Groundbreaking Held for Fort Atkinson's First Housing Development in 25 Years

The Editors
Jul 23
4 min read

Updated: Jul 24

Today marked a momentous event for Fort Atkinson with groundbreaking for the city’s first housing development in 25 years.

Rebecca Houseman, Fort Atkinson City Manager, stated, “After years of careful planning and collaboration, the City of Fort Atkinson and American Companies, along with Kinseth Hospitality Companies, are proud to celebrate the groundbreaking of a much-needed new housing development - Ridge View Lofts, 1355 Trillium Drive” [Fort Atkinson].

Houseman stated that the Ridge View Lofts project represents a “milestone that reflects both the community’s dedication and the pressing need for affordable, quality homes in today’s challenging economic climate.”

The new Ridge View Estates subdivision is located between Fort Atkinson High School and Banker Road. Today’s event brought together City leaders and stakeholders from all across the state.

“The groundbreaking marks the culmination of countless hours of work and brings renewed hope and excitement to everyone invested in creating a stronger, more vibrant future for the City of Fort Atkinson and Jefferson County,” according to Houseman.

“We are honored to have you here today to mark a truly historic occasion - the culmination of a vision that began in 2018, when the City Council had the foresight to purchase these 75 acres with a vision. It’s a vision you can see taking shape here today,” Houseman stated.

Houseman said Fort Atkinson has never seen a development the size of Ridge View Lofts. The multifamily building will house 87 market-rate units that will include a mix of studio along with one and two-bedroom apartments.

“This development comes at a time when creating housing for families has never been more challenging or more needed,” Houseman said.

A Long-Term Collaboration of Private Sector & Local Government

“This project is helping to create a stronger vision for Fort Atkinson’s future,” said Deb Reinbold, president and executive director of ThriveED and the Jefferson County Economic Development Consortium. “It’s a powerful example of when the private sector and local government come together to accomplish their goals. This collaboration between developers, business leaders and the city shows us what’s possible when we align around a common vision for the future. Together we’re not just building housing - we’re fostering long term prosperity.”

Kraig Sadownikow, President of American Companies stated, “We are so excited to be a part of the Fort Atkinson community and Jefferson County. This has been a steady project for the last 14 to 18 months. Congratulations to the current and former leaders of Fort Atkinson for the vision that you had dating back to 2018 to address the housing shortage that has continued to grow.”

Who Is Involved in the Development?

Many key team members in both public and private sectors have been mentioned in advancing the Ridge View Lofts project within the new Ridge View Estates subdivision, including (but not limited to):

Fort Atkinson City Manager Rebecca Houseman.
Current members of Fort Atkinson City Council which include Peggy Huckabee, Kyle Jaeckel, Bruce Johnson, Davin Lescohier, and Eric Schultz.
Fort Atkinson city staff, particularly Parks and Recreation Director Ben Dayton; Director of Building and Neighborhood Services Jed Draeger; Public Works Superintendent Tom Williamson; and Public Relations Executive Assistant Sarah Weihert.
Also integral to the project are Deb Reinbold, President and Executive Director, ThriveED and the Jefferson County Economic Development Commission; Kraig Sadownikow, American Companies/Intrepid Investments; and Jeff Schrader, Kinsseth Hospitality Companies.

Jeff Schrader of Kinseth Hospitality Group, who will manage Ridge View Lofts, said they see the properties they manage as an investment in housing, the economy and vibrancy to the cities in which they participate.

What’s Included in the Development?

The Ridge View Lofts development is within the Ridge View Estates subdivision, located between Banker Road and Fort Atkinson High School on 35 acres of the City’s 75-acre parcel, and will “transform Fort Atkinson’s northwest side,” according to Houseman.

The project includes the development of multi-family buildings, single-family homes, duplexes, townhomes and other residential options. The rest of Ridge View Estates subdivision is expected to consist of about 95 owner-occupied homes, mostly single-family, along with unique amenities such as a dog wash, car wash, business center, fitness center and enclosed parking garage.

“Starting next week, we will break ground across the street on our first four single-family town homes, followed closely behind by our first three single-family homes,” Sadownikow said.

In addition to new residential development, the City is investing in the area’s public park amenities. A new park will be developed on the east side of the relocated Banker Road, with improvements slated to be completed within two years of the road construction’s completion.

How the Ridge View Estates Subdivision Came About

In providing details of the development’s history today, City Manager Houseman stated, “Fort Atkinson has been working to develop this land since 2018, when the City acquired the property after a previous residential development project fell through. In the years following, the City adopted a new Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance, aligning the development of this area with the community’s evolving needs. In 2021, the City worked with the Town of Koshkonong to annex the land into the City, and soon after, began planning for a vibrant, diverse neighborhood that includes essential parkland, green space, and convenient access to the new multi-use trail system.

She stated that the city has been working with Intrepid Investments since early 2024 to develop the site.

Other Area Modifications

Today’s news release also provided details of other area changes: “The infrastructure work for the Ridge View Estates will include the realignment of Banker Road, partially funded through a WisDOT STP-Urban Program grant, and the reconstruction of the existing road corridor into a multi-use trail, connecting the new neighborhood to parkland and green spaces.”