This Google Web page of Milwaukee by "Development master" seems to me IMHO rather cartoonish, if that is a word. And it gets a 5 out of 5 star rating by someone with a handle of Kevin51340??? I have a feeling that Kevin51340 is the aforementioned "Development master". But hey, I could be wrong.

Not likely, Kevin seems to be French.

Damn!! Anybody see this little nugget yet?


The Residences Above? Nope
May 14th, 2008
Rumors had circulated for weeks regarding the demise of The Residences Above portion of Ruvin Developments’ Aloft hotel project. Indications such as the website for The Residences Above being down for weeks and their sales sign coming down in record time combined with the market’s downturn made it appear likely that a change in the project was coming. As of last week the final decision hadn’t been made regarding the status of the condominiums. At the time Rob Ruvin had indicated that they would “most likely eliminate the condos” and that they would “possibly increase the size” of the hotel but they were still working it out. It appears now that decisions have been made and The Residences Above have been eliminated from the project.

I just found this on www.mkedevelopment.com
I'm afraid the downturn may also adversely affect sales at Ghazi's project, The Moderne and others. It has already put the Rivianna project on hold until further notice. Damn.

Here is an article about the credit woes of the developers. One piece that is puzzling to me is the mention in here that the moderne is looking for 40% of the units to sell before they can secure a loan. However, I heard from one of the investors in this project that something like 85% of the project is being privately funded so they don't have to worry about loans. In fact, he wanted to start construction NOW even though less units were sold then he had hoped by now. His thinking is that once it's built people will know it'll be available and see how nice it was etc and they'd be more likely to purchase the condo.

Anyway, here's the article:
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=728414

The models are computer generated graphics done by someone on his free time and are obviously not all serious proposals. They're meant to be used with Google Earth so if you don't have that program on your computer, it's not as neat I'm sure. You don't have to be a jag about it.Hey MM, what did I ever say or do to you? I've had Google Earth on my computer, then shortly thereafter, removed it.

Here is more detail. If it means construction starts sooner, it's good.

I also seem to remember that the Moderne was not having financial trouble and would be built.

Construction trimmed on 2 hotel projects
Developers hope Park East building can start this year
By TOM DAYKIN
tdaykin@journalsentinel.com
Posted: May 14, 2008

Two hotel-anchored projects proposed for Milwaukee's Park East area have made changes that their developers hope will boost the chances of beginning construction this year.

Dallas-based Gatehouse Capital Corp. has trimmed its estimated construction costs for a proposed 22-story tower on the block bordered by W. Juneau and W. McKinley avenues, and N. Old World 3rd and N. 4th Sts. The costs are now estimated at around $145 million, down from $160 million, said Edward Koh, director of investments and development.

The development would include a Kimpton Palomar Hotel with 184 rooms, up from the original plan of 176 rooms, Koh this week told members of the Milwaukee County Board's Committee on Economic and Community Development. He came before the committee to obtain an extension on the purchase option that Gatehouse holds on the county-owned site.

The development also would include 65 condos. Koh said Gatehouse and its local partner, Ruvin Development Inc., need to sell 30% to 50% of the project's condos to obtain financing for the development.

A sales center for the condos, which cost $1.5 million to build, opens Monday at 520 W. McKinley Ave., near the development site, Koh said.

Gatehouse, backed by Texas billionaire investor Thomas Hicks, hopes to begin construction on the two-year project in November, Koh said. The development would include a parking structure and 20,000 square feet of retail space.

Also, Ruvin Development is dropping plans to include nine condos as part of its proposed Aloft Hotel project, developer Robert Ruvin said Wednesday.

Ruvin said the condos are being cut to make the building plan more efficient. He said the hotel would still have 160 rooms but would have more meeting space and more street-level retail space.

Ruvin Development plans to build the $40 million Aloft on its privately owned parcel overlooking the Milwaukee River, north of W. Juneau Ave. Construction is to begin this summer.

The Common Council in April authorized more than $1 million in city funding for the project. Aldermen voted to borrow $858,000 for a Riverwalk segment and plaza, and $278,000 for nearby street improvements.

If the money is spent, it would be repaid through property taxes generated by the hotel and other new development within the Park East area.

So can we just have the Rana project back?

