Plan commission approves CUP for Riverview Senior Living complex 48-unit affordable housing complex to serve veterans, low-income seniors

The City of Rhinelander plan commission had approved a conditional use permit (CUP) for Riverview Senior Living, a new 48-unit affordable housing development aimed at addressing critical housing shortages in the Rhinelander area.
According to information submitted to the commission, the mid-rise elevator building, to be built on 3.7 acres of vacant land at 903 Boyce Drive, will include 36 one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom units, along with commercial office space for senior and veteran services. The site is near the Holmboe State Preservation Area, Shepard Park, and the Pelican River boat landing.
Chris Bailey, founder of Cordon Housing, told city officials the project addresses urgent needs identified by the Department of Veterans Affairs for aging veterans experiencing housing instability for the first time.
“A guy who’s served in the military or a gal who has and has worked a full career finds themselves in a situation where they might be moving in with family because housing is too expensive,” Bailey, himself a veteran, said during the public hearing on the permit.
The development comes as Oneida County faces severe housing shortages. Tony Pharo, executive director of Oneida County Economic Development Corporation, said a recent study revealed the community needs 1,500 additional housing units in the next four to five years.

City planners noted the project could help free up single-family homes as seniors transition from houses they can no longer maintain to maintenance-free living, making those homes available for working families.
The development will include 10 supportive housing units and 10 veterans housing units. The supportive housing units will be affordable to residents at 30% of area median income (AMI), while the remainder are split between 50% AMI and 80% AMI.
Lutheran Social Services (LSS) plans to establish an on-site office with regular hours to assist residents and other area clients with needed services, according to the information submitted to the commission. The LSS service coordinator will work with Cordon Housing and local partners, including the nearby Rhinelander VA Clinic, to reach out to residents needing supportive housing.
Bailey outlined additional veteran-specific services Cordon Housing brings to its developments, including tailored mental health services, assistance with VA healthcare enrollment, benefits counseling through organizations like Disabled American Veterans, and job placement services.
Crown Court Properties, Ltd., a Wisconsin-based nonprofit developer, is leading the project alongside Cordon Housing and Alpha Development Corporation. The current development team took over after the previous developer, Dalmark Development Group, transferred its interest as recently as six weeks ago.
“I can’t say how lucky we are to have the developers that have stepped up on this project,” Pharo said, noting the uncertainty surrounding the development until the current team committed.
Dwight Webb of Alpha Development, who owns the property, expressed confidence in the partnership’s ability to deliver quality housing to the Rhinelander area, where he grew up as a longtime resident.
The project will be financed primarily through investor equity from 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits and funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank’s Affordable Housing Program. The development is located in a Tax Increment Financing district, and the team is working with the city on a TIF loan application for approximately $317,000, according to the submitted materials.
Crown Court Properties is working to close the financing in spring 2026, with a preliminary 12-month construction period followed by a three-month lease-up period.
While the conditional use permit has been approved, developers must return to city planners with a complete site plan for final approval. They will also need to meet requirements from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Transportation regarding water management and site access.
City fire officials indicated they will work with the development team to ensure proper turning radiuses for emergency vehicles, potentially including turnaround areas or cul-de-sac configurations.
The architect for the project is Cityscape Architecture.
Prior to voting on the CUP, a commission member asked for and received reassurance that public access to the Holmboe would not be impacted by the project.
Editor’s note: This story is based on a public hearing, city planning commission meeting, and development application documents. Additional details will be reported as the project moves forward to final site plan approval.