Single-family living options expand in Crivitz

CRIVITZ – When Mike Smits of Core Elements LLC thinks of Crivitz, he thinks of cottages in the woods.

The real-estate developer and president of Core Elements LLC in Green Bay picked Crivitz for a new development with about 37 new homes and 64 planned apartments because he likes the community, he said.

“It very much fits that whole lifestyle vibe. That’s what we were going for, a cottage in the woods with all the amenities. There’s high speed internet. There’s municipal city sewer and water and gas and electric, so everything is there. They take care of the road plowing, so you have all the benefits of that and cottage living in nature,” he said.

The first four single-family homes and 20 apartment units have been built and three of the four homes have been sold, he said. A 1,335-square-foot two-bedroom, two bath home on 0.19 acres at 116 Birch Court in the Timbers is listed with Nexthome Select Realty for $379,900. Among the bonus features are a master bedroom suite, cathedral ceilings, second-story loft area, spacious walk-in closets and laundry room, a covered patio with built-in fireplace and a heated two-car garage.

The project has been underway for 14 to 16 months, said village board member George Gocht.

The village board approved a Tax Increment Financing District in an area behind the Kwik Trip, he said. “It’s a huge plan. There’s a lot of components,” Gocht said. It could include around 90 multi-family units over a period of time.

The first 20-unit building is open, and a 12-unit building is starting construction, Gocht said.

Each new development will have its own name, Gocht said. The Timbers and The Oaks are the first two developments.

Smits saw the opportunity when the Village of Crivitz began discussing the Tax Increment Financing District. Plans for the new construction began about a year ago, when the village installed the infrastructure for utilities, water lines and sewer.

“This is just a fun one,” Smits said about the woodsy real-estate developments.

The cottages at the Timbers start at about $359,000 for a base model.

“We’ve got a handful of different options for sizes and shapes,” he said. Loft areas could become third or fourth bedrooms, depending on the buyers’ desires, he explained. They feature a large back porch and oversized garage. The theme is a cottage in the woods.

The Timbers are expected to appeal to year-round residents and second-home owners. “We’ve got a little mix. We do have a couple of snowbirds,” he said. The first phase of 10 homes is starting to sell out, he said.

The Green Bay-based real estate developer picked Crivitz as the location because he likes the community.

“I just love the community. Me and my family spent a bunch of time up there. I like the lifestyle. It’s got a little bit of everything,” he said. “From the outdoor life scene to the supper club. I’ve just generally wound up meeting a lot of nice, good people up there.”

The apartments provide more housing options in Crivitz for people of all ages, he said. “This last month, we’ve had six showings,” Smits said. Pets are welcome, and many units have sliding door access to the outdoors. With in-unit laundry and walk-in closets, the apartments are luxury units at affordable prices and allow pets.

One-bedroom units with 670 square feet start at $1,200 a month, including heat, water, fiber internet and garage, and on the high end, a three-bedroom, two-bath with 1,3000 or 1,400 square feet rents for $1,800, he said.

The larger apartments have a townhome layout on two levels with a staircase, Smits said.

Main Street Management in Green Bay is managing the rentals.

First floor ADA-compliant apartments are ideal for senior living. The apartments opened Labor Day weekend, and eight tenants are living there.