Milwaukee Development News [Archive] - Page 13

qwerty44

June 10th, 2009, 06:15 PM

perilouspete

June 10th, 2009, 06:55 PM

Finally some actual news...can't wait to see the renderings. I like how this is near Cathedral Square.

skylinedude

June 10th, 2009, 07:06 PM

The State of Wisconsin is looking to lease 60,000 to 70,000 square feet of office space with the highest priority in the Downtown area. They need to occupy the space by February 2010. This would be for the Department of Health Services. Also a bus line should be in the immediate area of the location. Here is a link to the story in BizTimes and the RFP from the state:

http://www.biztimes.com/realestateweekly/2009/6/10/state-seeking-office-space-in-milwaukee-county

http://leasing.state.wi.us/category.asp?linkcatid=3167&linkid=866&locid=111

Possible locations that would qualify for the space needs are an historic office building on the southwest corner of Plankinton and St. Paul next to the Post Office (305-333 N. Plankinton Ave.) , a building on Galena Street (235 W. Galena Street) near MLK Drive in Schlitz Park and a former warehouse in the 3rd Ward bordered by Jefferson, St. Paul, Jackson and Chicago (300 N. Jefferson Street).

I think the best location for them to lease would be the site in the 3rd Ward. Plenty of parking in that area and it is one block east of MCTS Bus Route 11.

The next best location would be at Plankinton and St. Paul with access to MCTS Bus Route 18 and then the site on Galena would be by MCTS Bus Route 19. Parking is more of an issue in these areas.

Eriol

June 10th, 2009, 07:18 PM

Definitely Plankinton and St. Paul. It will help build that area up, which is still looking pretty neglected.

And it's close to the intermodal station, so they can use the light rail and commuter rail! :lol::baeh3:

miltown

June 10th, 2009, 07:58 PM

A local developer is seeking city financing, along with a $50 million loan from private lenders, to develop a high-rise luxury apartment building with 224 units in downtown Milwaukee.

New Land Enterprises wants to develop the 19-story building at the northeast corner of E. Kilbourn Ave. and N. Van Buren St., where Edwardo's Natural Pizza once operated. The firm won zoning approval in 2008 for that project, and for a second high-rise at the southeast corner.

New Land partner Boris Gokhman said Tuesday that his prospects for obtaining financing are "very, very positive."

The firm is working with the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters to find financing sources, Gokhman said.

Love Funding Corp., a commercial mortgage banker, and a union-sponsored investment organization, would provide around $50 million in financing for the project, said John Jarger, the council's marketing director. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development would provide insurance for the loan, Jarger said.

Jarger said the council is excited about working with New Land on a project that would employ union construction workers, including carpenters.

Full article
http://www.jsonline.com/business/47481402.html

No renderings yet??? anyone???

The State of Wisconsin is looking to lease 60,000 to 70,000 square feet of office space with the highest priority in the Downtown area. They need to occupy the space by February 2010. This would be for the Department of Health Services. Also a bus line should be in the immediate area of the location. Here is a link to the story in BizTimes and the RFP from the state:

http://www.biztimes.com/realestateweekly/2009/6/10/state-seeking-office-space-in-milwaukee-county

http://leasing.state.wi.us/category.asp?linkcatid=3167&linkid=866&locid=111

Possible locations that would qualify for the space needs are an historic office building on the southwest corner of Plankinton and St. Paul next to the Post Office (305-333 N. Plankinton Ave.) , a building on Galena Street (235 W. Galena Street) near MLK Drive in Schlitz Park and a former warehouse in the 3rd Ward bordered by Jefferson, St. Paul, Jackson and Chicago (300 N. Jefferson Street).

I think the best location for them to lease would be the site in the 3rd Ward. Plenty of parking in that area and it is one block east of MCTS Bus Route 11.

The next best location would be at Plankinton and St. Paul with access to MCTS Bus Route 18 and then the site on Galena would be by MCTS Bus Route 19. Parking is more of an issue in these areas.

Not that this is within the set borders, but I was wondering if the Wisconsin Gas Building had any tenants or if it is empty. It would be nice to see that building occupied. It would be a nice iconic buidling for something.

MilwaukeeD

June 10th, 2009, 09:13 PM

There were renderings a long time ago for those buildings, when they got their zoning approved. this isn't a new project.

Regarding the state, since it is the Dept of Health Services, it seems like it would make sense to locate near the proposed School of Public Health at Pabst. You would also be next to Aurora Sinai.

EastSider

June 12th, 2009, 10:19 AM

EastSider

June 12th, 2009, 11:42 AM

EastSider

June 12th, 2009, 11:47 AM

http://www.mkedcd.org/news/2009/images/Johnston104.jpg

Ground breaks on new permanent center to house homeless (http://www.mkedcd.org/news/2009/JohnstonCenter.html)

looksee

June 12th, 2009, 07:09 PM

Anyone think it's weird that New Land in pushing this new luxury high-rise when they're already aggresively marketing another one?

The other being the Transera, with units 'on the market' for $5.9 million:

That's the business they're in, that's their livelihood, and it's both a potentially very lucrative enterprise, but also quite risky, involving staking many millions of dollars. One may not like the final product, but how can a developer be criticized for trying to work all legal angles to get a project going and spreading the costs and risks as widely as possible?

I find trying to make this all seem somehow spooky oddly bizarre.

Twoaday

June 12th, 2009, 07:36 PM

@EastSider The Van Buren and Kilbourn Ave building is proposed to be an apartment building, whereas the Transera is high-end condos.

EastSider

June 12th, 2009, 10:37 PM

@EastSider The Van Buren and Kilbourn Ave building is proposed to be an apartment building, whereas the Transera is high-end condos.

Ohhh. Thank You.

perilouspete

June 13th, 2009, 04:07 AM

http://dailyreporter.com/files/2009/05/uwm-051809.jpg

Main campus still in play for UWM engineering campus (http://dailyreporter.com/blog/2009/05/18/main-campus-still-in-play-for-uwm-engineering-building/)

As much as I believe this should/should've happened, this article was posted before the purchase of the county grounds land which happened within the past week. I think the purchase of that land pretty much sealed the deal that, unfortunately. That picture is taken from the UWM Master Plan, which you can download as a pdf from UWM's website. I REALLY wish that they would take the route of keeping as close to the main campus as possible, but I think the fact that Cudahy paid for the new land was enough of a swaying point in and of itself in my opinion, which is understandable but disappointing. There really is enough room to continue to build on the Kenwood campus...I wonder why more of it isn't built up every day when I walk to class. Bill Holahan, who is a very smart guy, has a great point about the parking problem not being solved by spreading out the campus. I would definitely support the campus being in or around the downtown area if not at Kenwood, but I don't think I'll ever buy into the Wauwatosa idea.

EastSider

June 16th, 2009, 08:19 AM

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/4183/hhentryback20090514331k.jpg

JSonline (http://www.jsonline.com/business/48118677.html)

Plans to build moderate-income apartments in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood hit a roadblock Monday when a city panel designated the existing property as having historical value.

The Historic Preservation Commission's unanimous ruling means developer General Capital Group will need commission approval to demolish part of the former Greenebaum tannery. General Capital wants to tear down part of the property to build the 60-unit Hide House Lofts.

The property now has interim historic status, which would last for up to six months. However, General Capital plans to appeal that ruling to the Common Council.

EastSider

June 16th, 2009, 08:27 AM

http://www.biztimes.com/nf/uploads/Image/6.12.09issue/re-spot.jpg

Biz Times (http://www.biztimes.com/news/2009/6/12/real-estate-third-ward-holds-up-well-during-recession)

In the Third Ward two new apartment buildings are under construction, the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) is reviewing proposals for a new residence hall, new office tenants have moved in, a vacant industrial building was redeveloped into an office and retail building and a historic building was converted into condominiums, all within the last year.

In addition to the neighborhood’s rising residential population, more office tenants have moved into the Third Ward recently including Cramer-Krasselt and Boelter + Lincoln. Both moved from downtown locations.

Stores and restaurants that have opened within the last year, or will open soon, in the Third Ward include Retique, 190 N. Broadway; Lorena Sarbu, 312 E. Buffalo St., Embelezar, 241 N. Broadway; Good Harvest Market, 346 N. Broadway; Quality Candy/Buddy Squirrel, 215 ½ N. Water St.; Javino, 303 E. Menomonee St.; Taco de Bago, 241 N. Broadway and The Melting Pot, 341 N. Milwaukee St.

Milwaukee, WY

June 16th, 2009, 04:53 PM

EastSider

June 16th, 2009, 08:39 PM

The city Board of Harbor Commissioners wants more details on a proposed University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee facility, including details on how the building would provide public access at its proposed downtown lakefront location.

The board's Finance Committee on Tuesday met to discuss the request for additional information. The board is to decide whether to negotiate with UWM over its request for an expanded lease at the former Pieces of Eight restaurant site. Journal Sentinel (http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/48161642.html)

EastSider

June 16th, 2009, 08:45 PM

http://media.jsonline.com/images/mjs-sydney-hih_-nws_-porter.jpg

The owners of the Sydney Hih building are being given one more month to present to the Historic Preservation Commision their plan to convert the vacant property on Milwaukee's Park East strip into offices, shops and apartments.

David Florsheim and Robert Ruvin, owners of Ruvin Development Inc., were told at Monday's meeting that commission members are getting a bit antsy with the developers seeking continual delays on the commission deciding whether to designate the property as historic.

"We want closure in a month," commission Chairman Matt Jarosz said. Journal Sentintel (http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/48115742.html)

honest86

June 17th, 2009, 06:34 AM

I wonder how much pressure about getting something done with the Sydney Hih building is coming from the neighboring developers who don't want a dilapidated buildings across from their new buildings.

skylinedude

June 17th, 2009, 05:51 PM

I wonder how much pressure about getting something done with the Sydney Hih building is coming from the neighboring developers who don't want a dilapidated buildings across from their new buildings.

Years ago I was more supportive of saving the Sydney Hih building along with the Gipfel building moved to this location. Though with the long and drawn out inactivity with the owner of that property this has now become a case where older isn't better. At least I would like to see an historic marker placed at this location and at the Gipfel Brewery site on Juneau so that people will still remember the history of this area.

Coldwake

June 18th, 2009, 05:01 PM

PANTHERfan106

June 18th, 2009, 05:48 PM

I certainly hope they Sydney Hih can be rehabbed into a new use, but Ruvin appears to be proving once again that he's in over his head as a developer. I'm pulling for them to get their act together in the next month, but I'm not going to hold my breath...

djcody

June 18th, 2009, 09:37 PM

ok, i'm so glad that New Land is seeking development in that area by cathedral square because there really isn't that much for towers in that area.

and if the State is looking for office space, why don't they pick one of these proposed towers like LPT or something? just saying...

Twoaday

June 18th, 2009, 11:11 PM

@djcody NLE's project near cathedral square is within a block or so from Yankee Hill Towers, and Juneau Village Towers, not to mention Cathedral Square Condominiums. That said I do hope it goes up as well, as in my opinion the proposed 14-20 story building fits the neighborhood great.

EastSider

June 19th, 2009, 04:28 AM

http://www.biztimes.com/nf/uploads/Image/reweekly6.17.09/pabst-parking.jpg
Small Biz Times (http://www.biztimes.com/realestateweekly/2009/6/17/parking-garage-at-pabst-brewery-tops-off)

The $16.5 million parking structure was assembled in less than 16 weeks with 700 pieces of precast concrete, weighing as much as 20 tons each.

In other news at the Pabst brewery redevelopment, Zilber Park will be dedicated on June 24 and paving for all of the streets will begin in July. "Most of the original street grid will go back in," Mervis said.

Paule

June 19th, 2009, 04:39 AM

and if the State is looking for office space, why don't they pick one of these proposed towers like LPT or something? just saying...
I think it's because none of the proposed towers will be up in time before the State needs to occupy the space they're seeking.

Kramerica

June 19th, 2009, 08:26 AM

Sorry this is slightly OT... but after reading this article I'm once again wondering, why can't the county reverse it's pension benefits that were passed in 2001???
I don't know any of the possible legal reasons, but there is a fairness reason. County employees (and I'm talking about regular employees, those that had no input into the retirement scheme) planned their retirement around the promises of the county pension. It isn't their fault that this whole mess was thrust upon them. They've possibly retired early, or moved, or made other large financial decisions based on the pension they were promised. It would not be nice to just pull the rug out from under them.

Of course I understand the flip-side of it isn't fair to the taxpayers to have to fund this albatross. But the taxpayers are the ones who voted that county board and county executive into office.

bjkeys321

June 19th, 2009, 06:58 PM

New film to be shot in Milwaukee starring David Strathairn,

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/06/15/daily56.html

EastSider

June 19th, 2009, 08:50 PM

New film to be shot in Milwaukee starring David Strathairn,

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/06/15/daily56.html

So they shot 'Public Enemies' which takes place in the 20's, and now this one does to.

Milwaukee should call it's agent, I think it's getting typecast.

perilouspete

June 19th, 2009, 09:20 PM

at least they're filming here, can't complain about that. I think that's awesome that they will use the Third Ward as a location, that area really almost is a movie setting in and of itself. sounds like a cool idea for a movie and it takes place in New York so it should be pretty high-profile. the more people film here, the more they will like Milwaukee, and I'm sure we'll see more movies in the future that are set here in the present time. it's definitely an honor to be chosen as a site for your historic preservation though.

PANTHERfan106

June 19th, 2009, 10:05 PM

I've been meaning to post about that new parking structure over at the Pabst development. What a dog... Yes, it's a parking structure, but could they have at least put a little thought into the design?! Here was a great opportunity to collaborate with local artists, incorporate sustainable design strategies, do something forward-looking yet grounded in place, etc... instead --- we get a hulking, unarticulated nightmare of a building to look at. There bar has been set mighty low for new construction. Sad...

CGII

June 19th, 2009, 10:24 PM

Lake Michigan’s horizon make[s] it a good backdrop for the 1919-era New York City

What?

mgk920

June 20th, 2009, 06:30 AM

Sorry this is slightly OT... but after reading this article I'm once again wondering, why can't the county reverse it's pension benefits that were passed in 2001???

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/48293037.html
It is because under state and federal laws, once granted, they cannot be rescinded.

:no:

Mike

El Mariachi

June 20th, 2009, 05:31 PM

What?

yeah, I found that to be an unusual comment too! Never do I really think "New York City" when I am by the Lakefront.

Its great news that they are shooting this movie here, but hopefully we don't become like Vancouver or Toronto where we fill in all the time.

embora

June 20th, 2009, 06:47 PM

Its great news that they are shooting this movie here, but hopefully we don't become like Vancouver or Toronto where we fill in all the time.

Amen to that. It would be extra nice to have a movie filmed in Milwaukee that takes place in Milwaukee. In any event, I'm still very much looking forward to seeing Public Enemies, trying to pick out the Milwaukee filmed scenes, and hopefully getting a chance to boast about Milwaukee to people here in CA. :banana:

El Mariachi

June 20th, 2009, 09:33 PM

Amen to that. It would be extra nice to have a movie filmed in Milwaukee that takes place in Milwaukee. In any event, I'm still very much looking forward to seeing Public Enemies, trying to pick out the Milwaukee filmed scenes, and hopefully getting a chance to boast about Milwaukee to people here in CA. :banana:

yeah, hopefully Hollywood continues to look at Milwaukee as a city to film in. I heard that people there are starting to take note of the city, such as the Coen Brothers who were seriously considering shooting a movie here.

I think Milwaukee has alot of offer as a setting for a movie.

EastSider

June 20th, 2009, 11:11 PM

at least they're filming here, can't complain about that.

For sure. I was just making a bad joke.

I've been meaning to post about that new parking structure over at the Pabst development. What a dog... Yes, it's a parking structure, but could they have at least put a little thought into the design?! Here was a great opportunity to collaborate with local artists, incorporate sustainable design strategies, do something forward-looking yet grounded in place, etc... instead --- we get a hulking, unarticulated nightmare of a building to look at. There bar has been set mighty low for new construction. Sad...

I totally agree. I remember earlier renderings showed plants growing on the side, but I don't know if that's still happening. The street level retail is good, but I don't really understand the thought process behind the design.

EastSider

June 20th, 2009, 11:40 PM

http://assets.bizjournals.com/story_image/250357-300-0-1.jpg

When Manpower Inc. decided to build a new corporate headquarters in downtown Milwaukee, company management opted for an environmentally friendly design not only to generate cost savings through energy efficiency, but also to reflect the company’s core values.

The 280,000-square-foot building, which opened in September 2007, is home to 900 employees of the global staffing firm and subsidiary Jefferson Wells. The $74 million facility features a wide array of “green” elements that have led to gold certification status, the first for a new building in Milwaukee, under the federal Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, which sets standards for environmentally sustainable construction. Biz Journal (http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/06/22/focus13.html)

EastSider

June 20th, 2009, 11:54 PM

Since the 'Point on the River' has finally almost finished construction (penthouses left), I thought I'd post some pictures of the project for out of towners.

http://www.eua.com/data/portfolio/fp1_new2.jpg

http://www.eua.com/data/portfolio/firstplace2_new1.jpg

http://www.eua.com/data/portfolio/firstplace3_new1.jpg

Cafe Luna
http://static1.zipscene.com//data/business_lg/9b9cff256b87b948eee051ce0ec7fc17_3.jpg

Eriol

June 21st, 2009, 03:35 AM

Nice pics. Can anyone find pictures of the warehouse from before the renovation? The change to the site is pretty amazing.

