Milwaukee Development News 9 [Archive]

mohammed wong

October 26th, 2006, 04:40 PM

Nice to see it being spruced up, i havent been there in awhile but it was really dull before. Hopefully this will bring more life to the area.

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THIS STORY

Wyndham wins a new look
Marcus sees a niche this remodeled downtown hotel can fill
By TOM DAYKIN
tdaykin@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Oct. 22, 2006
Marcus Corp. executives for years cast longing gazes at the Wyndham Milwaukee Center Hotel, one of their bigger competitors, and considered the possibilities.

Advertisement

Wyndham Milwaukee Center Hotel

Photos/Tom Lynn

A small waterfall inside the lobby of the Wyndham hotel is surrounded by seating for Clear, a lobby lounge/restaurant. The lobby will get a new look during Wyndham renovations.

Clear, a lounge/restaurant, is in the lobby of the Wyndham hotel. The Wyndham is undergoing a major remodeling project.

Junior Ashram Boodoo of London Town Associates Inc. installs the audio system in Zen Den, a new lounge at the Wyndham hotel.

Photo/Tom Lynn

A renovated room at the Wyndham hotel includes a flat-panel television. The new-look Wyndham is aiming for customers in Milwaukee who are younger than those attracted to the Pfister and Hilton.

The 220-room Wyndham opened in 1988 at 139 E. Kilbourn Ave., near some of downtown's larger office buildings and cultural attractions, and never lacked for business. But its owners, a group of investors from Texas and other states, weren't taking full advantage of the hotel's strong location, said Bill Otto, president of Marcus Corp.'s hotels division.

The Wyndham's lobby was large, but lacked pizzazz. The hotel's restaurant and bar were adequate, but not special. Ditto for the rooms, said Otto.

So, more than a year after Marcus bought the Wyndham for $23.6 million, the hotel is being transformed through a multimillion-dollar remodeling. Company executives calculate that Wyndham customers will accept higher room rates, and pricey restaurant and bar tabs, to be in downtown's "cool" hotel.

"We want to be the talked-about place," said Mark Knauer, whose Deerfield, Ill., interior design firm is helping remake the Wyndham.

Marcus won't disclose cost estimates. But the project is among this year's largest capital investments by Marcus, which counts downtown's Hilton Milwaukee City Center and the Pfister Hotel among its properties.

Marcus, which also operates movie theaters, generated revenue of $289.2 million and net income of $28.3 million in its latest fiscal year. About half of the company's revenue, and one-third of its operating profit, came from hotels and resorts owned or managed by Marcus.

The Wyndham renovations, which began this summer, are to be completed by the end of the year. The Wyndham's operating results are expected to suffer during the project, as some hotel rooms temporarily can't be used, according to the company's annual report. But the payoff will come once the work is done, Otto said.

"This is an entirely different hotel," he said.

Urban, sophisticated feel
The idea, Knauer said, is to create a hotel with an urban, sophisticated feel that draws customers - including lounge and restaurant denizens - who are somewhat younger than Marcus' customers at the Pfister and Hilton. That would help the Wyndham stand out among downtown hotels, and avoid the prospect of cannibalizing business from the other downtown Marcus properties, Otto said.

Otto views the 307-room Pfister, 424 E. Wisconsin Ave., as the city's established "grand dame" that is heavily focused on business travelers; the 730-room Hilton, 509 W. Wisconsin Ave., as Milwaukee's main convention center hotel; and the Wyndham as rooted in the cultural and nightlife district, with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Pabst Theater and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts all nearby.

The Wyndham's locale lends itself to the "cool" moniker. But cool comes with a price. Rates at the Wyndham's newly remodeled rooms will start at $169 a night, up about $35 from the starting rates under the old ownership, Otto said.

The Wyndham's upgrades appear to be a smart strategic move by Marcus, said James Hummert, who operates the 64-room Hotel Metro, a downtown boutique hotel. Hummert expects downtown Milwaukee's hotel rates to rise over the next few years as travelers respond to various hotel improvements, including a new spa at Hotel Metro, 411 E. Mason St.

Other market changes include the new 138-room Hampton Inn & Suites, 176 W. Wisconsin Ave., which this summer replaced the Howard Johnson Inn & Suites with higher rates after a $7 million remodeling.

Meanwhile, developer Doug Weas earlier this year bought a site at the southeast corner of N. Broadway and E. St. Paul Ave., in the Historic Third Ward, where he plans to develop a 150-room Renaissance ClubSport by Marriott, part of a mixed-use project.

Also, developer Richard Ruvin and Dallas-based Gatehouse Capital Corp. plan a mixed-use project that would include an upscale 175-room hotel on a parcel bordered by N. Old World 3rd and N. 4th streets, and W. Juneau and W. McKinley avenues.

Staying a step ahead
Much of the Wyndham's new look is starting to show.

The hotel's new lobby restaurant and lounge, Clear, opened in September.

Clear draws its name from the large windows that make it visible from E. Kilbourn Ave. and N. Water St., and from its focus on vodka, rum and other clear spirits. Clear also serves breakfast, and a light menu for lunch and dinner. It will help "energize" the lobby by drawing both hotel guests and the public, Knauer said.

Another new lounge, Zen Den, opens later this month within the Wyndham's remodeled lobby.

Zen Den, a secluded, upscale cocktail lounge, will include music provided by DJs. It will be aimed in part at the same crowd found in such Milwaukee St. lounges as Eve and Tangerine, Knauer said.

The hotel's second-story restaurant, Kil@Wat, opened for dinner earlier this month, and begins serving lunch Oct. 23. Kil@Wat - a reference to the Kilbourn at Water location - replaces the former Kilbourn Café.

Its menu uses comfort foods prepared in different, surprising ways, said Larry Flam, director of restaurant operations for Marcus. Entrees include lobster pot pie, and a burger with foie gras. Marc Bianchini, whose family operates Osteria del Mondo and Cubanitas restaurants, helped develop the new menu.

"We're not going to do things that are way out there," Flam said. "But we are going to do things that are a step ahead of the dining scene in Milwaukee."

The restaurant's design is sleek and modern - an about-face from the more traditional Kilbourn Café.

Those changes carry over into the hotel's guest rooms, where flat-screen TVs and two-stream showers are among the new furnishings.

Similar modern touches are found in the Wyndham's meeting rooms, including space that will be rented to local art galleries and will be available for catered events.

The lobby has other changes, including the replacement of a traditional chandelier with strings of abalone sea shells.

"We're trying to have the hotel add to the excitement of the restaurant," said Knauer.

mohammed wong

October 26th, 2006, 04:48 PM

Just wanted to post a few articles on improvements to existing businesses, which is a step in the right direction.....
This bar is just down the street from me and I havent had a chance to check it out. Also there is a new Book COOP/Info Shop just across the street from the Riverwest Coop. Its a cool place for the kids to hang out and bands to play as well, new bike racks went up, and the playground is getting redone at the resevoir at fratney and meineke, though i will miss the giraffe and choo choo and tractor, very dangerous for kids, but not that bad. :(

Bremen Cafe reopens with Sapphire Game Lounge
By Molly Snyder Edler
OMC Staff Writer

E-mail author | Author bio
More articles by Molly Snyder Edler

Published Oct. 19, 2006 at 5:32 a.m.
When Bremen Café owners Mehrdad Dalamie and Jon Anne Willow lost their liquor license for their Riverwest establishment for 37 days this summer, they decided to make the most of their down time.

The Common Council enforced the hiatus after the owners unknowingly submitted their floor plan too late to be included in the last license review meeting before the Council's summer break.

Hence, the café co-owners rehabbed the wood floors and expanded the space to include The Sapphire Game Lounge, complete with bright blue walls, multiple bar games -- foosball, the classic '80s video game Centipede (it's only a quarter!), darts and pool.

The new lounge also features an eclectic, Sapphire-brand jukebox stocked with genres galore, and includes music by the Flaming Lips, John Coltrane, De La Soul, The White Stripes and Codebreaker -- just to name a few.

"I always wanted a jukebox, and now I have one. It's like a childhood dream come true," says Willow, a single parent.

The Sapphire Lounge adds another dimension to the café that already serves as restaurant, bar and music venue. Bremen's music offerings are as varied as the CDs in the jukebox, with events ranging from an Open Mic (Monday and Thursdays at 9:30 p.m.) to "Mid-Week Mountain Music" on Wednesday evenings.

" 'The Bremen' is everything to everybody," says Willow. "It appeals to students, kids, older people, chess players, hipsters who want to drink bottled beer (and so on)."

The Bremen Café opened in June 2002 as a small coffee shop. Willow says the original plan was to generate enough cash flow to support Vital Source, a free arts magazine founded by Dalamie.

Today, Dalamie owns the publication with Willow and local philanthropist, Chris Abele.

"I saw a copy of Vital at Gil Fest in 2002, and I immediately wanted to be a part of it," says Willow.

Willow was so inspired by Vital Source that she eventually left a high-paying corporate job and cashed in her 401K to work as the editor of the publication. She has never looked back.

"I figured I could save for my retirement, or invest in myself now," says Willow.

Over the years, Bremen Café has become an anchor in the Riverwest neighborhood, along with Fuel Café, Nessun Dorma, Art Bar, Albanese's and a few others. The café is known for its commitment to local art (Greg Schoeneck's rich oil paintings are featured this month), its diverse offering of live music and its great sandwiches.

The "World Famous" Bremen Beef ($6.50), "Burn Mama, Burn" ($5.50) -- a combo of grilled cabbage, hot peppers and provolone -- and the Turkey Delight ($6) are a few of the most popular menu items.

Bremen Café offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving every night until 2 a.m. except Sundays, when the kitchen closes at 11 p.m.

Noshing at The Bremen, however, isn't a "quick bite" experience. The café atmosphere is extremely laid back, and the wait-time for food can be 20 minutes -- or longer. An opportunity, perhaps, to revive dormant Centipede skills.

MilwaukeeMark

October 26th, 2006, 07:34 PM

Here's a new pic of the Milwaukee skyline I took a couple days ago. Just thought I'd dress up our first page a bit. :)

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/826/milwaukeeskylinear6.jpg

bhagavadgita

October 26th, 2006, 07:54 PM

MilwaukeeMark

October 26th, 2006, 08:28 PM

According to the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Milwaukee's metro population is at 1,528,070.

Oshkosh49

October 27th, 2006, 12:19 AM

Hey Mark, how come the University Club Tower is missing from your new picture? Shouldn't we see the top portion of it if it is hidden behind the Kilbourn Tower? Great pic anyway.

Oshkosh49

October 27th, 2006, 12:33 AM

That is a great picture Mark, it will be my desktop Wallpaper for a while.

By the way can someone please tell me what Milwaukee's Metro populatoin is at ? I think it is 1.7 million but I am not sure. What is the CSA for Milwaukee as well?

Thank You
The latest Combined Statistical Area (CSA) population estimate dated July 1, 2005 by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Milwaukee/Racine/Waukesha area is 1,708,563.

Oh, by the way. For the Madison/Baraboo CSA population estimate, it is listed at 594,785.

bhagavadgita

October 27th, 2006, 02:26 AM

Thank you all for the replys

MilwaukeeMark

October 27th, 2006, 03:37 PM

Hey Mark, how come the University Club Tower is missing from your new picture? Shouldn't we see the top portion of it if it is hidden behind the Kilbourn Tower? Great pic anyway.

You can't see the top of it because the crown isn't lit up at night. The bright white construction lights only extend to the top of the residential floors. The top sixty feet or so (which is the portion above Kilbourn Tower) isn't lit at all. You can make out the outline of University Club Tower though... just look to the west of Kilbourn and above it. See the white walls?

Once it's finished, I really hope they do a good lighting job at the top. Kilbourn's two red lights are laughable.

milwaukee-københavn

October 29th, 2006, 06:32 AM

anything new of note lately? i haven't noticed anything interesting in the papers for a while but didn't know if maybe there was somethin i missed.

ClarkWGriswald

October 29th, 2006, 06:55 PM

Bayshore emerges from cocoon
Major expansion transforms vintage mall into lifestyle center
By DORIS HAJEWSKI
dhajewski@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Oct. 28, 2006

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/news/img/oct06/bayshore2102906.jpg

Glendale - In the big-screen version of holiday shopping, people stroll along squeaky-clean streets lined with decorated light poles and cute shops as music plays in the background.

Milwaukee shoppers can have that experience at the new Bayshore Town Center, a lifestyle shopping center that looks like a downtown, without the grit.

"It's almost like a movie set," said Michael Mesenbourg, who has worked in Bayshore management for more than 30 years.

The curtain rises on the $360 million expansion of the former Bayshore mall at 10 a.m. Thursday. The center, a project of Steiner & Associates of Columbus, Ohio, will open at 70% capacity, with vacancies scattered throughout the 1.2 million-square-foot center.

For the past year, commuters along I-43 have watched the buildings rise at the shopping center, and the size of the project has raised eyebrows.

"I think there's a lot of people who just don't understand what the heck it is," said Barry Rosenberg, president of Steiner. "The biggest thing is just having people come and start understanding it."

Bayshore is built in an open-air lifestyle format where people are encouraged not only to shop but to eat, play and live.

Such developments have been popular in the shopping industry since the late 1990s. There are about 140 lifestyle centers in the United States, including Greenway Station in Middleton, a suburb of Madison.

This project is denser than many of its kind. It's built to pack in about 180 stores and restaurants, 113 apartments, an entertainment complex and 200,000 square feet of office space on 68 acres. The center is equipped with 200 security cameras, and emergency call boxes are scattered throughout.

Parking will be among the most striking features for Bayshore shoppers. Most of the parking spaces for the project are in three garages, located at Silver Spring Drive, Port Washington Road and Lydell Ave. There are surface lots at the edges of the center, but they are small. There is limited metered street parking inside the center, which will collect money for charity.

Bayshore will have a parking guidance system that will tell shoppers where parking is available. If a garage is full, shoppers will be directed to another entrance. A new exit ramp from I-43 northbound will take drivers directly into the center's Port Washington Road parking garage.

Article continued here... http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=524458

EastSider

October 29th, 2006, 10:23 PM

Did Park Lafayette get a new base?
http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/9051/parklafayettecopyih8.jpg

EastSider

October 29th, 2006, 10:36 PM

Forgot I found these too, new renders for the North End:
http://www.mandelgroup.com/data/condos/lg-thum-1.gif

http://www.mandelgroup.com/data/condos/lg-thum-5.gif

http://www.mandelgroup.com/data/condos/lg-thum-6.gif

mohammed wong

October 30th, 2006, 05:28 AM

i wonder are they saving that old water tower or using a replica for north end?

either way its really awesome that they have the water tower in the master plan because the disappearance of that water tower would be disturbing.

looks sharp, cant wait until its built.

Markitect

October 30th, 2006, 06:42 AM

The water tank isn't going to be a replica; it's being taken down off the roof from one of the old buildings when they're demolished, and repositioned on the ground in that incredibly hokey set-up as shown in the renderings.

mohammed wong

October 30th, 2006, 07:33 AM

it may be hokey, but im a preservationist, and how many water towers does milwaukee have? usually i just see a lonely water tower stand sans water tower, that is depressing, im glad to see that they are saving the tower, hokey set or no.

where else in milwaukee is there a water tower? cuz i dont know where else they are,

looksee

October 30th, 2006, 08:03 AM

I think conserving and redeploying that old water tank as a notable piece of street sculpture--or at least as a place to meet--is a very clever bit of recycling, and I'm unaware of a similar use anywhere else.
It makes much more sense to me than, for instance, trying to preserve those monstrous looking smokestacks in the Valley, both aesthetically, and as historic artifact--there is still no shortage of soot-blackened smokestacks in Milwaukee, or of industry in the Valley, and they hardly seem to evoke the railroads that built them--(sorry, had to get that off my chest sometime);
I suppose one could wish that the P&V logo be restored; that would definitely add some resonance. But still & all, a nice, distinctive and worthy touch in my opinion.

Markitect

October 30th, 2006, 08:11 AM

It's fine to preserve it--the reason it's being done in the first place is because it's an iconic symbol and a nod to the site's historic significance as one of the world's largest tanneries. The problem, however, is that by plopping it down on the ground out on a streetcorner in front of the new development, it loses that iconic visual impact. It's an old rooftop water tank; as such, a more fitting placement would be up on the roof of one of the new buildings where it would have the same impact as it's always had for all these years.

mohammed wong

October 30th, 2006, 08:35 AM

^ agreed, that would be better.
but i feel that the hokey placement is better than nothing.....
i like kitschy stuff a bit.....

the national liquor sign isnt hung anywhere prominent, its probably in someones basement, that shouldve gone up on the new walgreens :)
but walgreens is too straightlaced and nerdy to do that,

Markitect

October 30th, 2006, 09:01 AM

The National Liquor sign was purchased and installed outside a restaurant somewhere out in Waukesha County.

NeuBrew

October 30th, 2006, 04:53 PM

The National Liquor sign was purchased and installed outside a restaurant somewhere out in Waukesha County.

It was placed at Heaven City Restaurant in Mukwonago. There was some debate about it there as well. The owners wanted to place it by the road, but it violated a city ordinance - so it is displayed back behind a building, next to the restaurant. Excellent place if you've never been. Ask about the Capone history and escape route.

I agree with Markitect that the water tower should be placed on top of the structure.

looksee

October 30th, 2006, 06:18 PM

I really think placing the old tank on the street is a true enhancement--a visual exclamation point, or amusement, or curiosity, however you choose to view it, but with a valid connection to place, and something of a remembrance--it will most certainly be noticed and probably be talked about.

Not only would it be generally ignored if placed on the new building's roof, and perhaps resented for being out of scale and out of style with its new perch, I think it would convey a dishonest message about the North End project:

First, of course, it would be mere decoration, little different than the phony second stories of some strip malls;

More importantly, unlike so much of the rehab and recycling going on near the mouth of the river and elsewhere, the North End is not a new skin on a venerable old skeleton--it will be completly, 100% new construction. Making it a pedestal for the old water tank would seriously misrepresent that fact, and make it seem that the P&V buildings were in the same league as those sturdy and sometimes beautiful old hulks that are getting a second life--they were not.

Once the plant closed--a tragedy certainly for those dependent on its operation--what was left, honestly and fairly, was an irredeemable blight.

I think preserving the old tank is a kind gesture, and good advertising surely, and placing it up-close-and-personal provides a rare opportunity to appreciate the detail and scale of, yes, an industrial icon.

miltown

October 30th, 2006, 08:57 PM

Condo dream close to reality
Stephens started small; ready to develop condos
The Business Journal of Milwaukee - October 27, 2006by Rachel McCormick-Jennings

Cass Stephens ... “This area could be the next 3rd Ward.”
View Larger Cass Stephens has long dreamed of developing a condominium complex and now 13 years of sweat equity combined with Milwaukee's condominium craze will make it possible.

Cassidy Realty L.L.C., Stephens' Milwaukee real estate firm, is planning to develop a 48-unit mid-rise condominium on Milwaukee's east side.

Stephens plans to break ground on the $14 million project in June 2007 with occupancy by summer 2008.

The project, to be called Cambridge River North Condominiums, is on North Cambridge Avenue, one block south of North Avenue on the east side of the Milwaukee River.

Cassidy Realty began pre-sales on the units on Oct. 14. Stephens is financing the venture with bank loans.

Stephens purchased the 38,897-square-foot site in August 1998 for $225,000. There is a duplex and a three-family rental unit on the property, both of which will be demolished. The land and homes were assessed at $753,900 for 2006, according to city records.

The condominium units will sell for $160,000 to $450,000. The units are between 986 square feet and 2,423 square feet.

This will be the first new development for Cassidy Realty, which was founded in 1996 and has its offices at 1726 E. North Ave., just blocks away from the planned development. The 13-employee residential and commercial real estate brokerage firm also specializes in renovation projects.

Cassidy Realty has bought, renovated, and sold more than 100 properties in Milwaukee. Two of Stephens' projects are the RiverRise, a 64-unit apartment building, and RiverWood, a 94-unit apartment building, both in the Riverwest neighborhood. Stephens declined to disclose the buildings' purchase prices and the cost to renovate them.

Stephens has always wanted to develop condominiums, but needed to build up capital first through smaller deals, he said.

Target market
Stephens is targeting young professionals as potential buyers.
"The location of our condominiums is central to everything," he said. "There's restaurants, nightlife and the lake. This area could be the next 3rd Ward."

rest of article.....http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2006/10/30/story2.html?page=2&b=1162184400^1367585

$100 million 'Italian village' revived
The Business Journal of Milwaukee - October 27, 2006by Pete Millard

The Italian Community Center is reviving plans to develop its Coachyards property into an estimated $100 million residential and commercial neighborhood modeled after an Italian village.

The village would rise on an 11-acre site just west of the Summerfest grounds in the 3rd Ward south of downtown Milwaukee. The development would include shops, restaurants, housing, a parking structure and possibly a hotel.
****anyone with a subscription to the biz journal may have more info on this ***

Downtown condo market closing in on $1 billion
Real estate developers, brokers see no slowing of trend in Milwaukee
The Business Journal of Milwaukee - October 27, 2006by Pete Millard

Richard Ruvin ... “This is the phenomenon that’s responsible for the resurgence of downtown Milwaukee.”

