Small Wisconsin com­mu­nities look to boost housing options as pop­u­la­tions grow

BRILLION, Wis. — Two months ago, work started on a new 42-unit apartment and community development in Brillion.

Aaron Abler with the Ariens Company said the project is part of a wider transformation by Brillion Works LLC of 144 acres of the former Brillion Iron Works site.

“Brillion has a housing shortage. By adding these 42 units, we’re bringing more people to Brillion,” he said. “We want Brillion to be a place where people can work, live, play and stay for a while.”

Long-term, the Brillion Works project is expected to add two more apartments, a walking path, other businesses and the restoration of a creek that runs through the area...

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Leo’s notes: Brillion’s redevelopment of the former Brillion Iron Works site is a clear example of how communities can turn underused industrial land into urgently needed workforce housing. The first 42 units of a planned multi-phase project are underway, part of a broader vision that includes additional apartments, commercial space, walking paths, and restored natural features. In fast-growing Calumet County—now matching Dane County’s pace—employers are feeling the pressure of limited local housing, with businesses noting that workers who can live nearby stay longer and strengthen the local economy. Brillion’s approach shows how strategic redevelopment can address housing shortages across all types—single-family, multifamily, and missing-middle—while supporting employer retention and creating more vibrant, livable communities.