EastSider

June 21st, 2009, 05:39 AM

After this news, I'm ordering Pabst at the bar tonight in celebration.

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/4669/pabst21p1.jpg

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/1090/pabst21p2.jpg

Pabst visitors center to open doors again
Haertel this week will reopen the ornate visitors center, including the former Pabst gift shop and Blue Ribbon Hall, which closed in 1996 with the rest of the brewery. At first, the building will be open just for 45-minute tours. Eventually it will be available for catered events.

Haertel also said he's making progress on his long-held plan of converting most of his buildings, which include the former Pabst offices, into a Hofbräuhaus brew pub, restaurant and beer garden.

ARTICLE (http://www.jsonline.com/business/48642107.html)
PICTURE GALLERY (http://www.jsonline.com/multimedia/photos/48558952.html)

djcody

June 22nd, 2009, 12:51 AM

I think it's because none of the proposed towers will be up in time before the State needs to occupy the space they're seeking.

I thought LPT needs to secure tenants first before they build it? Which is why i thought the state should talk to LPT (or other proposed towers) so they can secure a tenant then get it built.

El Mariachi

June 22nd, 2009, 06:11 AM

Pabst visitors center to open doors again
Haertel this week will reopen the ornate visitors center, including the former Pabst gift shop and Blue Ribbon Hall, which closed in 1996 with the rest of the brewery. At first, the building will be open just for 45-minute tours. Eventually it will be available for catered events.

Haertel also said he's making progress on his long-held plan of converting most of his buildings, which include the former Pabst offices, into a Hofbräuhaus brew pub, restaurant and beer garden.

ARTICLE (http://www.jsonline.com/business/48642107.html)
PICTURE GALLERY (http://www.jsonline.com/multimedia/photos/48558952.html)

great news. I am probally most excited about the beer hall. The office space is just an added perk.

Markitect

June 23rd, 2009, 01:52 AM

I thought LPT needs to secure tenants first before they build it? Which is why i thought the state should talk to LPT (or other proposed towers) so they can secure a tenant then get it built.

The State's Department of Health Services wants to occupy office space by February 1, 2010. That's about 7 months away...much too short of a timespan to construct a LPT-like tower...let alone the time needed for designing, financing, approving, leasing/selling other units, etc. that has to take place before ground could even be broken for it, or any of the other proposed/stalled towers seeking tenants.

That means the State is likely looking to go into space in an existing, empty office building somewhere in the city, not limited to Downtown (and it's potential for higher rents) either.

miltown

June 23rd, 2009, 07:38 PM

The State's Department of Health Services wants to occupy office space by February 1, 2010. That's about 7 months away...much too short of a timespan to construct a LPT-like tower...let alone the time needed for designing, financing, approving, leasing/selling other units, etc. that has to take place before ground could even be broken for it, or any of the other proposed/stalled towers seeking tenants.

That means the State is likely looking to go into space in an existing, empty office building somewhere in the city, not limited to Downtown (and it's potential for higher rents) either.

What about the WI Gas Building??

hybridy

June 24th, 2009, 12:54 AM

...much too short of a timespan to construct a LPT-like tower...

speaking of which, rumor has it, this one may be coming back soon

El Mariachi

June 24th, 2009, 01:48 AM

speaking of which, rumor has it, this one may be coming back soon

Ah, Lake Pointe Tower. Just when you think its dead.....

At least this rumor, if false, won't have people bustin' down the doors of the Marcia P. Coggs community center.

djcody

June 24th, 2009, 05:44 AM

ragerunner1

June 24th, 2009, 05:34 PM

These guys seem to be on a buying spree.

Republic lands second airline
The carrier, with a nearly $109 million bid for Frontier pending, has agreed to buy Milwaukee-based Midwest Airlines for $31 million.

"The airline looking to bring Frontier Airlines out of bankruptcy announced plans Tuesday to buy struggling Midwest Airlines.

A day after Indianapolis-based Republic Airways Holdings agreed to pay nearly $109 million for Frontier Airlines and its Lynx subsidiary, it said it is purchasing the Milwaukee carrier from majority owner TPG Capital, reportedly for $31 million.

"This is really a new day for Midwest Airlines," said Bryan Bedford, chairman, president and chief executive of Republic. "We are acquiring the airline to secure its future, renew its brand promise and help it grow."
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_12676073

EastSider

June 25th, 2009, 08:12 PM

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/7963/mjscityart25p1.jpg
FULL STORY (http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/49049721.html)

A city panel Wednesday endorsed the installation of multiple portraits of city residents on inside windows of the Knapp Street Bridge House at the Milwaukee River, planned as part of a larger temporary public art project.

The project is aimed at highlighting the development potential for the Park East Freeway corridor. It will include 16 installations by several artists, including two separate elements each on city and county property and the rest on privately owned sites.

The Common Council Public Works Committee also endorsed a second installation near the bridge house on city property that consists of a series of wooden frames for pedestrians to gaze through that encourage a particular perspective on the area. Similar frame installations will be on three other spots.

The projects on county land come up for approval in July. They include artist Annushka Peck's "cede," a billboard map of the Park East area that will be erected on N. Water St. near Broadway. Kasia Drake's "Uniting the Fence" will enlist community members using fabric to decorate an old chain-link fence on county property at Water and Knapp streets.

Other installations include "Disinterment," described as a "faux archaeological dig" along Broadway; "Desire, Luxury, Showmanship" includes an 8-foot-high image of Liberace on the roof of a warehouse at N. Old World 3rd St. and W. McKinley Blvd; and a Park East "museum" and information center at the Sydney Hih building at 300 W. Juneau Ave.

Badgers77

June 25th, 2009, 08:16 PM

I thought LPT needs to secure tenants first before they build it? Which is why i thought the state should talk to LPT (or other proposed towers) so they can secure a tenant then get it built.

I believe they current have two tenants lined up. If they can get one or two more, plus financing, we could see it happen. The state should understand that Milwaukee getting a new tallest building - especially if it can be 100 or so feet taller than US Bank, would do wonders for Milwaukee's image.

bjkeys321

June 25th, 2009, 11:56 PM

While the height does add an extra perk, even getting the Moderne, or the Catalyst would make Milwaukee seem that much better.

P.S. If St. John's is all set on financing, don't you think we would have seen a fence by now?

honest86

June 26th, 2009, 12:11 AM

If i had a choice I would go for the Moderne over Lake Pointe Tower even though the modern is smaller. That being said, I think the Lake Pointe Tower being an office building has a better chance of happening in this economic climate than the Moderne which would be residential.

CGII

June 26th, 2009, 02:44 AM

I think LPT is ugly as balls. They could redo that stretch of Michigan and build a tower that isn't absurdly massive and ugly.

But aesthetic quibbling aside, the State shouldn't be deciding silly things like 'let's give Milwaukee a new tallest tower because it'll improve its image.'

Also a lot of that public art announced in that article looks and sounds awful.

usbmfa

June 26th, 2009, 03:02 AM

Not sure if its been covered here yet, but there is some developments at USBank center. The current parking garage is now being demolished, and will be replaced with a new taller one. There will be an open space between the garage and the the tower. The building to the east is being labeled as a future development site. If you go in to the galleria level you see renders of the news structure.

miltown

June 26th, 2009, 07:08 PM

I believe they current have two tenants lined up. If they can get one or two more, plus financing, we could see it happen. The state should understand that Milwaukee getting a new tallest building - especially if it can be 100 or so feet taller than US Bank, would do wonders for Milwaukee's image.

I don't think the state understands much about milwaukee, let alone how to improve our image!

honest86

June 27th, 2009, 03:12 AM

honest86

June 27th, 2009, 04:01 AM

So, I don't know much about boutique stores, but according to the JS, Valentina is opening a new location in the Third Ward, while they are closing a location in Brookfield because of declining sales. I tend to believe that this is a sign that economically, the third ward is better positioned to grow compared to some of the suburbs.

Paule

June 27th, 2009, 04:53 AM

I believe they current have two tenants lined up. If they can get one or two more, plus financing, we could see it happen. The state should understand that Milwaukee getting a new tallest building - especially if it can be 100 or so feet taller than US Bank, would do wonders for Milwaukee's image.
From everything that has been posted here about LPT it has never been said that it will be the cities new tallest. And all the renderings of both different plans shows the building will be a bit shorter.

MilwaukeeD

June 27th, 2009, 07:11 AM

honest86

June 27th, 2009, 10:20 PM

Has the state said what they need to office space for?

EastSider

June 27th, 2009, 11:23 PM

Restaurateur Russell Davis is reviving plans for a downtown development overlooking the Milwaukee River, just south of the Highland Ave. foot bridge.

The Common Council's Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee on Tuesday is to consider a request to grant Davis a one-year purchase option for the city-owned vacant lot, at 1027 N. Edison St. LINK (http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/landandspace.html)

EastSider

June 27th, 2009, 11:30 PM

YouTube Video worth checking out from the AIAS Forum:

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EastSider

June 28th, 2009, 02:09 AM

http://onmilwaukee.com/images/articles/ne/newurbanpark/newurbanpark_story1.jpg

The first urban park specifically designed for an industrial neighborhood (that is quickly added residential, commercial and eventually retail) in the City of Milwaukee was dedicated today by Mayor Tom Barrett, members of the Wisconsin Preservation Fund and members of the Zilber family.

The park is part of The Brewery, which is being developed by local real estate executive and philanthropist, Joseph J. Zilber.

Zilber Park was designed by D.I.R.T. studio, the nationally acclaimed landscape architects who won the first UWM Urban Edge Award. LINK (http://onmilwaukee.com/market/articles/newurbanpark.html)

Markitect

June 28th, 2009, 02:32 AM

Has the state said what they need to office space for?

The offices are for the State Department of Health Services, which is taking over operations of the public assistance programs that have been mismanaged under County control. These programs are used by the area's low-income families and individuals for things like obtaining health services and food stamps, meetings with caseworkers, and the assistance call center.

So no, this is not anything that would go into high-end Class A office space within a new signature high-rise overlooking the lakefront. For starters, the State would never be able to afford the rent in such a building. Secondly, as already mentioned before, there's a Feb 2010 deadline set for occupancy, which means occupying any building that has yet-to-break-ground (let alone secure approvals, financing, other anchor tenants, etc.) is impossible. Plus many of the places around Downtown where there have been tenant-less office tower proposals made are not ideally located for the intended customer base. Plus it also has to meet the State's other requirements (60-70k sqft, parking for 300-400 cars, located on bus line(s), proximity to the inner city...etc.).

embora

June 28th, 2009, 06:49 PM

The first urban park specifically designed for an industrial neighborhood (that is quickly added residential, commercial and eventually retail) in the City of Milwaukee was dedicated today by Mayor Tom Barrett, members of the Wisconsin Preservation Fund and members of the Zilber family.

The park is part of The Brewery, which is being developed by local real estate executive and philanthropist, Joseph J. Zilber.

Zilber Park was designed by D.I.R.T. studio, the nationally acclaimed landscape architects who won the first UWM Urban Edge Award. LINK (http://onmilwaukee.com/market/articles/newurbanpark.html)

From the Zilber Park article, this part of the Zilber park sounds really cool to me; I can't wait to see it!:

"...a Gabion wall constructed of recycled steel, fractured granite boulders and integral water and lighting fixtures is designed to provide a gentle waterfall in summer and creates an ever changing ice sculpture during the winter..."

EastSider

June 28th, 2009, 08:38 PM

From the Zilber Park article, this part of the Zilber park sounds really cool to me; I can't wait to see it!:

"...a Gabion wall constructed of recycled steel, fractured granite boulders and integral water and lighting fixtures is designed to provide a gentle waterfall in summer and creates an ever changing ice sculpture during the winter..."

There's a picture of that on the Brewery thread, I didn't realize it was a waterfall. That's awesome.

Skyking2

June 29th, 2009, 07:16 AM

why would the state pay for Class A office space? that would be irresponsible given the budget conditions they are under, even though it would be great for milwaukee. The state should (and I assume, is) looking for Class B or C space.

The state is grotesquely irresponsible in every other area of spending, why not rent a million, or so, square feet of office space? Of course, if it was in Madison, the legislators would rent two million sq. feet of office space and build a 100-story building (outside of downtown, naturally, since buildings have a height code in deference to the capitol) dedicated to all of the brilliant things Doyle has done for this state...like running businesses out, with people close behind.

Paule

July 1st, 2009, 01:05 PM

Great news! Milwaukee city is once again gaining in population, and not just because of an court ordered adjustment.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/49561327.html

miltown

July 1st, 2009, 07:14 PM

Great news! Milwaukee city is once again gaining in population, and not just because of an court ordered adjustment.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/49561327.html

And what do we attribute this stop-loss to? Condos or the bad economy causing people to look for more affordable housing?
Or "fingers-crossed" an increased image of our city that makes it attractive to outsiders?

looksee

July 1st, 2009, 07:43 PM

And what do we attribute this stop-loss to? Condos or the bad economy causing people to look for more affordable housing?
Or "fingers-crossed" an incresed image of our city that makes it attractive to outsiders?

Cheap beer, naked women, and and lost Chicagoans.
These are FACTS people!

Milwaukee, WY

July 1st, 2009, 07:47 PM

Or "fingers-crossed" an incresed image of our city that makes it attractive to outsiders?

Bad news is, Milwaukee may have to secede from Wisconsin if it wants to protect it's newly minted good rep.

From Jim Stingl, (my favorite local columnist):

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/49561342.html

This particular part of Wisconsin culture has to change.:ohno:

EastSider

July 1st, 2009, 08:50 PM

EastSider

July 1st, 2009, 08:54 PM

The state budget provision Doyle vetoed Monday would have allowed the Milwaukee County Board to raise the sales tax by 0.65 of a cent - 0.5 for buses and 0.15 for public safety - boosting the sales tax to 6.25%.

Doyle vetoed the proposed sales tax increase along with creation of a Milwaukee County transit authority.

But, he left intact another transit authority to fund a commuter rail line from Milwaukee County to the Illinois border by raising the car rental fee from $2 to $18. ARTICLE (http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/49559282.html)

Skyking2

July 1st, 2009, 09:09 PM

Cheap beer, naked women, and and lost Chicagoans.
These are FACTS people!

You mean...cheap women, naked beer and ACORN.

Jesse276

July 2nd, 2009, 02:09 AM

Cheap beer, naked women, and and lost Chicagoans.
These are FACTS people!

Madison has spoken.

Milwaukee, WY

July 2nd, 2009, 05:49 PM

Catalyst Dead

From the JS:

Ghazi's Catalyst project at 4th and Wisconsin dead (http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/49636722.html)

bjkeys321

July 2nd, 2009, 09:28 PM

what a bummer, not a surprise though. In my opinion this is actually a good thing, I didn't find the downscaled project very appealing.

perilouspete

July 2nd, 2009, 10:28 PM

Yeah I agree, in this instance I'd rather go for the original plan or not do it at all. Once you half-ass something like that you can't undo it.

EastSider

July 3rd, 2009, 05:52 AM

Great comment a reader left on the article on the dead Ghazi project:

"You're better off without it. The half finished "Epicenter" (another Ghazi project) here in Charlotte is nothing but a shopping mall full of low end chain restaurants and a couple of corny dance clubs."

El Mariachi

July 3rd, 2009, 08:15 AM

That sucks, but can't say I am suprised given the economy. Hopefully something better comes around. Like pete said, hope they don't half ass it with development here or some of those lots in the Park East. I would rather they remain parking lots than have that crappy 4 story hotel they were planning in that spot before the Catalyst.

Skyking2

July 3rd, 2009, 04:05 PM

what a bummer, not a surprise though. In my opinion this is actually a good thing, I didn't find the downscaled project very appealing.

Ditto. Apparently this Ghazi fellow has good intentions, but has a tough time backing them up. Even the project in Charlotte -- his city -- is an unfinished ghost town. Now Barrett and the boys down at city hall can concentrate on getting that 3-story Motel 6 in that space...

EastSider

July 5th, 2009, 10:37 PM

After reviewing four proposals for new student housing, the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design has narrowed the possible sites to existing buildings at 252 E. Menomonee St. and 233 E. Chicago St. in Milwaukee’s 3rd Ward.

The two preferred sites are less than a quarter-mile from MIAD’s 245,000-square-foot classroom and office building on Erie Street.

General Capital Management LLC, Fox Point, owns the 24,700-square-foot Menomonee Street building that now houses a Snap Fitness center.

Michael Weiss, president of General Capital Management LLC, said his company’s plan is to build a six-story tower on top of the existing building.