There is no end in sight to the condominium craze that is reshaping and revitalizing downtown Milwaukee.

Developers have proposed 11 projects in the Park East redevelopment corridor and nearby along North Water Street that will add more than 1,000 condo units and are expected to be completed before the end of 2009.

ThatGuy

October 31st, 2006, 08:15 AM

You mentioned that there were images or models of the proposed Italian Village, but I was unable to find them. Do you have a link to them or can you post the images please?

Also does anyone know about the Chinatown and Latino Quarter proposals? The Chinatown article was dated in 2005 and said they had hoped to get things moving by the end of 2006, but I'm not very up to date on if that has passed or not.

While I was searching for the images for the Italian Center proposal, I came across a mention that there would be some restructuring of the Zoo interchange. Does anyone have any information on that, and do they know if that will be done after the Marquette Interchange project is finnished?

UWMilwaukeeJay

October 31st, 2006, 01:19 PM

happy halloween Mil-Town. Milwaukee bucks start tomorrow.:banana:
http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/news/img/oct06/sausages102806.jpg

historybuffer

October 31st, 2006, 05:40 PM

The Italian Village concept goes back to when the I. Community Center was being built. An an Italian firm proposed a village and a highrise hotel (30+ floors) in its center (focal point) to serve Summerfest visitors.

A Chinatown has been proposed a number of times one was to be located off Wisconsin Avenue from 27th Street, while the other

more logical choice focussed on the burdgeoning Asian district on National Avenue from 16th Street to West Allis. The National Avenue corridor option makes more sense as there are several asian restaurants (Vietnamese, Laotian, Thai, one Korean grocery store) and several
retail stores( video, groceries, nails salons.) Of Course it shouldn't be called Chinatown but Asiantown.

Markitect

October 31st, 2006, 09:20 PM

You mentioned that there were images or models of the proposed Italian Village, but I was unable to find them. Do you have a link to them or can you post the images please?

The idea of creating an "Italian Village" of some sort in the Third Ward has been bandied around for years. The original concept was to develop the old railroad yards there (now the ICC parking lot) into a self-contained, mega-block, mixed-use district with generous helpings of Italian-themed stuff. There was a convention/conference center, a theater/auditorium, restaurants, hotel towers, office towers, residential units, shops surrounding large open plazas, much of it elevated above street level placed on top of parking garages...it was informally called the "Bonifica Plan," after the Italian architecture firm that designed it.

However, it was very elaborate, and very expensive, so it was never built. The current Italian Community Center was built instead, and the remaining land held as surface parking until the time came for future development.

Many years passed, and the Third Ward neighborhood continued to be revitalized with adaptive reuse projects and new construction. A few years ago the ICC decided to once again consider developing the remainder of its land with some kind of Italian theme--though not necessarily following any of the Bonifica Plan.

The Department of City development included some references to this newfound Italian Village interest in its Third Ward Area Plan (http://www.mkedcd.org/planning/plans/ThirdWard/ThirdWardPlan.html). However, there is no concrete proposal for it at all yet--and the model images you see in the plan are actually student projects from the School of Architecture and Urban Planing at UWM...developing the ICC land in the Third Ward as an Italian Village was the subject of a studio class there a few years ago. They do not represent any "real" proposals. The ICC will be issuing a request for proposals to developers next year.

Also, the "Italian Village" is quite loose and open to interpretation. It doesn't necessarily mean a plopping down a literal recreation of centuries-old buildings (an Italianized version of the Main Streets at Disney theme parks); it can also mean borrowing architecture and urban design concepts from Italian villages and interpreting them in a modern context.

I came across a mention that there would be some restructuring of the Zoo interchange. Does anyone have any information on that, and do they know if that will be done after the Marquette Interchange project is finnished?

The proposed Zoo Interchange reconstruction hasn't been given a green-light yet, but if it does get the go-ahead, it would not start until 2012 at the earliest. The Marquette is scheduled to be finished in 2008.

Markitect

November 1st, 2006, 03:12 AM

I liked the sound of the original plan--with the shops, resturants, and other stuff elevated. The ground level view would be alright...but it would pale greatly in comparison to an elevated one that offers views of the Lake, Art Museum, the downtown skyline, and Summerfest. It does, however, remind me a bit of MacArthur Square...which is probally the biggest disapointment in downtown.

The parts that were elevated (not all of it was) weren't high enough to offer any real good views. Plus it was mostly enclosed on all sides...like a very large courtyard. And unlike MacArthur Square, which at least is naturally elevated already up on a hill, the ICC site is at one of the flattest and lowest points of the city...so the dramatic elevated views would have been pretty much minimized anyway.

Obviously that doesnt have all the retail and streetlife--but wouldnt an elevated public area be more difficult to...I dont know...fit in with the surrounding neighborhood?

Yes. That seemed to be one of the negatives of the design. It kind of turned its back on the city to be more of a self contained mega-development (sort of like the defunct PabstCity)--definitely a product of 1980s architecture and urban design. It seemed to lack the fine-grained scale and intimacy of an urban place, whether it be Italy or Milwaukee.

Paule

November 1st, 2006, 02:42 PM

Great news for the Milwaukee area!

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=525207

Magnetek Inc. (MAG), a publicly traded company whose sophisticated controls govern the motion of cranes in factories and high-speed elevators in many of the world's tallest buildings, has moved its headquarters to Menomonee Falls and plans to expand there.

The numbers involved aren't huge - perhaps 60 new jobs over the next several months - but Magnetek leans more heavily toward technicians and engineers than toward production workers. Of the company's 300 current employees, 200 are salaried.

Magnetek's relocation of its headquarters from Chatsworth, Calif., a Los Angeles suburb, will move only a few people here. But the company, which recently slimmed down and paid off its debt, is looking to grow in such fields as providing equipment that makes wind-generated electricity usable by utilities.

Paule

November 1st, 2006, 02:52 PM

Another article well worth reading. I love finding people who have a positive attitude and try to make a difference and not wanting Milwaukee's central city continue to die a slow death.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=525226

Howard Snyder gets excited about the potential for Milwaukee's urban core, where he sees a gold mine in desolate industrial properties that once bustled with factories that provided thousands of family-sustaining jobs.

In particular, Snyder views the northwest side industrial corridor as a frontier in the revitalization and economic growth of Milwaukee's central city.

"This is the industrial heartland. This is our lakefront. This is our Menomonee Valley," says Snyder, executive director of the Northwest Side Community Development Corp. "This is the engine of growth in southeastern Wisconsin, and you're sitting on it."

historybuffer

November 1st, 2006, 04:22 PM

mohammed wong

November 1st, 2006, 05:57 PM

One of the shortcomings of the Milwaukee Chinatown concept it conjures images of Chicago's oldest Chinese enclave on that city's near southside along Wentworth and West Cermak. That area was blessed/cursed with adjacent brownfields that within the last ten years have been magically transformed into a Chinese themed pedestrian mall and condominiums.

----------[16th and National -> West]---------------------------------

The reality would be it would be more akin to Chicago's northside "New Chintatown" along Argyle and North Broadway corridor. The "New Chinatown" worked within an existing framework, infrastructure and momentum of cultural transition. A stop on the Red Line EL proclaims only subtly the ethnicity of the area with brightly painted red and green shelters on the platform and the sign "Argyle" displayed. No templefront arches as entrances to the street here.

New Chinatown is a conglomeration of multiple asian cultures, This neighborhood though Chinese is more distinctly Vietnamese, with large Vietnamese owned grocery stores situated along the east-west street of Argyle.

I dont think anyone thinks of this area in chicago as a new chinatown,
its just referred to as argyle street, maybe little saigon, or just uptown,
never new chinatown (except perhaps in articles)
I wouldnt say that anything is magical about the transformation of chinatown in chicago, just a continuation of the gentrification and reinvestment of the city hitting near south side areas, its hard to find an area in chicago that isnt improving.

im not sure what you mean by the shortcoming comparing it to chicago cuz that is an awesome chinatown nice and gritty,
what i would say is that it may be contrived, that area at 16th and national can only be what it is and recognized as so, and i agree it definitely is more vietnamese, do any hmong live there? like they live more on the north side west of marquette, but i could be wrong. so referring to it as chinatown would be incorrect and not a good plan, what is the generic term for a vietnamese area? prob little saigon, not vietnam town?!? though it would be funny, i think its fine to have banners on the street and some tasteful theme put up, in LA they simply put up a nice blue sign annoucing the name of the neigborhood, like thai town (the only official one in existence i believe) or little armenia,

phan's is the best vietnamese food in milwaukee, i love their pha or pho (spelling?) pronouced fa.
that place is very good and cheap, and they leave you alone, and let you stay after closing, and great coffee ofcourse.

nic158

November 1st, 2006, 11:08 PM

does anyone know if the spire on top of UCT will be lit up at night?

MilwaukeeMark

November 1st, 2006, 11:38 PM

does anyone know if the spire on top of UCT will be lit up at night?

Great question. I sure hope they do! Kilbourn Tower would look five million times better if it had a lit top. Same goes for a better lit Milwaukee Center. Lighting goes a loooooong way when it comes to the way a building looks.

djcody

November 2nd, 2006, 05:04 AM

^^^ That is sooooo true! I hope it does too. What happened to Northwestern Mutual having those cool neon lights running down the side of the building?

ClarkWGriswald

November 2nd, 2006, 07:52 AM

From the bizjournal...

MILWAUKEE DOWNTOWN HOUSING, 2000 - PRESENT
Name Location Condo Units Planned/Completed
North Marshall St. Condos 1513 N. Marshall St. 2
Astor Street Townhomes 1528 N. Astor St. 2
River East Condominiums 805 E. Pearson St. 2
Summit Square 2230 N. Summit Ave. 4
Humboldt Ridge Townhomes 1004 E. Garfield Ave. 4
Vineyard Terrace - Condos 335 W. Vine St. 4
Vineyard Terrace - Single Family 335 W. Vine St. 7
City Lights Condominiums 1725 N. Palmer St. 7
Cobblers Townhomes 216 E. Reservoir Drive 8
Brady I and II 900 E. Brady St. 8
Townhomes at Brewers Hills (condo) 234 E. Reservoir Drive 8
Water Tower Row Townhouses 2569 N. Farwell Ave. 10
Reservoir Street Lofts 1846 N. 4th St. 10
Bowman Lofts 715 N. Milwaukee St. 10
Brewery Lofts 771 N. Water St. 12
Crescent Condominiums 1721 N. Hubbard St. 16
Commission House 400 N. Broadway 23
Roxwell Lofts 1017 S. 2nd St. 21
River Court 2050 N. Commerce St. 24
Commerce Bluff 1 1809 N. Commerce St. 12
Commerce Bluff 2 1825 N. Commerce St. 12
Highbridge I 1888 N. Water St. 27
Abbotsford Condos 1920 N. Farwell Ave. 27
Soap Works Lofts 418 N. 3rd St. 27
The Grain Exchange 741 N. Milwaukee St. 30
Maisonette Condos 1550 N. Warren Ave. 30
Lafayette Hill 1812 E. Lafayette Place 32
Riverbridge Phase II 1905 N. Water St. 39
Riverbridge Phase I 1915 N. Water St. 39
Riverbridge Phase III 1925 N. Water St. 39
Van Buren City Lofts 1325 N. Van Buren St. 42
Beerline River Homes East 2000 N. Commerce St. 22
The Warehouse Lofts 413 N. 2nd St. 43
Beerline River Homes West 1942 N. Commerce St. 20
The Lofts on Broadway 191 N. Broadway 56
Cobblers Lofts 234 E. Reservoir Drive 56
Western Leather Lofts 904 E. Pearson St. 56
The Parts House 215 W. Maple St. 60
The Waterfront 130 S. Water St. 64
Shoeworks Lofts 1900 N. Hubbard St. 64
1522 on the Lake 1522 N. Prospect Ave. 99
Courtyard Square 1108 N. Milwaukee St. 117
Trostel Square 1775-1841 N. River Walk Way 26
McCormick on Farwell 1619 N. Farwell Ave. 30
Park Terrace Rowhouses 2029-2057 N. Commerce 21
Peck Row Houses 1620 N. Farwell Ave. 6
Water Street Lofts 200 S. Water St. 85
Cathedral Square 545 E. Wells St. 27
Gaslight Lofts Milwaukee and Menomonee 50
Kilbourn Tower 923 E. Kilbourn Ave. 73
Vineyard Terrace - Townhomes/Duplexes 335 W. Vine St. 6
Reed Street Lofts 191 S. 2nd St. 8
Total 1527
Total Since 2002 1332

Paule

November 2nd, 2006, 11:52 AM

Paule

November 2nd, 2006, 03:52 PM

And yet another holy schnikies! Look at this!

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=526268

The Bucks actually beat the Pistons in Michigan. This is a great way to start the season.

Wednesday night in the same building, the Bucks led from beginning to end and dominated the Pistons in posting a 105-97 victory that opened the regular season for both teams.

milwaukee-københavn

November 3rd, 2006, 04:10 AM

Well, 1527 condos. Not too bad. If only half of the city weren't still vacant lots and parking. I hope more stuff gets built on the west side of downtown and the area around Hillside Terrace. Those are two areas that could really use some dense infill, especially if it was affordable housing. The area around 4th and Reservoir is especially interesting in this respect- $400,000 lofts next to the church where Groppi led many of his integration marches all in the shadow of what has to be the biggest housing project in the city. It would also be nice to see some more quality development west of Marquette. That area has the most urban feel to it of any in the city and some great architecture too. Any news about the rowhouses planned on wells?

Oshkosh49

November 3rd, 2006, 06:35 AM

You know, that's the thing about Milwaukee. Wow, 1500 or 2000 condo units, you would think that downtown and near downtown would be getting filled with all the condo and apartment units. But Milwaukee's downtown including the western portion by Marquette, the Third Ward, the Park East area, and the empty parking lots, it's fricken huge for a city of its population. Well, no wonder there isn't a decent amount of high rise condos being built, there's so much room left for less expensive low rise developments. In my mind, there needs to be at least another 5000 units being proposed before the proverbial "there's no more room to go but up" symdrome happens in downtown Milwaukee.

Not only that, but Milwaukee needs to have a thriving office market. And it's pretty slow. Too bad Manpower chose a low rise headquarters north of downtown, and really, really, too bad NML chose to "add on" at some place in Franklin (I think.) verses downtown. NML already is located within two buildings downtown is it not? Why didn't they think further than their nose and build their newer building tall enough to where they wouldn't have to be expanding in the suburb somewhere? Their first downtown headquarters was completed in 1979 at only 16 stories. Less than eleven years later they were building their new 19 story building. If their rate of growth was that substantial back then, why didn't they build something along the lines of a 35 to 40 story building to hold their continuous growth. But nooooooooooo, they like Manpower and a lot of other corporations in Milwaukee are stuck in this very conservative mindset.

Hopefully, with the proposals of more hotels and condos in downtown Milwaukee, the infill of these downtown locations will be taller than the puny rises Milwaukee has been experiencing all too often since the US Bank Tower was built.

By the way, any new news on the Ghazi proposal? I've check their Website from time to time, and there's never any update regarding their 401 West Wisconsin mixed-use project. And it's been a damn long time already since they first publisized their intentions. And is Robert W. Baird moving to the Lake Pointe Tower or not. What's taking them so long to make up their mind?

brewcityfan

November 3rd, 2006, 07:45 AM

UWMilwaukeeJay

November 3rd, 2006, 08:22 AM

Oshkosh49

November 3rd, 2006, 02:15 PM

NML is such a big company that I don't think building additions is going to affect its downtown headquarters. I believe they had an increase in earnings this past quarter, maybe even the past year. Their business is going strong and by them expanding outward to the suburbs I feel only helps the metro economy as a whole.

Also, NML strategically put themselves at the forefront of a great project that Oak Creek and Franklin are undergoing for S. 27th St. from College Ave. to the I-94 junction. This project might be the biggest initiative in Milwaukee since Bluemound Rd. was developed into an office/retail center in Brookfield/Waukeha. At one point Oak Creek was considering a 15 story condo tower to be placed as the center of a town center-style complex much like the new Bayshore Town Center, right across from NML's Franklin campus.

Info can be found here: http://www.saa-madison.com/2002_27thcor/27thcor_maps.htm

Well that is all great that NML is so involved in projects that have a positive affect on the metro area. And I commend them for this. But this is a skyscraper development forum. Therefore, it's kind of frustrating to think of such a large prosperous corporation not ever building a really nice high rise office tower in downtown Milwaukee. Like anywhere from 35 to 50 stories would have been pretty cool. And it easily could have been done with all the square footage they're going to currently use with the two shorter downtown buildings and their Franklin complex.

And then there is Manpower deciding to build a very plain, uninspiring, four story headquarters. UGH!!! How fricken lame is that.

So we have two of Milwaukee's largest, prosperous, corporations deciding not to build a tall office tower downtown and develop some decent infill. Which is exactly what most of us on this forum whine about in regards to Milwaukee, lack of infill.

Oshkosh49

November 3rd, 2006, 02:24 PM

Im not 100% on this, but i believe Baird is not moving into the proposed structure. Thats maybe why no news has come out the LPT, and they are searching for a tenant to fill in the remaining spaces. Its so easy in some cities to get 40+ story towers, but such a hassle in Milwaukee...planning stages take longer than construction phases in some/most instances (though it seems).I could not agree more. That's why I asked about the Ghazi proposal. It seems like poof, it's gone. Where did it go? No updates on their Website, nothing. It seems like Chicago, Miami, and Las Vegas as examples, can get a high rise up in no time. Meanwhile, in Milwaukee the development of any project takes longer than the ice age.

exit_320

November 3rd, 2006, 05:23 PM

MilwaukeeMark

November 3rd, 2006, 05:37 PM

Is anyone else pissed off about the Bayshore development? I actually made it down there last night and couldn't help but get extremely angry at the people in this region. Bayshore was packed! I just don't understand why they had to build a fake downtown when we have a perfectly good downtown not being used to its fullest extent. :bash: Why aren't these people supporting downtown businesses? And I guarantee all the people at Bayshore weren't locals -- they travelled to go there, many probably past / through downtown.

There is an array of reasons as to why they're not supporting downtown business. Unfounded safety concerns, parking woes, the downtown intimidation factor, love of suburban mega malls, wanting to see the next new thing, lack of well known stores downtown, the fact that Grand Avenue - sorry - sucks, the fact that they've grown accustomed to mall shopping, and on and on and on.

Megamalls will always be successful in the suburbs simply because it's the soccer mom's comfort zone. Sure, we've got Old Navy and Boston Store but no doubt, Bayshore's got a TON more. It's the nature of a large shopping mall.

It's hard for me to be upset about it simply because I view it as a fact of life. Not everyone views downtown like we do. Not everyone is going to hop on the bus to get where they need to go. Not everyone is going to love Milwaukee's downtown like we do. Suburbanites tend to view Milwaukee as a self-sustaining city with people that can take care of their own. They have their world, we have ours. At least that's how they see it.

Oshkosh49

November 3rd, 2006, 06:03 PM

brewcityfan

November 3rd, 2006, 06:50 PM

Well that is all great that NML is so involved in projects that have a positive affect on the metro area. And I commend them for this. But this is a skyscraper development forum. Therefore, it's kind of frustrating to think of such a large prosperous corporation not ever building a really nice high rise office tower in downtown Milwaukee. Like anywhere from 35 to 50 stories would have been pretty cool. And it easily could have been done with all the square footage they're going to currently use with the two shorter downtown buildings and their Franklin complex.

And then there is Manpower deciding to build a very plain, uninspiring, four story headquarters. UGH!!! How fricken lame is that.

So we have two of Milwaukee's largest, prosperous, corporations deciding not to build a tall office tower downtown and develop some decent infill. Which is exactly what most of us on this forum whine about in regards to Milwaukee, lack of infill.

I understand that this is a skyscraper forum, but the thread is called 'Milwaukee Development News' for a reason, and it strictly isn't just for skyscrapers. Everybody in this forum wants to know the newest news on anything big and exciting that's going on in this city, whether it be downtown or not.

NML's expanding presence in the overall metro area only helps to boost Milwaukee as a major city in this country, and every bit of reinvesting in the communities around Milwaukee will boost only the city as a whole, which will in turn give you what you want so dearly, high rises in downtown.

I've noticed in the past threads that there is some possible blind-sidedness going on in aspect of what's happening in the suburbs of Milwaukee, because everything of course has to be thrown to downtown Milwaukee first, right? With the new Bayshore Town Center, Milwaukee is getting to be better known as a location where people don't frugally spend their money, but instead will dish out a nice wad for a pair of jeans. If you want something better for this city and its metro area you need a starting point. Building a town center in the extremely wealthy North Shore only tells me that it will be a success, it will show other businesses that never even thought of building in Milwaukee that maybe they should give us a second look - and that's only a big plus for the city, as well as Milwaukee's downtown.