Thanks.

here's 3 pix from my phone:

klements
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2328/2501262344_268ab06b69_o.jpg

classic
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2298/2500432921_cbf54a33b4_o.jpg

density
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/2500432773_7868830e98_o.jpg

http://www.biztimes.com/nf/uploads/Image/5-16-08issue/palomar.jpg

Here (http://www.onmilwaukee.com/buzz/articles/bradfordhihat.html?page=1) is a good article from onmilwaukee.com talking about the pending makover of the Bradford Beach House.

And here (http://www.onmilwaukee.com/buzz/articles/watergardenvote.html) is one about about the water garden.

Where will The Residences at Palomar be located?

Where will The Residences at Palomar be located?

This is the proposal that was previously informally called the Sydney Hih project, before an official name had been given, and back before the developers completely redesigned the project, which calls for demolishing the historic Sydney Hih building on that block. The location is the block between N. Old World Third, N. 4th, W. Juneau, and W. McKinley Streets.

The actual condos in the Palomar proposal are located on the upper floors of the tower--the gray part. The hotel will be in the bottom section of the tower--the white part. A parking garage with retail will go in the adjacent low-rise building. The view in the rendering posted above looks southwest.

http://onmilwaukee.com/images/articles/me/mensjournallist/mensjournallist_story1.jpg

Milwaukee: comeback city

Milwaukee's on the comeback, and individuals interested in heading to our revitalized city better "move now, before housing costs skyrocket and entrepreneurs start elbowing each other for market space," according to Men's Journal.

The June 2008 issue of Men's Journal (the print edition has Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson on the cover) includes an article called the "Best Places to Live." The magazine selected Portland as its top city, but also gave nods to Bloomington ("Best College Town"), Leadville, Colo. ("Best Adventure Mecca"), and others.

OnMilwaukee.com (http://onmilwaukee.com/buzz/articles/mensjournallist.html)

Here (http://www.onmilwaukee.com/buzz/articles/bradfordhihat.html?page=1) is a good article from onmilwaukee.com talking about the pending makover of the Bradford Beach House.
.

Excellent news. Hate to toot my own horn, but I proposed something like this to be done at Bradford Beach years ago and was scoffed at.

Along with this development, I think that a promenade lined with some resturants/cafes/retail should be built from McKinley Marina around to the marina side of Veterans Park. Elsewhere on the lakefront, the North Point Snack Bar parking lot should be completely redeveloped.

Anti-development park people are resting the lakefront on its laurels in my opinion.

Great caution regarding commercial development on the Lake is appropriate, given its uniqueness and relatively limited size. Any botch would not be minor.
Unfortunately, I think the McKinley beach area right now has devolved into a real eyesore, with various clashing and none-too-appealing buildings, both pretentious (NewMilw.YachtClubcoughcough) and humble (the various oversized outhouse rental places etc.). And all that stone riprap hastily brought in for erosion control will probably take centuries to look like it blends in; I think some careful landscaping, a gentle grassy berm at its back perhaps, would greatly hasten the process.
It is heartening to learn of Bradford's rescue. I hope the beach house will finally be properly cared for. I can tell you that almost from the day it was first used it began to stink -- I'm guessing that those who began their careers neglecting to swab those urinals ended up running County government. Just my opinion.

I'm really glad these things are happening at Bradford Beach, too. But the only way it will be successful is if they can find a way to negate the foul stench of rotting algea.

What we need to do is put the Lakefront parks (maybe even the parks system as a whole) under the control of some kind of independent parks commission, and develop a long range plan for the Lakefront. We more attractive buildings, less schlock, more trees, more native plantings, decorative railings and lighting along the lakeside walkways (where there are now only US Army Corps of Engineers bulkheads), better maintenance, and yes, a greater variety of things to see and do.

We need to realize as a community that Milwaukee County has failed to meet its obligations in being a good steward of our parks and our Lakefront. It's time to take the parks out of the County's aegis, develop dedicated funding streams and let someone else besides our County "supervisors" run the system. While we're at it we can do the same with transit.

Along with the lakefront, throw Cathedral Square, Red Arrow Park and Pere Marquette onto the list of parks that should be independtly managed by non-profits.

How is North Beach in Racine managed? It seems odd to me that one of the most beautiful and clean beaches in the US, is only a few miles down shore from the algae fest at Bradford.

I'm really glad these things are happening at Bradford Beach, too. But the only way it will be successful is if they can find a way to negate the foul stench of rotting algea.

I may be completely off-base here, but isn't the stormwater runoff mitigation designed specifically to improve the beach quality at Bradford? I'd have to imagine that project along with the water garden/park would really help the beach.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=664189

I think the question is whether the excess bacteria from the stormwater runoff was also causing some unpleasant smells and additional algae growth.

