordable Shorewood has spent the past week developing an alternative for the Shorewood Village Board to consider ‒ one that addresses community concerns raised about the development plan proposed by Spoerl Commercial.

The concept, developed by local entrepreneur Andrew Bergholz, aims to preserve public parking while adding a mix of market-rate and affordable housing at the site of the public parking lot at 4450 North Oakland Avenue.

Key elements of the alternative include:

• Purchase of the public parking lot at 4450 North Oakland by Sconnie Properties for $450,000, exceeding the price offered by Spoerl Development.
• Construction of a multi-level paid parking structure for public and private use.
• Development of a multi-story building with apartment units, including elevator access for residents and parking users.
• Up to five units designated as below-market housing under a 30-year affordability commitment.
• No reliance on Low-Income Housing Tax Credits or Shorewood Tax Increment Financing (TIF) as part of the financing package.
• Installation of a neighborhood mobility hub, including space for e-bike rentals and tenant bicycle storage.

Affordable Shorewood is asking the Village Board to pause the current sale process and to allow further development of this idea. The concept could allow approximately $2.7 million in TIF funding to be returned to local taxing authorities, including an estimated $700,000 to the Village of Shorewood and $1.5 million to the Shorewood School District.

Bergholz brings significant experience in real estate and parking infrastructure. He previously served as President and Owner at Traffic and Parking Control Company (TAPCO), a Milwaukee-area firm providing traffic safety and parking solutions for governments and private businesses nationwide. Under Bergholz’s leadership, the company grew into a 300-employee operation

Through Sconnie Properties, Bergholz currently owns properties in Shorewood and works with clients to buy, sell, rent, and manage real estate.

Bergholz is also renovating the building at 4451 North Oakland Avenue, directly across from the parking lot. The project will become “The Slab – Connect & Collect,” a retail and community-focused venue centered on sports memorabilia and collectibles. The space will include retail, a café and lounge area, and a second-floor event space intended to host community gatherings and neighborhood events. theslab.net

The renovation is expected to transform the building into a new neighborhood destination.

“I’m motivated to work with all parties and welcome the opportunity to discuss an alternative that meets multiple community objectives,” said Bergholz. “My background in real estate and parking gives me a unique ability to help preserve parking while adding new housing options for Shorewood.”

Jay Sorensen, a volunteer advocate with Affordable Shorewood, said the concept deserves serious consideration.

“This idea preserves public parking while also creating affordable housing and returning millions of dollars to our schools and local government,” Sorensen said. “We hope Village Trustees will take the time to allow collaboration on this concept.”

The Shorewood Village Board is scheduled to vote on the current development proposal on March 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Shorewood Village Hall. Bergholz will attend the Village Board meeting and is committed to working to finding a great outcome for the Village.

𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦: 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘈𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴.