Reflections Village to be sold
Friday, November 23, 2007
The Business Journal of Milwaukee - by Rich Kirchen
Lutheran minister Robert Fleischmann's dream of creating an early 1900s-themed single-family subdivision in Richfield called Reflections Village ended in foreclosure.
However, a group of investors has emerged that plans to keep the dream alive for a "new urban" community designed to house the elderly and their families in separate homes.
Jon Spheeris, vice president of Prudential Absolute Realtors in Oconomowoc, said Fleischmann has accepted his group's offer and the group hopes to finalize financing with another bank. Fleischmann would use the proceeds, in turn, to pay off his bank loan.
"Our investors are people who embrace the idea because it's quite a unique project," Spheeris said.
Fleischmann, who has no experience as a developer, announced the project in October 2005. He used a bank loan for the $2.6 million purchase of the 114-acre property on state Highway 175 about one-half mile south of state Highway 167.
All that's there now is a sign for Reflections Village in an open field with a phone number for Spheeris.
First Bank Financial Centre, Oconomowoc, sued Fleischmann and his company, Nostalgic Times LLC, in May for defaulting on the loan. On Nov. 9, the bank won a $3.1 million judgment for the unpaid principal, interest and fees in Washington County Circuit Court.
Judge James Muehlbauer ordered the property to be auctioned with the proceeds going to the bank, but Fleischmann said he expects a sale to be closed by mid-December.
An attorney for First Bank Financial Centre could not be reached for comment.
Fleischmann said he pre-sold 22 of the planned 140 lots on the site, but his timing was bad, as the market for new homes was already starting to decline in late 2005.
"The market started really changing -- that made it difficult," he said.
Fleischmann is an ordained minister and national director of Christian Life Resources, a Wauwatosa anti-abortion group that counsels families on topics ranging from childbirth to elder care.
Reflections Village was to include smaller lots averaging one-third of an acre and a "village square" with retail and other services.
Richfield town administrator Toby Cotter said town officials approved Fleischmann's plan and liked the concept as one solution for older Richfield residents seeking housing with smaller lots.
The fact that Fleischmann had no development experience was not a concern because he filed a letter of credit with the town, Cotter said.
"It really comes down to financial backing," Cotter said.
Cotter is hopeful the current housing slump does not delay or kill the project.
"It still looks like the right project in the right area," he said.
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Current National Director at Christian Life Resources
Past Manager/Proprietor at Nostalgic Times, LLC (Sole Proprietorship)
Pastor at Good Shepherd Ev. Lutheran Church
Education Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary
Bethany Lutheran College
Christian Life Resources
(Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Religious Institutions industry)
July 1988 — Present (20 years 6 months)
Manager/Proprietor
Nostalgic Times, LLC (Sole Proprietorship)
(Sole Proprietorship; Myself Only; Real Estate industry)
January 2004 — December 2007 (4 years)
Worked with the leadership in Richfield, WI to create zoning for Wisconsin's first walkable hamlet. (www.ReflectionsVillage.com)
Sold the land and project to developers in December 2007 but continue to be consulted as plans develop to break ground on the development.
Pastor
Good Shepherd Ev. Lutheran Church
(Non-Profit; Myself Only; Religious Institutions industry)
June 1983 — July 1988 (5 years 2 months)
Served as pastor of this mission congregation in Plymouth, WI that was about 45 members when I came and about 130 when I left.
Robert Fleischmann’s Interests:
I focus on social issues. I love sorting through difficult ethical issues and I thrive on being a problem-solver. I am interested in society's dangerous flirtation with eugenics and have studied the topic deeply and continue to do so. Personally I love technology, the imaginings of futurists, and my passionate hobby is landscaping.
From LinkedIn
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GJ - I have trouble imagining a generic parachurch agency being Word and Sacrament ministry, especially when its Lutheran identity is obliterated. Fleischmann is not alone is deciding that there is more money in Pietistic union projects than in being an ordinary pastor. All the Church and Change stealth projects are based on the idea that Lutheran doctrine and worship are marketing negatives.