I think the question is whether the excess bacteria from the stormwater runoff was also causing some unpleasant smells and additional algae growth.

The smell comes from rotting algae for the most part and from decaying alwives during their seasonal die-offs to a lesser extent. The problem with this particular type of rotting algae (Cladophora) is that people confuse the smell with sewage... an unfortunate mental link considering our reputation for dumping partially treated sewage into the lake from time to time.

And the thing is... I'm not entirely sure how we can completely control the algae because it's pretty much here to stay. The only way we can even half-assed control it is by watching how much phosphorus is dumped into the lake via runoff. Really though, it's going to be there no matter what because of the clarity of Lake Michigan (made all the more better by our wonderful invasive friend the zebra mussel). Cladophora looooooves clear water.

An article touting the transformation of Syracuse, Milwaukee, and Pittsburgh

http://http://www.grist.org/feature/2008/05/15/rustbelt/index.html?source=rss

Hey, I just noticed that they tore down that ugly health care building on Park and Cramer. I remember us talking about what's going there a few months back, but I've since forgotten. Is it on another thread?

I don't know why, but that rust belt link that Dre posted isn't working for me...

Here's the link again:

http://www.grist.org/feature/2008/05/15/rustbelt/index.html?source=rss

From the Biz Journal:

"A Milwaukee development firm will announce plans Friday build a new United States Postal Service mail processing and distribution facility in Oak Creek.

The proposed project by Cobalt Parners would house all mail processing and distribution operations in southeastern Wisconsin, including those currently located at the Postal Service's main facility in downtown Milwaukee, according to a media advisory issued Friday morning.

Cobalt Partners will hold a press conference Friday to announce the project. The advisory did not include the exact location of the project.

If the downtown facility moves, it will open up a major redevelopment opportunity along West St. Paul Street in downtown Milwaukee, east of the new Intermodal Station."



This will certainly open up the St. Paul corridor between the new train station and the 3rd ward. As well as prime riverfront across from the Harley Museum.

Weren't there plans to put pedestrian bridges across the river in this area to link to the Harley Museum anyways?

^^ I was just reading about this on jsonline. Great news!! I'm so happy that eyesore will finally be removed from downtown Milwaukee... imagine the possibilities once that's gone. The Public Market, 6th Ave bridge, the Intermodal Station and the Harley Davidson Museum are all fantastic designs so I'm excited to see what's next.

In other news:

Bradley Center plan footprint may grow
Restaurant/retail proposal could spread into Park East

An attempt to develop restaurants and stores north of the Bradley Center could be expanded to include more land for additional retail space, as well as proposed office buildings and downtown housing.

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/multimedia/media/may08/bradley523.jpg

Click for more. (http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=754111)

^^ That plan and that rendering looks fantastic, only problem is, isn't that the corner of 3rd and McKinley? I think it is and that is where the Modern is proposed, my personal favorite with any of the on going proposals. And the last we heard here, the Modern is getting closer to becoming a reality.

^^Not to worry, Old World Third is the first street parallel to the river on the left side of the rendering. Moderne will occupy the site between Old World Third and first parking structure shown in color on the left. An attempt was made at massing in Palomor on the site closest to you in the drawing. Aloft is also missing from the drawing - accross Old World Third from the Palomar.

Are you ready for the best PhotoShop work you've ever seen?

BAM!!!

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f99/ajknee/bradley.jpg


So yeah, there's the Moderne and this new fandangled Bradley Center proposal. My question is... What the hell are they going to put in all that. It's like Ghazi times three. And that is one hell of a gateway at 4th and Juneau...leading to what exactly?

It looks like a great proposal, but I don't see it grounded in anything. Regardless, if someone wants to build it, I'm all for it. But if the word TIF comes up at all, this is one project I wont support. But hey, who am I?

From the Biz Journal:

"A Milwaukee development firm will announce plans Friday build a new United States Postal Service mail processing and distribution facility in Oak Creek.

The proposed project by Cobalt Parners would house all mail processing and distribution operations in southeastern Wisconsin, including those currently located at the Postal Service's main facility in downtown Milwaukee, according to a media advisory issued Friday morning.

Cobalt Partners will hold a press conference Friday to announce the project. The advisory did not include the exact location of the project.

If the downtown facility moves, it will open up a major redevelopment opportunity along West St. Paul Street in downtown Milwaukee, east of the new Intermodal Station."

:banana::applause::righton:
Get the dynamite ready, Maisie, we got some blastin' to do!

Yippee!!

Wait for it...

BAM

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f99/ajknee/bradley-1.jpg

Quick someone send this to the Journal Sentinel before I PhotoShop it to death.

My question is... What the hell are they going to put in all that. It's like Ghazi times three. And that is one hell of a gateway at 4th and Juneau...leading to what exactly?

It looks like a great proposal, but I don't see it grounded in anything.

It's merely a conceptual sketch, depicting a hypothetical development scenario...so nobody should be taking the drawing as gospel truth for an actual proposal right now. It doesn't look "grounded in anything" because it is too early in the process to have all of the details worked out. So things like what would it contain, how big and tall would it be, how would it be paid for, etc. are all pretty open-ended still. The rendering also shows buildings on land which the Bradley Center and its development partners do not own (and possibly may not ever own)--that being Park East corridor land which the County has not put up for sale yet.

The developers have, however, been pitching this idea at the International Council of Shopping Centers Global Retail Real Estate Convention this past week in an attempt to drum up some interest from potential tenants.

Moving the Post Office is HUGE! With the intermodal station newly remodeled and the Harley Museum across the street, that spot could really use a nice building. How soon can we schedule the bulldozers, seriously.

I'm too impatient to wait 5-7 years.

^^Not to worry, Old World Third is the first street parallel to the river on the left side of the rendering. Moderne will occupy the site between Old World Third and first parking structure shown in color on the left. An attempt was made at massing in Palomor on the site closest to you in the drawing. Aloft is also missing from the drawing - accross Old World Third from the Palomar.
Ah, ok, thanks for the correction!

Moving the Post Office is HUGE! With the intermodal station newly remodeled and the Harley Museum across the street, that spot could really use a nice building. How soon can we schedule the bulldozers, seriously.

I'm too impatient to wait 5-7 years.
I hear what you're saying. It just isn't right to have such a cool museum and across the river have an eye sore like that in your way.

The Post Office is the best news for downtown Milwaukee in a while. It's not just that area that will benefit, the P.O. also rents many surface parking lots near downtown for their trucks. The most prominent one is between Plankinton and the Milwaukee River south of St. Paul. Another is at the southeastern corner of First/Pittsburgh.

Am I the only person who is not excited about the post office move? I agree that the current post office building is an eyesore and is in a prime location for a new development. However, according to the Journal Sentinel this also means that some 1900+ jobs will be leaving downtown and moving out to the suburbs. This is a another blow to the downtown market and sending it to the suburbs. Being that this website is called "skyscrapercity", we all have great dreams of what type of new developments and skyscrapers might get planned and built in a city that much of us consider beautiful. Sadly, when you have 1900+ fewer workers working downtown and going to the suburbs, it reduces the occupancy demand downtown as well. If the post office needs to update its facilities, I would have loved for them to do it in another section that actually has space for it such as the Menomonee Valley, Tower Automotive site, or hell, clean up the old Solvay Coke site faster and build right down the street.

In any event, I still am happy that it is being located in Milwaukee County versus them building in Racine or Johnson Creek.

not all of those employees actually worked downtown during the day though. many of them went there to get in their truck and were gone all day moving mail. plus, this frees up parking lots they were using for development.

The post office will still have to have a presence downtown, as there are a lot of residents and employees there. The P.O. on Jackson isn't close enough. They will have to find another place to have a downtown branch and that will still employ people. However, downtown should NEVER be the location of a regional distribution center for anything. This was the P.O.'s distribution for all of SE Wisconsin. That's crazy!

I agree that this could have been located elsewhere in Milwaukee, but it makes sense for them to be by the airport, and it is literally across the street from the City of Milwaukee. Plus (unlike now because it is owned by a private developer and rented to the Post Office), they aren't going to be paying property taxes in Oak Creek. Do we really want to give up 64 acres of land to another tax-exempt use?

not all of those employees actually worked downtown during the day though. many of them went there to get in their truck and were gone all day moving mail. plus, this frees up parking lots they were using for development.

The post office will still have to have a presence downtown, as there are a lot of residents and employees there. The P.O. on Jackson isn't close enough. They will have to find another place to have a downtown branch and that will still employ people. However, downtown should NEVER be the location of a regional distribution center for anything. This was the P.O.'s distribution for all of SE Wisconsin. That's crazy!

