City issues razing/demolition permit for portions of the former papermill

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The City of Wisconsin Rapids this week issued a Razing/Demolition permit to MRD Group Inc. (MRD), based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for portions of the former papermill in the City.

PCR Rapids 1 Op, LLC (PCR), the owner of the property, was issued a Class 3 Salvage Permit by the City in April 2024, with plans to eventually contract with a salvage/demolition company for the kraft mill. PCR’s partnership with MRD will not only focus on salvaging and scrapping the kraft mill, but also Paper Machine 14 located in the base mill on the south end of the property.

MRD provides an all-inclusive service including asset recovery, environmental site remediation, metal recycling, concrete recycling, and asbestos and lead-based paint abatement. Aside from the dismantling of Paper Machine 14, the majority of the kraft mill structures will be salvaged and demolished, leaving an at-grade restored surface on the site. A few buildings will remain at the kraft mill site, including the stock warehouse and vehicle maintenance garage. MRD anticipates the project to take up to 18 months to complete.

“The City is excited to see activity on the kraft mill portion of the site, which has been obsolete since shuttering, as it will promote the initiatives for redevelopment as outlined in the City’s Papermill Recovery Plan.” said Mayor Matt Zacher. “Although the ideal circumstance would have been to have a buyer who would continue papermaking operations, or an adaptive reuse of the site, it became evident through the City’s pursuit of those possibilities, that those could not feasibly occur. Having a clean, developable site puts the City in the best position to pursue redevelopment.”

The City will closely oversee the salvage and demolition efforts through coordinated communication and onsite inspections. Moreover, the City has protection in place in the form of permitting, bonding, and insurance to ensure the success of the project.

Recently PCR began to actively market papermill property, including several small outlot buildings and parcels, a few of which have been sold to local businesses. Furthermore, Paper Machine 16 and the building in which its housed continues to be marketed.

“We are very excited about the prospect of marketing and offering the 220 acres of the primary mill site for redevelopment opportunities once the demolition is complete,” said Bill Firestone, founder and CEO of Capital Recovery Group, one of three investment firms in the PCR investment group.

PCR will continue to be the primary contact for interest in redevelopment opportunities at the papermill property. Those interested may contact Glen Gilbert with PCR at 304-813-4831.

“This is the start of transformation at the papermill that can be the catalyst for several redevelopment opportunities which have been years in the making, said Kyle Kearns, Director of Community Development. “Additionally, it is the culmination of strong relationships and good communication between the public and private sector.”
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For more information about the project, please direct questions to the Community Development Department:
Wisconsin Rapids Community Development Department
715-421-8228 [email protected]
City Hall, 2nd Floor​