At the top of the page we see how many condos are being built in downtown. Increased housing = more retail and entertainment, which actually = more housing which then = big companies looking to invest their money with an office tower. As Markitect would say, this is all purely economics and politics, and that will never change.

Oh, and I forgot to say - filling in open land or tearing down an ugly old building is also a plus for any major company to seriously consider Milwaukee as a spot for their business. No one wants to see dirt or decrepit buildings when considering where to locate a branch of their corporation, or HQ.

exit_320

November 3rd, 2006, 07:03 PM

Hmmm, interesting. You were pissed at all the people who were doing the exact same thing you were doing, checking the new place out. Sounds like a double standard to me.

I actually had other reasons for being there, not shopping but figured I would check it out while I was there. But thanks for your input

mohammed wong

November 3rd, 2006, 07:38 PM

i think the new bayshore though kindof a silly design,
is a good thing, isnt it more of a lifestyle center?
is there on site housing? if not there should be, its a start to increasing density in the suburbs, that mall was a waste of space with too many surface lots,
every large metro area needs decent malls,
and most malls in the milwaukee area are interesting in their outdatedness and shabbiness, its time they were improved.
updated malls shows a healthy metro area and city,
i think there is room for both, its not either or,
you get more boutiques in the city, higher end shit generally than the suburbs, and we are starting to get that in milwaukee,
burbians are burbians, and im a city person too and occasionally like to go to the burbian's cultural center the mall to yikes shop,

in chicago the neiman marcus is nicer at northbrook and has better selection and the one downtown is a dump,
the northbrook neiman marcus can also be seen in weird science,

burbs and city have something to offer,
its the exurbs that totally suck and are of no value,
but i put my money where my mouth is, i worked in waukesha for two years and lived in riverwest and still have my duplex there, robbing from the burbs and giving to the city,

MilwaukeeD

November 3rd, 2006, 07:39 PM

There is an array of reasons as to why they're not supporting downtown business. Unfounded safety concerns, parking woes, the downtown intimidation factor, love of suburban mega malls, wanting to see the next new thing, lack of well known stores downtown, the fact that Grand Avenue - sorry - sucks, the fact that they've grown accustomed to mall shopping, and on and on and on.

Megamalls will always be successful in the suburbs simply because it's the soccer mom's comfort zone. Sure, we've got Old Navy and Boston Store but no doubt, Bayshore's got a TON more. It's the nature of a large shopping mall.

It's hard for me to be upset about it simply because I view it as a fact of life. Not everyone views downtown like we do. Not everyone is going to hop on the bus to get where they need to go. Not everyone is going to love Milwaukee's downtown like we do. Suburbanites tend to view Milwaukee as a self-sustaining city with people that can take care of their own. They have their world, we have ours. At least that's how they see it.

the good thing about bayshore is that it will get people used to shopping outside, in the elements. It will also get them used to parking in a garage. Those are two big hurdles that downtown has to attracting shoppers and hopefully bayshore will help make those less of a factor.

It is disapointing though, because of all of the suburbs, I saw the north shore as the most likely to come downtown to shop if we had more stores worth going to. Now with bayshore, they will have less reason to come downtown.

Another positive, is that Bayshore is still relatively close to downtown. In many other metro areas, a lifestyle center like this would be built much further from downtown and most likely outside of Milwaukee County. We are lucky this wasn't done in Waukesha (like will be done at Pabst Farms), Washington or Racine Counties. Hopefully it will also draw from the Fox Valley, Sheboygan, etc....who previously may not have had a reason to come down to Milwaukee County to shop.

I'm trying to be positive here, but this sure makes it very difficult for downtown to launch a significant retail presence. The only way it can be successful now is by attracting a few stores that are not already at Mayfair or Bayshore...of which there are still plenty.

mohammed wong

November 3rd, 2006, 07:44 PM

the good thing about bayshore is that it will get people used to shopping outside, in the elements. It will also get them used to parking in a garage. Those are two big hurdles that downtown has to attracting shoppers and hopefully bayshore will help make those less of a factor.

It is disapointing though, because of all of the suburbs, I saw the north shore as the most likely to come downtown to shop if we had more stores worth going to. Now with bayshore, they will have less reason to come downtown.

Another positive, is that Bayshore is still relatively close to downtown. In many other metro areas, a lifestyle center like this would be built much further from downtown and most likely outside of Milwaukee County. We are lucky this wasn't done in Waukesha (like will be done at Pabst Farms), Washington or Racine Counties. Hopefully it will also draw from the Fox Valley, Sheboygan, etc....who previously may not have had a reason to come down to Milwaukee County to shop.

I'm trying to be positive here, but this sure makes it very difficult for downtown to launch a significant retail presence. The only way it can be successful now is by attracting a few stores that are not already at Mayfair or Bayshore...of which there are still plenty.

bayshore is like chicago's old orchard
and have you noticed the new optima condo tower just across the highway from it? density will increase in the suburbs, the older ones, there is no choice for these communities to grow or increase the tax base, there is another mixed used project closer to the lake in the burbs around bayshore with the movie theatre and another on another corner, these are small steps toward smart growth.

downtown has other reasons for people to come to,
restaurants and bars, boutiques, different shopping options,
i wouldnt look at this as oh shit downtown is screwed now.

i agree that parking garages is good and walking outside as well,

milwaukeeunseen

November 3rd, 2006, 08:22 PM

I'm not that worried about the Bayshore Town Center, in fact, I think it will more help the region, and by extension the Downtown, than hurt it.

We have to face the reality that in the 21st century, most consumers want a completely controlled environment in which to shop. Even throse cities with the strongest retail downtowns (Chicago and NYC) are encircled with equally strong or even stronger suburban shopping meccas (Schaumberg, et. al.). Most people want to shop in a place where there is no chance of a stranger coming up to them and asking for change, where you can find the same stores that you would almost anywhere else, where you can easily find a parking spot, even if you have to walk the equivelant of four city blocks to get to the store you're going to.

Only a few cities have the density to support a Fifth Avenue or a Michigan Avenue. So what do most cities do? I don't think we should be trying to compete with the suburban malls on their own terms, by bringing the suburban shopping experience to the downtown area (Grand Avenue, Nicolet Mall, Circle Center, etc, etc.) What we should be doing is by playing to the strengths the city has always had ... providing the stores that you can't find anywhere else, by providing an experience that you can only get in the city, where, yes, someone might come up to you and ask for change, but you still go and shop there because you're getting a unique experience with unique stores and entertainment. Uniqueness is the selling point, not familiarity or convenience. Those two selling points are owned by the suburbs.

Bayshore Town Center, Schaumberg, et al. can actually be seen as a benefit to urban retail. By bringing something totally new to the area, this thing will help develop the tastes of Milwaukee-area shoppers. After they've experienced Trader Joe's, they might be more likely to visit the Milwaukee Public Market or Whole Foods on North and Prospect. After they've been to H&M, they might be more likely to seek out clothing boutiques in the Third Ward or Brady Street. After they've gone out for dinner and a movie without ever entering a suburban surface lot, they might be more likely to do the same downtown or on the east side.

What we need to do is to continue to develop our unique shopping and entertainment experiences (Third Ward, Brady Street, Eat Street, Uptown, etc) so that when the suburban masses are ready for something new, something unique, the city will be there waiting for them.

mohammed wong

November 3rd, 2006, 11:13 PM

Bay shops want to keep up with new neighbor
Silver Spring retailers urge district upgrade as Town Center opens
By TOM DAYKIN
tdaykin@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Oct. 28, 2006
Whitefish Bay - When Susan Cardone was considering locations throughout the Milwaukee area for a new women's clothing boutique, she didn't pick the Historic Third Ward, Brady St. or other well-known specialty shopping districts.

Instead, Cardone, of Oconomowoc, landed on E. Silver Spring Drive in Whitefish Bay.

That retail strip's collection of older buildings blend into the surrounding neighborhoods, offering a low-key, pedestrian-friendly alternative to shopping malls - something Cardone values for her shop, Bella Donna. The business district has about 40 retailers, including such local fixtures as Sendik's Food Market and Winkie's variety store, as well as national chains such as Starbucks and Bruegger's Bagels.

But some notable vacancies have appeared lately: last week's closing of Heinemann's restaurant, and the departure of Talbots women's clothing, which will close its Silver Spring Drive store and reopen Thursday at the new Bayshore Town Center, in neighboring Glendale. Another restaurant, Ciao Café, shut down in July.

"It really disturbs me right now with all the people on Silver Spring leaving," said Cardone, who invested $30,000 to open Bella Donna a year ago. "We've got to change it around somehow."

Bayshore opens Thursday
The newly redesigned Bayshore, which stages its grand opening Thursday, boasts an expanded collection of stores and restaurants, including some that directly compete with businesses on Silver Spring Drive. Meanwhile, Whitefish Bay officials recently rejected plans for a large condominium and retail development overlooking Silver Spring Drive, and voters next week will consider a referendum that would make it much more difficult - opponents say impossible - to develop that condo site and other village-owned parcels.

Local business operators say Whitefish Bay has never been a community that eagerly embraces change. But, they say, Bayshore is poised to draw more shoppers, including people from well beyond the North Shore. Now is the time for Whitefish Bay to rouse itself and figure out how to tap into that crowd.

"If we play our cards right, we can easily piggyback off of (Bayshore)," said Chris Breyfogle, who owns Murray's Wine and Spirits, a specialty beer, wine and liquor store in the middle of the Silver Spring Drive strip.

Bayshore is a threat "if we stand idly by and fail to improve our business district," said Jim Roemer, a banker and treasurer of the Whitefish Bay Community Development Authority.

If smart improvements occur, Roemer said, the business district "could be a real cool, eclectic complement to the more mainstream retail in Bayshore."

Proposed improvements include street and landscaping changes to make the shopping district more attractive, said Tom Harris, owner of The Great Frame Up framing shop and an adjacent art gallery. The current "streetscape" looks worn, he said.

Those street improvements have been discussed since 2001, when Bayshore announced its expansion and redevelopment plans. But that proposal has moved slowly, Harris said.

The streetscape project, which could include new sidewalks, lighting, benches and decorative planters, didn't happen immediately because village officials wanted to make those improvements and other changes in conjunction with a planned street reconstruction, said Ray Krueger, an attorney and Community Development Authority chairman.

Slowly but surely
Village officials were hoping to land a federal grant to help with the reconstruction costs, he said. When they learned that grant would not be forthcoming, the village decided to hold off on the reconstruction, and do a less expensive resurfacing of Silver Spring Drive, Krueger said.

Meanwhile, plans for some of the sidewalk improvements are now proceeding, Krueger said. There is no specific timetable or cost estimate yet, but the project is "high on the agenda," Krueger said. The village also has created a program to provide facade improvement grants for commercial building owners on Silver Spring Drive.

Still, things have moved slowly, said Brian Henry, who operates Fox-Bay Cinema Grill, one of the street's largest businesses.

"It was sleepy when I got here seven years ago," Henry said. "It's gotten sleepier."

Henry's business, which serves dinner and drinks to its movie patrons, replaced a conventional cinema that operated for 43 years before closing in 1994. The reopening of the theater was hailed as a major improvement for the business district. But Henry and other retailers said Silver Spring Drive still needs more life.

The street is getting a new 16-unit condo building, with a Johnson Bank branch on the ground floor, that development firm Boulder Venture Inc. will complete in November at the intersection of Silver Spring, Lake and Marlborough drives. Also, two new stores, Patricia Shop jewelry store and Grammy and Me children's clothing and toy boutique, have opened since July on Silver Spring Drive.

Big project rejected
But developer Boris Gokhman's plans for The Bay, with around 90 to 100 condos and street-level space for shops and restaurants, were rejected in September by the Community Development Authority.

Some authority members and local residents said the four-store building, to be built just north of Gokhman's Fox-Bay building, would be too large.

The Bay would have been built on parking lots owned by Gokhman and the village. Gokhman ultimately was seeking around $12.5 million in village financial assistance.

The $60 million development's property taxes would have repaid that money to the village over 20 years, and some authority members said that proposed payback period was too long, Krueger said.

Harris and other business operators said Gokhman's project would have been a huge boost for the business district, bringing new residents to Silver Spring Drive who would be prospective customers. They say The Bay also would have attracted businesses - such as high-end restaurants - now missing from the street. Project supporters hope Gokhman, who couldn't be reached for comment, returns with a different proposal.

Meanwhile, opponents of The Bay led a petition drive that placed on the Nov. 7 ballot a referendum that would require voter approval for any future sale or long-term lease of village-owned land.

The village Plan Commission voted unanimously to oppose it, saying the measure would drive away commercial development, leading to higher property taxes. But the Village Board, in a tie vote, failed to pass a similar resolution.

If approved, the referendum would create a virtual roadblock to any future development of the village-owned parking lots north of Silver Spring Drive, said business operators, including Mara Riteris, who owns Placesetters, a gift shop.

"It will just stifle us," she said. "No one will want to come in here."

Cardone, of Bella Donna, was more discreet in commenting on the referendum, which has both fervent opponents and supporters.

"I think Whitefish Bay needs to open its eyes," Cardone said. "That's all I'm going to say."

historybuffer

November 4th, 2006, 11:57 PM

sideliner

November 5th, 2006, 05:04 AM

I don't think your argument about Newbury St. in Boston holds up very well, historybuffer. NS has a lot of high-end specialty shops and is surrounded by neighborhoods (Back Bay, Beacon Hill, parts of South End) with very high household incomes. It is also near many hotels (Ritz Carlton, Copley Plaza, and several others) and the Hynes Convention Center, so it attracts lots of visitor/conventioneer $$s. It's also on the MBTA, so is easily accessible by public transport, as well as commuters walking home through the area.
Also, even though the city of Boston has just about as many people as Milwaukee, 1) it's half as large in area as Milw., which means higher pop. density (more people living closer to everything); 2) it has a metro pop. 2.5 - 3x the size of Milw.; and 3) is a commercial hub of New England, so more people from a larger radius go to Boston to do their 'serious' shopping.
In general, on the issue of Bay Shore, I say a new, improved Bay Shore is good for the Milw. area as a whole. Downtown will find its commercial/retail level in good time as condo neighborhoods fill in and consumers let their voices be heard. I give it 2-3 more years, but by then would expect some substantial retail development to take place somewhere east of I-43, between the North End and Third Ward.

KDS

November 5th, 2006, 09:25 AM

I do think Bayshore will keep suburbanites from shopping downtown.

Newbury Street is an incredible shopping street in Boston comparable to Chitown and NYC, and yet city much smaller than Chicago or New York. The Union Square area in San Francisco is comparable to Chicago or New York as well, and again a much smaller city.
So I don't buy this idea that downtown Milwaukee just can't support retail.
B/CUZ
Look at all the proponents that come out of the wood work when light rail is discussed.
They proudly compare Milwaukee's city density with those in the Midwest as arguement for rail. If this is indeed reality then Milwaukee can support a Newbury type street obviously the purchasing power would be there given such an eyepopping density. :)

First of all, there is NOTHING comparable in the US to Manhattan in terms of total retail sales and total retail opportunities. If you can't find it from a retailer in Manhattan, it doesn't exist in this country. Secondly, there is nothing in the US that compares to Michigan Ave's 1 mile concentration of national retail, in terms of department stores, mid box retailers and ancillary retailers. There are four vertical malls within 1 mile with representation from every national upscale department store, pretty much every mid box (Old Navy, Barnes & Noble etc) and pretty much every major national mall based ancillary retailer. No other city in the US has that much national retail concentrated in such a small area. Thirdly, the four greatest urban shopping districts in this country reside in NYC, Chicago, SanFran and Boston. The fact that you would mention urban Milwaukee as having market characteristics that could even remotely match those of San Fran or Boston in terms of driving retail sales is obsurd.

historybuffer

November 6th, 2006, 12:38 AM

The fact that you would mention urban Milwaukee as having market characteristics that could even remotely match those of San Fran or Boston in terms of driving retail sales is obsurd.

What's more absurd is that obsurd is not even a word. :)

It was a joke that's all it was.

Everyone always points to Chicago and New York and I wanted to make sure people knew that those two cities are not the only ones around for high end retail. Downtown San Diego has a great high end shopping area as well with Horton Plaza, Miami has South Beach with high end boutiques like Ralph Lauren and Versace or Bal Harbour Shops.

Let's all try to be realistic downtown Milwaukee will never have a Saks Fifth Avenue, Needlessmarkups, or Nordstroms downtown. Milwaukee is a third tier city (50th busiest airport in the nation, 1.5 (for any apologist add +200K) Million according to the Economic Research Division of the MMAC considerably less than any "big" city in the midwest with light rail STL has 2,764,054 for example.)

I reluctantly say that despite all the ground gained from a famous addition to the Milwaukee Art Museum. There are more restaurants downtown, and more residences,

but the Grand Avenue mall is still hemorrhaging not a very bright move to eliminate all the small boutiques in the Plankinton arcade in exchange for a TJ Maxx & :(. I am glad the Third Ward is here, but The Third Ward is not enough to make thousands move here and open up shop and certainly not enough to attract high end retailers mentioned earlier.

This city needs new industry to flush out the rust, and create a true economic transformation that reflects supposed harbinger of change (the MAM addition.)

miltown

November 6th, 2006, 07:57 PM

Kenilworth builds new ties to community
UWM housing/art studios project is one of several giving east side a boost
interesting article on the kenilworth.... http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=526918

also....

Retail, hotel at Bradley Center?
Development around venue could mean cash for Bucks
The Business Journal of Milwaukee - November 3, 2006by Mark Kass

Bradley Center officials are seeking developers to put together proposals to build retail, housing, offices, parking and possibly a hotel around the downtown sports venue.

They have begun talking with local developers and will seek national real estate firms that can develop such projects.
_______________________

I like the idea of the hotel near the bradley center but it raises a few questions.
Even though its hard to admit, the bradley center as an nba venue is one of the worst nba buildings and one of the !!!oldest!!! (1988) I belive that if kohl sells the team which hes talked about, the bucks are going to be moved if they dont get another stadum. Which may scare away hotel developers. And if the bucks are moved i dont think marquette games and concerts could help keep a hotel afloat or added retail in that area.
just like to hear some other opinions on the BC

Heres an exteme opinon .... Tear down the US Cellular for a Bigger better venue???????????????????????

milwaukeeunseen

November 7th, 2006, 12:48 AM

I don't know if replacing the Bradley Center entirely is the answer, but in a lot of ways it is the most deficient NBA arena in the country. The sight lines are terrible and it has to be the worst concert venue in the Western Hemishphere. It was designed specifically to lure an NHL team to the city, and it has been called the best hockey arena in the world by those who follow this kind of thing. But as a basketball/concert venue (its two main uses) it really falls short.

I find it disgusting that at 19 years old the BC is already the oldest arena in the NBA and is considered "outdated" in terms of amenties and skyboxes. I find it equally disgusting that in the end the public will have to pay to tear down and replace this 20 year old structure, but honestly, that's how I see it playing out. The Bucks play in the third smallest market in the NBA and have the fourth highest attendence. The Bucks for a lot of people are as much a part of Milwaukee as Leon's Frozen Custard and Lake Michigan. You just can't imagine the city without them.

If there could be a way to fund the construction of a new arena based on revenues from hotel and retail development, that would be ideal. Public financing should be the last resort to push a project over the top if need be. A new BC with hotels and retail would be huge for the city.

Oshkosh49

November 7th, 2006, 02:12 AM

What worries me is that the Bucks franchise will have moved to a sunbelt city like Austin or Jacksonville, by the time the powers that be get off their butts and gets a new arena built. We all know how terribly long it takes to get something built in Milwaukee.

There already should be a blue-ribbon panel of respected "git-er-dun" folks set up and working on the issues regarding location, financing, political, and other red-tape requirements. Why is the city waiting until they're blackmailed into a less than fully thought out solution?

If it is going to require public financing through sales taxes, hotel fees, etc., get this stuff on a referendum by next April or September. BTW, this same issue was raised very recently in regards to the Midwest Airlines Center. Meaning, oops, our facility is fairly new, and it's already too small and outdated.

When you think of what the Green Bay Packers were able to do within a couple short years with the renovation of Lambeau Field, it's very impressive. I attribute that to the strong leadership of Packer President Bob Harlan. He was the "git-er-dun" guy for the organization. That is what the Bucks need, with some serious support from Marquette University.

My opinion on location is easy. Tear down the US Cellular Arena and the Milwaukee Theater across the street and put the new arena there. With the new arena, the BC can take over in place of the old US Cellular Arena. And a newly expanded Midwest Airlines Center can incorporate the theater events and shows if designed with the flexibility to do so.

The fact that the Bucks had the fourth largest attendence with the third smallest market in the NBA is very heartening to me. Reminds me of the overwhelming support the Packers have in the smallest pro-sports market in North America. Their season ticket waiting list is like 25-30 years long, and they currently have a stadium sellout streak of over 46 straight years.

Oshkosh49

November 7th, 2006, 02:20 AM

Awesome post^ Dont know if the Bucks have the fourth highest attendance though.

