The Buzz: RiverHeath to break ground on largest mixed-use building to date

RiverHeath will break ground this spring on Willow, its largest mixed-use building to date.(Photo: Courtesy of Engberg Anderson)

RiverHeath will break ground this spring on its largest mixed-use building to date.

RiverHeath is a residential/commercial mixed use development on Appleton’s riverfront between the College Avenue Bridge and Telulah Park. It includes townhouses, Prairie and Evergreen apartment/mixed-use buildings, Courtyard by Marriott, Mr. Brews Taphouse, Tempest Coffee Collective and a variety of smaller retail businesses and offices.

The new $25 million building breaking ground shortly is called Willow. It’s slated to open in late summer 2019.

It will include apartments, office space and retail shops. The site is between the Prairie apartment building and the hotel.

“Willow is about double the size of either Evergreen or Prairie. It’s six stories instead of four, and the footprint is a bit larger,” said Mark Geall, principal of Tanesay Development, which owns RiverHeath.

“Willow will be 108 units — a mixture of studios, one, two and three bedrooms – with underground parking, office, retail and entertainment areas for residents,” he said.

Students from nine Appleton elementary, middle and high schools are currently painting murals on panels that will be installed by May to decorate Willow’s construction fencing. Riverfront trails will remain open during construction.

Retailers and office tenants in the new building will include a variety of small creative boutiques, active/healthy businesses and young entrepreneurs. They include:

Alyssa & Anna Fine Jewelry: This will be the first satellite location for the Oshkosh-based jewelry company that sells both affordable jewelry and its own custom-made jewelry. Owner/designer Alyssa Nguyen has an art studio in The Draw in Appleton and is a regular customer at Tempest in RiverHeath. “I love the area and wanted to be there,” she said.

Nectar Organic Goods & Detox Sauna: This will be the second location for the Green Bay-based Nectar. It whips up organic and non-GMO juice, smoothies and bowls. See nectarofgreenbay.com for menu and sauna information.

Flower Mill: Appleton florist Lauren Ahrens will move her studio from The Draw to Willow. She specializes in events and weddings, and creates table decor and fresh flower arrangements for Tempest. Her Willow shop will also have fresh-cut flowers for walk-in customers.

Recyclist Bicycle Company: This bike and kayak sales and rental shop will move over to a larger location in Willow from its current spot in RiverHeath’s Evergreen building. Its main headquarters are in Kaukauna.

Menlo Park Coworking Space: This shared office space will move from Riverheath’s Prairie building.

Optimal Digital Marketing: The company currently operates out of the Menlo Park Coworking space in Prairie.

BConnected: Owner Brad Cebulski will move his social media management company from downtown Appleton to Willow when the building is ready in 2019. “The whole culture and vibe is a big step for us,” he said. His staff of 15 handles more than 55 local accounts, including Xperience Fitness, Orthopedic & Sports Institute of the Fox Valley and Goodwill NCW.

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