I agree that this could have been located elsewhere in Milwaukee, but it makes sense for them to be by the airport, and it is literally across the street from the City of Milwaukee. Plus (unlike now because it is owned by a private developer and rented to the Post Office), they aren't going to be paying property taxes in Oak Creek. Do we really want to give up 64 acres of land to another tax-exempt use?

If the post office needs to update its facilities, I would have loved for them to do it in another section that actually has space for it such as the Menomonee Valley, Tower Automotive site, or hell, clean up the old Solvay Coke site faster and build right down the street.


The search for a site to build a new regional distribution facility for the Postal Service has been going on for almost a decade. The recent articles neglect to mention that they did look at sites within the city in their search process (in the Menomonee Valley and other places), but they found that even though there are some very large parcels of land, they were still too small for the type of building they needed for efficient operations.

Plus, to have a major regional mail distribution facility located just down the street from the freeway system and airport is very important to the Postal Service, since mail comes into/goes from the region via semi trucks and planes, it only makes sense they decided to chose the location they did in Oak Creek versus anywhere else.

Out for an early walk this morning: Thought I would share.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a232/boatnurd/DSC02623.jpg


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a232/boatnurd/DSC02625.jpg


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a232/boatnurd/DSC02620.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a232/boatnurd/DSC02625.jpg

sweeeeeeeeeet.

^^Mark, I haven't seen you posting a bunch on UPC lately? Anything for this week?

^^Mark, I haven't seen you posting a bunch on UPC lately? Anything for this week?

To be perfectly honest, I don't have all that much new material to post. I haven't bought a new camera since my old one was stolen so that kinda puts a damper on things. I'll be back soon enough though, no worries.

Speaking of photography... I found an amazing panoramic photo site and while browsing, found a really sweet pano of Milwaukee New Years 2008 at Red Arrow Park. Here (http://www.panoramas.dk/New-Year-2008/index.html) is the link to the New Years Gallery - just click on the one for Milwaukee. Pretty cool to see us up there with Rio, NYC, London, Sydney and the rest too.

Excuse me, I think I just got shocked to death!

I blame it on Boatnurd's pics

Mark, sorry to hear about the camera! That definitely sucks. I wish you the best with that.

Thanks for the link. Those are some amazing shots!

Ugh, I can't believe someone took a photograph of that shamefully ugly tree.

Excuse me, I think I just got shocked to death!

I blame it on Boatnurd's pics

Not sure I have ever shocked someone to death before.

Ugh, I can't believe someone took a photograph of that shamefully ugly tree.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/looksee/mke2.jpg

uepete@gmail.com> To some extent I agree with you on the loss of the Post Office jobs from the city is unfortunate though as MilwaukeeD pointed out many of these jobs were delivering to SE Wisconsin so they weren't all really in downtown. And the parcels of lands involved have so much development opportunity that to me this is a very exciting development.

From the Biz Journal: (http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/05/26/story6.html)

City considers new TIF to boost Grand Avenue area

With no word emerging on the long-awaited new strategy for the Shops of Grand Avenue, city of Milwaukee officials are pursuing a wider plan for boosting the downtown mall's neighborhood.

To support the mall and projects anticipated on parking lots immediately to the west and south, city officials are likely to create a tax incremental financing district, said Rocky Marcoux, Department of City Development commissioner. The mall already is in such a district, but could also be included in a new one under consideration for Ghazi Co's mixed-use project at North Fourth Street and West Wisconsin Avenue and Clark Street Development's planned mixed-use project at North Second Street and West Michigan Street. City officials have yet to place a dollar value on the district.

The location of downtown Milwaukee's Fonzie statue has been moved again, this time to the east bank of the Milwaukee River, just south of Wells St., it was announced today.

JSonline (http://www.jsonline.com/watch/?watch=1&date=5/27/2008&id=40213)

St. John's on the Lake. Three renderings. Hadn't seen these yet.

http://www.continuumarchitects.com/htmdocs/portfolio/portfolio_item.php?id=97

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/8910/block26xk2.png

Hotel Palomar
http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/owlive/img/apr08/artcity2043008.jpg

St. Johns and Palomar look nice in the mockup stage. There seems to be a pattern of new buildings having a distinctly 'New Milwaukee' look to them with large white maritime skeletons. It could be a nice defining feature for the city.