Herb Kohl should put up the money for a new arena...not the taxpayers. Milwaukee should try to get a corporation to throw some money in for naming rights. Menards? Harley? Manpower? Rockwell? Kohls? Perhaps the Potawatomi? Kohls arena has a nice ring to it.

Bucks are awesome though this year. Got to see them play the Kings when I was visiting my sick grandma last week. Charlie V is incredible.There already is a Kohl Sports Center in which he put up the money to build. Its located in Madison and the UW-Badgers use it. If I'm not mistaken, Senator Herb Kohl made his millions when he sold the Kohls Department Store Chain that he started and ran before he ran for the U.S. Senate the first time. He's one of the wealthiest people in Congress.

ThePhantomReturns

November 7th, 2006, 02:35 AM

If it is going to require public financing through sales taxes, hotel fees, etc., get this stuff on a referendum by next April or September. BTW, this same issue was raised very recently in regards to the Midwest Airlines Center. Meaning, oops, our facility is fairly new, and it's already too small and outdated.

They say its better not to go to crazy with the Midwest Airlines Center. The convention business is tough. Not too many of them to go around and with the proposed expansion--it will just compare with some of the ones in the region. Milwaukee needs more hotels downtown--thats for sure.

When you think of what the Green Bay Packers were able to do within a couple short years with the renovation of Lambeau Field, it's very impressive. I attribute that to the strong leadership of Packer President Bob Harlan. He was the "git-er-dun" guy for the organization. That is what the Bucks need, with some serious support from Marquette University.

Packers are in another galaxy than the Bucks. Even in Milwaukee. The Packers are like Jesus here and the Bucks like.....I dont know....the Holy Spirit or something. I like the idea with Marquette though. Marquette alumni are very rich and influential--they could be an asset in trying to get a new arena done for the Bucks/Warrio--I mean Golden Eagles.

Oshkosh49

November 7th, 2006, 02:55 AM

They say its better not to go to crazy with the Midwest Airlines Center. The convention business is tough. Not too many of them to go around and with the proposed expansion--it will just compare with some of the ones in the region. Milwaukee needs more hotels downtown--thats for sure.That is exactly the debate that is taking place. It no longer compares with other convention centers around the Midwest. Even since the MAC completed it second phase of construction back in 1999, other cities like KC, Indy, St. Louis, etc. have expanded their facilities to where the MAC no longer can compete. Yes definately, Milwaukee needs more hotel rooms downtown. But developers are reluctant to spend the money without a steady stream of money from convention goers. So the question is: Do we need a bigger convention center to atract larger conventions in order to fill up the hotels, or does Milwaukee need more hotels first in order to allow the use of a bigger convention center? Kind of like the old chicken or the egg debate.

Warder

November 7th, 2006, 05:44 AM

Everyone should check out this site: http://archive22.com/flash/ In the upper righthand corner, click on "Whatever" and check out the Milwaukee photo gallery. This is the same photographer that did the unbelievable spread in Milwaukee Magazine a few months ago, but these are the pics from the same project that did not make the magazine. These pics and this photographer are absolutely incredible.

MJinOshkosh

November 7th, 2006, 06:01 AM

If we are going to talk about a new arena, here's my 2 cents.

First off why tear down the BC when it is only 20 years old? I think it is more sensable to look at the US Cellular Arena and rebuild a new Basketball and concert arena there. The BC is still good enough for hockey and arena football and other events if updated. I would be upset too if just after 20 years it is said something that by all rights should be usable for 50 or more years is torn down. Just how much money do these owners think the proposed communities have? There is saturation point for every place even the fastest growing places.

My second thought is why don't the two boards that are at odds (the BC board and Wisconsin center board) do what is right for the city and work together to make it possible for an arena to get built. It is totally dumb for these two sides to work against each other because they can't get along because one side wants all the glory for themselves (selfish). If both sides work together to create a Sport and Entertainment authority that keep all the facilities up to date and maintained I would think then both sides will recieve plenty of credit and praise for being able to bring activities and projects together.

miltown

November 7th, 2006, 07:03 AM

I like the idea of a corporate sponsored arena/ private funded arena... but, that idea is almost to good to be true tho. If it were easy to get corperate sponsors every one would be buildning stadiums left and right and milwaukee would have already started a new bball arena. unfortunatley it seems that a new stadium in milwaukee would call for another tax like miller park had. If it comes to that i dont think the region, ( M7 ), will embrace that idea again.

MarquetteHoops

November 7th, 2006, 07:29 AM

Oshkosh49-- Tear down the Arena as well as the Milwaukee Theater? I don't think they completely renovated that a couple of years ago so that it could be demolished.

NeuBrew

November 7th, 2006, 04:41 PM

If I'm not mistaken, Senator Herb Kohl made his millions when he sold the Kohls Department Store Chain that he started and ran before he ran for the U.S. Senate the first time.

He really made his money from the sale of the Kohl's grocery stores. The department store business was built up after he sold in the late 70s. He is not a billionaire though. His estimated worth is somewhere between 100 and 300 million. He donated $25 million the the Kohl center in Madison, but he probably doesn't have the deep pockets to finance a new NBA arena.

Oshkosh49

November 7th, 2006, 05:56 PM

Oshkosh49-- Tear down the Arena as well as the Milwaukee Theater? I don't think they completely renovated that a couple of years ago so that it could be demolished.You are probably correct about that. But I don't think there is enough room on that block for a new bigger arena if just the US Cellular Arena is torn down. Especiallly since a new arena that would have all of the modern amenities and seating capacity needed these days. Maybe I'm wrong about that, I don't know.

Oshkosh49

November 7th, 2006, 06:15 PM

He really made his money from the sale of the Kohl's grocery stores. The department store business was built up after he sold in the late 70s. He is not a billionaire though. His estimated worth is somewhere between 100 and 300 million. He donated $25 million the the Kohl center in Madison, but he probably doesn't have the deep pockets to finance a new NBA arena.According to the "Roll Call" annual survey of the 50 richest members of Congress, Senator Herb Kohl's personal wealth was ranked number 2 at $243.15 million, far behind number 1, Senator John Kerry. Too me, that's a deep pocket. Thank you for the correction about which business he previously owned.

Skyking2

November 7th, 2006, 07:11 PM

Why on earth would anyone want to invest in a new venue for any professional sports team? The way these buildings become obsolete within 20-25 years is just astounding...and just a bit sinful. What a waste of money.
Don't get me wrong - I love watching the Bucks and Packers and Brewers, but professional sports has evolved into such a love-hate relationship with most of the cities that have franchises.

How sad to think that the Bradley Center is already recognized as the worst venue in the NBA -- after 19 years?!! Luckily Jane and Loyd aren't around to see how they're gift to Milwaukee is getting knocked around. Of course, the BC was really designed to lure an NHL team here given its sight lines, etc. How ironic that it is now considered to be a dog by today's NBA standards.

Personally, I cannot see tearing down the BC (as it serves Marquette and Admirals just fine), the footprint of the US Cellular Arena is too small to accomodate a new place and the Milwaukee Theatre was just renovated (thereby compromising its historic value greatly). I don't know what the answer is...perhaps build a new place with a mix-use development connected on Park East land just north of the BC. This is all crazy talk :nuts: unless there is some "guarantee" from Kohl (or subsequent owners) to keep the Bucks in town for a minimum of 25 years, or whatever -- sort of like the Brewers lease language with Miller Park District.

By the way, Herb could afford a big investment in this project if he was so inclined. He donated big to UW because he's an alumn and $25 mil was the right amount to get your name on a big time college facility for years to come...maybe.

MarquetteHoops

November 7th, 2006, 07:14 PM

That's true, I doubt there would be enough room for a new building on just the Arena plot of land. Like others, I find it disappointing that something as nice as the BC is already considered outdated. I wonder if it would be feasable to expand the Bradley Center onto the land they own just north of that. For example, make some kind of annex with restaurants, entertainment areas, etc. However, I guess that wouldn't solve the suite and seating issues...

miltown

November 8th, 2006, 02:05 AM

the main issue that makes the bradley center outdated is the interior. sure you could build stuff connected, but that wouldnt really help out that much

ClarkWGriswald

November 8th, 2006, 03:05 AM

I'm happy to see Harley's offer has been tweaked, and that the State has adjusted its assistance to Harley to keep them behind WI's borders.

Negotiators tweak pact voted down in October; aim is for firm to expand in state

By AVRUM D. LANK
alank@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Nov. 6, 2006

Harley-Davidson Inc. and leaders of its major Milwaukee-area union have reached a second agreement aimed at inducing the motorcycle manufacturer to undertake a $120 million expansion in the area, officials said Monday.

The new proposal includes a two-tier wage system for newly hired employees, although with smaller gaps than in an agreement rejected last month by members of Local 2-209 of the United Steelworkers, union president Jim Wheiland said. The previous offer would have cut by as much as one-third wages of workers hired after the first of the year.

The new agreement, to be voted upon next week, makes some of those cuts smaller, Wheiland said.

It also protects existing part-time employees who are members of the union. If they are hired full time, it will be at the higher wage structure, Weiland said. Cuts in pension plans, health insurance and cost of living adjustments remain, he said.

However, the new agreement contains explicit language saying the company will stop studying expanding elsewhere if the union agrees to the cuts, Wheiland said.

Wisconsin also has increased its offer of aid to help the expansion, said Mary Burke, secretary of the Department of Commerce.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=527595

exit_320

November 8th, 2006, 04:19 AM

I'm happy to see Harley's offer has been tweaked, and that the State has adjusted it's assistance to Harley to keep them behind WI's borders.

But I thought Doyle was single-handedly responsible for driving harley out of the state?!

Skyking2

November 8th, 2006, 07:46 PM

No, Diamond Jim Doyle has had a lot of help from his side of the aisle in making Wisconsin a difficult state in which to do business. That will continue, despite his rhetoric. Thank goodness for Van Hollen's win over Falk for AG! Can you imagine if she would've...? NO! I don't want to even think about it. It's bad enough that businesses will have to encounter a Democratic wall now in Madison, but at least they won't be sued at every turn. Geeez. Well, for all of you giddy lefties out there, now is the time for your team to do something...besides taking shots. I hope the donkeys can do something positive, but I'm not optimistic because you would actually need a plan...:ohno:

NeuBrew

November 9th, 2006, 12:57 AM

FutureChicaukeean

November 9th, 2006, 01:09 AM

djcody

November 9th, 2006, 01:41 AM

Hey exit, i could totally taste the sarcasm in your post... hehe love it!

Markitect

November 9th, 2006, 02:31 AM

So I was walking Downtown yesterday and they were paving the other side of East Wisconsin Ave.

Looks like they are on track to have it finished before Winter.

On the other hand, West Wisconsin Ave by the interchange still looks like a war zone.

Q. How long does it take to build a bridge on a major road?

A. In Milwaukee... Years!

You may be confusing two separate projects.

Reconstructing the Wisconsin Avenue Bridge over the freeway is an 11-12 month project (closed in January 2006, will reopen end of November/beginning of December 2006). The work on the bridge revolves around the work being done on the Marquette Interchange project, so it isn't quite as simple or quick as simply tearing down a bridge and replacing it right away.

The other project in progress in that area is the Wisconsin Avenue streetscaping, which involves new sidewalks, curbs, gutters, tree/flower planters (and their related underground irrigation systems), streetlights and traffic signals (and their related underground electrical systems), paving, and other street fixtures. The streetscape work going on along the western end is actually ahead of schedule (wasn't supposed to begin until the 2007 construction season), but the City bumped it up several months, and a lot of work is well underway before the this year's construction season even closes.

The overall Wisconsin Avenue streetscape project, for all of Downtown, was intentionally broken up into several phases spanning multiple years for cost reasons (budgeted that way so as not to dump all kinds of money into the project all at once, since money wasn't avaialable to do it all at once anyway) and convenience reasons (don't want to have the city's entire main street ripped up all at once). Next year, the remainder of the west end (from the Library to the freeway) will be completed, and work on the final segment (from the Convention Center to the Library) will commence.

Skyking2

November 9th, 2006, 07:56 AM

Ugh. I'd like to get into this, but it has nothing to do with architecture or new development in Milwaukee.

I'm sorry for your pain.

Oh, how naive. Can't believe you actually wrote that. On second thought, I can.

MilwaukeeMark

November 9th, 2006, 06:14 PM

Here's a picture update for the UCT crown construction:

http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/5108/uctcrownay6.jpg

exit_320

November 9th, 2006, 06:48 PM

I am excited to see the crown finished, but I am also looking forward to seeing what the back of the building is going to look like.

brewcityfan

November 9th, 2006, 11:50 PM

Oh, how naive. Can't believe you actually wrote that. On second thought, I can.

Maybe he won't bring it up but I will. Jim Doyle will at least try his best to bring in high paying medical and research jobs because of his stance on stem-cell research growth and development. A great example would be the recent GE Medical complex built in the Milwaukee County Research Park in Wauwatosa. Also, Jim Doyle's administration just gave Harley Davidson extra incentives to keep its growth in the state, and succeeded.

Don't even try to link Gov. Doyle to lack of development - at least the development that will bring in high-paying, at times union, jobs to this state.

Skyking2

November 10th, 2006, 12:27 AM

Maybe he won't bring it up but I will. Jim Doyle will at least try his best to bring in high paying medical and research jobs because of his stance on stem-cell research growth and development. A great example would be the recent GE Medical complex built in the Milwaukee County Research Park in Wauwatosa. Also, Jim Doyle's administration just gave Harley Davidson extra incentives to keep its growth in the state, and succeeded.

Don't even try to link Gov. Doyle to lack of development - at least the development that will bring in high-paying, at times union, jobs to this state.

I guess this is just where we agree to disagree. Doyle's record speaks for itself regarding business development. Wisconsin has dropped to 38th nationally for business climate. How can we attract business with the tax hell that is Wisconsin? This is not a tax friendly state for anyone, including business.

As for GE, c'mon, they were already in the area and had no reported plans of going elsewhere before relocating to their new location at the Milwaukee County Research Park. So, please don't go givng this current administration credit for that. Regarding Harley, I certainly would have hoped Doyle could work something out. We cannot afford to lose those kind of businesses/jobs. (Menards, etc.?) I know you can't win 'em all, but to take aim at medical and research jobs is a bit narrow - even though it would be good to advance that industry here. Besides, you can expect those jobs/businesses to be locating in Madison. That does not help Milwaukee.

This is where Mayor Tom Barrett (ahem) comes in...

BTW, nice pic of UC, MilwaukeeMark.
Seems things are pretty quiet regarding any major building developments, ie. Lake Pointe, Ghazi project and Renaissance Hotel...

Markitect

November 10th, 2006, 12:41 AM

As for GE, c'mon, they were already in the area and had no reported plans of going elsewhere before relocating to their new location at the Milwaukee County Research Park.

Actually, GE Healthcare did indeed consider a few out-of-state possibilities when looking at places for relocating.

A generous offering from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce helped keep the company here.

exit_320

November 10th, 2006, 12:59 AM

I guess this is just where we agree to disagree. Doyle's record speaks for itself regarding business development. Wisconsin has dropped to 38th nationally for business climate. How can we attract business with the tax hell that is Wisconsin? This is not a tax friendly state for anyone, including business.

As for GE, c'mon, they were already in the area and had no reported plans of going elsewhere before relocating to their new location at the Milwaukee County Research Park. So, please don't go givng this current administration credit for that. Regarding Harley, I certainly would have hoped Doyle could work something out. We cannot afford to lose those kind of businesses/jobs. (Menards, etc.?) I know you can't win 'em all, but to take aim at medical and research jobs is a bit narrow - even though it would be good to advance that industry here. Besides, you can expect those jobs/businesses to be locating in Madison. That does not help Milwaukee.

This is where Mayor Tom Barrett (ahem) comes in...

BTW, nice pic of UC, MilwaukeeMark.
Seems things are pretty quiet regarding any major building developments, ie. Lake Pointe, Ghazi project and Renaissance Hotel...

Actually based on a report released earlier this year Wisconsin became LESS of a tax hell.. and was a tax hell way before Doyle came into office (remember when the republicans were in charge and we were still a tax hell AND had a huge deficit)

As far as Harley is concerned yes, the state could have done something and they did.

Menards has nothing to do with Doyle. It is simply because the DNR is following the rules about developing wetlands. The CEO of Menards himself said that Doyle was extremely helpful and receptive.

ClarkWGriswald

November 10th, 2006, 02:55 AM

I am excited to see the crown finished, but I am also looking forward to seeing what the back of the building is going to look like.

No kidding...that NW corner of the building needs to get completed soon!

milwaukee-københavn

November 10th, 2006, 05:05 AM

ClarkWGriswald

November 10th, 2006, 05:29 AM

Speaking of Wisc. Ave, there was a little blurb on Fox 6 tonight about a Franklin company who is going to renovate or restore three old buildings between Milwaukee & Broadway. They showed a rendering on the news, but I can't find anything online right now. Maybe the article will be online tomorrow, so if anyone finds it please post!

miltown

November 10th, 2006, 05:45 AM

i dont want to start anything political but i believe all of these STEM CELL and research jobs would be going to madison. I dont think Milwaukee is in any parts of doyle's plans.

and just a little note: Kansas city, roughly same metro as milwaukee just approved $1 billion dollar light rail ... wonder when that will come up again in milwaukee

Markitect

November 10th, 2006, 06:42 AM

Markitect, do you know if the streetscaping work on w. wisconsin by the library will include any sidewalk widening? the street around the freeway is rediculously wide and the sidewalk is about as wide as a regular res. sidewalk. it's almost as if they're actually trying to discourage walking there.

The old sidewalks in that area were in 15-30 foot range--definitely wider than what's typically found in a residential area--and I don't think the plans call for making them much wider than that. If anything, the median ought to be made wider by narrowing or reducing the traffic lanes, so as to give the statuary on the Court of Honor a little more breathing room, but I haven't seen any plans addressing that either.

One other thing that would help improve the area would be to develop the surface parking lot across the street from the Library (preferably nothing too tall that it would blot out the Library itself or the Court of Honor). It's at a prominent location, especially with the way the street edge is skewed there as it gets narrower.

Markitect

November 10th, 2006, 08:53 PM

This is the "Milwaukee Development Thread," not a place to air political rantings and ravings, mudslinging, and name-calling...from any side. It has been shown here in the past that such topics cannot be discussed without blowing up into giant flamewars ravaging though otherwise on-topic discussions.

So please take that sort of stuff elsewhere and keep it out of the Development Threads.

Thank you.

EastSider

November 10th, 2006, 09:39 PM

Downtown condo market closing in on $1 billion
Real estate developers, brokers see no slowing of trend in Milwaukee
There is no end in sight to the condominium craze that is reshaping and revitalizing downtown Milwaukee.

Developers have proposed 11 projects in the Park East redevelopment corridor and nearby along North Water Street that will add more than 1,000 condo units and are expected to be completed before the end of 2009.

Paule

November 10th, 2006, 10:08 PM

exit_320

November 11th, 2006, 12:04 AM

MilwaukeeBS

November 11th, 2006, 12:23 AM

Politics affect development

Yeah Exit is right, look at Pabts City, the Convention Center, Light Rail, Manpower coming downtown, etc.

The list goes on and on of substantial developments that have or have not happened in Milwaukee more because of politics than business.

Markitect

November 11th, 2006, 12:35 AM

Politics affect development

I did not ask that politics not be discussed at all.

ClarkWGriswald

November 11th, 2006, 02:37 AM

milwaukee-københavn

November 11th, 2006, 05:02 AM

The old sidewalks in that area were in 15-30 foot range--definitely wider than what's typically found in a residential area--and I don't think the plans call for making them much wider than that. If anything, the median ought to be made wider by narrowing or reducing the traffic lanes, so as to give the statuary on the Court of Honor a little more breathing room, but I haven't seen any plans addressing that either.

One other thing that would help improve the area would be to develop the surface parking lot across the street from the Library (preferably nothing too tall that it would blot out the Library itself or the Court of Honor). It's at a prominent location, especially with the way the street edge is skewed there as it gets narrower.

Huh, maybe it's just the feeling you get walking around there. I used to get off the bus in front of the Wisconsin Club before they rerouted everything and I just remember that it always was real awkward to wait at that bus stop, although the trees were nice. What they really should do is narrow the traffic lanes on Wisconsin, add bike and bus lanes and some better bus stops around there to make it more of a "destination" as developers seem to be so fond of saying. A building on that lot would help, too. It'd be nice to have a complete line of taller (10ish stories) buildings along Wisconsin all the way from 27th to the lake. There are a lot already there but there are also a lot of gaps along the street with almost nothing there. Any news on what's happening to the corner of 27th and Wisconsin? Shouldn't they have started building something there by now?

miltown

November 11th, 2006, 06:14 AM

i_am_hydrogen

November 11th, 2006, 06:33 AM

neuhickman, you're entitled to your views, but this thread is no place for them. Therefore, I've deleted your off-topic posts.

neuhickman

November 11th, 2006, 08:24 AM

neuhickman, you're entitled to your views, but this thread is no place for them. Therefore, I've deleted your off-topic posts.

