Oak Creek eyes old Delphi plant for civic center

The Common Council tonight will discuss the future of the 85-acre former Delphi property, 7929 S. Howell Ave., and that could include new municipal buildings.

For some time, the city has discussed building a civic center, which would be a combination of a new City Hall and library, as well as a new fire station.

In a report to council members, officials said putting the library and City Hall at the old Delphi site could be the "cornerstone of a new city center," which could also include housing, restaurants and retail establishments.

The only decision the council would make tonight is whether to create a master plan for the Delphi property and civic center.

The Oak Creek-Franklin School District, meanwhile, has mulled building a new high school. If the civic center was built on the Delphi land, a new school could be built where the City Hall and library now exists, according to the report.

"There may be strong community sentiment for keeping the library and City Hall at its current location," City Attorney Lawrence Haskin wrote in the report. "No decision about the future sitting of a library, City Hall and high school can be made without substantial public input."

Officials would like a master plan so residents can better visualize various scenarios and then comment on them, Haskin said.