ARTICLE (http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/07/06/story5.html)

EastSider

July 5th, 2009, 10:38 PM

http://assets.bizjournals.com/story_image/253170-0-0-1.jpg

With the housing slump and tight financial markets already delaying the project twice, Saint John’s on the Lake executives hope to break ground this year on a $46 million, 21-story upscale senior apartment project.

They acknowledge financing has yet to be arranged, but said they expect to finalize that within the next few weeks.

The nondenominational east side Milwaukee retirement community, 1840 N. Prospect Ave., had announced the project in late 2007 and originally planned to open by early 2010. Executives later postponed the completion date to early 2011 and now have pushed it back to mid-2011.

ARTICLE (http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/07/06/story7.html)

GarfieldPark

July 7th, 2009, 03:40 AM

Heard about the big fire at the bacon plant up there. Horrible news. Not what is needed in this economy, that's for sure. Sorry to hear the bad news.

EastSider

July 7th, 2009, 05:13 AM

Developer pushes for data center in valley

The 75,000-square-foot "server farm" could be operating by the first quarter of 2011 if developers can get commitments to fill it by the end of August and don't run into delays for transformers, chillers and other heavy electrical equipment, Zien said. They have a "reasonable expectation" so far of filling 25,000 square feet, divided between sales and leases of the units, he said.

"There does appear to be a shortage for this kind of space in not just this area, but the whole country," Zien said. ARTICLE (http://www.jsonline.com/business/50087127.html)

El Mariachi

July 7th, 2009, 06:23 AM

Heard about the big fire at the bacon plant up there. Horrible news. Not what is needed in this economy, that's for sure. Sorry to hear the bad news.

yeah, thats all you heard about today. The coverage of that fire was almost 9/11-esque.

This city is having a bad stretch with this and poentially losing the Wave/the Milwaukee Mile. Not to mention the Brewers sucking hard lately and them cancelling the Catalyst.

GarfieldPark

July 7th, 2009, 06:39 AM

That is a bunch of crummy news. Hadn't heard about the possible loss of the Milwaukee Mile. Well - at least the Pabst project is rolling along nicely. That project is bringing back an amazing, classic Milwaukee icon. Saw some pictures a while ago. Beautiful, turn of the century buildings!

EastSider

July 7th, 2009, 09:03 PM

http://www.uwmrealestatefoundation.org/images/Rendering-for-web.jpg

A $50 million residence hall that's being built for 700 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee students will receive an $800,000 environmental cleanup grant from the state Department of Commerce, it was announced Tuesday. ARTICLE (http://www.jsonline.com/business/50137597.html)

EastSider

July 7th, 2009, 09:05 PM

Plans for a $14 million parking structure for the U.S. Bank Center, Milwaukee's tallest office tower, are moving forward after a compromise was reached over its lack of commercial space.

The city's zoning code requires parking structures to include street-level retail or office space, The idea is to encourage street and sidewalk activity, which is sapped when an entire block is marked by blank concrete walls.

In a compromise, U.S. Bank will create display windows on the parking structure's first floor that will showcase work by students from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. The street-level parking also could be eventually converted to commercial space. ARTICLE (http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/50136302.html)

EastSider

July 7th, 2009, 09:33 PM

http://www.edgecondos.com/i/building/edge2.jpg

http://www.edgecondos.com/i/building/edge4.jpg

http://www.edgecondos.com/i/building/edge1.jpg

MORE (http://www.edgecondos.com/news/building-update.shtml)

perilouspete

July 8th, 2009, 02:55 AM

EastSider you always post the updates I wanna hear and I appreciate it. Thanks man!

EastSider

July 8th, 2009, 05:37 AM

EastSider you always post the updates I wanna hear and I appreciate it. Thanks man!

No problem, I've been laid off for a month so I've had lots of time on my hands.

Eriol

July 8th, 2009, 04:13 PM

I really love the way the river looks now, from North Ave. all the way to the lake.

On that note:
$22 million PCB cleanup starts on Kinnickinnic River
By Lee Bergquist of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: July 7, 2009

Dirty work
170,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment, including
1,200 pounds of PCBs and 13,000 pounds of a petroleum byproduct

Click to enlargePCBs have trickled into Lake Michigan from the Kinnickinnic River for decades, but a $22 million project now is under way to stem the flow of industrial pollutants into the lake.

The cleanup is the first step for potentially tens of millions in additional dollars to restore the natural character of Milwaukee's forgotten river.

The project is intended to remove harmful polychlorinated biphenyls from the troubled Kinnickinnic between W. Becher St. and S. Kinnickinnic Ave.

It began last month, with crews working up to 24 hours a day deepening the river and removing pollutants from the 2,000-foot section east of I-94.

This year, the state Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency anticipate the removal of 170,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment, including 1,200 pounds of PCBs and 13,000 pounds of polyaromatic hydrocarbons, a petroleum byproduct.

In 2007, American Rivers magazine called the Kinnickinnic one of the 10 most troubled rivers in the nation.

Vast stretches upstream are lined with concrete and are bereft of natural habitat and prone to flooding. Excessively high levels of road salt taint the river during the winter, according to a 2008 U.S. Geological Survey study.

"When I first started working here seven years ago, people said, 'Forget the KK; it's long gone,' " said Cheryl Nenn, interim executive director of Milwaukee Riverkeeper.

Ben Gramling agreed.

"A lot of people think that this river is dead, but it can be reclaimed," said Gramling, director of environmental health with the Sixteenth Street Community Health Center, which is involved in efforts to clean up the river.

"This is really the first major investment in the KK in a long time."

The Kinnickinnic project is one of the first funded by the 2002 Great Lakes Legacy Act, which uses state and federal funds to remove toxic material from rivers and harbors that feed the lakes.

The United States and Canada have identified 43 "areas of concern" that are sources of pollution for people, wildlife and aquatic organisms. PCBs, for example, are taken up in small aquatic life and become increasingly toxic in larger fish that people eat.

The lower reaches of the Kinnickinnic are less than scenic, and the job of removing pollutants is noisy, dirty and laborious.

A crane resting on a floating barge scoops large buckets of dripping muck, sand and pollutants into the hold of a second barge.

The floor of the river and location of the PCBs have been mapped previously. A global positioning system on top of the crane pinpoints how much sediment needs to be removed.

To keep suspended PCBs from floating downstream toward the lake, equipment at Kinnickinnic Ave. emits a powerful curtain of bubbles from the bottom of the river. PCB levels are monitored to ensure the bubbles are working, according to the DNR.

Each day, as many as five loads of sediment are floated down the river to an Army Corps of Engineers landfill north of the Lake Express ferry terminal.

The corps has used the area since 1975 for dredged material, including sediments with low levels of PCBs. The highest concentrations of PCBs in the Kinnickinnic fall below levels at which they must be shipped to specially regulated landfills.

"We don't think that it poses any threat to Lake Michigan," said Diana Mally, who is managing the project for the EPA.

No one knows what caused the pollution, but PCBs were used in hundreds of industrial and commercial applications until they were banned in 1979.

Even greater concentrations of PCBs lie in Lincoln Creek and the Milwaukee River north of W. Hampton Ave. DNR officials hope that cleanup starts next year.

For the Kinnickinnic, state officials agreed to use $7.7 million in public bonding to augment $14.3 million from the EPA.

Mally said Wisconsin's willingness to commit its share of the cost of the cleanup is one reason the Kinnickinnic work has moved ahead of other projects in the region.

When the work is done, the river will be dredged as deep as 20 feet - its historic level when it was once the home of deep-draft commercial vessels.

In recent years, moving recreational and commercial boats upstream from the lake has been difficult in the fall when lake levels were low, said Chris Svoboda, general manager of Pier Milwaukee Inc., a yacht storage company that is a member of a business improvement district formed to help finance the cleanup.

"You look at the history of the rivers of Milwaukee, going back 60, 70 years, and we've turned our back on them and ignored them," Svoboda said.

After the PCBs are removed, attention is to shift to an even bigger project: a $40 million Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District flood management plan to remove deteriorating concrete lining from the river between S. 27th St. and Chase Ave.

The river would also be widened, and at least 64 homes could be demolished between S. 16th and S. 6th streets.

Nenn said she believed the projects would bring people back to the Kinnickinnic.

"It's really hard to love a river that's a concrete ditch," she said.

MilwaukeeMike

July 8th, 2009, 04:24 PM

skylinedude

July 8th, 2009, 05:09 PM

skylinedude

July 8th, 2009, 05:25 PM

historybuffer

July 8th, 2009, 05:28 PM

MilwaukeeMark

July 8th, 2009, 05:31 PM

World Festivals and Summerfest have a really good opportunity to expand the grounds to the area bordered by I-794, Polk, Jackson and Erie Streets. The reason: Charter Wire is moving to new headquarters in the Menomonee Valley by the end of this year.
This would be a great opportunity to expand the Maier Festival Grounds west of the Marcus Amphitheater and potentially create a year round indoor Exposition Center along with a mixed use parking garage/commercial/office space. I hope World Festivals is taking a serious look at buying the Charter Wire property.

Charter Wire... my dad worked there many years ago. I'm fairly certain they're the last, or one of the last, manufacturers left in the 3rd Ward. Glad to hear they're moving to the valley. I always thought that space could be put to better use.

And on an unrelated note, I was in Milwaukee about a week ago... still beautiful!

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/1608/vintagemilwaukee.jpg

Jesse276

July 8th, 2009, 07:14 PM

This parking garage plan by the owners of the US Bank building sounds well thought out. I bet the garage is a beauty when viewed from the lakefront.
I wonder if there will be future postcards featuring it.

Ahhhhhhh*.

What's your ideal scenario for that spot?

It seems like a win to me because they're building a larger structure in a smaller footprint, which will allow for a better/larger development to the east. The only thing that could detract is how the new structure interfaces with the street, but it would be hard to be worse than the building it replaces.

EastSider

July 8th, 2009, 08:15 PM

JSonline: Housing Get's Green Look (http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/50181442.html) Convent Hill Opening
http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/6083/mjsconventhill2nwsmj.jpg

Small Biz Times: Senior Housing/ Library Planned for Central City (http://www.biztimes.com/realestateweekly/2009/7/8/#rivianna-project-moving-forward) Villard Square Proposal
http://www.biztimes.com/nf/uploads/Image/reweekly07-07-2009/Villard-Square.jpg

EastSider

July 8th, 2009, 08:24 PM

I was digging around, and found some renderings that I thought were interesting. I have no idea on the status of the projects, maybe someone has a better idea.

833 E Michigan Street Building (JBK Properties)

http://cmcdn.net/3741536/800x609.jpeg

http://cmcdn.net/3774675/800x599.jpeg

650 E Buffalo Street Building (JBK Properties)

http://cmcdn.net/3774655/800x557.jpeg

http://cmcdn.net/3741501/800x600.jpeg

SOURCE (http://jamesolson.carbonmade.com/)

Markitect

July 8th, 2009, 11:32 PM

I was digging around, and found some renderings that I thought were interesting. I have no idea on the status of the projects, maybe someone has a better idea.

833 E Michigan Street Building (JBK Properties)

This appears to be an old Lake Pointe Tower proposal...same site, same developer. Most likely a shorter alternative once they realized market conditions wouldn't have supported a whole tall tower.

It's dead.

USBank has moved on to other developers and design possibilities. See earlier posts about the new USB Parking Garage and future site development reconfiguration.

EastSider

July 9th, 2009, 08:27 AM

This appears to be an old Lake Pointe Tower proposal...same site, same developer. Most likely a shorter alternative once they realized market conditions wouldn't have supported a whole tall tower.

It's dead.

USBank has moved on to other developers and design possibilities. See earlier posts about the new USB Parking Garage and future site development reconfiguration.

That makes sense. Could the project on Buffalo be Third Ward Marriott proposal?

usbmfa

July 9th, 2009, 03:32 PM

Anyone know what is going with the PAC parking structure. I see a CG Schmidt trailer there, fencing, and dumpsters.

Thanks

MilwaukeeMark

July 9th, 2009, 03:36 PM

Hmm....

601 Lofts (Eppstein Uhen Architects)
http://www.emporis.com/images/6/2005/11/415066.jpg

650 E Buffalo Street Building (JBK Properties)
http://cmcdn.net/3774655/800x557.jpeg

historybuffer

July 9th, 2009, 05:14 PM

What's your ideal scenario for that spot?

It seems like a win to me because they're building a larger structure in a smaller footprint, which will allow for a better/larger development to the east. The only thing that could detract is how the new structure interfaces with the street, but it would be hard to be worse than the building it replaces.

Maybe a cheaper whimsical Stanley Tigerman, or hanging glass curtain walls on the elevation facing the lakefront?

qwerty44

July 9th, 2009, 06:53 PM

Hmm....

601 Lofts (Eppstein Uhen Architects)
http://www.emporis.com/images/6/2005/11/415066.jpg

Is that what is going in at the PAC parking structure?

ajknee

July 9th, 2009, 07:31 PM

Is that what is going in at the PAC parking structure?

No, that's what's already built at Ogden and Jackson (near Eastpointe). I'm not sure what going on at the Marcus Center. The only thing I could find is this RFP from 2007: http://www.marcuscenter.org/documents/MarcusCenterRedevelopmentRFP.pdf

Markitect

July 9th, 2009, 10:11 PM

That makes sense. Could the project on Buffalo be Third Ward Marriott proposal?

The long-dead Marriott ClubSport hotel proposal was on E. St. Paul and N. Broadway--so different street and block than this 650 E. Buffalo building (which looks like a neighborhood parking garage, like the ones on Milwaukee or Water Streets, with some offices or condos above).

CGII

July 9th, 2009, 10:36 PM

I remember a really incredible (but dead) Ovation Plaza design but I have no clue as to where to find it again...

edit:

found it:

http://www.gpchicago.com/users/FolderData/%7B15D465FD-73BF-47E7-B8AA-91D5BED81CD2%7D/OVPweb_1.jpg
http://www.gpchicago.com/users/FolderData/%7B15D465FD-73BF-47E7-B8AA-91D5BED81CD2%7D/OVPweb_2.jpg
http://www.gpchicago.com/users/FolderData/%7B15D465FD-73BF-47E7-B8AA-91D5BED81CD2%7D/OVPweb_3.jpg
http://www.gpchicago.com/users/FolderData/%7B15D465FD-73BF-47E7-B8AA-91D5BED81CD2%7D/OVPweb_5.jpg

http://www.gpchicago.com/users/folder.asp?FolderID=844&SubCat=mixed-use

miltown

July 9th, 2009, 11:15 PM

http://www.biztimes.com/nf/uploads/Image/reweekly07-07-2009/ravianna.jpg

The developer for the long delayed Rivianna development has made some minor changes to the project and is now seeking final approval of a detailed plan development. The project will be reviewed by the City Plan Commission during its Monday, July 13 meeting. .
The project consists of three 15-story towers that would be built on top of a four-story base on a vacant three-quarters of an acre lot at 236 S. Water St. along the Milwaukee River in the Fifth Ward, just south of the Third Ward. The development will have a maximum of 186 residences, a 128-room hotel, 11,000 square feet of retail space and a 411-space parking structure. In a second option the developer says the project may have a larger hotel with 236 rooms and 152 residences.
Bob Schultz the leader of the development group for the project, The Rivianna Group LLC, could not be reached for comment.
Minor modifications to the general planned development plans for the project, which were approved by city officials, include an increase in the number of residential units from 166 to a maximum of 186 and an increase in the height of the structure from 178 feet to 185 feet.
The original plan for the development, submitted before the downtown Milwaukee condo market collapsed, focused on residential condominiums. The latest plans call for rental residential units which could be converted to for-sale units in the future.
The residences in the building would range from 500-square-foot studios, to 1,850-square-foot 3-bedroom units, to penthouses ranging in size from 1,950 to 2,900 square feet of space.
The project also includes a pair of green roofs between the towers, which would provide 10,000 square feet of park area, an elevated riverwalk, another riverwalk along the water with 23 boat slips.
Rivianna may also have a "yacht club," where vendors could rent boats.

Business Times (http://www.biztimes.com/realestateweekly/2009/7/8/rivianna-project-moving-forward)

Lets hope this happens!!!!!!

World Festivals and Summerfest have a really good opportunity to expand the grounds to the area bordered by I-794, Polk, Jackson and Erie Streets. The reason: Charter Wire is moving to new headquarters in the Menomonee Valley by the end of this year.
This would be a great opportunity to expand the Maier Festival Grounds west of the Marcus Amphitheater and potentially create a year round indoor Exposition Center along with a mixed use parking garage/commercial/office space. I hope World Festivals is taking a serious look at buying the Charter Wire property.

Wasn't there talk a while back about the Italian Community Center creating a development with all of their land, maybe they could purchase the spot and create a development in conjunction with the Festival Grounds, ... either way anything is better than industrial there.

Athletic Club lot again surfaces as possible office tower site
By Tom Daykin of the Journal Sentinel
July 9, 2009 8:00 a.m.

The outdated parking structure at the Milwaukee Athletic Club, 758 N. Broadway, would be replaced by a new parking structure as well as an office tower, under a proposal that has come to light.

Irgens Development Partners is pursuing the plan, real estate sources told me. Mark Irgens, a firm partner, declined to comment.

Irgens Development is the latest firm to take a crack at the MAC site, which seems to often come up on the list of "usual suspects" whenever the possibility looms for a new downtown office tower.

While the office leasing market is pretty dead, there are some potential major deals floating about.

They include accounting firm Baker Tilly (fka Virchow Krause), and its possible interest in moving its Milwaukee-area operations to a downtown site from 115 S. 84th St., in Honey Creek Corporate Center. Also, there's the on-again, off-again possible move by Godfrey & Kahn law firm, which now leases space at Marshall & Ilsley Corp.'s headquarters, 770 N. Water St.

The MAC site surfaced with this week's story about the U.S. Bank Center, 777 E. Wisconsn Ave., proceeding with development of its parking structure, at E. Michigan and N. Cass streets.

As I reported, U.S. Bank executives continue to discuss with developer Hammes Co. the prospects for an office tower just east of the new parking structure.

El Mariachi

July 10th, 2009, 12:36 AM

http://www.gpchicago.com/users/FolderData/%7B15D465FD-73BF-47E7-B8AA-91D5BED81CD2%7D/OVPweb_1.jpg

damn, thats a nice looking building. Shame it wasn't built.

Jesse276

July 10th, 2009, 06:07 PM

Maybe a cheaper whimsical Stanley Tigerman, or hanging glass curtain walls on the elevation facing the lakefront?

I think any proposal would be stupid not to play off its lakefront location, I don't know if a Stanley Tigerman-ish building would look too good. Just checking their website for recent work, it seems like the buildings can go either way...

Milwaukee, WY

July 11th, 2009, 01:08 PM

JSonline: Housing Get's Green Look (http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/50181442.html) Convent Hill Opening
http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/6083/mjsconventhill2nwsmj.jpg

Funny that HACM decided to have the grand opening this week. The residents all moved in in November 2007! I guess they were just waiting for the green roofs to be installed, which they just finished last week.

If anyone is interested, the round tower at the becher court development at 18th & Becher will be demolished this year and replaced with a facility similar to Convent. I can document with photos if anyone wants an insider's view.

EastSider

July 13th, 2009, 07:22 PM

Rivianna has option to buy development site (http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/50626077.html)

The developers of Rivianna, a planned hotel and housing complex, have reached an agreement to buy the project site in the Walker's Point area, it was announced Monday.

Rivanna Group has agreed to buy the site, at 236 S. Water St., for an undisclosed price. The site is now owned by Craig Jorgensen, president of VJS Construction Services Inc., and his brother David Jorgensen, president of VJS Development Group.

EastSider

July 13th, 2009, 07:29 PM

Milwaukee to Purchase part of Tower site (http://www.biztimes.com/daily/2009/7/8/milwaukee-to-purchase-part-of-former-tower-site)

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced today that City of Milwaukee officials have an agreement to purchase 84 acres of the 140-acre former Tower Automotive site from Milwaukee Industrial Trade Center LLC for $3.5 million.
The purchase agreement is pending the approval of the city's Redevelopment Authority and the Common Council.

City officials want to clean up the property and prepare it for eventual redevelopment. They hope to attract 700 to 1,000 jobs to the site.
City officials say this project will be similar in size and scope to the Menomonee Valley redevelopment project. Several businesses have moved to property in the west end of the valley that was redeveloped by the city.

GarfieldPark

July 14th, 2009, 04:49 AM

That's like eight or nine jobs per acre. Talk about low expectations!

miltown

July 14th, 2009, 06:41 PM

Rivianna Group to buy proposed project site
The Business Journal of Milwaukee - by Pete Millard

The Rivianna Group has signed a purchase agreement with the two owners of the property located at 236 S. Water St. for its proposed $100 million development of residential units, a hotel, commercial space, shops, boat slips and parking.

Rivianna officials said that they signed the offer to purchase late last week with owners Craig Jorgensen and David Jorgensen that gives the development group the opportunity to move forward with a project at the 32,000-square-foot site.

Neither the Jorgensens nor Rivianna officials would disclose the purchase price. The Jorgensens are also the majority owners of VJS Construction Services, Pewaukee.

“This project will help create more than 1,000 jobs, add significantly to the city’s tax base and turn an under-utilized waterfront property into a mixed-use gem,” said Harry Drea, managing partner for the Rivianna Group.

Drea said this significant step will help in the company’s efforts to secure financing, which he described as “nearly complete.”

“We’ve had ongoing and positive discussions with our likely lender, and this property agreement is another big step toward getting a shovel in the ground,” said Drea.

The Rivianna Group looks forward to working with city officials, neighbors and others to help make this project another great example of how Milwaukee can maximize in a sustainable way its incredible riverfront, said Drea.

The proposed three-building project will be the topic of a public hearing Monday in front of Milwaukee’s Plan Commission. Drea and other company representatives will attend, make a brief presentation and answer questions. Since first proposed, changes to the project include increasing the number of residential units to 186 from 166. The residential units are configured as apartments and will be converted to condos as the market demands.

Additionally, the project includes a 236-room hotel and 10,000 square feet of landscaped park area visible to nearly every unit in the building.

EastSider

July 14th, 2009, 10:42 PM

That's like eight or nine jobs per acre. Talk about low expectations!

Remember that the City compared this project to the Menomonee Valley redevelopment. Part of the success of the Valley was the conversion of brownfields into award-winning green-space and development parcels. The Tower development is also a clean-up project. This green space and infrastructure took up acreage, but it's a major reason dozens of high-tech/light manufacturing companies decided to move and build new headquarters in the Valley (that development is on path of reaching 700 new jobs by 2011, with a final of goal of 1,300.)

If it wasn't for that land investment, we might not have been able to draw so many companies from the region. The Tower site is located in the middle of a neighborhood, so more acreage will be spent on mixed used development intended to help revitalize the area as well.

A less long-winded version of what I'm saying: There will be a lot of different uses for the site; it won't be solid industrial development. So 1,000 new jobs on the site could be more impressive than it initially sounds.

Site:
http://melzark.com/siteimages/images/tower_site.gif

http://melzark.com/siteimages/images/images/northeast.gif

http://melzark.com/siteimages/images/images/northwest.gif

EastSider

July 14th, 2009, 10:51 PM

Downtown Aloft hotel has "topping off" ceremony today (http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/50724942.html)
JSonline.com

The 160-room downtown Aloft hotel, which is being built overlooking the Milwaukee River, will have its "topping off" celebration at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, at Molly McCool's Seafood Tavern, 1110 N. Old World Third St.

"Topping off" means the building, just north of W, Juneau Ave., has reached its highest point of the construction process. It's also an excuse for the hotel's operators and public officials to seek some publicity. The $27.8 million hotel, which is being partly financed through public funds, is to open by December.

GarfieldPark

July 15th, 2009, 06:10 AM

Yeah, as far as redeveloping the Tower site -- it is definitely a good thing that 700 - 1000 jobs could be created there. Knowing that it is likely to be a mix of uses - that number sounds pretty good. I just made a quick remark that it seemed like a low number of jobs for such a large site -- but now I understand the site a little better. A little light industry, research facilities, office, retail, residential, etc --- sounds good. The city isn't paying a fortune for the site either - so that's good.

CGII

July 15th, 2009, 08:18 AM

I hope some of the buildings there can get reused, there's quite an abundance of fantastic industrial architecture in there. The office building, in particular, is an art deco building on par with the Gas Building or the Ambassador Hotel and I think could use some refurbishments...

mohammed wong

July 16th, 2009, 05:37 AM

Thursday, July 9, 2009
Florentine opens opera center in Riverwest

The Business Journal of Milwaukee

The Florentine Opera Company has leased a building in Milwaukee's Riverwest neighborhood where it has opened an opera center that will house workshops, storage and rehearsal space.

The Wayne and Kristine Lueders Florentine Opera Center opened at 926 E. Burleigh St., in a building owned by board member Catherine Costantini and her husband Mario, the organization said Thursday. The new location was funded by a lead gift from Wayne and Kristine Lueders. Wayne Lueders is the Florentine's board president.

The building will be home to the company's expanding youth education programs and for new programs for adults. For the first time, the Florentine Opera will rehearse in its own space, and will also offer rehearsal space rental to local and emerging performers and arts groups.

"Having a space to call home provides the Florentine with customized workspaces that will enhance our creative process in countless ways," said Florentine general director William Florescu. "It also affords us the opportunity to collaborate with other arts groups and members of our community in a unique environment specifically tailored to the needs of performers, students and arts groups."

mohammed wong

July 16th, 2009, 05:44 AM

Traffic Headaches, Loss of Business Confront Riverwest
By Marti Mikkelson
July 14, 2009 | WUWM | Milwaukee, WI

As if the economy wasn’t bad enough, businesses in Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood are being hit by a huge traffic disruption. The Humboldt Avenue bridge that spans the Milwaukee River and connects two major business strips is gone. Crews began building a wider, safer bridge last September, but the work won’t be completed until next year. At least one restaurant has lost so many customers, it’s teetering on closing. WUWM’s Marti Mikkelson has more.

It’s the middle of the afternoon on the corner of Humboldt and Kane, just north of downtown. You used to be able to cross the Milwaukee River here, on the Humboldt Avenue Bridge, but it’s been demolished. An orange plastic fence blocks off the bluff. Two construction workers are standing in the street, holding boards that a crane picks up and places along the river banks, to secure them.

Across the river, the Bayou restaurant sits on the edge of all the activity. Owner Robert Jenkins wishes the workers would hurry up.

“It’s tough to handle, it’s tough to look out and see a couple guys working and you want a hundred guys out there getting it done because no one’s coming through your doors because they’re out there,” Jenkins says.

Jenkins opened the eatery in September of 2006. The building was new at the time and houses several tenants in addition to his restaurant. Jenkins says he knew when he opened, that the city was talking about replacing the Humboldt Avenue Bridge.

But he did not know the extent of the project with its long time frame. He says his heart sank when the construction crew arrived nearly a year ago and began taking down the structure. Then, he watched as business dried up.

“Now without the bridge and the construction vehicles and the mounds of dirt, the iron and steel everywhere there’s limited parking. There’s limited routes to get here and just the numbers are down. Humboldt was a main road where people traveled. You could see Bayou. You could walk on Humboldt the bridge and see the restaurant. We get a lot of foot traffic and that is completely gone now,” Jenkins says.

Jenkins says Milwaukee has a lot of restaurants, so if people are having a hard time getting to one, they’ll visit another. One customer who almost chose another place to eat today is Bob Israel. He and his companion are sipping drinks on the Bayou’s massive wooden deck, overlooking the river and the construction. Israel says it was a hassle getting here.

“Normally, I could walk. I just walk across the bridge but since it’s out, I have to drive basically down Water, across one of the bridges to the south here and then back up Commerce to get to this area. It’s been an inconvenience to say the least,” Israel says.

Besides this bridge over the river, a second one nearby is also being rebuilt to complete the drive from one end of Humboldt Avenue to the other. Samir Amin, of the city construction division, says the city had been talking about replacing the bridges since at least 2002.

In particular, the Humboldt Bridge was more than 50 years old and scoring low marks on inspections. Its steel structure and embankments were weakening, cracks were getting bigger, and maintenance was no longer helping.

“It was at a critical point where it’s got to be done in 09 or it’s got to be done in 08. It’s like a roadway instead of saying a bridge. We see a lot of potholes in it,” Amin says.

Amin says originally, crews planned to finish rebuilding both bridges by the end of this year. But the contractor ran into complications with contaminated soil, so the opening date has been pushed back to June of 2010. Amin has been meeting with restaurant and shop owners in the area to keep them apprised of developments. He says they’ve been asking why construction is taking so long.

“These are two bridges abutting each other over water. It’s a very restricted area that the contractor can work in. We don’t have a lot of space as everybody sees. Bridge projects normally, any bridge project takes anywhere from a year to two years,” Amin says.

In the meantime, Amin says the city has provided signage and detour routes directing people who need to get to businesses in the area. But for restaurant owners such as Robert Jenkins, who are barely hanging on, it’s not enough. He says he might not make it until June of 2010, and may have to close.

EastSider

July 16th, 2009, 08:04 PM

City plans $3 million new Riverwalk segment (http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/50792597.html)
Journal Sentinel

The city Redevelopment Authority has set the stage to spend around $3 million on riverwalk improvements, including a new section that would be built in conjunction with a planned upscale food store.

John and Anne Nehring in April announced they've agreed to lease the Habhegger building from New Land Enterprises for a Nehring Family Market. They hope to have the grocery open by December. New Land plans to eventually develop a residential building on the Habhegger site.

EastSider

July 16th, 2009, 08:38 PM

(Note: This project was originally planned by New Land, but they have sold rights/designs to new firm)

http://www.biztimes.com/nf/uploads/Image/11.28.08issue/Kenilworth.jpg

Construction starts on Latitude (http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/50727652.html)
Journal Sentinel

Construction has started on Latitude, a 90-unit apartment buildilng being developed on Milwaukee's east side by Dermond Property Investments.

The development, which will include 7,500 square feet of first-floor retail space, is at the southwest corner of N. Farwell Avenue and E. Kenilworth Place. The apartments should be completed by July 2010.

skylinedude

July 17th, 2009, 07:42 AM

Many of you are probably wondering where the Harbor View neighborhood is in Milwaukee. Well, it is the neighborhood along South Water Street between Pittsburgh/Young Street and Washington Street east of Walker's Point along the Milwaukee and Kinnikinnic Rivers. This is a corridor that is in desperate need of redevelopment. The north end of Harbor View is the South Water Works complex and the proposed Rivianna towers. A lot of the properties south to Washington Street are up for sale including the Hansen boat storage facility and the Miller Compressing property which adds up to 15-20 acres of prime river frontage with 3rd Ward and Jones Island views available for new development. This might be the right time for plans to redevelop the Harbor View neighborhood into an area of mixed uses and parks. I have seen how the Beerline Neighborhood and Commerce Street improve and this area has the same possibilities.

MilwaukeeMark

July 17th, 2009, 04:41 PM

Construction starts on Latitude (http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/50727652.html)
Journal Sentinel

The development, which will include 7,500 square feet of first-floor retail space, is at the southwest corner of N. Farwell Avenue and E. Kenilworth Place. The apartments should be completed by July 2010.

So it's going up in place of the tiny parking lot next to Ma Fischer's?

Google Maps link. (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=53202&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=46.543597,79.013672&ie=UTF8&ll=43.059239,-87.885759&spn=0.001319,0.002411&t=h&z=19)

Twoaday

July 17th, 2009, 05:23 PM

MilwaukeeMark

July 17th, 2009, 05:42 PM

@MilwaukeeMark No, it is across the street from the Kenilworth building. They demolished the two houses on the corner and acquired the parking lot. It will fill that entire space, and run along the bike path.

Ahh... That makes more sense. Too bad those houses are gone... I liked how out of place they were.

Twoaday

July 17th, 2009, 05:46 PM

Yup, the juxtaposition was fun, but I'll take the new density.

honest86

July 18th, 2009, 02:21 AM

This project is going to do wonders to fill out the massing of buildings between north ave, prospect ave and the bike trail while creating a neighborhood urban core that many of the suburbs around Milwaukee probably wish they had while eliminating a pedestrian traffic killing surface parking lot. If I remember correctly, Milwaukee had the floor-plans for this on their site before the new developer bought it.

ps. I am really surprised they got financing for this with the current economy. Maybe it means other mixed use apartment projects will also get financing.

EastSider

July 18th, 2009, 03:37 AM

So I've been browsing brokerage sites lately, and came across some properties that are being marketed.

151 Broadway St (Third Ward)
According to Inland Co., leases have been signed
http://www.loopnet.com/Attachments/0/F/8/xy_0F80E8F7-4DC9-48DF-9351-0EAF8E777D4B__.jpg

2nd and Michigan
Future Mixed Use
http://images.loopnet.com/xnet/mainsite/attachments/viewImage.aspx?FileGuid=E0BA22D9-D451-4753-A396-0B8757F1C5A1&Extension=jpg&Width=631&Height=421

1st and National
Shopping Center (Dixon Development, people behind Castings Point, Iron Horse)
http://images.loopnet.com/xnet/mainsite/attachments/viewImage.aspx?FileGuid=7EFCE262-B3E6-4BDC-837C-2324869A7679&Extension=jpg&Width=631&Height=421

875 W Wisconsin Annex
Office Addition to replace Parking Garage (875 100% leased)
Wangard Partners- planned for 2010
http://www.wangard.com/p_875.gif

miltown

July 20th, 2009, 08:01 AM

I hope a skyscraper gets built on that 2nd and Michigan site... some day... it would be a nice spot for anything besides surface lots...

also i guess that annex in alright for 875 E wisconsin... nice infill... it will do a nice job blocking the older shorter building that will be behind it.

Milwaukee, WY

July 21st, 2009, 07:54 AM

miltown

July 21st, 2009, 09:49 PM

What's wrong with 875? It's a nice looking building, and it's not that old, only 4-5 years, IIRC.

No the annex will be next to 875. I like 875. There is another building that the annex will block, it's a cream & brick older building in front of the US bank building... looks a bit out of place to me, so i'm glad it will get blocked. It will be behind the new annex.

This one...
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/3c772ed5e9.jpg (http://www.freeimagehosting.net/)

Also some good news....

Rivianna, Villard Square win zoning approval
By Tom Daykin of the Journal Sentinel
July 21, 2009 11:54 a.m.

The controversial Rivianna hotel and apartment development, proposed for the Walker's Point area, and the Villard Square apartment project, planned for Milwaukee's northwest side, both won approval Tuesday from the Common Council's Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee.

Rivianna would overlook the Milwaukee River at 236 S. Water St. It would have three 15-story towers, with around 200 apartments, a hotel with up to 128 rooms, and retail space. It also would have a parking deck with up to four stories below the towers.

Developers Robert Schultz and Harry Drea are still seeking financing for Rivianna.

Residents from nearby Marine Terminal Lofts, a condo development on the north side of the river, again objected to Rivianna, which first won conceptual city approval in 2007. Opponents, including Ald. Robert Bauman, say the towers would be too tall, and not fit in with other low-rise and medium-rise buildings in the area.

Bauman, the only committee member to vote against the project, said the Department of City Development should create design standards with an architectural review board for the Rivianna site and other Walker's Point properties near the south side of the river. Such a board exists in the Historic Third Ward, on the north side of the river.

Ald. James Witkowiak, whose district includes the Rivianna site, said most people living in Walker's Point support Rivianna, which its developers say would add $80 million to the city's property tax base, and create 1,000 construction jobs.

"Most people on the south side of the river view this as an opportunity to define our neighborhood, rather than copy what someone else is going," said Witkowiak, committee chairman.

The committee unanimously approved plans for Villard Square, which would include a new city library branch and 47 apartments in the 3400 block of W. Villard Ave. It would be among a small but growing group of U.S. developments that combine senior housing with kid-friendly features.

The idea is to put children from broken homes into a stable environment by having them live with their grandparents.Villard Square is being developed by Oregon, Wis.-based Gorman & Co. and Northwest Side Community Development Corp., a neighborhood nonprofit group.

The $10 million project is getting $768,129 in affordable housing tax credits, and the units will be rented at below-market rates to moderate-income people.

CGII

July 22nd, 2009, 05:27 AM

they were filming 'no god no master' on Brady St. today and probably will be again tomorrow...

EastSider

July 22nd, 2009, 09:25 AM

they were filming 'no god no master' on Brady St. today and probably will be again tomorrow...

Who's directing that again? The guy behind Bourne Identity?

CGII

July 22nd, 2009, 09:42 AM

Eh...I dunno, the crew didn't really even seem that sure the finished film would be syndicated and distributed here...

EastSider

July 22nd, 2009, 09:46 AM

Eh...I dunno, the crew didn't really even seem that sure the finished film would be syndicated and distributed here...

Just googled it, I guess he was in the movie, as well as "The Firm". Quote from the movie website:

"The city's rich history, vintage architecture and Lake Michigan's horizon are the perfect backdrop for the 1919 period locations which simulate old world New York City."

honest86

July 22nd, 2009, 07:29 PM

I was out on Brady last night watching them film for a while while having a few drinks at the Up & Under. It is an indie film with a smaller budget, but it was still interesting to see.

Paule

July 23rd, 2009, 01:29 AM

Just googled it, I guess he was in the movie, as well as "The Firm". Quote from the movie website:

"The city's rich history, vintage architecture and Lake Michigan's horizon are the perfect backdrop for the 1919 period locations which simulate old world New York City."
Is this going to be a major motion picture, just made for DVD sales or what, do you know?

Paule

July 23rd, 2009, 01:30 AM

I was out on Brady last night watching them film for a while while having a few drinks at the Up & Under. It is an indie film with a smaller budget, but it was still interesting to see.

Someone on Flickr the other day was posting pics from the shoot on Brady, that's how I found out that they were already filming.

EastSider

July 23rd, 2009, 08:00 AM

Is this going to be a major motion picture, just made for DVD sales or what, do you know?

Uh major motion picture, but Indie. So the budget it under $10 mil. Way smaller then the Public Enemies budget I'm sure, probably why we're hearing less about it.

miltown

July 23rd, 2009, 08:22 PM

Uh major motion picture, but Indie. So the budget it under $10 mil. Way smaller then the Public Enemies budget I'm sure, probably why we're hearing less about it.

Public Enemies budget..... $100 million, that also includes marketing costs, this indie movie may not have marketing money..... man it's slow around here!!!

EastSider

July 23rd, 2009, 10:37 PM

Aloft has been topped off. (http://www.mkedcd.org/parkeast/index.html)
http://www.mkedcd.org/parkeast/images/projects/Aloftconstr302.jpg

INSITE has announced more designs for Park East to market the parcels.
http://www.insitemilwaukee.org/images/projects/Su09/Bach-Pham_sm.jpg

http://www.insitemilwaukee.org/images/projects/Su09/Osmundsen_sm.jpg

More and Explanations (http://www.insitemilwaukee.org/)

Warder

July 24th, 2009, 02:51 AM

Walked by the Marcus parking structure on Water today, it appears the construction is not demolition, but re-decking of the structural parking surface. Could be that this is emergency, temporary repair to make the structure safe and useable until the market rebounds, or could be a permanent fix indicating abandonment of redevelopment plans for the site.

EastSider

July 24th, 2009, 06:14 PM

JSonline: Apartment plan advances (http://www.jsonline.com/business/51528417.html)
http://www.hidehouselofts.com/images/hh_sidewalk_20090514_small_64ah.jpg

A controversial plan to develop apartments for lower-income people in Bay View would be allowed under action taken Thursday by the Common Council's Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee.

The committee, on a 3-2 vote, recommended against historical designation for a portion of the Hide House complex, 2625 S. Greeley St., slated to be razed to make way for apartments. The full council, which is to review the matter Tuesday, rarely overturns committee recommendations.

skylinedude

July 25th, 2009, 05:10 PM

Officials Eyeing Summerfest Redevelopment

Here is a link to a story about redeveloping the south end of the Summerfest grounds from The Business Journal:

http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/07/27/story1.html

Though this point isn't in the article, this is a great opportunity for the Summerfest Grounds to expand west of the Marcus Amphitheater to Jackson Street between Polk and Erie Streets. Charter Wire is moving to a new facility in the Menomonee Valley at the end of this year which could open up an option for Milwaukee World Fesitval Inc. to purchase the Charter Wire facility and place the year round venue in that area. Also this will spur more mixed use development and parking garages along the east side of Jackson Street north of Polk Street to the Italian Community Center on Chicago Street. It's time to do away with the gravel and concrete surface lots in that area and directly connect the 3rd Ward to the Henry Maier Festival Grounds. This will be a great start.

Twoaday

July 25th, 2009, 05:55 PM

I really don't think Summerfest should expand, and this wouldn't activate the Summerfest grounds year round, just the new facility. Charter Wire should simply become another mixed-use site of apartments or condos. The Third Ward needs more residents. Density is what is needed.

CGII

July 25th, 2009, 07:13 PM

Twoaday

July 26th, 2009, 06:16 PM

miltown

July 26th, 2009, 11:54 PM

I could see a revamped large indoor amphitheater, either by replacing the marcus or building a new one ... I don't really think they should expand the grounds ... seeing as it is empty for 9 months during the year.... I dont know how realistic it would be to replace the marcus amphitheater though... I would like to see more year round things on the grounds...

ANY IDEAS OF YEAR ROUND POSSIBILITIES THERE?
Retail Stores?
Restaurants?
Indoor Concert Venue?
Ice Skating?
Winterfest?
Ice fishing...lol?

CGII

July 27th, 2009, 02:42 AM

CGII Now I wouldn't be opposed to Summerfest upgrading the existing grounds to have more activities throughout the year, this would be great. But the Third Ward needs more people, so mixed-use high density housing is what's needed on the Charter Wire site in my opinion.

Oh don't get me wrong I'm in complete agreement. The Third Ward needs more people, not more conditional space for festivals. A Summerfest upgrade would be more than ideal, I just don't think it's appropriate to expand the grounds.

Oshkosh49

July 27th, 2009, 05:51 AM

CGII

July 27th, 2009, 07:24 AM

perilouspete

July 27th, 2009, 07:37 AM

Would Milwaukee's big neighbor to the south offer up any ideas with its Navy Pier along its lake shore? Or, Baltimore's Harbor Front?

You've got a good point there. If they made it unique to Milwaukee, but it offered similar things as those two you mentioned, that would be amazing. I don't see that happening, but I think with some imagination that it could. One idea I don't really support is the indoor ampitheater, because I think that would take away from the grounds main event, Summerfest, which is made to be all open-air. Also the fact that there are already enough indoor venues in within the city (large scale- two arenas, smaller scale- rave, riverside, pabst). If they made an indoor concert venue there I feel that it would be overkill for the city, but who knows maybe I'm wrong.

Along with some unique-looking housing, if they were considering a restaurant, I think it would be really cool to have a "Summerfest-themed" place to eat year round that featured pictures and memorabilia from famous past concerts. So, a museum of sorts, but a restaurant so that people actually want to go there. Basically like a Hard Rock Cafe, except it's own version and run by Milwaukee World Festival. So it would focus on Summerfest and not just rock in general. With over 40 years of operation, I would imagine that they would have quite a lot of this stuff available. Also you could take that idea further if you wanted and include themes from all of the festivals that take place there throughout the summer. I think this would be a great way to show how Milwaukee celebrates so many different cultures as well. I realize that there is already an insane amount of restaurants in Milwaukee, but with this you could showcase either Summerfest or perhaps all of our festivals year-round to people who may only be passing through during the winter months, and maybe they'll want to come back and experience the real thing in the summer.

Milwaukee, WY

July 27th, 2009, 08:01 AM

It certainly would be interesting to see the Maier grounds gradually turned into a sort of versatile public space instead of a kind of seedy closed campus. It should be an important goal to somehow integrate it into the greater urban fabric.

I tried to make that very point about a year ago here and you'd have thought I was advocating the torture and slaughter of puppies! It's public land and it needs to be more open to the public when there aren't any festivals going on.

miltown

July 27th, 2009, 07:57 PM

Along with some unique-looking housing, if they were considering a restaurant, I think it would be really cool to have a "Summerfest-themed" place to eat year round that featured pictures and memorabilia from famous past concerts. So, a museum of sorts, but a restaurant so that people actually want to go there. Basically like a Hard Rock Cafe, except it's own version and run by Milwaukee World Festival. So it would focus on Summerfest and not just rock in general. With over 40 years of operation, I would imagine that they would have quite a lot of this stuff available. Also you could take that idea further if you wanted and include themes from all of the festivals that take place there throughout the summer. I think this would be a great way to show how Milwaukee celebrates so many different cultures as well. I realize that there is already an insane amount of restaurants in Milwaukee, but with this you could showcase either Summerfest or perhaps all of our festivals year-round to people who may only be passing through during the winter months, and maybe they'll want to come back and experience the real thing in the summer.

I really like this idea, I could see it working.

It certainly would be interesting to see the Maier grounds gradually turned into a sort of versatile public space instead of a kind of seedy closed campus. It should be an important goal to somehow integrate it into the greater urban fabric.

This is a point that needs to be placed in the heads of those in charge, After all anything year-round would generate more $$$$ for them, does anyone know if the city or festival grounds have ever considered a year round venue, or anything like a navy pier???

EastSider

July 27th, 2009, 10:18 PM

Eisner Museum features Designs of unbuilt projects (http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/07/27/daily3.html)
Biz Journal

The Eisner American Museum of Advertising & Design in Milwaukee will open an exhibition showcasing the designs of unbuilt construction projects from 18 local architectural firms.

The "Unbuilt Works" exhibit, which runs Aug. 1 through March 2010, is designed to highlight creative and inspirational architectural thinking.

"We are excited to bring in this amazing array of creative thinking," said Coffman. "If these concept drawings were built, Milwaukee would have a far more progressive-looking skyline."

El Mariachi

July 28th, 2009, 12:34 AM

Was there ever a rendering for University Club designed by Calatrava? I believe that he was originally to design that building.

As for Summerfest, I love some of the ideas tossed around on here on what they should do. Something like Navy Pier would be great. Perhaps even connecting with Navy Pier via ferry service to Chicago during the summer months. It would be a shame to see more land eaten up down there by the festival grounds, as it is a prime spot to connect the Third Ward with the lakefront with more condos, stores, towers, etc. There is so much potential in that area.

BTW-----are parking garages an option for the Summerfest grounds?

Skyking2

July 28th, 2009, 07:17 PM

Yeah, this should help spur development of new office space in Milwaukee:

Downtown office vacancy rate soars
By Tom Daykin of the Journal Sentinel
July 28, 2009 9:36 a.m.

The vacancy rate for the Milwaukee downtown office market hit 19.1% at the end of the second quarter, up from 15.9% for the same period in 2008, according to a report released Tuesday by Colliers International.

The U.S. average for downtown office vacancy rates was 13.74% for the three months ending June 30, compared with 11.14% from the year-earlier period, said Boston-based Colliers International, a network of commercial real estate brokerage firms that includes Milwaukee's Colliers Barry.

The Milwaukee area's suburban office market vacancy rate was 16.5%, compared with 15.2%. The national average for suburban vacancy rates was 16.28%, up from 14.33%.

Colliers International expects more increases in office vacancy rates and falling rents for the rest of 2009.

"While it looks like the worst is past, the economy, and more importantly the labor market, is expected to show anemic growth in the near term -- leading to an extremely sluggish office space market for the foreseeable future," said Ross Moore, executive vice president and director of market and economic research for Colliers International, in a statement.

"There are now more reasons for optimism compared to just a few months ago, but indicators such as the recently-issued lending data show firms have little appetite for expansion and instead remain focused on reducing costs and watching their bottom line," Moore said.

I don't know why more businesses don't want to be staying in -- or locating to -- Milwaukee. After all, the business climate is so damn friendly...and getting even "friendlier" by the day in this state. :ohno:

Paule

July 28th, 2009, 10:52 PM

Love the sarcasm.

Twoaday

August 1st, 2009, 06:03 PM

I'd also add that right after the article about the high vacancy rates for office, Tom Daykin put out another article that shows Milwaukee has a lower than national average for Industrial vacancy rates....

miltown

August 6th, 2009, 02:38 AM

City proposes spending $6.5 million on south side business park
By Tom Daykin of the Journal Sentinel
Aug. 5, 2009 3:26 p.m.

City officials will consider spending $6.5 million to help create a business park on a vacant 17-acre parcel just south of the Harley-Davidson museum, in the Walker's Point area.

The Redevelopment Authority on Wednesday set an Aug. 20 public hearing for the proposal, which would help finance a business park on the former Reed Street Yards property, bounded roughly by S. 6th St., S. 3rd St., the Menomonee River Canal, and W. Florida St.

The authority and Common Council will consider creating a tax incremental financing district for the property, and for some vacant tannery buildings just west of the Reed Street Yards, a former rail yard. The money spent by the city would be repaid through property taxes generated by new development.

The Reed Street Yards and the neighboring vacant buildings, totaling 280,000 square feet, are owned by Peter Moede, of Atlas Development Corp. Moede who also owns and manages The Tannery business park, which features former tannery buildings converted into offices, at S. 7th and W. Virginia streets. Moede will partner with General Capital Group to develop and market the new business park.

The city would spend $4.3 million to build streets, sewer lines and other public infrastructure for the new business park.

The city also would provide grants to cover environmental cleanup costs as buildings are constructed, and grants to attract water-based technology businesses to locate at the park, according to a Department of Development statement.

“This project has tremendous potential to complement our region’s efforts to build its water technology industry,” said Mayor Tom Barrett, in a statement.

"This property is the largest developable parcel on the near south side, and it has been underused for years," said Ald. Jim Witkowiak, whose district includes the Reed Street Yards.

The Common Council will be asked to consider the project in September. If the project is approved, construction of infrastructure is to begin in 2010.

The council in September also could be considering another high-profile develpment proposal: the purchase and redevelopment of the former Tower Automotive Inc. site. That plan would cost around $25.6 million in city funds.

CGII

August 6th, 2009, 02:44 AM

MilwaukeeD

August 6th, 2009, 04:45 AM

Damn. I was really hoping that lot would just stay vacant forever and when the time came after the recession the city would make a really cool park right there and all sorts of happy development would flock around it. It really is the perfect place to a plan a park for the future of that neighbourhood.

Eh whatever.

While that sounds nice, do you expect the landowner to just give the land to the city for a park? This site has been neglected for so long that it hasn't even come up in any of our conversations about development. But it is a major site very close to downtown.

qwerty44

August 6th, 2009, 08:18 AM

Twoaday

August 6th, 2009, 08:46 AM

@qwerty44 No. I believe they've already done some work on the building.

khilani003

August 6th, 2009, 03:35 PM

Eriol

August 6th, 2009, 05:37 PM

He did a proposal for the Kern Center, but it would have cost too much. He also drew up a rendering for the pedestrian bridge across the North Avenue dam and a skywalk between the Hilton and the convention center. Again, too expensive.