Alright.

MilwaukeeD

November 11th, 2006, 08:42 PM

Any news on what's happening to the corner of 27th and Wisconsin? Shouldn't they have started building something there by now?

they did not get the tax credits they were going after so that plan is stalled at best.

Eriol

November 11th, 2006, 09:43 PM

neuhickman

November 11th, 2006, 11:26 PM

About the Bradley Center:

The Bucks ranked 20 out of 30 in attendence last season. I can't imagine where that fourth place idea came from.

Also, Key Arena in Seattle, Oakland Coliseum, the Continental Airlines Arena and Madison Square Garden are all older than the BC. Granted that the Nets are planning to move to a new place in Brooklyn soon, if that ever is built, but there is nothing happening with the others.

The Bradley Center is hardly the worst arena in the league, and I've been around.

The US Cell Arena is one of the most historic facilities in the country and I hope it never comes down. From the old Milwaukee Hawks of the 50's with Bob Petit as a rookie through Al McGuire, Kareem and Robertson, all the fine Bucks and Warrior teams and now the rise of the UWM Panthers, not to mention every important tour of the era before the BC, including the Beatles, Elvis, Hendrix, etc., etc., it has seen it all.

I hope something can be done to make the Bradley Center stay in the game, but if it can't then we should move on. There are certainly enough people with the money to take over the team and build a new place if the support is there. Craig Leopold, Herb Kohler and John Menard at least can do this.

Arco Arena in Sacramento is either the oldest or 2nd oldest facility in the NBA. Sacramento(with no Fortune 500 companies) just defeated a measure that would have increased taxes by .25% to go for a downtown arena. The measure was defeated 20% - 80%. Sacramento, however, is the #1 attendance team in the NBA and has sold out more games consecutively than any other team in NBA history. I hope Milwaukee, with more corporate support, can come up with something. Because losing a major sports team can be devastating to civic pride.

sideliner

November 12th, 2006, 01:24 AM

Aside from all of this non develpment talk.....

I found a website for a new park that will be constructed at 3342 N. Argonne Drive which is near Wauwatosa but mostly in milwaukee, it used to be a landfill, the plans sound pretty cool for an old landfill...

http://www.hartungpark.com/index.htm
check out the website

I grew up just a few blocks away from this quarry. It would be great to see something finally come of the site, but I'm afraid that won't be for awhile. Credit the Hartung Park group for organizing, but funding seems to be a major stumbling block. Also, because the site straddles the Milw./Tosa city limits, other issues that will need to be addressed.

Oshkosh49

November 12th, 2006, 04:09 AM

About the Bradley Center:

The Bucks ranked 20 out of 30 in attendence last season. I can't imagine where that fourth place idea came from.

Also, Key Arena in Seattle, Oakland Coliseum, the Continental Airlines Arena and Madison Square Garden are all older than the BC. Granted that the Nets are planning to move to a new place in Brooklyn soon, if that ever is built, but there is nothing happening with the others.

The Bradley Center is hardly the worst arena in the league, and I've been around.

The US Cell Arena is one of the most historic facilities in the country and I hope it never comes down. From the old Milwaukee Hawks of the 50's with Bob Petit as a rookie through Al McGuire, Kareem and Robertson, all the fine Bucks and Warrior teams and now the rise of the UWM Panthers, not to mention every important tour of the era before the BC, including the Beatles, Elvis, Hendrix, etc., etc., it has seen it all.

I hope something can be done to make the Bradley Center stay in the game, but if it can't then we should move on. There are certainly enough people with the money to take over the team and build a new place if the support is there. Craig Leopold, Herb Kohler and John Menard at least can do this.

Eriol, you're correct about the Bucks attendence rankings from the 2005-2006 season. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/attendance?year=2006 But look at the 10 teams ranked from 21 through 30. They all have metro area populations larger than Milwaukee, sometimes much larger. I'm surprised to see that cities like Atlanta and Houston are ranked 2nd and 3rd from the bottom in attendence respectively.

As far as your sentimental reasoning for keeping the antiquated US Cellular Arena, sorry, but I don't share your sentiment. Take County Stadium for example. Henry Aaron, Warren Spahn, Robin Yount, and Paul Molitor all had great careers in County Stadium. But County Stadium was a run down relic, and the old US Cellular Arena is even more so. After the new arena is built (hopefully), the up and coming UW-Milwaukee Panthers can happily play their games within the Bradley Center, while the Bucks and the Golden Eagles can play within the new arena.

I'm all for keeping the Bradley Center. I just want the Bucks to play within a venue that makes their stay here more secure financially.

Oshkosh49

November 12th, 2006, 04:19 AM

Arco Arena in Sacramento is either the oldest or 2nd oldest facility in the NBA. Sacramento(with no Fortune 500 companies) just defeated a measure that would have increased taxes by .25% to go for a downtown arena. The measure was defeated 20% - 80%. Sacramento, however, is the #1 attendance team in the NBA and has sold out more games consecutively than any other team in NBA history. I hope Milwaukee, with more corporate support, can come up with something. Because losing a major sports team can be devastating to civic pride.
Sorry neuhickman, but the Arco Arena isn't the oldest or the 2nd oldest arena in the NBA. Those titles belong to Madison Square Garden which was completed in 1968, and the Continental Airlines Arena which was completed in 1981. The Arco Arena was completed in 1988, as was the Bradley Center and the Palace of Auburn Hills. http://www.hoopscorner.com/links/team_arenas.html

neuhickman

November 12th, 2006, 04:34 AM

Sorry neuhickman, but the Arco Arena isn't the oldest or the 2nd oldest arena in the NBA. Those titles belong to Madison Square Garden which was completed in 1968, and the Continental Airlines Arena which was completed in 1981. The Arco Arena was completed in 1988, as was the Bradley Center and the Palace of Auburn Hills. http://www.hoopscorner.com/links/team_arenas.html
It's the 2nd oldest without a renovation!...sorry for not clarifying. :)

Oshkosh49

November 12th, 2006, 05:07 AM

It's the 2nd oldest without a renovation!...sorry for not clarifying. :)
When was it renovated, and what did it cost to renovate it?

neuhickman

November 12th, 2006, 05:12 AM

When was it renovated, and what did it cost to renovate it?
It has never been renovated. It was built on the cheap and by the time it was finished it was already outdated...the other sad thing is, if the Kings leave Sacramento there will be no large concert/event venue in Sacramento. The next largest venue is Memorial Auditorium with a capacity of 3,800. At least if the Bucks leave there would be another large event venue for entertainment acts to come to. Sacramento is in an interesting predicament with the owners of the Kings that is not found in other NBA cities. The Kings play in Arco Arena which is owned by the Maloof's. The Maloof's bought Arco Arena from the city of Sacramento and have said they would never sell the Kings. So, if they leave Sacramento they would raze Arco Arena and sell it to real estate developers and pay back the remainder of what they owe to the city for the arena($72 million out of the $80 million they bought it for). Sacramento would be out of a large entertainment venue and would be stuck with the Sacramento River Cats AAA baseball team as the local sports team...and they're actually in West Sacramento.

Oshkosh49

November 12th, 2006, 04:26 PM

It has never been renovated. It was built on the cheap and by the time it was finished it was already outdated...the other sad thing is, if the Kings leave Sacramento there will be no large concert/event venue in Sacramento. The next largest venue is Memorial Auditorium with a capacity of 3,800. At least if the Bucks leave there would be another large event venue for entertainment acts to come to. Sacramento is in an interesting predicament with the owners of the Kings that is not found in other NBA cities. The Kings play in Arco Arena which is owned by the Maloof's. The Maloof's bought Arco Arena from the city of Sacramento and have said they would never sell the Kings. So, if they leave Sacramento they would raze Arco Arena and sell it to real estate developers and pay back the remainder of what they owe to the city for the arena($72 million out of the $80 million they bought it for). Sacramento would be out of a large entertainment venue and would be stuck with the Sacramento River Cats AAA baseball team as the local sports team...and they're actually in West Sacramento.I'm sorry, I misread your renovation statement. So this Maloof clan owns the whole ball of wax with the Kings and Arco Arena. Talk about "control"! It is obvious the city took the $80 million and ran like hell from the possible long term consequences. Hopefully they used most of that to pay off the original $40 million construction.

ClarkWGriswald

November 12th, 2006, 06:52 PM

Policy vacuum, real-estate emphasis harm economic growth
By JOHN SCHMID
jschmid@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Nov. 11, 2006

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/news/img/nov06/cityg1111206.gif

Milwaukee is adrift with inadequate economic leadership in an age of raw global competition and rapid industrial change, according to a think-tank report that echoes complaints of some civic-minded business leaders.

The city focuses far too much attention on buildings and streetscapes and far too little on modern job-creating business strategies, according to "Growing Up," a blistering, 28-page critique that the Public Policy Forum will release Monday.

The city has no economic development plan, nor is it clear who in City Hall is accountable for economic policy, it says. The city haphazardly doles out more than $100 million in crucial funding each year in "disjointed" efforts without the "reporting, tracking and accountability" necessary to monitor its investments, the report says.

As a result, most of the city's scarce resources end up being channeled into shopping centers, street beautification and housing, making the city "a real-estate development machine, not a job development machine," according to the researchers.

JS Article continued here...
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=529932

I hope that a shift in spending won't TOO MUCH affect spending for development. Though, you cannot have one without the other.

EastSider

November 12th, 2006, 11:12 PM

As a result, most of the city's scarce resources end up being channeled into shopping centers, street beautification and housing, making the city "a real-estate development machine, not a job development machine," according to the researchers.

This article may make a good point, but it misses an important idea. The post-effects of major residential development means a larger, higher-income job force centrally located in the downtown core. We've just started to tap the potential of orgaizational investment in such a scenerio (think Manpower and Roundy's), and the new real estate market downtown is still blooming.

neuhickman

November 12th, 2006, 11:35 PM

I'm sorry, I misread your renovation statement. So this Maloof clan owns the whole ball of wax with the Kings and Arco Arena. Talk about "control"! It is obvious the city took the $80 million and ran like hell from the possible long term consequences. Hopefully they used most of that to pay off the original $40 million construction.
The Maloof's have not paid back the whole $80 million. They've only paid back $8 million of it(it might be $10 million that they've paid back). Unfortunately, a new arena there would cost at least $400 million and taxpayers weren't willing to foot the bill...especially with the Maloof's flaunting their wealth in a commercial for Carls Jr.(Hardee's out here!). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM-x6pjEOq0 Right in the middle of a heated campaign with many twists and turns to get a tax passed (half the revenue would go for the arena and the other half for different municipalities in Sacramento County to do as they wish with it), the Maloof's approved this ad...even though Carl's Jr. had specifically asked if they would like for it not to be aired in the Sacramento market..and they wonder why the tax measures failed so badly?!?!?!

MilwaukeeMark

November 13th, 2006, 01:19 AM

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5315/10078531sn9.jpg

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

601 Lofts (http://www.601lofts.com/index_se.html)

Rendering:
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/6712/601loftsrenderingfj3.jpg

Construction Progress:
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9810/10077161dn7.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/108/10077201af9.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9158/10077222if2.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/8713/10077271ki2.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5569/10077441kx7.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/1371/10077471fi6.jpg

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City Green Condominiums (http://www.citygreencondos.com/)

Rendering:
http://www.citygreencondos.com/img/gallery/gallery_2.jpg

Construction Progress:
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/4629/10077511ha9.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/7822/10077531mo4.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/817/10077621fn2.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5742/10077581lv8.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/8236/10077721yy2.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/6858/10077661mj8.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/3323/10077751ma5.jpg

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First Place on the River (http://www.firstplacemilwaukee.com/)

Rendering:
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/2958/firstplaceontheriverrenderingxh7.jpg

Construction Progress:
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/4752/10078291fd7.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/7184/10078331lm6.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/6056/10078341bt1.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9446/10078361qb8.jpg

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University Club Tower (http://www.universityclubtower.com)

Rendering:
http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/bym/img/oct03/utowerbig100703.jpg

Construction Progress:
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5459/10077911hp1.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/2949/10077881vr8.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/1396/10078041hb2.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/7967/10078071pr0.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/8920/10077931jc2.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/4523/10078061gz3.jpg

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River Renaissance (http://www.rivren.com/)

Rendering:
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/7509/rivrenrenderinggs6.jpg

Construction Progress:
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/897/10078391ft8.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/592/10078411sf5.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5305/10078441yr0.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/7964/10078561hw0.jpg

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And some bonus pics of the city just for kicks...

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/7840/10077971on0.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/1456/10078621cj9.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/7516/10077961vt9.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/4363/10077831bv5.jpg

miltown

November 13th, 2006, 01:47 AM

nice pics. 601 looks to be coming along nicely. So does UCT

FutureChicaukeean

November 13th, 2006, 07:34 AM

MilwaukeeMark has it right... and here it goes:

Build, BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

Jobs, JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

Live, LIVE, LIVE, LIVE

Jobs, JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

Build, Jobs, Live, Jobs

25 Trillion, 2040, 25 TRILLION, BOOM, KA-BOOM

RUST, RUST, Rust, rust

life, Life, LIFE, LIFE

Third Ward, West Town, East Town, East Side

Downtown, Downtown, Downtown, Downtown

skyline, SKYLINE, DENSITY, DENSITY

Politics, POLITICS, BUILD, BUILD

CIVIC PRIDE, MILWAUKEE, MILWAUKEEANs

Build

D-res

November 13th, 2006, 07:56 AM

definitely diggin the pics dude. First Place on the River is coming along nicely and I see UCT's crane has been taken down. Even without the crown, the building is looking really good.

EDIT: MilwaukeeMark has it right... and here it goes:

Build, BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

Jobs, JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

Live, LIVE, LIVE, LIVE

Jobs, JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

Build, Jobs, Live, Jobs

25 Trillion, 2040, 25 TRILLION, BOOM, KA-BOOM

RUST, RUST, Rust, rust

life, Life, LIFE, LIFE

Third Ward, West Town, East Town, East Side

Downtown, Downtown, Downtown, Downtown

skyline, SKYLINE, DENSITY, DENSITY

Politics, POLITICS, BUILD, BUILD

CIVIC PRIDE, MILWAUKEE, MILWAUKEEANs

Build

I want whatever this guy had

NorthernIL Mike

November 13th, 2006, 08:09 AM

Those updated construction pictures is a great idea :banana: How is the North End area looking?

MilwaukeeMark

November 13th, 2006, 03:16 PM

If you'd like to see a video showing the interior of one of the units for University Club Tower, follow this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLwzanKCYHA

Sorry about the poor quality, it was the best I could do.

MilwaukeeMark

November 13th, 2006, 03:21 PM

Those updated construction pictures is a great idea :banana: How is the North End area looking?

The North End has yet to begin construction. The only thing signaling a change in the lanscape are a couple large "North End" banners hanging on the warehouses slated to be torn down.

exit_320

November 13th, 2006, 05:12 PM

MilwaukeeMark

November 13th, 2006, 05:28 PM

It's listed as a private video

Woops, I fixed it.

MilwaukeeMark

November 13th, 2006, 06:55 PM

Every once in a while I hear one of the most annoyingly persistent rumors about Milwaukee. You've probably heard it yourselves... something to effect that the reason why Milwaukee doesn't have a taller building than the US Bank building is that they signed a contract with the city that states no other building in Wisconsin, let alone Milwaukee, can be taller.

Can anyone tell me where this rumor started and if there's any shred of truth to it? The only thing I can think of that comes even remotely close to explaining it is that the building was once called the Wisconsin Building (right?) and because of the name, the "tallest rule" was made.

Markitect

November 13th, 2006, 07:36 PM

Can anyone tell me where this rumor started and if there's any shred of truth to it? The only thing I can think of that comes even remotely close to explaining it is that the building was once called the Wisconsin Building (right?) and because of the name, the "tallest rule" was made.

It was originally called the First Wisconsin Building because it held the offices of the First Wisconsin Bank...which later became the Firstar Center (for Firstar Bank)...and at present, US Bank Center. So the name has never had anything to do with it being the tallest in the city/state, or any kind of restrictions on the heights of skyscrapers.

MilwaukeeMark

November 13th, 2006, 07:49 PM

It was originally called the First Wisconsin Building because it held the offices of the First Wisconsin Bank...which later became the Firstar Center (for Firstar Bank)...and at present, US Bank Center. So the name has never had anything to do with it being the tallest in the city/state, or any kind of restrictions on the heights of skyscrapers.

Ah, nevermind about the name then. The question still stands though... are there any restrictions with regard to buildings being taller than US Bank?

Markitect

November 13th, 2006, 08:09 PM

downtownVital.org

November 13th, 2006, 08:46 PM

^^ Those sort of rumors amuse me. There used to be (I suppose still may be) one up here in Green Bay that no building could be built taller than, say, 10 floors becuase if a building was taller they couldn't reach the top with a fire engine ladder. I bought into that until A) I tried to imagine the 110 story, 1400+ foot ladder that Chicago would need to reach the Sears Tower, and B) that the reason Green Bay didn't have a taller building was more to do with city leaders being dolts than some supposed zoning rule.

looksee

November 13th, 2006, 09:01 PM

There was, in fact, an unwritten (as far as I know) code in Milwaukee that no building could be taller than City Hall, and it wasn't broken until the First Wisconsin--Firstar--US Bank--Center was built. Sentiment ruled until then.

exit_320

November 14th, 2006, 12:07 AM

MONDAY, Nov. 13, 2006, 1:17 p.m.

Milwaukee still in hunt for soccer franchise
Don Garber, Major League Soccer's commissioner and eternal optimist, said over the weekend that the league could add as many as three expansion teams by the 2009 season.

Speaking at his annual State of the League address, Garber identified several markets, including Milwaukee, in the running to add MLS franchises. The other markets are Atlanta, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Rochester, San Diego, San Jose, St. Louis, Seattle and New York.

"Our goals remains 16 teams by 2010," said Garber, who added that it is unlikely that a team will be added in 2008.

Milwaukee may be in the market as far as Garber is concerned, but there's been very little news coming out of the mouths of the people promoting a Milwaukee franchise. There has been talk of securing a site in the City of Milwaukee. But what's really missing from a serious franchise effort is a group of investors.

Until some real money shows up, and a stadium site is secured, Milwaukee won't be able to make a serious run at getting a franchise.

http://www.jsonline.com/blog/index.aspx?id=92&month=11&year=2006&entry=26612

NorthernIL Mike

November 14th, 2006, 01:43 AM

FutureChicaukeean

November 14th, 2006, 06:52 AM

I want whatever this guy had

Vodka!

I mostly drink beer, but wow... Vodka is a beast!

Keeping Milwaukee #1

D-res

November 14th, 2006, 10:30 AM

Vodka!

I mostly drink beer, but wow... Vodka is a beast!

Keeping Milwaukee #1

Whats your favorite vodka? Mine's definitely Stoli

and hell yeah! did you know milwaukee was ranked #2 party city in the country by Maxim magazine? Just behind Las Vegas and just ahead of New Orleans.

mohammed wong

November 14th, 2006, 04:58 PM

I was driving through milwaukee just the other day, i hadnt been to town in awhile and I was assaulted with

FROM DORKY TO COOL
NewMke.com

Billboard on the east side of the 94 freeway,
terrible marketing, what the hell?

I never thought of milwaukee as dorky, just was run down and depressed,
I cant remember chicago ever pulling a stunt like that,
I hope they take that billboard down soon, cuz it is idiotic.

I see that the renovation of the reservoir park (on north west of humboldt) is in high gear
there is orange fencing all around,
and they have cut the trees down up top, which i dont think is such a hot idea, is there environmental clean up going on?
The new playground is okay, but lackluster,
i will miss the old playground, but an update was in order.

Work is coming along on the new dorms on north ave as well,
there is alot of activity there, looks like the foundation, bottom part is done for most of it.

and Rehab of north ave continues, there is a rather yucky commercial building west of the holton and north ave intersection that was fixed up, the facade was repaired,

Its a funny life for me now, i drove back to Illinois from wassau and could see the scene for friday night of greenbay and milwaukee on the way home, I wanted to go out, but with who?

MilwaukeeMark

November 14th, 2006, 05:17 PM

exit_320

November 14th, 2006, 06:06 PM

Take a look at the website, it shows where it got the "from dorky to cool" quote (CNN.com). Also includes a fucking laverne and shirley quote from our mayor. Oh and the digital billboards are f'ing awesome. Cool idea

brewcityfan

November 14th, 2006, 07:27 PM

Yeah I believe the Laverne and Shirley sign is on 94/43 North by the High Rise bridge....I personally find these signs amusing, its very upfront with outsiders about the city.

UWMilwaukeeJay

November 14th, 2006, 08:08 PM

11-14TUESDAY, Nov. 14, 2006, 11:20 a.m.
By Tom Daykin

Architecture firm, UWM join to hire expert
A Boston-based expert on land planning and urban design will serve as a consultant to a Milwaukee architecture firm and as a visiting professor at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the result of a new partnership announced today.
Christine Scott Thomson will be the Plunkett Raysich Professor at UWM's School of Architecture and Urban Planning, and a consultant to Plunkett Raysich Architects.

