An entertainment district proposed by Cascade Development was presented to the village board of DeForest earlier this month, the DeForest Times-Tribune reports. The mixed-use plan includes retail, an indoor-outdoor ice rink, and apartments.
The project, inspired by an entertainment district in Rosemont, Illinois near O’Hare Airport, was also compared to Milwaukee’s Deer District.
The proposed site is located just east of Highway 51. A berm would be created to surround the ice arena and create a stadium feel with tiered seating. In the winter, the rink could host regional tournaments, and in the summer, the district could become a venue for festivals or farmers markets. Parking would be self-contained, with underground spaces for the apartments.
Madison microbrewery Young Blood Beer Company is among parties interested in the district’s establishment.