Hopefully someday those designs can be used for other projects.

EastSider

August 6th, 2009, 08:22 PM

Anyone know which firms are exhibited in the new Eisner Exhibit? Not a very originally idea - UWM used to do one of these every other year - but people usually find them interesting.

As for Calatrava's UClub Tower, I don't remember him doing a rendering, but wasn't he also talked about for a MSOE building too. That one I remember have some sort of very vague image associated with it. Looked like a lump of steel and glass out of focus.

I went there a couple of days ago to see another exhibit, and the proposal one was partially up.

I'd say we'd know 50% of the projects. There was some interesting ones I had never seen before though. If the exhibit was complete, it wasn't very large, but probably worth checking out.

miltown

August 12th, 2009, 09:27 PM

Harbor Commission won't act on Pieces of Eight site Thursday
By Tom Daykin of the Journal Sentinel
Aug. 12, 2009 12:36 p.m.

I reported last week that the Board of Habor Commissioners was not expected to act on the former Pieces of Eight site at its Thursday meeting.

I just spoke with Tom Luljak, of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He said UWM officials are still assembling the detailed information on the university's proposal to build the School of Freshwater Sciences at the lakefront site.

The commission wants that information before it acts on the proposal. Luljak said that information might be submitted in time for the commission's September meeting.

Retired business executive Michael Cudahy recently acquired the lease for the former restaurant site, which is owned by the city. UWM is seeking to extend the lease beyond its 2018 expiration date so it can build the school facility. If that happens, Cudahy would donate the lease interest to UWM.

By the way, the commission's agenda for Thursday's meeting includes a notice that the board might go into a closed sessions to discuss lease negotiations at the Pieces of Eight site. State law does allow government units to have closed-door meetings to discuss real estate negotiations.

But any action. i.e., a vote, has to occur in an open meeting. And the commission has said that's not to happen at Thursday's meeting.

honest86

August 12th, 2009, 10:50 PM

I guess nobody can claim this time that UWM is rushing anything through.

skylinedude

August 13th, 2009, 05:24 PM

Catholic Knights and Catholic Family Life Insurance are merging. This will mean that Catholic Family Life will move from its offices in Shorewood to the Catholic Knights Tower on the west side of Downtown Milwaukee. The merger will be completed by the end of the year. Here is the link to the story:
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/08/10/daily31.html

EastSider

August 14th, 2009, 08:46 PM

So I was going past the Marcus Center parking ramp today, and it was fenced off. It looked like they were demolishing it.

I remember news on it in the past, but can't remember. Anyone?

Markitect

August 14th, 2009, 11:34 PM

So I was going past the Marcus Center parking ramp today, and it was fenced off. It looked like they were demolishing it.

I remember news on it in the past, but can't remember. Anyone?

No demolition or redevelopment...the garage is being repaired/redecked.

Eriol

August 15th, 2009, 08:54 PM

Some news of a long delayed project:

Friday, August 14, 2009

Saint John’s seeks WHEFA bonds for apartment project
The Business Journal of Milwaukee - by Rich Kirchen

Saint John’s hopes to begin project in 2009

Saint John’s on the Lake has applied for an $80 million bond issue that will include financing its twice-delayed 21-story upscale senior apartment project overlooking Milwaukee’s lakefront.

Assuming the sale of tax-exempt bonds is approved by the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority (WHEFA), Saint John’s officials still would complete the offering and begin work by October, said spokesman Rick Romano. Occupancy in the project at 1840 N. Prospect Ave. would begin in mid-2011, he said.

The nondenominational retirement community announced the project in late 2007 and originally planned to open by early 2010. The housing slump and tight financial markets delayed the project, but Saint John’s has received commitments from prospective tenants who have made deposits of $30,000 to $40,000 for nearly 75 percent of the units, Romano said.

Saint John’s and its investment bank, Ziegler Cos. of Milwaukee, plan to complete the bond documents by early September, and then Ziegler will begin marketing them. Saint John’s officials hope to close the bond sale by October and begin site work shortly thereafter, Romano said.

EastSider

August 15th, 2009, 11:08 PM

...the garage is being repaired/redecked.
Lame, thanks though.

What about the St. Johns project: Do you think it's looking solid enough for construction?

Paule

August 16th, 2009, 08:11 AM

bjkeys321

August 17th, 2009, 12:20 AM

That's good news about St. Johns. Does anybody know about the activity going on just north-east of the kern center? There is a deep pit with a construction fence around it. Also, has anybody heard the rumor regarding Potawatomi building a 20 story hotel near their casino?

Twoaday

August 17th, 2009, 01:35 AM

@bjkeys321That pit was a project that fell through a few years ago.

Coldwake

August 19th, 2009, 12:46 AM

@bjkeys321That pit was a project that fell through a few years ago.

Not just any project... but one of the SWEETEST looking buildings to date. :)

I really wish that one had been built...

brewman

August 19th, 2009, 06:33 AM

Not just any project... but one of the SWEETEST looking buildings to date. :)

I really wish that one had been built...

What did the building look like? How tall, etc?

miltown

August 19th, 2009, 09:27 PM

Not just any project... but one of the SWEETEST looking buildings to date. :)

I really wish that one had been built...

any renders??????????

Coldwake

August 20th, 2009, 12:29 AM

Unfortunately not... it was called terrace at something... I think the word "green" was in it too. haha.

Renderings were hard to find when it was a viable project let alone now. It was two buildings, one was about 15 stories the other was 20 with some townhome condo's connecting them. The neat thing was they had this unique curved shape that cut the buildings in half. The buildings themselves were very curvy and had a lot of glass.

Thats the best I could describe them. It had to have been about 4 years ago now.

Markitect

August 20th, 2009, 07:07 AM

any renders??????????

It was called Terraces at River Bluff (http://www.engberganderson.com/#/portfolio/projecttype/7/54/).

Renderings were easy to find, because they were published in the papers, on the development's website, in hard-copy promotional materials, and the architect's website.

Coldwake

August 20th, 2009, 11:43 PM

It was called Terraces at River Bluff (http://www.engberganderson.com/#/portfolio/projecttype/7/54/).

Renderings were easy to find, because they were published in the papers, on the development's website, in hard-copy promotional materials, and the architect's website.

Sneaky Markitect... sneaky! OK not really. Thanks for making me look bad though. :lol:

Seriously I had trouble finding those renderings when that project was going on. Although, it's been a while since I've seen them, so the buildings are a bit different then I remembered. I still like it though.

miltown

August 21st, 2009, 07:53 PM

qwerty44

August 25th, 2009, 06:43 PM

A city proposal to spend $6.4 million to help create a business park on a vacant 17-acre parcel in the Walker's Point area includes plans to create more parking for the nearby Iron Horse Hotel, and other businesses.

The business park, to be developed by Peter Moede, owner of Atlas Development Group, and General Capital Group, a Fox Point real estate development company, would be on a former rail yard bounded roughly by S. 6th St., S. 3rd St., the Menomonee River Canal and W. Florida St. The money spent by the city would be repaid through property taxes generated by new development, including the Iron Horse Hotel, which opened last September.

The city would spend $4.2 million to build streets, sewer lines and other public improvements. The city also would provide $900,000 to help finance the business park's first building, and $1 million in grants to attract water-based technology businesses to locate at the park.

Administrative expenses account for most of the remaining $6.4 million, which the city would borrow by selling bonds. In addition, the city would spend an estimated $4.7 million in interest costs. The city's debt is expected to be paid off by 2033.

The plan's newly disclosed details show that funds also would be spent to provide surface parking for the Iron Horse Hotel, 500 W. Florida St. The 102-room boutique hotel is just south of the proposed business park.

Developer Tim Dixon renovated a former warehouse to create the six-story Iron Horse Hotel, appealing to both motorcycle riders and travelers who want to stay at a luxurious, yet edgy, hotel. The hotel has a tight parking supply.

The new parking lots also would serve a 100,000-square-foot building at 234 W. Florida St. that developer Ann Pieper recently remodeled from warehouse space into offices, and other neighborhood properties.

The public improvements would include a new street, tentatively named Reed St., which would connect the intersection of W. Pittsburgh Ave. and S. 3rd St. with The Tannery, Moede's office and residential development west of S. 6th St. and north of W. Virginia St.

http://www.jsonline.com/business/54639117.html

MilwaukeeMark

August 26th, 2009, 04:20 PM

A post from my flickr friend sperophotography (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sperophotography/) in the Cream City group (http://www.flickr.com/groups/creamcitymilwaukee/):

The latest IN:SITE project is fully completed today (August 23). The doors to Syney Hih will be open to the public this week to serve as the Information Center and Museum of the Park East Project (incidentally, I will have two photos amid other submissions from a few members of CoPA:
www.copamilwaukee.com/New/about.html)

From the IN:SITE Milwaukee website:

"IN:SITE Park East Corridor Project
July 24 - August 30, 2009

Project Overview:
Milwaukee is discussed in urban planning classes across the country for its progressive decision to take down part of an expressway. Now IN:SITE has been able to forge a progressive, collaborative model that is bringing together the community to consider the past, present, and future of this land.

IN:SITE is transforming the Park East Corridor (PEC), an area where a freeway spur was removed. The project will culminate in 11 installations on 16 blocks of the 29-block PEC area. All the projects will be in place by August 23rd, when there will be a week of activities from August 23rd through the 30th. Some projects will be up by July 24th for Summer Gallery Night.

IN:SITE's goal is to invite pedestrians, bikers, people who ride the bus, and drivers to explore the Park East Corridor. Local artists have come forward with bold, diverse projects that meet this goal. From any one installation, there will be a view and connection to another."

More info on the individual installations and a PDF map of the area:
www.insitemilwaukee.org/

Interview on 88.9 with the director and chair of the project:
unifiedmilwaukee2.wordpress.com/2009/08/21/insite-milwaukee/

CGII

August 26th, 2009, 07:26 PM

The doors to Syney Hih will be open to the public this week to serve as the Information Center and Museum of the Park East Project

Wait, what? So I can just walk in there anytime this week? Is it a lot of the building or just one area to serve as 'Information Center?' I've wanted to get into that building since before it was beige.

MilwaukeeMark

August 27th, 2009, 04:25 PM

Wait, what? So I can just walk in there anytime this week? Is it a lot of the building or just one area to serve as 'Information Center?' I've wanted to get into that building since before it was beige.

Yes, you can walk right on in.

mohammed wong

August 28th, 2009, 08:38 AM

Green upscale apartments planned for Lincoln

August 27, 2009

By Katherine Keller

Click to view the illustrations as a PDF. ~courtesy Kubala Washatko Architects, Inc.

Bay View may soon be the site of a 32-unit apartment building that developer Steve Lindner said will be one of the largest green developments in the Midwest.

The project is to be constructed on vacant land at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Ward Street, part of a 6.5-acre parcel Lindner owns that includes a former Harnischfeger foundry. Sweet Water Organics, Inc. is located in one of the existing buildings at 2121 S. Robinson Ave.

The current design spans four stories with 32 units ranging from 800 to 1,200 square feet with underground and surface parking. Each unit is two stories, with two or three bedrooms.

Lindner plans to begin construction in early spring 2010 with occupancy in fall 2010.

Citywide Development, LLC–owned by Steve Lindner, his wife Tosha Lindner, and his sister Deb Lindner–has contracted Cedarburg-based Kubala Washatko Architects, Inc. (TKWA), a firm nationally recognized for its sustainable design. Among the firm’s local projects are the Urban Ecology Center on Milwaukee’s East Side; the Iron Horse Hotel, Sixth and Florida streets; Alterra Corporate Headquarters, Riverwest; and the Schlitz Audubon Center in Bayside.

TKWA lead architect Jim Read said a project goal is to “bring the building to as close to zero energy consumption as possible,” which means the development would produce the same amount of energy it consumes.

Among the sustainable components that Lindner plans to incorporate are green building products, photovoltaic and passive solar, water conservation systems, “geothermal loops” (underground heating/cooling system), recycling chutes on each floor, and a signal system that alerts tenants to the least expensive time of day to operate appliances, based on the local grid’s demand. He may also consider porous pavement and space for tenant gardens.

Lindner said he wants to attract tenants who are “pushing for green” and looking for housing that reduces environmental impact. “We want to draw a higher-niche clientele,” Lindner said. “We think this is definitely what Bay View needs.”

He said Citywide elected to build apartments rather than owner-occupied condos “because in the current market our apartments are full and our houses are not selling.” Lindner said he and his partners own a number of rental properties in the Bay View, Riverwest, and East Side neighborhoods, and buy and sell homes.

Lindner sees the Lincoln Avenue location as ideal because of its proximity to downtown and the developing entertainment district near the intersection of Kinnickinnic, Howell, and Lincoln avenues. He said he plans to develop the entire 6.5-acre parcel in a manner that will incorporate Sweet Water Organics.

Fourteenth District Alderman Tony Zielinski, a proponent of the project despite his historic vocal opposition to non-owner-occupied development in Bay View, said, “This is upscale yuppie housing with a strong sustainable design component that will be great for Bay View.”

He’s hosting a meeting to inform residents about the project 6pm Sept. 3 in the Community Room of the Bay View Library, 2566 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.

click link to see building

http://bayviewcompass.com/archives/1459

mohammed wong

August 28th, 2009, 08:41 AM

btw i think this is a very cool area with tons of potential

link for site of development on googlemap

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&source=hp&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=linconln+and+ward+milwaukee,+wi&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&cid=0,0,6894148886240332928&ei=YG2XSonOJpWiMdfNxKsF&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&resnum=1

mohammed wong

August 28th, 2009, 08:46 AM

Loosen tree border planting restrictions

August 27, 2009

Editorial by Josef Bieniek

Josef Bieniek’s native plantings at the southwest corner of Bremen and Townsend streets are too tall for the city of Milwaukee. The Forestry Division asked him to cut most of his plants down to 24 inches by Sept. 4 to comply with a city ordinance passed in March. Bieniek is circulating a petition to change the 24-inch height restriction to “approximately 36 inches.” ~photo Michael Timm

Just what is a garden? For some it’s a lawn and perhaps a few “traditional” horticultural plants like marigolds, petunias, or geraniums along with the ubiquitous foundation shrubs of yew and juniper highlighting a building rather than the landscape.

For others, including me, gardens are an opportunity to participate in a deeper process-to nurture and be nurtured by a part of the natural world. Gardens offer a spiritual high, alleviating the stresses and anxieties of urban living without recourse to addictive substances or mind-numbing behaviors.

Gardens with native plantings, as opposed to lawns which are essentially sterile deserts, become microscopic ecosystems. These pearls of the emerald chain of this Earth also provide other environmental services. They retain and absorb rainwater, reducing the risk of flooding. They create habitat, attracting and feeding butterflies, bees, dragonflies, and those sweet goldfinches. They even cool down our neighborhoods in summer.

Because they perform these beneficial services, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District promotes rain gardens. National Wildlife Federation certifies residential yards that provide wildlife habitat. And cities like Portland, Seattle, and our neighbor Chicago are encouraging their residents to plant on the so-called parkways-the area between the sidewalk and the street (in Milwaukee, they’re known as tree borders).

Yet our city has restricted plantings in these parcels of soil. I suspect most of those who already plant in these strips don’t know they may be breaking a variety of provisions of the newly revised city code and the Department of Public Works (DPW) flower gardening guidelines for the tree border. The Common Council passed an ordinance in March including a 24-inch height restriction for plantings in the tree border.

Clearly some restrictions are appropriate for safety reasons, but some of the language in the DPW guidelines uses a sledgehammer approach. It’s a throwback to the “weed laws” of an earlier, less green era when a lawn and the use of fertilizers and pesticides was a standard way of life. As most of us know, the Earth cannot sustain these practices any longer.

Five years ago, I planted a garden of native plants in the tree border that the city this year has told me breaks certain of their provisions. Last year, I complied when a representative of the city’s Forestry Division asked me to cut my plants down to 36 inches. But on a repeat visit in early August, a Forestry Division representative told me I had to cut my plants down to 24 inches. This restriction applies not only to corner lots but everywhere in between sidewalk and street.

Instead of a height restriction, it would be more creative if gardeners were told what plants not to grow in the tree border, so long as motorists and pedestrians retained line-of-sight at intersections and dangerous plants were not planted.

This ordinance is also being selectively enforced. Within sight of my garden are others with plants taller than 24 inches. Will those gardeners be cited? One can see such plantings throughout the city-in Riverwest, Bay View, Washington Heights, or the south side. The arbitrary and secretive nature of citations seem to me suspect and unfair.

~photo Michael Timm

To change this ordinance and encourage a more sustainable approach, I am circulating a petition to make the 24-inch height restriction approximately 36 inches instead. This assumes that most plants will not listen to our commands unless perhaps they are genetically modified (though that wouldn’t thrill the bees or butterflies).

Again, this ordinance is active within the entire city. Let’s change it and loosen our creativity; save the butterflies and dragonflies; buffer us from the noise, grayness, and monotony; and help grow a sustainable and green city. Call me to help circulate the petition and call your alderperson.

