11-15-13 retlaw theater redevelopment

Commonwealth Development Corporation has acquired an option to  purchase the former Retlaw Theater property in downtown Fond du Lac.  Commonwealth says its evaluating the possibility of repurposing the property into an upscale boutique hotel.  The hotel would contain 34 rooms along with retail commercial space on the street level at Main and Sheboygan Streets.  Fond du Lac Community Development Director Wayne Rollin is supportive of the idea.  "It makes use of a property that I've been very worried about.  There's no question that the corner of Sheboygan and Main needs some work,"  Rollin told WFDL news.  "I'm excited about the fact that this would preserve the buildings, with the exception of the old theater."  As part of the redevelopment, the theater structure would be removed to allow for new window and door openings and parking.  The goal Is to have the project completed by the spring of 2015.