Thomson will teach a spring semester studio at UWM, with a sustainability focus for graduate students. She also will spend three days a week at Plunkett Raysich as a consultant, and will give a series of four presentations to the firm's 120-member staff.

To support the professorship, Plunkett Raysich donated money to the UWM Foundation to cover Thomson's professorship salary.

mohammed wong

November 14th, 2006, 08:37 PM

The billboard is up to promote a new idea by the city of Milwaukee and Clear Channel in which they'll have six billboards throughout the metro area displaying artwork done by local artists. They're billing it as the "first ever digital billboard art show in the country."

I don't necessarily see it as idiotic at all. Afterall, it got your attention and we're talking about it here, aren't we?

well now that i know what thats about (billboards with artwork on them), its a good idea
just not sure about the marketing, but it did grab my attention
:cheers:

where will the billboards be?

oops its on the website, newmke.com
which is nice design btw.

it is a great idea to catch out of towners ( chicagoans or madisonians) or others that would just pass through milwaukee
to put up these digital billboards,
more and more it will be pretty hard for people not to notice milwaukee and be curious enough to get off the expressway to see whats going on.

miltown

November 15th, 2006, 12:14 AM

Redevelopment project seeks city aid
A $21 million redevelopment project, including improvements to one of downtown Milwaukee's oldest office buildings, would receive around $3 million in city financial assistance under a proposal unveiled today.

The city funds would help finance renovations at a 295,000-square-foot office building at 735 N. Water St. and a nearby riverwalk. Compass Properties LLC plans to make improvements to the building, and convert an adjacent 80,000-square-foot building, at 731 N. Water St., into condominiums and a parking structure.

The 16-story building at 735 N. Water St. was completed in 1913 as the headquarters for First Wisconsin National Bank, which was later known as Firstar Bank before it acquired US Bancorp. and took its name. It is now leased to various office tenants. The adjacent eight-story building, built in 1962 as an annex to the First Wisconsin building, has been vacant for more than 15 years.

Both buildings are owned by Compass Properties LLC.

Compass said earlier this year that it wants to convert the entire ground floor and the eastern half of the upper floors at 731 N. Water into a parking structure, providing additional parking spaces for 735 N. Water tenants. That would help draw more businesses to 735 N. Water, which has lost tenants in recent years to newer downtown buildings.

The western half of 731 N. Water, which overlooks the Milwaukee River, would be converted into condominiums, with one unit on each of the seven upper floors, under Compass' tentative plans. Selling those residential units, each with about 3,500 square feet, would generate cash to help pay for the parking structure.

Compass wants to begin working on the buildings next year. The firm wants the parking structure to be completed by the end of 2007, when much of the Marquette Interchange reconstruction will be done. Compass anticipates a burst of interest from suburban businesses seeking to move downtown once that project is done.

Under the city financing proposal, Compass would recover $2.9 million from the city to help pay for renovation expenses, and improvements to the buildings' adjacent riverwalk. That city costs could be as high as $3.4 million, with the higher amount including a contingency fund.

The city funding plan will be reviewed Thursday by the Redevelopment Authority board. It requires Common Council approval.

Part of Tower complex sold
The eastern portion of Tower Automotive Inc.'s former industrial complex has been sold to local investors, who will seek new industrial and office tenants for the site.

That 86-acre portion, bordered roughly by W. Capitol Drive, W. Townsend St., N. Hopkins St. and railroad tracks, was sold by Tower to Milwaukee Industrial Trade Center LLC for an undisclosed price. The group is led by Jerry Blomberg, owner of Midwest Rail & Dismantling Inc., a West Milwaukee demolition firm.

The former Tower buildings, totaling around 2.2 million square feet, include large portions of heavy industrial space that is becoming increasingly rare as manufacturing declines in the Milwaukee area, Blomberg said today. The buildings include cranes for lifting heavy materials, as well as railroad access, he said.

Dickman Co. has been hired to find tenants for the buildings, and has already fielded interest from prospective tenants, including local manufacturers, said Samuel D. Dickman, company principal.

The former Tower complex covers around 140 acres and extends westward to N. 35th St.

The Common Council in 2005 designated the Tower site as a redevelopment area. Department of City Development officials in 2007 will begin using a $250,000 federal grant to create a detailed plan for the property. Much of the plan's success will hinge on the city's ability to get more federal money to help with an environmental cleanup that could cost millions of dollars.

In May, a new $24 million city public works office opened at the site, at 3850 N. 35th St.

Oshkosh49

November 15th, 2006, 05:14 AM

I think this is good news for Milwaukee.

TUESDAY, Nov. 14, 2006, 6:33 p.m.
By Avrum D. Lank
Harley workers approve concessions

Union workers at Harley-Davidson (HOG) have approved concessions that the company said will result in the investment of $120 million and the creation of at least 100 new jobs in the Milwaukee area.

The vote was 943-536.

The proposal included lower wages for workers hired after the first of the year, as well as a decrease in health insurance, pensions and cost-of-living adjustments for all workers.

Harley employs about 4,500 in the Milwaukee area, including the members of Local 2-209.

Many of the production workers make more than $27 an hour under the existing scale. In the proposal voted upon today, most workers in the lower scale would make more than $20.

In October, union members overwhelmingly rejected a similar proposal, although the gap between the existing and new wage levels was larger, with some wages being cut 33%.

Harley said it needed the lower scale to match wages it could pay if it built the plant elsewhere.

The proposal also included a provision allowing current part-time workers to be paid the higher wage scale if they were hired as full timers after the start of next year. And it had a written guarantee from the company that it would stop planning for the expansion elsewhere.

miltown

November 15th, 2006, 05:51 PM

Retail, apartment complex proposed
A local developer, partnered with a company known for developing affordable housing, hope to create a retail and apartment complex in Milwaukee's central city.

The $7.9 million project would bring retail space and 48 apartments to a site west of N. Teutonia Ave. and north of W. Center St. It will be reviewed Thursday by the city Redevelopment Authority, which owns two vacant lots that would be part of the project site.

GFG Real Estate LLC, of Milwaukee, and Horizon Development Group Inc., Verona, are the developers. They hope to create the project over the next two to three years, according to information filed with the Department of City Development.

Horizon Development has built several apartment buildings using affordable housing tax credits to help finance the projects. Those federal credits are given to development firms, which in turn agree to provide apartments at below-market rents to moderate-income families and elderly people.

downtownVital.org

November 15th, 2006, 06:33 PM

I don't necessarily see it as idiotic at all. Afterall, it got your attention and we're talking about it here, aren't we?

I don't know that it's idiotic, but if I had never been to a place and saw a sign with a message such as "Moving from dorky to cool," my reaction is to think that it must actually be dorky. Likewise, if I saw one saying that "Laverne and Shirley don't live here anymore," I'd figure that the rest of their family probably still does.

I'm reminded of billboards that they put up here in Green Bay some years ago trying to get people downtown to Washington St. One had a picture of a cop on it and read something like, "Hey Pal, this isn't New York." Uh, no... no it's not, I don't think anyone ever mistook it for that, and if you're trying to advertise an entertainment district, I'm not sure we want to remind people of that difference.

Phrases like "Alive and getting livelier" are great, positive, and forward thinking. I'm just not sure it's good to remind people of negative stereotypes of your city, because you just might reinforce those stereotypes.

NeuBrew

November 16th, 2006, 05:14 PM

I think it is actually a great strategy to take over and 'own' your stereotypes. Once you do that, you control the message about your own city - not travel writers who stop by for a weekend. I think Wisconsinites have done a decent job of that over the years. Instead of running away from the beer-and-cheese persona, we wear Cheeseheads. Remember, the Cheesehead was created by Chicago White Sox fans to make fun of us -- now we are the idiots wearing them on our heads, take that. Strange analogy, I know, but you can see many examples of this. I think a city has to embrace it's public stereotypes instead of running from them -- which is transparently false.

downtownVital.org

November 16th, 2006, 06:38 PM

Funny story... When I was in Melbourne, Australia, I went to an Aussie Rules Football game at the MCG between Essendon and Sydney. I was stitting there and a kid walks by wearing a Green Bay Packers jacket. So I tapped the kid on the arm an told him that I liked his jacket and that I was from Green Bay. He reply was something like, "cool, can you get me one of those cheese-hats?" That was not the only time during my three weeks in Australia and New Zealand that someone mentioned "cheese-hats" (never heard cheese-heads, always cheese-hats) when I told them I was from Green Bay. I'm not sure that I was exactly thrilled about that, but it was pretty funny. I remember telling myself that if I ever got back down there I'd have to bring a couple cheese-hats for some lucky people.

miltown

November 16th, 2006, 08:16 PM

GRANVILLE HEIGHTS

Horizon Development's apartment projects in the Milwaukee area include the 135-unit Granville Heights, under construction south of W. Brown Deer Road and west of N. 68th St.; the 45-unit Clare Heights, 717 W. Holt Ave., and the 360-unit Woodland Ridge, 3953 S. Prairie Hill Lane, Greenfield.

Granville Heights is being built through a partnership with other developers who are graduates of the Associates in Commercial Real Estate program.

GFG Real Estate and Horizon Development are seeking a purchase option from the Redevelopment Authority for vacant lots totaling 103,287 square feet. The lots would be purchased for $154,800, and would be combined with privately owned parcels for the project site, Goins said.

MilwaukeeMark

November 16th, 2006, 08:17 PM

I posted the same thing over at Urban Milwaukee but I thought I'd say it here as well...

I talked with the lead developer of UCT yesterday afternoon about the official completion date of the building. The reason I called him is because over at Emporis we have an award called "Best New Skyscraper of the Year Award." We want to avoid any erroneous nominations for UCT for 2006 if it's not completed.

At any rate, the developer told me that almost all exterior work will be completed by the year's end and people will be living in the building on the lower floors. The top portion of the building will not be finished until 2007 though. I don't have an exact date but we can expect it to be entirely finished off by Spring of 2007.

exit_320

November 16th, 2006, 08:17 PM

The cheesehead is one thing no one should ever embrace.. just makes us look like fools.

D-res

November 16th, 2006, 10:35 PM

exit_320

November 17th, 2006, 12:52 AM

THURSDAY, Nov. 16, 2006, 4:15 p.m.
By Tom Daykin

Druml to develop Park East site
A local developer plans to convert a building in Milwaukee's Park East area into housing, retail space and offices, it was announced today.

Daniel Druml has purchased the former Milwaukee Journal Sentinel maintenance facility, at the northwest corner of N. 6th St. and W. McKinley Blvd.

Druml said the redeveloped building, to be known as Haymarket Square, is expected to house 45,000 to 65,000 square feet of retail space, possibly a supermarket. It also will have four stories of office space totaling 88,000 square feet, Druml said, in a statement. The north end of the complex will be developed into apartments or condominiums, along with additional retail space.

Druml owns Paul Davis Restoration. The building was sold by Journal Sentinel Inc., a subsidiary of Journal Communications Inc. (JRN). Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

exit_320

November 17th, 2006, 12:53 AM

When someone from chicago calls you a cheesehead what do you say? f*ck off and then usually a bar brawl

ClarkWGriswald

November 17th, 2006, 03:07 AM

f*ck off and then usually a bar brawl

LOL!

I like your style exit.

downtownVital.org

November 17th, 2006, 04:45 PM

actually I think embracing the stereotypes with open arms makes our competition look like fools. When someone from chicago calls you a cheesehead what do you say? I say, hell yeah I am and their ridicule stops right then and there. It's comparable to elementary school playground rules. As soon as you show a bully that his tactics are no longer affecting you negatively, he no longer gets enjoyment from them and thats that. :)

I'm not sure the bully analogy is fits here. These billboards don't exist becuase some person, group, or city is trying to bully Milwaukee. These sorts of efforts exist to do things like: help make the city one that local, skilled workers want to stay in, make the city seem attractive to workers who are thinking of moving here, make the city seem attractive to business who want to be located in places where employees want to live, make the city seem to be an attravtive place for tourism, etc...

To me, while there are those who have opinions that are "bullying" to Milwaukee, that's not whose minds' we are trying to change. It's about people who are aware of Milwaukee to varying degrees, may have an vague opinion or two about the city, but at present are indifferent to the city outside of what the city can do for them.

A better analogy, to me, is that if a bully calls you a dork, you may shut the bully up by proclaiming, "I'm a dork!" But if you do this, all the other kids on the playground are likely to think of you, "wow, what a dork," and then they won't want to play with you. It's not the bully we're concerned about as much as all of the other kids.

I don't think a couple of billboards is a disaster, but I do think that when you go reinforcing negative stereotypes, you need to be careful about who your audience is and how them believing those stereotypes will affect the goals you are after.

milwaukeeunseen

November 17th, 2006, 06:58 PM

Paule

November 17th, 2006, 07:15 PM

Imagine if a major corporation launched an ad campaign acknowledgeing its negative stereotypes and saying they're not true. For instance, what if Wal Mart ran an ad campaign with billboards saying "Wal-Mart: Not Just Cheap Crap" or if McDonald's had ads saying "McDonald's: We Don't Use Grade D Meat." That kind of ad campaign would actually hurt the image of the company rather than help it. Playing on negative stereotpyes can work if done just right, but it's hard to do, and I don't these billboards really pull it off.
This may sound like a dumb question but what was so bad about Laverne and Shirley?

I don't understand why so many people get all upset over this. The show was number 1 in the ratings for a few years and was always in the top 10 shows. People loved the show, they loved the characters. For some reason Milwaukeeians have always taken offense over this show and I have never understood why.

MilwaukeeMark

November 17th, 2006, 07:29 PM

Don't mean to backtrack here but I was just thinking about how earlier we had a discussion about Milwaukee lagging behind Madison with regard to biotech research and I can't seem to remember the Medical College of Wisconsin ever being brought up. Isn't that relative?

And Paule, I agree with you. I actually liked Laverne and Shirley growing up (even though I'm only 28 years old) and always thought it cool that the show was based in Milwaukee. However, I do understand why people see the show as a negative influence on the city simply because it enforces the blue collar stereotypes Milwaukee's been battling for so long. I think because the show was SO focused on the blue collar lifestyle and it was SO popular, that's why people despise it so.

Oshkosh49

November 17th, 2006, 07:49 PM

This may sound like a dumb question but what was so bad about Laverne and Shirley?

I don't understand why so many people get all upset over this. The show was number 1 in the ratings for a few years and was always in the top 10 shows. People loved the show, they loved the characters. For some reason Milwaukeeians have always taken offense over this show and I have never understood why.Paule, Laverne and Shirley is a very negative stereotype of Milwaukee. That crummy stupid show created the idea in a lot of people's minds across the country that Milwaukee is nothing but a city of stupid idiots and their even more stupid friends.
It makes my blood boil whenever I read a positive article about Milwaukee in regional and national media publications, and they always reference that Laverne and Shirley show. To me, all that does is reinforce a negative perception that was never true in the first place. I hate Garry Marshall. I want him to suffer immense pain and agony forever.
Why don't television producers develop a show in which Milwaukee is shown in a more sophisticated way? Why is it always Boston, New York, Miami, etc. as the setting for shows about law firms and so on?

Paule

November 17th, 2006, 08:19 PM

Paule, Laverne and Shirley is a very negative stereotype of Milwaukee. That crummy stupid show created the idea in a lot of people's minds across the country that Milwaukee is nothing but a city of stupid idiots and their even more stupid friends.
It makes my blood boil whenever I read a positive article about Milwaukee in regional and national media publications, and they always reference that Laverne and Shirley show. To me, all that does is reinforce a negative perception that was never true in the first place. I hate Garry Marshall. I want him to suffer immense pain and agony forever.
Why don't television producers develop a show in which Milwaukee is shown in a more sophisticated way? Why is it always Boston, New York, Miami, etc. as the setting for shows about law firms and so on?

BULL!

Oshkosh49

November 17th, 2006, 08:34 PM

And Paule, I agree with you. I actually liked Laverne and Shirley growing up (even though I'm only 28 years old) and always thought it cool that the show was based in Milwaukee. However, I do understand why people see the show as a negative influence on the city simply because it enforces the blue collar stereotypes Milwaukee's been battling for so long. I think because the show was SO focused on the blue collar lifestyle and it was SO popular, that's why people despise it so.And what is that blue collar stereotype? That all blue collar workers are idiots like Laverne and Shirley. That is so narrow-minded and idiotic in its own way.
I highly doubt that the blue collar workers that build the best motorcycles in the world at Harley-Davidson, or build some of the best draglines and shovels in the world at Joy Global, or build the best interior environmental control systems in the world at Johnson Controls are idiots. But that is the perception of the ignorant Hollywood types on the coasts.
You can't have an idiot running a CNC Machine creating thousands of parts for a customer's order who needs it sent tomorrow. If that CNC Machine isn't set up properly before the run starts, you've just created thousands of pieces of junk, lost thousands of dollars, and maybe lost a lucrative customer. Oops!

MilwaukeeMark, I'm not ranting at you specifically. You just hit a nerve with me with the "blue collar stereotype" line. Sorry.

Oshkosh49

November 17th, 2006, 08:38 PM

BULL!You don't think that the Laverne and Shirley show created a negative stereotype in a lot of people's minds about Milwaukee???

Paule

November 17th, 2006, 08:58 PM

You don't think that the Laverne and Shirley show created a negative stereotype in a lot of people's minds about Milwaukee???
No, and if you know people outside of Wisconsin who are going to form their opinions on a city like Milwaukee from some 1970s tv sitcom then they are the ones being narrow minded and idiotic. And if someone is going to let their blood boil because some narrow minded dumb shit wants to bad mouth Milwaukee because of L&S is therefore also a narrow minded dumb shit! In my humble opinion of course....

Fiddlerontheruf

November 17th, 2006, 09:00 PM

Guys, guys, the more we take offense to the Laverene and Shirley image, the more ridiculous we look to outsiders.

MJinOshkosh

November 17th, 2006, 09:03 PM

Why doesn't Happy Days provoke the same rancor?

MilwaukeeMark

November 17th, 2006, 09:06 PM

MilwaukeeMark, I'm not ranting at you specifically. You just hit a nerve with me with the "blue collar stereotype" line. Sorry.

Haha.. I didn't take offense, no need to apologize. Still though, I definitely believe that the words "blue collar" carry a stereotype that implies a lack of education and to a lesser extent, skill and experience. Blue collar workers, by definition, are workers in the manufacturing, construction, or maintenance industries... maybe even law enforcement.

I don't really think that when people recount Laverne and Shirley they think of the show as featuring a bunch of buffoons. Yes, there were characters in the show that demonstrated their idiocy to extremes but even in shows centered in Boston, Miami and NYC about law firms, entertainment sectors and the like, there are characters that fit nicely in the idiot category. I'd like to think that when people think of Laverne and Shirley, they remember a factory worker lifestyle, not unintelligent personalities.

Let's face it, Laverne and Shirley are part of Milwaukee's history. I don't necessarily see that as a negative or a positive but it's there nonetheless. Besides, it's not just Milwaukee that's dealing with this perception of having an overabundance of blue collar jobs. To a larger extent, Pittsburgh carries an even stronger image of blue collar work and workers.

I'm proud of our heritage and evolution as a city. Turning your back on that image does Milwaukee a disservice. I think it right to embrace these stereotypes and move on. Acceptance is a necessary step with regard to overcoming any issue. These billboards aren't saying we're the same city.. they're saying that we know where we came from and that time has past.

i_am_hydrogen

November 17th, 2006, 09:08 PM

^Well said.

Paule

November 17th, 2006, 09:09 PM

Guys, guys, the more we take offense to the Laverene and Shirley image, the more ridiculous we look to outsiders.

Thank you Fiddler! You hit it right on the nose.

Paule

November 17th, 2006, 09:13 PM

Haha.. I didn't take offense, no need to apologize. Still though, I definitely believe that the words "blue collar" carry a stereotype that implies a lack of education and to a lesser extent, skill and experience. Blue collar workers, by definition, are workers in the manufacturing, construction, or maintenance industries... maybe even law enforcement.

I don't really think that when people recount Laverne and Shirley they think of the show as featuring a bunch of buffoons. Yes, there were characters in the show that demonstrated their idiocy to extremes but even in shows centered in Boston, Miami and NYC about law firms, entertainment sectors and the like, there are characters that fit nicely in the idiot category. I'd like to think that when people think of Laverne and Shirley, they remember a factory worker lifestyle, not unintelligent personalities.

Let's face it, Laverne and Shirley are part of Milwaukee's history. I don't necessarily see that as a negative or a positive but it's there nonetheless. Besides, it's not just Milwaukee that's dealing with this perception of having an overabundance of blue collar jobs. To a larger extent, Pittsburgh carries an even stronger image of blue collar work and workers.