Josef Bieniek is a Riverwest resident with native plant gardens along both tree borders at the southwest corner of Townsend and Bremen streets. Bieniek can be contacted at (414) 264-2537 or josbieniek@aol.com. In mid-August, Bieniek said he had collected approximately 100 signatures in support of changing the 24-inch height restriction. The Department of Public Works’ Forestry Division gave him one month from Aug. 4 to comply with their directive to cut his plantings down to 24 inches, with the exception of his cup plants. Bieniek said he was told he could wait until next year to transplant the cup plants because otherwise they would die. Bieniek points out the stop sign at his corner is currently clearly visible.

Forestry Service Manager David Sivyer clarifies that 2009 is the first time flowers have been permitted by ordinance in the tree border. Sight visibility restrictions at all intersections have previously required that plants be kept at or below 36 inches within a “sight visibility triangle.” According to Sivyer, the 24-inch height restriction for plants in all tree borders is for safety reasons, so motorists can see traffic backing out of driveways, children, pets, cyclists, or wheelchair-bound residents on sidewalks. The Common Council passed two ordinances (File 081117 & File 081573) regulating public right-of-way plantings in March and May of this year respectively. See the city’s planting guidelines at bayviewcompass.com.

click link to see high growth around house

http://bayviewcompass.com/archives/1450

mohammed wong

August 28th, 2009, 08:50 AM

Checking in at Centro Café
Centro does not have signage, but customers are finding the bistro anyway due to rave word-of-mouth reviews.
By Molly Snyder Edler
OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer

Published Aug. 25, 2009 at 4:32 p.m.

Earlier this year, Riverwest lost a longtime Italian eatery, Albanese's, which left the already slim neighborhood dining scene extremely lean. Riverwest's crown jewel, Nessun Dorma, 2778 N. Weil St., continues to thrive, and Rio West Cantina, 2730 N. Humboldt Blvd., offers up Mexican eats in a kid-friendly setting, but the neighborhood was champing at the bit for a new place to nosh.

Finally, on June 18 -- after almost five years of construction -- Peg Karpfinger and her husband and business partner, Patrick Moore, opened Centro Café, 808 E. Center St. The couple purchased the building in September 2003.

"The idea of the restaurant was Pat's," says Karpfinger. "It was his dream. He wanted to create a neighborhood restaurant that served Italian food and he wanted to be the shopkeeper out front sweeping the sidewalk."

Karpfinger, who is also a landscape architect, says the rehab process was long because Moore had to divide his time between working on Centro and managing and restoring his other buildings. Plus, Karpfinger says, Moore's friendly personality slowed things down a bit.

"Whenever anyone stopped to ask what he was up to, he would stop what he was doing to chat," says Karpfinger. "He'd introduce himself and give a tour of the space. He knew a lot of our customers before we were even open and if he did not know their names, he definitely knew their dog's."

Centro's menu is affordable and offers a mix of meaty, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free appetizers, salads, pasta dishes, sandwiches and side dishes. Karpfinger says the vegan white bean dip ($4) is one of the most popular items on the menu.

"We make it easy for our guests to get their servings of vegetables in for the day with our grilled asparagus, mushrooms, peppers and zucchini," she says. "We also offer vegetable side dishes of broccoli and spinach."

Plus, there are 12 pasta dishes on the menu from a very light spaghetti marinara to a heavy dish of penne pasta with sausage and mushrooms. Other menu highlights include the vegetarian gnocchi ($12), penne con salsiccia ($9) and the rocket salad ($5).

Diners can customize their orders with add-ons that range from calamari to vegan meatballs to grilled vegetables. Centro's chefs are Walter Williams, formerly from the Riverwest Co-op, and Sergio Fusco, originally from New York.

Centro's bar features beer and wine. Most of the wines are from Italy and range in price from low to moderate. Karpfinger says they plan to expand Centro's wine offerings and that helping customers discover new varieties is one of her favorite aspects of the business.

"We tried to create a wine list that was unintimidating and accessible and we believe in helping people to select a wine that fits their tastes," she says.

Centro's indoor dining area seats about 30 people, with additional seating on the front patio. The interior is clean and comfortable, with mirrors on the walls, fresh flowers on the bar and massive windows that are open on nice days.

Ruth Weill is a server at Centro, and she notices that many of the neighborhood's young families are stopping by the new cafe.

"Having a nicer restaurant in the neighborhood is great for all the younger parents who want a date night closer to home," she says. "And it helps kill the stereotype that Riverwest is for hippies and thugs. So not true."

So far, Kaprfinger says diners are traveling from as far as Bayside, Franklin and Pewaukee to check out Centro.

"It pleases us, of course, for our own sake, but in a broader context for the neighborhood," says Karpfinger. "The local news focuses on all that is negative about Riverwest and in spite of that, people from the suburbs are coming to the center of Riverwest to sit on the sidewalk and enjoy a glass of wine and some pasta. That makes us very, very happy."

mohammed wong

August 28th, 2009, 08:53 AM

http://www.jsonline.com/business/55529627.html

cool old buildings there
neigborhood is very scary though,

good that something is done with it though

mohammed wong

August 28th, 2009, 08:59 AM

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/55019927.html

former Milwaukee Gas Light Co. buildings.

where are these? what do they look like?

Jesse276

August 28th, 2009, 06:04 PM

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/55019927.html

former Milwaukee Gas Light Co. buildings.

where are these? what do they look like?

Here is a link to google maps:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=53202&sll=37.09024,-112.324219&sspn=5.254968,70.400391&ie=UTF8&ll=43.033584,-87.942156&spn=0.001568,0.008594&t=h&z=17&iwloc=A

Part of the complex is used as 4 Seasons skate park, it's pretty nice, I take my nephew there. I know most of the complex is underused, but this project should give it a nice facelift. This building is very visible from the freeway and adjacent areas, along with having a nice location on the river.

You might be able to get better pictures from maps.live.com If anyone has any pics, please post!

Eriol

August 28th, 2009, 07:42 PM

I love those Google maps. But this one is really, really old. It was taken before they cleared the land for the Harley.

Is there a current view available? I'd love to see the changes from Miller Park all the way down.

mohammed wong

August 28th, 2009, 11:08 PM

http://bayviewcompass.com/archives/1459

i know i posted alot,
but just went a little crazy

what do you guys think of this project?

miltown

August 29th, 2009, 01:48 AM

http://bayviewcompass.com/archives/1459

i know i posted alot,
but just went a little crazy

what do you guys think of this project?

Yea ya did go crazy.... I like the design, its good to see even smaller projects adopting green tendencies.

EastSider

September 3rd, 2009, 12:03 AM

Not bad considering the Brand.

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/4378/daysinn1082809.jpg

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/1750/daysinn2082809.jpg

qwerty44

September 3rd, 2009, 01:30 AM

Not bad considering the Brand.

Where exactly is this?

El Mariachi

September 3rd, 2009, 01:56 AM

reminds me of Bradley Tech a bit! Not bad for a Days Inn. How many more of these hotels do we need to build to bring Gen-Con back?

Eriol

September 3rd, 2009, 04:38 AM

Where exactly is this?
Right in the near northside ghetto.

Milwaukee, WY

September 3rd, 2009, 04:44 AM

Right in the near northside ghetto.

Not quite. It's kinda sorta right next to Brewer's Hill. It's not really all that bad until you go North of North Ave or West of the freeway. I have a felling this area may see more development in coming years as the economy improves and the Park East gets filled in. That hill provides some fantastic views. Crime wise, its pretty comparable to the Marquette area. OTOH, as I work literally across the street, I can attest that there are some unsavory folks who still walk 6th St at night, and hotel patrons going to and from downtown would still be best advised to use the hotel shuttle.

EastSider

September 3rd, 2009, 05:56 AM

El Mariachi

September 3rd, 2009, 06:49 AM

ugh......

MilwaukeeMark

September 3rd, 2009, 07:22 AM

I know it'll never happen but I'd be interested to see the financial differences between the two designs. Exactly how much more would the first version cost? What impact will the design change have on vacancy rates?

=dba=Ronin

September 3rd, 2009, 03:24 PM

Even though they are in both renderings, that wing-ish thing sitting on top of the new rendering really doesn't fit in with the rest of the design like it did in the original. It looks like one of those State Fair sack slide ramps.

looksee

September 3rd, 2009, 07:21 PM

Looks about on a par with the Ramada on 6th & Michigan. (really sub-par, in other words)

http://www.travelpod.com/hotel_photo/Ramada_Inn_Downtown-Milwaukee_large.jpg

bjkeys321

September 3rd, 2009, 07:34 PM

Could they at least change the color of that thing on top..

Milwaukee, WY

September 3rd, 2009, 11:24 PM

Aloft finally has a slightly larger version of the rendering. Hate to do this, but:

Before
http://www.ruvindevelopment.com/images/aloft/aloft05.jpg

After
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/8020/0764a9f30e4c302b1251946.jpg

I hate the recession.

Thanks. Now I get to make a trip to the Apple Store to buy a new keyboard to replace the one I just vomited all over. :puke:

EastSider

September 3rd, 2009, 11:26 PM

Thanks. Now I get to make a trip to the Apple Store to buy a new keyboard to replace the one I just vomited all over. :puke:

haha, Yea I definitely puked in my mouth a little.

EastSider

September 4th, 2009, 12:12 AM

Daily Reporter -- Skeptical neighbors greet Milwaukee hotel project (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://dailyreporter.com/files/2009/04/wheda-042309.jpg&imgrefurl=http://dailyreporter.com/blog/2009/04/23/wheda-projects-await-federal-answers/&usg=__Jb8y9pTGINqy0w8Tf0gF1XZdk5k=&h=245&w=500&sz=25&hl=en&start=7&sig2=vwJseCeYkML6lw7bp7AhAA&um=1&tbnid=eSJ7aoTp-U5-7M:&tbnh=64&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmilwaukee%2Brendering%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DG%26um%3D1&ei=MjCgSr74IZKpmQek1tyBDg)

A proposed 130-room hotel in a Milwaukee east side neighborhood is creating a rift between people who like the idea and those who say the project is out of place.

“Not all of the neighbors are convinced that this is a good idea,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, who lives across the street from the targeted property and is a member of the Milwaukee Plan Commission and the local neighborhood association. “The reason is most people, me included, would say, ‘Who would put a huge, 130-room hotel in this location?’”

Brady Street Hospitality LLC, which is run by brothers Jay and Rick Walia, requested city permission to build the four-story hotel between Franklin Place and Arlington Street just south of Brady Street, a thoroughfare of shops, bars and restaurants. The hotel would replace a for-sale building.

The area around the project site is diverse, which makes it hard to determine what does and does not fit in, said Alderman Nik Kovac, who represents the area. There is a 20-story public housing high-rise to the north, single-family homes to the west and south, and four- and five-story apartments nearby.

The business owners on nearby Brady Street mostly support the project, Kovac said, because it will bring in more customers.

GarfieldPark

September 4th, 2009, 06:20 AM

Paule

September 4th, 2009, 11:43 AM

El Mariachi: "How many more of these hotels do we need to build to bring Gen-Con back?"

A. Probably quite a few -- and Indy is adding more rooms as we speak. Its got the 1,623 room JWMarriott complex going up right now. About 620 rooms will open next Spring, and the other 1000+ rooms in early 2011. The convention center is also expanding, from its previous 410,000 sq. feet of exhibit space to 747,000 sq. feet. This compares with the Midwest Express Center's approximately 190,000 sq feet of exhibit space. It looks pretty doubtful that it'll be coming back to Milwaukee in the near future.
LOL, Gen-Con, I haven't heard that word in years, and I can see some are still bitter over them leaving.

Well, hotels wouldn't be expanding in Indy if they didn't see a reason to, and they do in Indy. Hotels have also been expanding in Milwaukee but they've been of the much smaller, specialized type. What Milwaukee definately has to do in the near future is expand their convention space. You wont get the big hotels until this happens.

bjkeys321

September 4th, 2009, 05:39 PM

I heard that the Midwest Express Center did have plans to expand?

Milwaukee, WY

September 4th, 2009, 06:29 PM

I heard that the Midwest Express Center did have plans to expand?

Yeah, but nothing on the order of 750,000 Sq ft. There was some discussion of the plans a while back. You should be able to locate it by a google search. I do not believe that anything is currently planned. More like long term plans.

miltown

September 5th, 2009, 01:57 AM

UWM withdraws Pieces of Eight site proposal
By Tom Daykin of the Journal Sentinel
Sept. 4, 2009 3:55 p.m.

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has just announced it is withdrawing its proposal to use the former Pieces of Eight restaurant site on Milwaukee's lakefront as a location for the headquarters of its new School of Freshwater Sciences.

The university's Real Estate Foundation announced that surprise decision after encountering opposition to the location, including criticism from some aldermen. The Common Council's approval for using the city-owned site was needed.

"Transforming Southeastern Wisconsin into the water technology capital of the world is an initiative that has the potential to unite this region in what could be the largest economic development initiative we have ever seen," said David Gilbert, foundation president, in a statement. "We cannot risk the success of this initiative over siting issues."

UWM Chancellor Carlos Santiago, in a statement, also mentioned the criticism. Opponents have said they support the freshwater school, but say the Pieces of Eight site should be used for green space.

"It has become clear that the proposal to showcase freshwater research and industries at the Pieces of Eight site could end up being divisive," Santiago said. "Too much is at stake for us to risk losing the momentum we have established for UWM’s Growth Agenda and for making Southeast Wisconsin the world headquarters for freshwater research and related industrial development."

Santiago also said the site "was limiting in terms of space and the university's control over the design of the facility."

The foundation will begin an immediate search for alternative locations. Helping with the search will be community and water industry leaders, including, Julia Taylor, president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee and Richard Meeusen, CEO of Badger Meter.

"Although many, many people endorsed the idea of building a new freshwater facility at the Pieces of Eight site, a prolonged fight over that location is not in the best interests of our region," Meeusen said, in a statement. "We should be united in our efforts to capitalize on the tremendous advantage we enjoy with our freshwater resources and the businesses built around those resources."

------- I hope the build in a prominant spot downtown, or else they may chose to place this in southeastern wisconsin - outside of the city!!! Here come's another great opportunity ruined and another mediocre replacement!!!

perilouspete

September 7th, 2009, 09:36 PM

Although I'm disappointed they're not using that site, I still have faith that they will find another good location for it. And the good part of this is that they will not be limited in its design as they would have apparently been in putting it at Piece of Eight. Also, now maybe something new and creative can go to the Po8 site...I dunno. I'm fishing for positives.

GarfieldPark

September 8th, 2009, 03:34 AM

I've got a question. I've been reading plenty for the past half year or so about Milwaukee moving toward becoming this major research hub for freshwater technology. Its mentioned in the story (two above) a couple of times. Does anyone really know what kind of technology they are talking about? I guess I can think of filtering and cleaning fresh water, and there is hydraulic power -- although usually that is thought of as occurring somewhere near a huge dam. Anybody have any additional ideas about what other huge technology ideas there are related to fresh water? The story above made me curious - talking about how this effort could become the biggest economic development initiative ever for Milwaukee. That would be great for Milwaukee and I hope it happens. But I'm just real unfamiliar with the idea and am trying to get a better understanding of the many types of industry that could tie into this research. Does anyone really know what kind of stuff they are talking about? A few additional examples? Now if someone could develop a better, more cost effective system for de-salinization of salt-water -- that would be huge -- but I don't see that happening in Milwaukee without salt water. Just curious - and trying to get a better understanding of this big concept. For a second question --- do you really think this thing has a good chance of being as huge as what is being talked about? Or do you think this is more likely just a big case of over hype - regarding the potential of this thing? Thanks for any input.

EastSider

September 8th, 2009, 07:22 AM

I always find google effective in research.

Milwaukee, WY

September 8th, 2009, 08:27 AM

^^ Wow. Having a rough day? ;)

ajknee

September 8th, 2009, 06:38 PM

Here's a link to the WATER Institute, where you can read about some of the stuff they do: http://www.glwi.uwm.edu/

Eriol

September 8th, 2009, 06:46 PM

Search jsonline.com. They have written a ton about it, much of which has been posted in this thread.

EastSider

September 8th, 2009, 09:33 PM

^^ Wow. Having a rough day? ;)
Didn't mean to be sarcastic. Meant to say it's a global issue so there's a lot of information online to find. :cheers:

MilwaukeeD

September 8th, 2009, 11:47 PM

Sure, there is filtering, wastewater treatment, pumps, cleaning, meters, valves, fish farming, water policy and making products that use water more efficient.

This could be anything from A.O. Smith just making more efficient water heaters and Kohler making more efficient toilets...to Marquette becoming a worldwide resource on water laws and patents...to a number of area companies working on wastewater treatment solutions both for human waste and industrial waste (something that most countries don't even do).