Ay, the new renderings for those two buildings I like quite a bit. Lets hope on a ground breaking soon

JS Online: Prices for real estate rise over last year (http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=757509)

The price of residential real estate is rising in Milwaukee when measured by the square foot, according to an index produced by a securities trading company in New York City.

Buy a link hereRadar Logic Inc. said that according to its residential property index, the value of a square foot of residential real estate in Milwaukee rose 2.8% from March 2007 to March 2008, the only increase among the 25 markets it measures.

a great new development site. keeps track of council meetings, has recent photos of developments, etc.

http://urbanmilwaukee.com/

a great new development site. keeps track of council meetings, has recent photos of developments, etc.

http://urbanmilwaukee.com/

^^ Isn't that Twoaday's site?

Actually to clarify Milwaukee Development Update was my site. I've joined efforts with Fresh Coast Ventures and we've spent the last month preparing to roll MKEDev into Urban Milwaukee with the hopes of reaching a larger audience and bringing even more news. All the Development news and Government coverage is still there and more...

PS thanks for mention.

I didn't think UrbanMilwaukee.com is exactly a "new" site. It does have a lot of city development matters and issues, and both mkedevelopment.com and urbanmilwaukee.com covered similar meetings. It makes sense to see both of them combine together.

well, the web address is not new, but the site design itself is completely new.

http://www.biztimes.com/nf/uploads/Image/reweekly6.3.08/Blue-Ribbon-Lofts.jpg
The apartments developed by Gorman, to be called the Blue Ribbon Loft Apartments, will be a mixed-income apartment building with some units affordable to families and individuals making 50-60 percent of the area's median income. The development will be designed to serve local artists, entrepreneurs and other members of the "creative class" with live-work units and amenities such as a music studio, artists' workspaces and galleries, a business center, conference rooms and a theater/presentation spaceSBT (http://www.biztimes.com/realestateweekly/2008/6/4/progress-at-former-pabst-brewery)

HOLY CRAP, I just walked by the Grand Avenue...Linens n Things is going out of business!?! This is potentially a good thing (if the developers have a new tenant in mind) but most likely a terrible thing.

On a good not though, the fence is down at the Harley Davidson Museum. It's looking really good.

Yes, Linen's n' Things is going bankrupt and are closing over 100 stores nationwide. This isn't an indication that Grand Avenue is doing terribly or that the new owners have a new tenant in mind, just that Linen's n' Things as a company has gone bankrupt.

Looks like Bed, Bath and Beyond take's no prisoners!

Yes, Linen's n' Things is going bankrupt and are closing over 100 stores nationwide. This isn't an indication that Grand Avenue is doing terribly or that the new owners have a new tenant in mind, just that Linen's n' Things as a company has gone bankrupt.

Good deal, I was in need of some clearance-priced Linens and/or Things.

Those Pabst Apartments look perfect to me. Keep the historical look of the building and make them affordable. Can't wait to see how that area develops with residential units nearby. I'd imagine the city will need a bit more retail close by.

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/owlive/img/jun08/gateway.one0608_big.jpg

The reinvention of the gateway into Walker's Point from the Third Ward, where S. 1st St. takes over for Water St. as it heads south of the river, is already under way with the new, modern construction emerging in one of Milwaukee's oldest commercial districts.

The city's primary goal for the area is to make it pedestrian-friendly and to give it a feel suited to the architecturally diverse Walker's Point, as distinct from the Third Ward. The project will start with basic things like narrowing streets, widening sidewalks and enlarging the small, triangle-shaped park.

One idea is to resurrect an innovative, environmentally sustainable design for a winter-hardy bamboo park that had been proposed for the end of Erie St. in the Third Ward. The plan didn't go forward when some residents complained about the design.

Example of New Construction: Vetter Denk
http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/owlive/img/jun08/gateway.two0608_big.jpg

Full Article (http://www.jsonline.com/multimedia/graphic.asp?graphic=http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/owlive/img/jun08/gateway.two0608_big.jpg)

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know anything new about the World Trade Center Wisconsin building a building in Milwaukee?

These articles are all I found; does anyone know anything else?

http://www.biztimes.com/news/2007/6/8/imagine-a-milwaukee-world-trade-center-building

http://www.dailyreporter.com/item.cfm?recid=20047311

Well, I would have preffered the bamboo park in its originally-intended spot, on the water off of Erie Street, but the triangle on South First would be a nice place for it go as well.