I'm proud of our heritage and evolution as a city. Turning your back on that image does Milwaukee a disservice. I think it right to embrace these stereotypes and move on. Acceptance is a necessary step with regard to overcoming any issue. These billboards aren't saying we're the same city.. they're saying that we know where we came from and that time has past.
Yes, very well said

MilwaukeeMark

November 17th, 2006, 09:27 PM

Markitect

November 17th, 2006, 09:32 PM

Let's not forget the fact that "Laverne & Shirley" was a slapstick buddy TV sitcom...a genre in which putting goofy characters in silly situations to make the audience laugh is all part of the formula. It's not intended for such shows to be sophisticated, or to be realistic, or to be a commentary on the way Hollywood or anybody else views the world.

As far as Milwaukee "stereotypes" in the show are concerned, the farthest it was ever taken was having the main characters work at a fictional brewery and hang out at a fictional bowling alley. But even still, those aren't so much Milwaukee stereotypes as they are Milwaukee truths, since brewing and bowling were two things deeply ingrained in Milwaukee's culture, and were well-known to outsiders, long before the show ever hit the airwaves.

Paule

November 17th, 2006, 09:35 PM

I thought this discussion with regard to the new billboards in general and the Laverne and Shirley image in particular was pretty interesting so I went ahead and contacted those responsible for the billboards and let them know of our forum and what people have been saying about their new campaign. Here's the email I got in return:

Mark:

Thanks for sharing the comments from the forum. I did go on the web site as well to read the complete comments. It was honestly interesting to read the different perspectives not only on the billboards but as well Laverne & Shirley. What does amaze me is the staying power of that show compared with so many others, i.e. Happy Days. It does help to hear where people are
coming from. Tks.

Dean Amhaus, President
Spirit of Milwaukee
Interesting, although I agree that the L&S show does seem to have had more staying power than the Happy Days show, the Fonz created more of a staying power than L&S did themselves. Whenever I see anyone giving the thumbs up sign I see it as a Fonz thing. Before the thumbs up sign it was always the peace sign or victory sign with two fingers pointing up. Plus the word "cool" was made cool by the Fonz and whenever I hear or read anyone saying that I sort of think of the Fonz. I guess what I'm saying is that the Fonz had more of a cultural influence than what L&S ever had.

Paule

November 17th, 2006, 09:42 PM

MJinOshkosh

November 17th, 2006, 09:47 PM

May I suggest a Fonzie thumbs up to Milwaukee billboard.

Paule

November 17th, 2006, 09:54 PM

May I suggest a Fonzie thumbs up to Milwaukee billboard.:okay:

NorthernIL Mike

November 17th, 2006, 10:09 PM

The only people who talk about those shows are writers of papers because they know nothing about anything Milwaukee related and need somewhere to start, and the very rare person. I have yet to have heard the name Shirley or Lavergne in 100+ visits to the city of milwaukee.:cheers: Or for that matter any guests that i have taken to the city and my place in downtown. First time vistors always are very very impressed. They all want to buy a place and many would prefer living downtown or the surrounding areas in Milwaukee than in chicago somewhere. My friends call it the "clean" city when we visit from illinois because chicago is just a pain though a nice city also:). So about that development....

Steely Dan

November 17th, 2006, 10:54 PM

exit_320

November 17th, 2006, 11:39 PM

Dixon lands tenants in Walker's Point
By Andrew Weiland , of SBT

Published November 10, 2006

A bank and a Latin restaurant will occupy space in Casting Point, a retail and office building that Dixon Development is constructing in Walker’s Point. Castings Point is a $4.7 million, three-story building under construction southeast of Seeboth Street and South First Street. The building will have 9,100 square feet of retail space and 18,200 square feet of office space.

El Rey Sol, a gourmet Latin restaurant, plans to move from 2338 W. Forest Home Ave. into a 3,100-square-foot space on the first floor of Castings Point. The restaurant, owned by chefs Elvira Prado and Jose Mendieta, is expected to open at its new location in February. El Rey Sol serves Mexican, South American and Spanish cuisine and has drawn many customers from the downtown area, said Harry Van Oudenallen principal of Milwaukee-based Arquitectura Inc., which is designing the space.

“They’re drawing a lot of customers from what I call the condo set,” Van Oudenallen said. “The area they are in is a little rough right now.”

In addition, West Allis-based Maritime Savings Bank plans to open a full-service branch in the first-floor space in Castings Point. The bank plans to occupy 2,212 square feet of space in the building and will have an automated teller machine along the sidewalk on South First Street.

Maritime Savings wants to open the branch to serve its commercial customers in the area, said Matt Olson, executive vice president and chief operating officer for the bank.

“We do have a significant amount of commercial customers downtown,” Olson said.

By moving into Castings Point, Maritime Savings and El Rey Sol are entering an area of Milwaukee that is seeing an explosion of condominium and office space development. In addition to Castings Point, other projects currently under construction in the area include:

• First Place on the River, the $45 million redevelopment of the former Terminal Storage Co. building at 106 W. Seeboth St. by KeyBridge Development Group into a 12-story building with 154 condominiums and 20,000 square feet of commercial space.

• River Renaissance, a $32 million, eight-story building under construction by RivRen LLC at the southeast corner of Water and Erie streets that will have 82 condominiums and 17,500 square feet of retail space.

• Kramer Lofts, a $6.8 million, four-story building under construction by Dixon Development just east of Castings Point, with 3,200 square feet of retail space and 60 apartments.

• A four-story, 25,000-square-foot office building under construction at 161 S. First St. by Vetter Denk Architecture.

Maritime Savings also plans to open new branches in New Berlin, in a former State Financial Bank building at 15505 W. National Ave., and in Menomonee Falls in the Woodlands Preserve development being built by Weas Development and Richard Strong (former CEO of Strong Financial Corp.) at Good Hope Road and Appleton Avenue. Those branches are also planned to increase service to commercial customers, Olson said.

“We’ve had significant growth over the last five years in our commercial portfolio and we are trying to get our banks to the communities where they are based,” he said.

In addition, the bank plans to replace its Muskego branch in leased space at Lincoln Point Plaza at W137 S6360 W. Janesville Road with a new 10,000-square-foot building at S74 W17095 Janesville Road.

Maritime Savings Bank has about $315 million in total assets and currently has seven locations in Milwaukee, Brookfield, Cudahy, Oak Creek, West Allis, Muskego and Wind Lake.

Mandel Group plots more condos

Milwaukee-based Mandel Group is planning a two-building, six-story, 61-unit condominium development along Erie Street and the Milwaukee River and just southeast of Mandel’s Marine Terminal Lofts building, which has about 85 condominiums and 45,000 square feet of commercial space and is located at 120 N. Broadway in the Historic Third Ward. The new condo development will be called Domus. It will be built on a site currently used as parking lot. Construction is expected to begin in the spring.

Oshkosh49

November 18th, 2006, 12:46 AM

No, and if you know people outside of Wisconsin who are going to form their opinions on a city like Milwaukee from some 1970s tv sitcom then they are the ones being narrow minded and idiotic. And if someone is going to let their blood boil because some narrow minded dumb shit wants to bad mouth Milwaukee because of L&S is therefore also a narrow minded dumb shit! In my humble opinion of course....Paule, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on the issue of whether or not the L & S show is a negative stereotype of Milwaukee. I think it is. But what do I know. I'm just a narrow minded dumb-shit.

liebeaffe

November 18th, 2006, 12:54 AM

as an outsider, i can't see why some of you milwaukeeans take such offense at the city's connection to lavergne and shirley and happy days. those are two of the greatest american sitcoms and they were set in your fine city. i know i never developed a negative image of milwaukee from watching those shows as a child, in fact fonzie's presence on happy days lent more cool-cred to milwaukee than L&S could ever take away. fonzie is one of our nation's greatest heros, afterall he freed the squares. you should be honored that such a fine humanitiarian called your fair burg home.

viva fonzie! viva milwaukee!

http://www.theseamonkeys.com/immagini/Fonz.jpg

I don't think by itself the whole Happy Days/L&S are bad, but they tend to be the ONLY impression people have of Milwaukee. That, and the old breweries that don't exist. Even in Madison, where I live, people can be just as dismissive of Milwaukee. It should get its due as as more of a city than one as host to a couple of 70's tv shows and cheap retro-beer brands.

ClarkWGriswald

November 18th, 2006, 03:13 AM

All this talk....Now I sooo want a shirt with a big cursive "L" or "S" on it!!!

Sorry, I couldn't resist. I'm trying to think of a show today that would compare to L & S or Happy Days...maybe I don't watch enough tv, but I can't come up with anything? I like Markitect's angle, and it is a specific kind of tv show...and from a different time. The time factor is clutch for me. Anyone who would ignorantly still associate those shows with present-day Milwaukee, uggh. Do they still associate Vegas with a little town out in the middle of the desert?

WallStreet

November 18th, 2006, 03:37 AM

I'm moving to Milwaukee in January for school- if all I can afford is a 500$ rent, am I limited to a sheet-metal hovel on the north side or do I have options?

ClarkWGriswald

November 18th, 2006, 04:12 AM

I'm moving to Milwaukee in January for school- if all I can afford is a 500$ rent, am I limited to a sheet-metal hovel on the north side or do I have options?

I found a hell of a deal at my place after living here for a year...State & Marshall downtown huuuuge 3 BR for $1300/month. Some quick math, and a few adjustments, and for everything(parking included) I pay $480/month. It's quite a steal, in my opinion. I quit looking the second I found this place, so I'm rather content with my present situation. :)

**Oh, by the way, welcome to town...you'll love it here!**

Fiddlerontheruf

November 18th, 2006, 05:35 AM

I found a hell of a deal at my place after living here for a year...State & Marshall downtown huuuuge 3 BR for $1300/month. Some quick math, and a few adjustments, and for everything(parking included) I pay $480/month. It's quite a steal, in my opinion. I quit looking the second I found this place, so I'm rather content with my present situation. :)

**Oh, by the way, welcome to town...you'll love it here!**

That is an incredible deal, espeically for that area. $500/month is the now the standard rate for most of east side 1 bdr/1 baths. In the swankyer [sic] parts of the east side, you can expect to pay closer to $700/month for a one bedroom place.

Riverwest, on the other hand, has 2 bdr places for $500/month, so you may want to look into that It should be noted Riverwest is very artsy but has somewhat of an edge to it.

Paule

November 18th, 2006, 06:38 AM

Paule, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on the issue of whether or not the L & S show is a negative stereotype of Milwaukee. I think it is. But what do I know. I'm just a narrow minded dumb-shit.
Sorry but I was just trying to make a point. I don't really think you're a narrow minded dumb shit.

LOL, I sure can agree to disagree and will.

Oshkosh49

November 18th, 2006, 10:42 AM

Sorry but I was just trying to make a point. I don't really think you're a narrow minded dumb shit.

LOL, I sure can agree to disagree and will.Paule, thank you. I respect your opinion whether you agree or not. I'm probably the oldest fart on this forum with a life time of other people's perceptions. So I'm a little defensive about one of my favorite cities (Milwaukee) and the State of Wisconsin. BTW, I know you love Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and Wausau, etc. as well. So you and I agree on more things than not.

Oshkosh49

November 18th, 2006, 11:03 AM

That is an incredible deal, espeically for that area. $500/month is the now the standard rate for most of east side 1 bdr/1 baths. In the swankyer [sic] parts of the east side, you can expect to pay closer to $700/month for a one bedroom place.

Riverwest, on the other hand, has 2 bdr places for $500/month, so you may want to look into that It should be noted Riverwest is very artsy but has somewhat of an edge to it.Oh, we are so lucky to live in the Midwest. My sister lives in Pleasanton, California. She was renting a very nice 2 bedroom apartment w/washer & dryer, blah, blah, blah. She was paying $1200 per month. She received a letter from the landlord a couple months ago stating that her rent will increase to $1600 per month when the current lease is up. A jump of $400 per month. Holy crap! An increase of 33% from year to year. Well, you guessed it. She's moving to a new apartment very soon. Not quite as nice, but respectable, and more importantly, affordable. Why did they do that? Because out there, they can easily find someone who will pay that much.

exit_320

November 18th, 2006, 04:17 PM

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=532501

Can we say f*ck the Journal Sentinal? I particularily enjoy lines like:"In a town so thrifty that restaurant customers expect doggie bags with every meal and balk at a $10 burger".

Maybe there are some people that still think that, but apparently the js has missed the huge number of people that have relocated downtown that have no problem paying for good food. Am I the only one that notices they always throw in small lines that are subtle jabs at the city and the people that live here?

Fiddlerontheruf

November 18th, 2006, 06:59 PM

araman0

November 18th, 2006, 07:20 PM

Eriol

November 18th, 2006, 07:49 PM

The cheesehead is one thing no one should ever embrace.. just makes us look like fools.
I am a proud cheesehead.

D-res

November 20th, 2006, 12:43 AM

I'm moving to Milwaukee in January for school- if all I can afford is a 500$ rent, am I limited to a sheet-metal hovel on the north side or do I have options?

My roommates and I live in a 3br/1 bath flat for $960 a month, so we each pay $320. You won't have too much trouble. Where are you going to school?

araman0

November 20th, 2006, 05:39 AM

MilwaukeeMark

November 20th, 2006, 07:13 AM

What would be a cheaper midrise/highrise (not so cheap that everything is falling apart though) to rent in Milwaukee? My roomate and I might both be transferring to Milwaukee soon and went apartment hunting on Saturday. I could not find any highrise 2 bed apartments for any less than $1,000+. The beau jardin towers seemed like the best bet as far as affordability and location went.

Check out shorelinerealestate.com for some very, very nice apartments. Some of them can be pretty expensive but in my opinion, totally worth it.

On a side note, I thought I'd share some pictures of the MAM I took today.

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/2217/artmuseumtwogs2.jpg

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/9365/artmuseumthreetu7.jpg

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/7215/artmuseumonejs8.jpg

brewcityfan

November 20th, 2006, 08:41 AM

very nice pics MilwaukeeMark!!! I've always liked the new addition of MAM, although I think it helped with the latest "white building" trend going on in the city. WE NEED MORE COLOR!! Oh well.... :(

Paule

November 20th, 2006, 04:54 PM

WE NEED MORE COLOR!! Oh well.... :(
I agree, milwaukee developers sure loves white buildings.

MilwaukeeBS

November 20th, 2006, 07:37 PM

very nice pics MilwaukeeMark!!! I've always liked the new addition of MAM, although I think it helped with the latest "white building" trend going on in the city. WE NEED MORE COLOR!! Oh well.... :(

Be careful what you wish for....

MilwaukeeMark

November 20th, 2006, 07:43 PM

Be careful what you wish for....

Yeah, must I remind you of the disgusting blue glass federal building across from the Grand Avenue?

bleawwwhhhhackackack...

Steely Dan

November 20th, 2006, 08:46 PM

Yeah, must I remind you of the disgusting blue glass federal building across from the Grand Avenue?

that's actually a pretty cool building. the detailing gives it a somewhat "cheapish" appearance, but you can't fault the color. i remember when i took some of my british friends up to milwaukee they all remarked how much they liked the building and how impressed they were to find such a bold choice of color in an american city.

looksee

November 20th, 2006, 09:12 PM

miltown

November 20th, 2006, 09:48 PM

Wisconsin Avenue retail, housing project back on track

Sherman Associates Inc.'s $17.5 million redevelopment of a city block along West Wisconsin Avenue between North 27th and North 26th streets is back on track.

The Minneapolis firm's proposal to construct a four-story, mixed-use building with up to 94 apartments, 17,000 square feet of retail and 16 to 20 townhouses was delayed in early 2006 when federal affordable housing tax credits from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) were not available.

Boutique hotel proposed for downtown
Developer Craig Stoehr will choose a hotel management firm in early December to operate an upscale, European-style boutique hotel in downtown Milwaukee in what is now a vacant office building.

rest of article....
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2006/11/20/story1.html?b=1163998800^1378318

brewcityfan

November 20th, 2006, 11:41 PM

Be careful what you wish for....

Well when it comes to development I wish for a lot of things that could be possibly a lot worse than asking for more buildings that would add a variety of color to the white/brown dominant skyline.

Oh, and that blue building across from the Grand isn't THAT ugly....let's not overdo now alright?! :lol:

Skyking2

November 21st, 2006, 12:08 AM

Nothing wrong with the Reuss Federal Plaza. The clever folks who disliked it most claimed the color reminded them of an antacid bottle--such tasteful wags.
The dumb-ugliest building still standing in town is almost right across the street from the Fed Plaza and is ironically--da-da--white, (kind 'a)--the always ignored, embarrassingly crappy Clark/Greyhound pile. Now that's a defining example of disgusting.

Agreed. The only redeeming feature of that (old Clarke Oil) building is the big, rotating Miller sign on top. Like it, or not, it says "Milwaukee" to visitors approaching from the south over the high rise bridge.
As for the Reuss Federal/Milk of Magnesia building, I like the color - it's the big-ass, little-imagination, boxy-looking hunk of 14-story-nothing. Can you imagine what sort of height that building could've had with its 500,000 sq. feet?! I think when it was built, city "developers" wanted lower building heights in that area to blend in with the rest of the non-descrpt-looking stuff around there. Geez...absolutely no risk taking then (and now?).
BTW, does anyone have an original rendering of the Blue Cross-Blue Shield building? (Now Fortis, I believe) It was around 28-30 stories, if I recall correctly. They ended up scaling back and building that hideous-looking 10-story job that looks like a squatty, never-grown-up-looking building. It's stunted looking...then they built the 5-story structure with parking lot to the west of it. Nice planning BC-BS.

exit_320

November 21st, 2006, 04:01 AM

MONDAY, Nov. 20, 2006, 3:45 p.m.
By Tom Daykin

Wyndham to be renamed InterContinental
The newly remodeled Wyndham Milwaukee Center Hotel will be renamed as the InterContinental Milwaukee Hotel by Jan. 1, it was announced today.

The 220-room Wyndham, at 139 E. Kilbourn Ave., was bought by Marcus Corp. last year for $23.6 million. The hotel is now undergoing a major remodeling, which has already resulted in the opening of new restaurants and lounges. The hotel's rooms also are receiving new fixtures and furniture.

"We have created a sophisticated hotel with a unique position in the market and we selected the InterContinental brand because of its proven track record in delivering a powerful distribution marketing system," said Bill Otto, president of Marcus Hotels and Resorts, in a statement.

The Milwaukee property will be the 18th InterContinental hotel in the United States. InterContinental Hotels Group Plc, a British company, also owns other hotel brands, including Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn.

MONDAY, Nov. 20, 2006, 10:16 a.m.
By Tom Held

$750,000 donated for model of Great Lakes
The Helen Bader Foundation will donate $750,000 for the creation of a scale model of the Great Lakes in the Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin center.

The contribution announced today raises the Bader Foundation's total support for the exhibit to $1 million.

"Teaching people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds about freshwater will help families and communities understand how to better use and appreciate the great resource we have right here in Milwaukee," said Daniel J. Bader, president of the family foundation.

Standing on the shores of Lake Michigan, exhibit visitors will see how the Great Lakes are connected and explore the topography and hydrology of the lakes. Touch tanks will house native fish.

milwaukee-københavn

November 21st, 2006, 06:19 AM

MilwaukeeD

November 21st, 2006, 06:37 AM

Any renderings of the 27th street project? it's kinda too bad that they're only going for 4 stories there. The street is mostly highrises and the building they demolished to make room for the project was quite a bit taller.

a rendering of the building can be seen here: http://legistar.milwaukee.gov/detailreport/?key=24632

Click on "Land Disposition Report". It sorta looks like Library Hill.

I agree, it should have been more aggressive, but the fact that they need tax credits to build anything on this block shows that the market probably wouldn't support much more here. It would at least really help to clean up that stretch of Wisconisn.

brewcityfan

November 21st, 2006, 09:54 AM

Hey at least with newer, cleaner buildings more people will be inclined to rebuild, remodel, and redevelop the area west of I-43 at last.

nic158

November 21st, 2006, 06:41 PM

I thought that this would be interesting enough to post. It's about how milwaukee's educational system has changed drastically in the last decade as far as charter schools are concerned. 18,000 (23%) city kids go to private schools via the voucher program this year, up 3,000 from last year. About 5.5% of city kids go to suburban schools through school choice.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=533306

Twoaday

November 21st, 2006, 08:04 PM

Funding proposed for Park East development
11/21/2006 10:22:45 AM [tdaykin@journalsentinel.com ( Tom Daykin ) ]
The Department of City Development today proposed an $8.2 million city financing plan for a housing and retail development just north of downtown -- paving the way for what would be the largest project in Milwaukee's Park East area. The city's funds would help finance Mandel Group Inc.'s $175 million project, known as The North End. The development is planned for 8 acres overlooking the Milwaukee River, on the former Pfister & Vogel tannery site. Mandel plans to create 395 condos, 88 apartments and 20,000 to 25,000 square feet of street-level retail space over the next five to seven years. The firm hopes to begin demolition and environmental cleanup work next month, with new construction beginning by next summer, said Richard Lincoln, Mandel senior vice president. The North End's $65 million first phase will feature 109 condos, 88 apartments and 12,500 square feet of retail space in six separate buildings, some as high as 10 floors, and include a two-level parking garage. Construction on that phase, which will be south of E. Pleasant St., between the river and N. Water St., will take 18 to 24 months to complete. The city funds, which require Common Council approval, would help pay for demolition and environmental cleanup work, new streets, a riverwalk and other public improvements, and other expenses. Lincoln said the funds, which the city would borrow, would be repaid by The North End's property taxes within seven to 10 years, according to a study commissioned by the Department of City Development. The financing plan will be reviewed next Tuesday by the Common Council's Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee.

