The Janesville Culver’s Scoopie Night change, and it will evolve as the Woodman’s Center evolves.” But it’s not just the inside of the mall that could change. Cubbage said she envisions the parking area behind the mall being developed into multi-family row homes. And multiple hotels have expressed an interest in building on the property. “There’s a lot of moving parts and a lot of different people with different ideas coming to the table,” says Cubbage. “It would be beneficial [for the conference center] to have a hotel right on this property. You’re going to book more events if you have that amenity within walking distance.” All in all, Cubbage sees the addition of the Woodman’s Center as a huge plus not just for the property she manages, but that entire retail corridor. In fact, she points to projects like the Culver’s expansion, Slumberland Furniture relocation and the upcoming Woodman’s convenience store as evidence that the Woodman’s Center is already having an impact. “It's not just Uptown Janesville that’s going to benefit,” Cubbage says. “All these businesses along Milton Avenue will benefit. You’re already seeing little bits and pieces of it. And I think once the facility opens, you’re going to see a lot more. “It’s exciting for the city of Janesville. You have this new amenity coming, and it’s an opportunity to show how the community can change and adapt to accommodate what this facility could potentially bring.” The Woodman’s Center will start with a high-profile tenant in the Janesville Jets, the city’s Junior A ice hockey team of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). Moving to the new facility from their current home at the Janesville Ice Arena will nearly double their seating capacity, according to Jerad Clark, Vice President of Business Development and Operations for the Jets. “We anticipate a large growth in fans,” says Clark. “There’s no bad seat in the house. And to play in front of more fans only attracts more and better talent for us.” Clark is gratified by the continuing support of the business community, which will enhance the experience for fans without a huge hike in ticket prices. “We’re going to keep it affordable,” Clark says. “This facility [is] coming at the right time. We are limited at the current place to do more and bigger things and engage more people, and garner more revenue to do these things. We would have had a hard time in the coming years continuing on, but this allows us to do a lot more. It solidifies a long future for us.” For Future Generations Also moving forward in 2025 will be construction of the Children’s Museum of Rock County (CMRC), expected to become a downtown anchor in the historic First National Bank building. Once complete, the museum is projected to produce an annual economic impact of $4.26 million. A long and winding road led to the current plans for this project. The idea to bring a children’s museum to Janesville started as group project for Leadership Development Academy (LDA) students in 2006. Initially, there were hopes to launch the museum in 2008-09, but the 2008 economic downtown and 2009 GM shutdown put those plans on hold. Eventually, a starter space was secured in Uptown Janesville in 2018, but CMRC board members turned their sights towards downtown in 2021. CMRC Board President John Westphal has been along for the entire journey. But his interest in downtown Janesville goes back much further. Owner of a four-generation family business, Westphal is a lifelong Janesville resident with a long history of public service. Among his many roles, he served on both the Forward Janesville Board of Directors and the Janesville City Council in the 1990s. “One of the things that we pursued [at that time] was riverfront development and downtown redevelopment,” says Westphal. “And those are two things that I’ve always been interested in. I’ve always felt that it was worth working for, to use the river as an asset. To clean up the river and use it as something we open up to and not turn our backs to. And also to try to save our downtown, because it’s beautiful and historic and vibrant.” But it’s not just adding another vital piece to the downtown that motivates Westphal. “Getting involved with [the CMRC] has really reminded me of the importance of educating young kids. Saving a little kid is a lot more important than saving an old building downtown.” Despite the stops and starts over the years, Westphal says he “never got disillusioned or lost heart.” And that has resulted in what Westphal believes is the largest private fundraising effort ever for a Rock County initiative, which sits at roughly $12.5 million at this writing. “It’s unbelievable,” says Westphal. “We have donors [ranging from] a little kid donating five dollars to a philanthropist donating seven figures.” Why did this project strike such a chord with the public that they opened their wallets? Westphal attributes the success to the museum’s “universal appeal.” “There’s nobody…that doesn’t think The Jets’ new home at the Woodman’s Center will almost double the seating capacity for fans The children’s museum will have an outdoor play space and the potential to boast an Art Infusion mural www.forwardjanesville.com | 7
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