Milwaukee already has 120 companies doing things like this and the hope is to grow those companies and attract new ones. Some of them will develop technologies that they can patent, others will conduct research through federal grants.

miltown

September 9th, 2009, 01:51 AM

GarfieldPark

September 9th, 2009, 07:07 AM

Thanks -- paprticularly for the additional examples of potential types of water related technologies being advanced. I'll do the google search too - and JSOnline -- but it seems most of the recent stories I have read didn't have too many specifics. Probably the earlier stories had more examples, and now the writers just assume most people know all the details. Anyway - thanks again. I do believe it will be a growing industry - with more and more concerns about limiting fresh water usage (especially in the south), and in general - with recycling and using water more efficiently. I've recently started seeing new "no flush" urinals where I live. If we could get those installed everywhere - that would save plenty of water.

MilwaukeeMark

September 9th, 2009, 08:57 PM

And the ripple effect takes hold...

Cudahy pulls funding for UWM engineering campus
By Tom Daykin of the Journal Sentinel
Sept. 9, 2009 12:05 p.m.

Retired business executive Michael Cudahy has withdrawn his pledge to help fund University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's plans for its new College of Engineering and Applied Science research facilities at the Milwaukee County Grounds, in Wauwatosa.

That word just came to me from David Gilbert, president of UWM Foundation Inc. Its subsidiary, UWM Real Estate Foundation Inc., is leading the fund-raising campaign for that project.

Cudahy's decision apparently came after UWM on Friday announced it was withdrawing its proposal to use the former Pieces of Eight restaurant site on Milwaukee's lakefront as a location for the headquarters of its new School of Freshwater Sciences.

Gilbert declined to talk about the timing of Cudahy's decision, and his reasons for the decision. But Cudahy, who wasn't immediately available for comment today, said last week that he wasn't happy with UWM's decision on the Pieces of Eight site.

The decision on the freshwater school came just one month after Cudahy paid $1 million for the lease on the former Pieces of Eight building, which sits on city-owned land. Cudahy planned to turn the lease over to UWM if it won approval for the school headquarters, which would be built after the restaurant was demolished.

"Anytime you build anything on the lakefront, all hell breaks lose. So this is no exception," said Cudahy, founder of Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin, which is next to the Pieces of Eight site. "I just can't believe the university would cower under a few comments."

Cudahy said Friday he would proceed with plans to open a new restaurant at the building, while UWM looks for a new home for the freshwater school's headquarters.

As for the engineering project, Gilbert called Cudahy's revocation of his funding pledge "a minor issue in a multi-million dollar initiative."

It isn't clear how much Cudahy had pledged for the project, which was to be named the Michael Cudahy Innovation Park. A real estate foundation affiliate, UWM Innovation Park LLC, has agreed to pay $13.55 million for the county land, which is east of U.S. Highway 45 and north of W. Watertown Plank.

The first payment, of $5 million, is due in March, when the affiliate closes on its land purchase, Gilbert said. He said that purchase contract will be honored.

I'll have a more detailed story later at JSOnline.com, and in Thursday's print edition of the Journal Sentinel.

miltown

September 11th, 2009, 12:52 AM

Jesse276

September 11th, 2009, 02:56 AM

Just happened to see a bit of channel 25 today for the DPW board meeting and they were taking about re-doing 27th st. from around St. Paul to Highland, one of the ideas was to create a "grand" boulevard with 4 through traffic lanes then pedestrian corridors on either side followed by 2 more curb lanes next to store fronts a total of 8 lanes. The idea is kind of like Mill Road after 76th street with the service drives but with a lot more street-scaping and landscaping. These types of streets are also common in other cities like SF and NY. I kind of like the idea of sprucing up the area. It may change that area for the better since some abandoned and dilapidated buildings might need to be torn down.

This was only a preliminary idea, so in the future we should here a bit more about this.

I don't see how they could do that unless they demolished an entire side of the street, or re-routed 27th street in a way like 16th/17th street is. Where 26th/27th would be one ways and join back at Highland.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=43.041293,-87.932435&spn=0.003536,0.009602&t=h&z=17

Parking and congestion always seem to be an issue in that area; it would be interesting to know how this would affect the area, if the road was improved.

looksee

September 11th, 2009, 04:01 AM

Just happened to see a bit of channel 25 today for the DPW board meeting and they were taking about re-doing 27th st. from around St. Paul to Highland, one of the ideas was to create a "grand" boulevard with 4 through traffic lanes then pedestrian corridors on either side followed by 2 more curb lanes next to store fronts a total of 8 lanes. ...These types of streets are also common in other cities like SF and NY.... It may change that area for the better since some abandoned and dilapidated buildings might need to be torn down.
I honestly don't know what your New York and San Francisco references might be. The only one even remotely similar in New York that I can think of is Queens Blvd., located many miles from Manhattan.

This sounds entirely like a traffic engineering proposal to simply extend an already widened 27th St. south from Highland.

The couple blocks north of Wisconsin Ave. are dense with period (underutilized but still sound) urban buildings. The first Google Streetview image shows these. The second picture is what a widened 27th Street is, and almost certainly would become (even with the bone of landscaped eye candy thrown in):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/looksee/n27thst.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/looksee/1176n27thst.jpg

Twoaday

September 11th, 2009, 04:09 AM

First, to be clear this idea was just an alternative analysis, so just ideas basically. But the idea of turning 27th St. into a "grand boulevard" strikes me as "urban renewal," which didn't go so well. Finally, a grand boulevard ought to connect something of interest.

miltown

September 11th, 2009, 05:08 AM

I honestly don't know what your New York and San Francisco references might be. The only one even remotely similar in New York that I can think of is Queens Blvd., located many miles from Manhattan.

This sounds entirely like a traffic engineering proposal to simply extend an already widened 27th St. south from Highland.

The couple blocks north of Wisconsin Ave. are dense with period (underutilized but still sound) urban buildings. The first Google Streetview image shows these. The second picture is what a widened 27th Street is, and almost certainly would become (even with the bone of landscaped eye candy thrown in):

This is Octavia St. in SF excuse the google maps pic, lanes are marked with yellow dot, pedestrian areas are marked with red dot, The idea was for 27th street to be widened in the maximum plan to 164ft! so wider than the street shown... there would also be a wider boulevard in a prominent area to emphasize the street beautification. I think the idea is for the middle lanes to move traffic and the side lanes to accommodate businesses.

http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp230/stillirise/sfst.jpg

looksee

September 11th, 2009, 05:38 AM

This is Octavia St. in SF ...
The idea was for 27th street to be widened in the maximum plan to 164ft! so wider than the street shown... there would also be a wider boulevard in a prominent area to emphasize the street beautification. I think the idea is for the middle lanes to move traffic and the side lanes to accommodate businesses.

Hmmm. Well, this may be of interest then: http://sfcitizen.com/blog/2009/05/07/graffiti-tagging-brightens-up-otherwise-dreary-octavia-boulevard-dwelling/

Jesse276

September 11th, 2009, 06:37 PM

I can't see how turning 27th street into Mill Road (south) would improve the area, let alone justify the cost. Cars would go faster, but it would end up looking more like Locust Street from Holton to the Freeway, where one side of the street was torn down and it looks like it.

miltown

September 11th, 2009, 09:08 PM

Hmmm. Well, this may be of interest then: http://sfcitizen.com/blog/2009/05/07/graffiti-tagging-brightens-up-otherwise-dreary-octavia-boulevard-dwelling/

Interesting post, I guess you like to find the bad in any situation. People tag all over the place, it isn't the result of any street being a certain way, they mentioned taking to good ideas from street designs like this, not exactly copying the SF design. The concern here was speeding up traffic so DPW and it's planners will pick whatever design is going to move traffic better in that area.

I can't see how turning 27th street into Mill Road (south) would improve the area, let alone justify the cost. Cars would go faster, but it would end up looking more like Locust Street from Holton to the Freeway, where one side of the street was torn down and it looks like it.

Keep in mind this isn't the entire street or even a mile of street this would be anywhere from 2 - 7 blocks of 27th street, emphasizing the street beautification, landscaping, and widening.

miltown

September 11th, 2009, 09:20 PM

I knew this would happen, why does Milwaukee insist on remaining a minor unimportant city, passing up great opportunities?????? So much for the prominent locations. I don't think protesters realized that even if the school didn't happen at pieces of eight that the restaurant would remain.

UWM looks outside city for freshwater school
Cousins Center, Port Washington pitched
The Business Journal of Milwaukee - by Pete Millard

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee leaders are looking outside the city of Milwaukee to locate the future School of Freshwater Sciences, now that a 1.67-acre lakefront parcel next to Discovery World is no longer under consideration.

Working with Milwaukee-area executives on the Milwaukee 7 Water Council, UWM officials are exploring the 45-acre Cousins Center campus in St. Francis as well as a former Wisconsin Electric Power Co. coal dock on 12 acres of Port Washington lakefront.

Municipal officials are expected to make a strong run at UWM to look at sites outside Milwaukee after UWM Chancellor Carlos Santiago announced last week that the former Pieces of Eight restaurant location controlled by Milwaukee philanthropist Michael Cudahy was too controversial, and the university was restarting its search for a suitable freshwater science school site.

“The Pieces of Eight site became too divisive in the community, and we didn’t want to jeopardize the importance of this economic development initiative over a construction site,” said David Gilbert, UWM Real Estate Foundation president.

UWM will consider several alternate Milwaukee sites for the school, in addition to reviewing the possible expansion of the Great Lakes Water Institute at 660 E. Greenfield Ave. to include the school, he said. UWM is looking at city land near Erie Street in the 3rd Ward and Hans and Peter Moede’s 17-acre Reed Street Yards in the Walker’s Point neighborhood.

Milwaukee Ald. Bob Bauman is floating the idea of UWM locating the freshwater science school at the 5-acre Lake Express ferry headquarters, 2330 S. Lincoln Memorial Drive, at the Milwaukee harbor. The ferry could be relocated along the Menomonee River near the Milwaukee Intermodal Station, he said.

“It makes sense to centralize the ferry with trains and buses at the Intermodal Station,” Bauman said.

But, Ken Szallai, president of Lake Express LLC, said it’s not feasible for the ferry to go up river to dock. When the Lake Express ferry was created and its investors signed a 25-year lease in 2004, the South Lincoln Memorial Drive location was the only suitable site, Szallai said.
Design issues

While UWM officials were growing weary of dealing with those who opposed building a 50,000-square-foot school at the lakefront, business leaders questioned whether the Pieces of Eight site was large enough to accommodate the school and serve as an economic development catalyst. Discussion of the school’s architectural design also was going to be contentious, Gilbert said.

Michael Cudahy, who holds the lease on the Pieces of Eight property, was willing to transfer the lease to UWM. However, Cudahy was making demands on what the building would look like.

“Apparently, the university took offense to my comments on the potential design, but I wasn’t going to watch something go up that was a disgrace for the lakefront,” said Cudahy, who added that the university’s competitive, low-bid design and construction process doesn’t always result in a great-looking building.

Richard Meeusen, top executive at Brown Deer-based Badger Meter Inc., believes scrapping the lakefront site is the right decision for UWM.

“With so many people rallying behind the idea of creating the School of Freshwater Sciences, no one wanted to risk losing communitywide support over an iconic location,” said Meeusen, who co-chairs the Milwaukee 7’s Water Council.

UWM and Water Council members working on the school’s creation were willing to sacrifice space for a prime piece of real estate on the lakefront, said Meeusen.

Going forward, UWM and its private-sector advisers intend to review all proposals for the school. UWM doesn’t have a set timeline for breaking ground, and it may take two or three months to come up with a new location.

Meanwhile, St. Francis city administrator Ralph Voltner will be touting his community’s ideal location — the Cousins Center owned by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Cardinal Stritch University came close to acquiring the 415,000-square-foot Cousins Center campus several months ago, but backed out when unsuitable financing rates and diminishing donations became issues.

“We welcome UWM, and will work to provide lakefront access to the school,” Voltner said.

While the Cousins Center is several hundred yards from Lake Michigan, city-owned Bay View Park could be used to dock the UWM school’s research vessel or house a small lakefront building, he said.

And in Port Washington, community development director Randy Tetzlaff already has contacted UWM about the former coal dock property.

“We owe it to ourselves to have a conversation with the university and show our interest,” Tetzlaff said.

Cudahy lays out restaurant plans
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/09/14/story2.html?b=1252900800^2080811

looksee

September 11th, 2009, 09:44 PM

Interesting post, I guess you like to find the bad in any situation. People tag all over the place, it isn't the result of any street being a certain way,

Keep in mind this isn't the entire street or even a mile of street this would be anywhere from 2 - 7 blocks of 27th street, emphasizing the street beautification, landscaping, and widening.

That's about the length of the Octavia Blvd in S.F. you cite.

Now here are quotes from the part of the link (which used the graffiti example only as an introduction to its main point about the street's "improvement") which you chose to ignore: (btw I didn't search for the bad. I did a routine search for a street I knew nothing about. The only positives I found were that it was an improvement over a freeway ramp that it apparently replaced.This is what people who have to live with it say):

I don’t condone this spray paint vandalism, but the bigger crime here is on the bottom – that’s part of San Francisco’s Octavia Boulevard/Onramp/Offramp/Idling Car Parking Lot, a relatively new public policy failure. Interestingly, this 133-foot-wide, quarter-mile-long Scar Upon the Land does not benefit motorists or transit users, or cyclists or pedestrians. Isn’t that funny?

Is Octavia really a Great Street? Really, like in real life? I’m sure the Boulevard Movement looks great when it’s just plans drawn up in an Ivory Tower somewhere, but is anybody obligated to visit the resulting mess to see what’s been wrought?

“Octavia is a mess for bicyclists and there are tons of vehicle accidents.”

“The poster child for stupidity in San Francisco.

“Unsafe at any speed for:
1.pedestrians
2.bicycles
3.scooters
4.motorcycles

It is confusing. What is with the extra mini-side lane next to the regular lane? Are you allowed to switch back and forth at liberty? What is the purpose of this mini lane?

It’s pretty and it’s great that it’s not a shithole anymore but this is seriously some urban planning gone awry. The shared bike/car lanes on the outside would be great if the cars that drove in them weren’t complete idiots.
The middle lane is for fast driving of cars, not the outer lanes. Unfortunately people are unable to grasp this concept and choose to terrorize pedestrians and cyclists who are trying to enjoy the sections of the project supposedly designed to make things better for us.

So, is Octavia Blvd. your best example of what the DPW desires for us? I hope not.

CGII

September 11th, 2009, 11:27 PM

Way to go UWM NIMBYs, thanks to your unrighteous whining, the UWM school is now considering sites that aren't in the city and even outside the county. But hey, it saved the Pieces Of Eight site from untimely desecration, so, way to go, I guess...

On the subject of wide streets:

They don't work. Here in New York, no stranger to congestion and traffic, the city is streamlining the city's existing traffic infrastructure and in many places narrowing streets to benefit bicyclists and pedestrians, to a very positive and successful result. Queens Boulevard and Grand Concourse (in Queens and the Bronx, respectively), are two super-wide boulevards that are notorious for being unsafe for anyone interacting with them; motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. Queens Boulevard is actually given the nickname 'the Boulevard of Death' because of the high number of car-pedestrian fatalities that happen there. It's also notable that the idea of putting express lanes in the middle of a boulevard with local access arterial roads to the side is actually counterproductive to the cause of urban engagement. How can a business receive any traffic when the street is actually designed to take traffic past the business and neighbourhood?
Even in Manhattan the wide Avenues are unhuman and miserable, designed solely to shuffle traffic along the island's predominant North-South axis. The East-West streets, narrow and comfortable, are where the real vibrant and urbane functions of the city exist.

In a word, widening streets to improve traffic circulation and neighbourhood conditions is an archaic 1940s idea of civic planning that has been continuously disproved around the world. Making 27th St. wider wouldn't actually fix anything; it would just make those in charge feel like they did for spending all that money.

For reference, Grand Concourse in the Bronx:

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/4475/grandconcourse.jpg

Queens Boulevard in Queens:
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/5494/queensboulevard.jpg

Yes, we do have superwide boulevards in NY, but there isn't a soul in their right mind that would speak highly of them.

Markitect

September 11th, 2009, 11:47 PM

I knew this would happen, why does Milwaukee insist on remaining a minor unimportant city, passing up great opportunities?????? So much for the prominent locations.

Big bold alarmist headlines help sell papers.

Astute readers, however, will note the article mentions that UWM is also still looking at some other sites within the city. They will also note that by the University's own admission, that despite the high profile of the Pieces of Eight site, it really was too small for the school. That's an admission that's been repeated in a number of articles in the past week or so since the decision was made.

So UWM made the right decision by not wanting to sacrifice school space for a high profile location.

The Pieces of Eight site really wasn't all that big, and not only does that hinder the amount of stuff that can go into the building, but also limits possible future expansion if freshwater education programs, research, and development are supposed to be as big as all of the promoters say it will be. So it only makes sense to find an appropriate site for the school to handle that.

In the grand scheme of things, it is more important for the work that the school does to be the focus of high-profile attention, not the location of the school building.

That is not to say the school should have a low-quality, crappy design, or that it should be built out in the suburbs...it just means the school does not have to be in a "high-profile" spot right on the Downtown Lakefront as some people out there insist.

Some of the alternative sites right in the city that have been pitched during the last several months are great opportunities for the Freshwater School.