Comptroller report backs Pabst financing
11/21/2006 10:18:02 AM [tdaykin@journalsentinel.com ( Tom Daykin ) ]
The proposed $29 million in city financing assistance for redevelopment of the former Pabst brewery received qualified support today from Milwaukee Comptroller W. Martin Morics. The report by Morics, the city's financial watchdog, could help boost the Pabst funding plan, which will be reviewed next Tuesday by the Common Council's Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee. The financing package requires council approval. Real estate investor Joseph Zilber, who bought the Pabst property in August, has conceptual plans to create housing, offices, a hotel and other uses. The brewery has been largely vacant since Pabst closed the facility 10 years ago. The financing plans calls for the city to borrow $28.7 million to help transform the former brewery. The funds would help pay for demolition, environmental cleanup, and construction of new streets, sewers and other public improvements. Those city funds, along with $12.5 million in interest charges, would be paid off by the development's property taxes within an estimated 21 years, according to the Department of City Development. Zilber, chairman of Zilber Ltd., intends to sell large portions of the Pabst site to various developers and may develop some properties on his own. Morics, in his report, said because the project lacks "firm, substantial construction commitments," his staff couldn't determine "the likely success" of the proposed city financing package. However, while the financing package has substantial city risk, "significant and growing risks exist should the city do nothing as the site degrades further," Morics wrote. He also said the proposal has important provisions to reduce the risk of spending city money on the Pabst project. "Understanding these risks, if your committee is comfortable accepting these risks and moving forward with this project, we would have no objection to your proceeding," Morics wrote to zoning committee members.

miltown

November 21st, 2006, 08:45 PM

Also...

In other action, the Plan Commission approved new zoning for long-range plans by Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God in Christ to redevelop a former tannery south of W. Hampton Ave. and west of N. 32nd St. The church, which is located near the property, has preliminary plans to eventually develop retail space, offices, housing and a hotel at that site.

They had also proposed a waterpark, a while ago. Don't now if they still are planning on including that.

Markitect

November 22nd, 2006, 09:24 PM

An update on a couple of hotel projects...

Weas Development will be seeking some tax incremental financing from the City for its proposed mixed-use hotel project in the Third Ward. The proposal includes a Renaissance ClubSport hotel (165 rooms), a health club (80,000 sqft), street-level retail (13,000 sqft), and a parking garage (450 cars) in a 14-story buiilding at the southeast corner of E. St Paul Avenue and N. Broadway.

The original proposal was for a 17-story building which also had 40 condos, but those plans were scaled back due to zoning conflicts. However, the scaled down version will still be a significant enhancement that introduces brand new uses to the already successful Third Ward neighborhood.

The Developers will be seeking some assistance from the City in the form of tax incremental financing to help cover some of the costs for the project. They hope to begin construction by March 2007 and have the building completed by Fall 2008-Spring 2009.

A few blocks to the north, Development Opportunity Corp. plans to break ground in early December for a mixed-use hotel/retail/condo project at the southeast corner of N. Water Street and E. Juneau Avenue in Downtown. The 12-story development consists of a Staybridge Suites hotel (125 rooms), street-level retail (17,000 sqft), and condos (30 units).

From the Small Business Times: Real Estate Weekly, 11-22-06 (http://www.biztimes.com/realestateweekly/2006/11/22/#weas-scales-back-third-ward-hotel-project)

ClarkWGriswald

November 22nd, 2006, 09:51 PM

Is there a small structure at that address(st. paul & broadway - se corner) currently? It looks like there is also some surface parking, which is always a pleasure to see get developed. I think 14 stories there will fit in well, and give a nice "transition" from downtown to the 3rd ward.

Markitect

November 22nd, 2006, 10:15 PM

Is there a small structure at that address(st. paul & broadway - se corner) currently?

Yes, just a small building. It will be demolished and the office space transferred to the new building.

Fiddlerontheruf

November 22nd, 2006, 10:33 PM

Park Lafayette appears to be under construction.

MilwaukeeMark

November 23rd, 2006, 05:49 PM

Woo! Milwaukee!!

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/6410/10080951om6.jpg

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/6779/10081021wy5.jpg

Paule

November 23rd, 2006, 06:14 PM

Nice pics Mark! The zoom job on the second pic is great!

exit_320

November 23rd, 2006, 06:35 PM

Great pics Mark..

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

NorthernIL Mike

November 24th, 2006, 10:02 AM

Nice pictures above:pepper: Has anyone heard about any news concerning the 20 story approved Ruvin project?

MilwaukeeBS

November 24th, 2006, 04:49 PM

Hope everyone had a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=534551 - Mixed news on employment in Milwaukee from the JS

MilwaukeeMark

November 25th, 2006, 03:45 AM

I went back to get a nighttime perspective from that apartment I took the earlier pictures from so here are a couple I thought I'd share:

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/9490/10081181zk5.jpg

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/7774/10081201pe1.jpg

Paule

November 25th, 2006, 04:14 AM

Doing a good job Mark! Nice time lapse!

Skyking2

November 25th, 2006, 06:35 PM

Really great shots, MM!
What a refreshing view of Milwaukee looking south on Prospect. Very nice.:applause:

DooMer_MP3

November 25th, 2006, 06:59 PM

From JSOnline

By LARRY SANDLER

On Wednesday, leaders of the Milwaukee 7 are expected to throw their support behind commuter rail.

Rail backers are touting the plan's expected economic benefits, while the new Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority is wrestling with how to pay for the service.

If the effort succeeds, it would bring back a mode of transportation that disappeared from Milwaukee about 40 years ago. Commuter rail lines run on existing freight tracks, connecting a major city and its suburbs. They're designed for local trips, unlike intercity Amtrak trains such as the Milwaukee-to-Chicago Hiawatha line.

Rest of story here (http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=535071)

MilwaukeeMark

November 25th, 2006, 10:10 PM

Park Lafayette appears to be under construction.

Yup, it's under construction alright. Here are some pictures:

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/2134/10081281kn6.jpg

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/1244/2rf5.jpg

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/8720/3re6.jpg

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/9096/4rk2.jpg

miltown

November 26th, 2006, 06:38 AM

Bike path might pave new way along KK river
Coalition envisions redevelopment, revitalization
By GEORGIA PABST
gpabst@journalsentinel.com

The City of Milwaukee's commitment to build a 2.4-mile bike path along the Kinnickinnic River corridor next year has sparked an ambitious effort by a broad coalition to create a long-term plan for broader redevelopment and revitalization along the long-neglected south side river.

The city plans to build the trail, which would provide a link from the Bay View, Walker's Point and Lincoln Avenue Village areas to downtown, with a $2.4 million federal grant acquired through the Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Program, said Jeff Polenski, city engineer.

Some of the money will be used to buy abandoned railroad right of way for the path, and some will be used to improve the Greenfield Ave. bridge and build a bridge at S. Chase and S. First streets to connect the path, he said. The path would begin at S. 6th St. and W. Rosedale Ave., head north along the river and ultimately proceed to E. Washington and S. Water streets.

The bike trail project has proved a catalyst for consideration of other improvements along the Kinnickinnic River corridor, Polenski said.

The Kinnickinnic River runs for eight miles and is part of the 26-square-mile Kinnickinnic watershed, which includes all of the city of St. Francis and parts of Milwaukee, Cudahy, Greenfield, West Allis and West Milwaukee.

One of three rivers in Milwaukee, "the KK" has been viewed as a liability and not an amenity, according to assessments made by Friends of Milwaukee's Rivers and others. To address flooding issues in the densely urban area, much of the river was lined with concrete 35 years ago and few saw potential for rejuvenation.

"Because of the degraded environmental conditions of the river, there has been little support for protecting and restoring the environmental quality of the river itself," said Ben Gramling of the Sixteenth Street Community Health Center.

The center, which is spearheading the new planning efforts for the KK, undertook a similar process for remediation and redevelopment in the Menomonee Valley in the 1990s.

"The city can now see results of what's happening in the Menomonee Valley because of the work that began 10 to 12 years ago and because of the strong partnership between the city, the Sixteenth Street Health Center and others," said Mayor Tom Barrett at a meeting on the KK project.

"The future of the city depends on the quality of life and on taking advantage of the great natural assets we have - some that have been neglected and fallen into disrepair over time," he told about 65 people. "There's great potential here for plans that can be turned into action," he added.

By remediating some of the environmental conditions along the river, open spaces could be developed along with recreational amenities along the river's corridor, Gramling said. That could bring improvements to the diverse urban neighborhoods in the area, along with new investments by the private sector, he added.

So in addition to city officials, such as the city engineer, and officials from the Department of City Development, the state Department of Natural Resources, the National Parks Service, Community Design Solutions at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, community groups, residents and others were brought together to discuss and dream about what could link the new bike path with its neighboring communities.

This month, more than 100 people from various disciplines, organizations and interests met in small groups and focused on six areas along the path.

They envisioned "creative and practical" amenities that might work within a half-mile or 20-minute walk from the trail, said Ray Isaacs of the UWM School of Architecture and Urban Planning. The groups outlined possibilities, from community gardens to recreational, educational and ecology centers, a coffee shop, soccer field and public art.

The sewerage district has also recently approved $400,000 to study the feasibility of removing the concrete along a two-mile stretch of the KK from S. 6th to S. 27th streets, Gramling said.

"It will all take time and resources moving forward," Gramling said. But he and others believe that with planning, education and outreach to all segments of the community, there's "the potential that the river can become a river once again" and a resource for all.

Boatnurd

November 26th, 2006, 07:08 PM

This shot is amazing and complicated. Not too clear as it was taken from the Journal Sentnel.
The article is hyperlinked below and details how the massive freeway project is ahead of schedule.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a232/boatnurd/marq11125061.jpg

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=535179

NorthernIL Mike

November 28th, 2006, 01:44 AM

Hey MilwaukeeMark i thought i remembered you saying something about construction update photos to be posted on Emporis. Are you still planning on doing that soon? cheers:cheers:

MilwaukeeMark

November 28th, 2006, 03:01 AM

Hey MilwaukeeMark i thought i remembered you saying something about construction update photos to be posted on Emporis. Are you still planning on doing that soon? cheers:cheers:

Yeah, I apologize for that. I've been having some fairly significant computer problems that've prevented me from updating the Emporis database for the past month. It's ridiculous, I know.

No worries though, if I can't fix the problem by tonight, I'll use my work computer to get it done.

Again, sorry about lacking in the Emporis update department. I know how many people visit that site and it's somewhat disheartening to know that I'm the only active photographer for Milwaukee. If any of you happen to be interested in helping me out with those duties, let me know.

NorthernIL Mike

November 28th, 2006, 07:41 AM

^^ sounds like a headache man, computer problems are the worst not long ago my hardrive crashed(on a year old computer) and that was fun:bash: Good luck with that. Looking forward to the updates on Emporis and keep up with the great pictures we all are greatful someone can do it. I would like to take update while in milwaukee but my camera isn't digital sadly. Maybe i should change that....well till next post.

miltown

November 29th, 2006, 06:50 PM

Panel backs $29 million financing for Pabst project
Action delayed on $8.2 million for North End plan
By TOM DAYKIN
tdaykin@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Nov. 29, 2006

A $29 million city financing package to help convert the former Pabst brewery into housing, offices and retail space was endorsed Tuesday by a key Common Council committee.

The Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee voted 5-0 to recommend that the full council approve the proposal at its Dec. 12 meeting. The city funds would help Milwaukee real estate investor Joseph Zilber redevelop the former downtown brewery, which closed in 1996.

Meanwhile, the committee delayed acting on a separate plan to provide $8.2 million in city funds for a housing development planned just north of downtown, overlooking the Milwaukee River.

Committee members praised that Mandel Group Inc. project, known as The North End. But they voted to hold the matter until receiving a report from the city comptroller's office on that financing plan. The committee plans to meet again on Dec. 11.

Both projects would rely on the city to borrow money. Those funds, along with interest charges totaling $12.5 million for the Pabst proposal and $3.6 million for The North End, would be repaid through property taxes generated by each development. Property taxes would flow to the city and other local governments once those debts were paid off.

The Pabst project would have an estimated value of $205 million, and The North End's value is estimated at $175 million, according to the Department of City Development. Each would take over five years to complete, and each would be built in phases.

The Pabst complex, which Zilber bought in August, has been largely vacant since it closed. A previous attempt to develop an entertainment and retail-oriented project, known as PabstCity, was dropped when the Common Council last year rejected a $41 million financing plan as being too risky.

The new plan calls for the city to help pay for demolition, environmental cleanup, and construction of new streets, sewers and other public improvements. Zilber intends to sell large portions of the Pabst site to various developers.

Madison-based Gorman & Co. wants to create apartments within the former Pabst keg house. Other possible uses at the former brewery include a corporate training site operated by Johnson Controls Inc. and a brew pub built by local investor Jim Haertel, who owns the former Pabst offices and visitors center.

Deputy Comptroller Michael Daun told committee members that there is a risk involved for the city, especially since there are few firm plans for the Pabst site. He also raised the prospect that developers who buy portions of the former brewery from Zilber will seek additional city funds.

But Daun said the city financing package is structured to help reduce those risks. The city would initially spend $13.5 million for public improvements and other work. The city would spend the remaining $15.5 million only after securing construction commitments for the project.

Daun said Zilber's successful track record as a developer, and his commitment to the project, were positive factors. Zilber's projected return on his investment is around 4% to 6%, about one-third of what a developer would normally seek for such a project, said James Scherer, of the Department of City Development.

"He's not in it for the money," Scherer said.

Zilber, 89, views the project as his legacy to Milwaukee, said Michael Mervis, Zilber's assistant. Zilber would begin demolition and environmental cleanup work as soon as city officials approve the financing plan. The first stage of that work would take about a year to complete.

The North End
Mandel Group also hopes to begin work on The North End as soon as the city financing plan gains approval. It would be built on the former Pfister & Vogel tannery site. Mandel bought the property in 2001, one year after the tannery closed.

Mandel plans to create 395 condos, 88 apartments and 20,000 to 25,000 square feet of street-level retail space over five to seven years. The firm hopes to begin demolition and environmental cleanup work in December, with new construction beginning by next summer, said Richard Lincoln, Mandel senior vice president.

The North End's $65 million first phase would feature 109 condos, 88 apartments and 12,500 square feet of retail space in six separate buildings. Construction on that phase, south of E. Pleasant St., between the river and N. Water St., would take 18 to 24 months to complete.

The $8.2 million in city funds would mainly pay for demolition and environmental cleanup work, along with new streets, a riverwalk and other public improvements.

The funding plan for The North End drew concerns from the Good Jobs and Livable Neighborhoods Coalition, an organization of labor unions and other groups. Pam Fendt, a group spokeswoman, said the city should focus its funding efforts on affordable housing and family-supporting jobs.

Most of The North End's condos would sell for $350,000 to $400,000, Lincoln said. The project is expected to create close to 1,000 construction jobs, and 100 to 150 retail positions and other jobs within the finished development, he said.

NorthernIL Mike

November 29th, 2006, 07:32 PM

Looking good for Pabst that is going to be a key project, i hope North End starts getting some speed that is just as important to complete that area a little more also.

UWMilwaukeeJay

November 29th, 2006, 10:47 PM

Does anyone ever use the ice skating rink in downtown mil? Chicago's is awesome, i have never used the milwaukee one though.

exit_320

November 29th, 2006, 11:17 PM

Does anyone ever use the ice skating rink in downtown mil? Chicago's is awesome, i have never used the milwaukee one though.

It's as exciting as an ice skating rink can be. :)

Twoaday

November 30th, 2006, 12:09 AM

From watching the ZND meeting where the North End TIF request came up (prior to the Pabst TIF), its clear it will be approved. Basically they only held the North End up until Dec 11th (the day before the full council meeting) so that the comptroller could finish a report on the finances of the project. In all likelihood it will be approved at the special meeting on the 11th and go before the full council on the 12th. That way Mandel might even start demolition before the end of the year as they indicated in the meeting.

MilwaukeeMark

November 30th, 2006, 12:18 AM

I finally got around to updating Emporis. I just uploaded them though so it'll take a while for the database to refresh. They'll be available for viewing by tonight at the earliest. The new pictures are of River Ren, UCT, First Place on the River, City Green and 601 Lofts.

Update pictures from Park Lafayette and the Sterling are next. Just so you know, the Sterling is pretty much completed and this will be the final construction update for that building.

As soon as some more significant work gets started down in the Park East area, I'll begin construction updates there.

On a related side note, new images will be available in the "Images" section of Milwaukee on Emporis in the coming days. I'll be changing the main city pictures as well.

i_am_hydrogen

November 30th, 2006, 12:46 AM

This shot is amazing and complicated. Not too clear as it was taken from the Journal Sentnel.
The article is hyperlinked below and details how the massive freeway project is ahead of schedule.

Thanks for the article. I'm really glad to hear that the ramp from 41 to I-94 East has finally reopened. I use that a lot to travel between the East Side and Wauwatosa when visiting Milwaukee. Now I won't have to take Vliet anymore.

MilwaukeeD

November 30th, 2006, 01:38 AM

Does anyone ever use the ice skating rink in downtown mil? Chicago's is awesome, i have never used the milwaukee one though.

yes, the rink is packed on weekends and pretty busy on weeknights and even during the lunch hour.

djcody

November 30th, 2006, 02:06 AM

Can't wait for the new ramps to open. Good to hear they are 60% complete and ahead of schedule. Proposed buildings have been very quiet, as always...

MilwaukeeMark

November 30th, 2006, 03:23 AM

Just so everyone knows, we're working on updating Emporis to reflect all of Milwaukee's buildings over six stories. As it stands right now, we mostly have buildings over 12 stories listed in the database. Over the next couple of days the update should be complete but if you happen to notice any missing data, please let me know the building name (if applicable) and address so we can get it in there. Thanks!

MilwaukeeD

November 30th, 2006, 04:58 AM

http://www.choosemilwaukee.com/

This website was launched today. Some good stuff.

Markitect

November 30th, 2006, 06:46 AM

Over the next couple of days the update should be complete but if you happen to notice any missing data, please let me know the building name (if applicable) and address so we can get it in there.

Update these:

1) Rana Residential Streets (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=ranaresidentialsuites-milwaukee-wi-usa982) (6th & McKinley) should now be categorized as "Never Built" since Rana did not win the bid for that land.

Not to be confused with the defunct Rana Hotel Tower proposal (4th & McKinley), another unsuccessful Rana bid down the street.

2) Rename Stowell & Webster Condominiums (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=stowellwebstercondominiums-milwaukee-wi-usa) to "The Luminaire" since that's the official name of the project.

3) For the Water & Juneau Hotel and Condominiums (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=waterjuneauhotelandcondominiums-milwaukee-wi-usa)....switch from 9 to 12 floors; 10,000 sqft of retail space to 17,000 sqft; 120 rooms to 125 rooms; and 18 condos to 30 condos. Also switch the status to "Approved" for now; within a few weeks you'll be able to change it again to "Under Construction." And while I haven't heard any official name, you could at least change it to something like Staybridge Suites and Condominiums or something a little less generic and redundant sounding (since the streets are already listed in the Location section).

4) And for Renaissance ClubSport by Marriott (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=renaissanceclubsportbymarriott-milwaukee-wi-usa) change from 18 floors to 14 floors.

MilwaukeeMark

November 30th, 2006, 04:36 PM

Update these:

1) Rana Residential Streets (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=ranaresidentialsuites-milwaukee-wi-usa982) (6th & McKinley) should now be categorized as "Never Built" since Rana did not win the bid for that land.

Not to be confused with the defunct Rana Hotel Tower proposal (4th & McKinley), another unsuccessful Rana bid down the street.

2) Rename Stowell & Webster Condominiums (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=stowellwebstercondominiums-milwaukee-wi-usa) to "The Luminaire" since that's the official name of the project.

3) For the Water & Juneau Hotel and Condominiums (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=waterjuneauhotelandcondominiums-milwaukee-wi-usa)....switch from 9 to 12 floors; 10,000 sqft of retail space to 17,000 sqft; 120 rooms to 125 rooms; and 18 condos to 30 condos. Also switch the status to "Approved" for now; within a few weeks you'll be able to change it again to "Under Construction." And while I haven't heard any official name, you could at least change it to something like Staybridge Suites and Condominiums or something a little less generic and redundant sounding (since the streets are already listed in the Location section).

4) And for Renaissance ClubSport by Marriott (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=renaissanceclubsportbymarriott-milwaukee-wi-usa) change from 18 floors to 14 floors.

Thanks Markitect, I'll work on getting those changed. For 3 and 4 though, I need hard sources. Please send me a PM so I can get that changed. Thanks.