Chris Kellems
Collecting Stories at the National Working Waterfronts and Waterways Symposium 2018
Collecting Stories at the National Working Waterfronts and Waterways Symposium 2018 is a project of Maine Sea Grant, College of the Atlantic, the Island Institute, and the National Working Waterfront Network.
National Capital Contracting
Chris Kellems is a retired sustainable building advisor from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. She is the owner of a company named Sustainable Building Concepts. Kellems has a deep understanding of the history and current issues of her hometown, particularly those related to the waterfront. She is well-versed in the historical significance of Sturgeon Bay as a harbor town with a working waterfront, which was once a hub for shipbuilding, yacht building, and agricultural product port. Despite her retirement, Kellems remains actively involved in the community, particularly in matters related to the waterfront. She is not an official authority in the city but takes it upon herself to gather information and seek help for the city's waterfront redevelopment issues. Kellems is also an advocate for innovation and new ideas, expressing frustration with the resistance to change in her community. She is dedicated to revitalizing Sturgeon Bay and is proactive in seeking out resources and information to aid in this endeavor.
Scope and Content Note
The interview with Chris Kellems provides a comprehensive overview of the history, current issues, and future prospects of Sturgeon Bay's waterfront. Kellems discusses the historical significance of the waterfront, its decline, and the various attempts at redevelopment. She details the legal and political complications that have arisen, including lawsuits, the establishment of a special TIF district, and the involvement of various groups such as the Waterfront Redevelopment Authority and the Friends of Sturgeon Bay Waterfront. Kellems also discusses the city's need for revitalization and her efforts to gather information and seek help for the city's waterfront redevelopment issues. She expresses her hope for the city to embrace innovation and new ideas, and her frustration with the resistance to change in her community. The interview concludes with Kellems expressing her hope for the National Working Waterfront Network to provide support and resources for Sturgeon Bay's waterfront redevelopment.
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