Question: What is the plan for the development of Prosperous property between Ballard Road and Mead Street in Appleton? I have seen survey teams on the property. If it is slated for residential development, what is the traffic plan in Ballard? It’s already extremely busy.
To respond: Preliminary plan concepts revealed by Thrivent late last year show a mix of uses for the 600-acre campus north of Interstate 41.
Parks and open spaces would represent 30% of the property. This includes 128 acres for a natural and walkable loop, 28 acres for a water-centered park, 14 acres for community use, 4 acres for an iconic park, 2 acres for a destination road and 9 acres for neighborhood parks.
The balance of the campus, progressing from northwest to southeast, would consist of single-family homes, multi-family homes and senior housing, as well as offices and commercial developments.
Appleton Community Development Director Kara Homan said city officials were involved in the planning process.
“The city has coordinated with Thrivent in the same way we would with any private development proposal, providing feedback, technical information and advising on next steps should development proceed in whole or in part,” Homan said.
Appleton has identified additional housing as a need and is making changes to encourage and expedite housing development.
Watchdog Q&A: Duke Behnke answers local government questions
Thrivent’s preliminary plan concepts describe additional access points to the campus, including two on Ballard Road (Outagamie County E).
If those plans come to fruition, Homan said Appleton traffic engineers would work with the county highway department to ensure traffic effects are analyzed.
“This assessment would guide what improvements, if any, to roads or intersections are required by the developer as part of any future development,” Homan said.
Thrivent is a Fortune 500 financial services company whose roots in Appleton date back to 1902.
The company’s workforce needs have changed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. In May 2023, Prosperity announced would explore development options for its Ballard Operations Center, 4321 N. Ballard Road, and the surrounding campus.
“Our teams have continued to thrive in a hybrid and remote environment,” Paul Johnston, chief legal officer, general counsel and secretary at Thrivent, said at the time, “and we now have fewer teams coming into the office. so much physical space, and the space we need is for our team collaboration and connection.”
Thrivent is evaluating options for its 1,500 Appleton-based employees, including renovating the Ballard Operations Center, constructing a new, smaller building on the existing property or leasing space at a different location in Appleton.
Since the announcement, Thrivent has worked with city officials and the greater Appleton community to develop a master plan that will guide the development of the campus for decades to come. The planning process involved two online surveys and two open houses to assess the community’s desires.
“We held two community feedback meetings last year and are now moving into the first phase of land development,” Justin Herndon, director of public relations and business reputation at Thrivent, said in an email. “This includes survey work, due diligence and other planning activities.”
Contact Duke Behnke at 920-993-7176 or dbehnke@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DukeBehnke.
This article originally appeared in the Appleton Post-Crescent: Plans for Thrivent’s Appleton campus showcase parks, trails and housing