As for the name of this neighborhood. Historically speaking, it's Walker's Point. George Walker staked his claim on a narrow peninsula on what is now South First and Seeboth. So, the area immediately south of the Third Ward is literally the heart of Walker's Point, and I peronally call it that, not "Fifth Ward," or (heavens, no) "SoFi".

I know this is kind of off topic, but does anyone know why there’s sprinklers on sections of the Marquette Interchange they’re working on? Is it part of the curing process of the concrete?

I'm not sure about the exact details, but yes, it is part of the curing process. Don't quote me on this, but I seem to recall a project manager for the interchange who spoke in one of my classes saying that they need to keep the concrete above 41 degrees and below about 65 degrees for something like 11 days after it is poured. The water helps keep it in that range. Again, not sure on the numbers, but that's the gist of it.

An interesting report calling for doubling the amount of people living downtown among other things. A great read for those who haven't seen it.

http://www.wpri.org/Reports/Volume21/Vol21No4/Vol21No4p1.html

Well I'll break the silence... Nothing too exciting, but the interchange is showing signs of completion. Looks like the new 794 westbound lanes will be opening soon. Signs have gone up (with 43 N/S ramps blocked off) and lanes are being painted. I really look forward to the completion of this thing.

Other than that. Is there ANYTHING? I mean, do we have any updates on Ghazi or new developments? The proposed Water St block with the theater? Such slow times :(

Congrats on getting the banner today

Hey, great banner photo!

I wonder who took that one?

I couldn't get in to post this the other day.

WEDNESDAY, June 18, 2008, 7:39 a.m.
By Mark Schaaf

Rezoning paves way for hotel
The West Allis Common Council Tuesday approved a zoning change for 9.1 acres of State Fair Park land as Milwaukee Mile owners work to develop a hotel.

The move changes the land from a commercial district to State Fair land. The Milwaukee Mile had planned to buy and develop the property, located on the southeast portion of the Fair Park grounds along Greenfield Avenue, but will instead lease the land from the state.

Plans for call the construction of a 104-room hotel and a racing-themed restaurant, Quaker Steak and Lube, near the Milwaukee Mile.

Though the project has been delayed for years, Development Director John Stibal said he expects the hotel to be completed by next spring.

With some of the testimony that has been coming out of the Michael McGee federal corruption trial, might we be safe in saying that HE, while alderman, was a *MAJOR* impediment to efforts to redevelop many of those blighted near north side sites, including the Park Freeway ROW and the former Schlitz brewery? They were in his district.

Mike

With some of the testimony that has been coming out of the Michael McGee federal corruption trial, might we be safe in saying that HE, while alderman, was a *MAJOR* impediment to efforts to redevelop many of those blighted near north side sites, including the Park Freeway ROW and the former Schlitz brewery? They were in his district.

The former Schlitz brewery was not in McGee's district (though it was across the street from the district boundary line), and while some of it is still vacant, much of it was redeveloped in the 1980s and 90s, well before he was even elected.

There are only a few blocks in the Park East corridor that were in McGee's district, but even he cannot be accused of impeding redevelopment process there. That credit ought to go to Milwaukee County, which as landowner of those blocks, is responsible for the RFP and land sales process for the former freeway ROW. Some of the empty PE blocks that were in McGee's district have not even had RFP's issued yet. Only one block in McGee's district has had an RFP issued so far, and that is the Gatehouse/Ruvin Palomar hotel/condo/retail proposal, although the County and developers have not yet closed on the land sale. Progress on that has been a bit slow due to the fact that it was completely redesigned since first being proposed, condo sales only began a short while ago, not to mention the recent economic downturn which has made it more difficult for developers to get banks to finance larger projects. Another possible flaw with the way the County has been handling the Park East RFPs so far is that they've only been making whole blocks available. If they instead were to sell off multiple smaller parcels within each of the individual blocks (say by dividing up each block into halves, or thirds, or quads, as the City had outlined in it's Redevelopment Plan for the corridor), developers would be able to make proposals for smaller projects which might make it easier for developers to obtain construction loans from banks, and the redevelopment of the corridor could happen at a faster pace.

There were quite a few successful redevelopment/development efforts in McGee's district while he was still alderman, though more than likely they have more to do with the people involved than they do with the alderman himself. Brewer's Hill renovations, Union Point and the Edge in the Beerline, the Bronzeville TIF, new developments on MLK Drive, Riverwest renovations, inner city infill housing construction in Harambee, Park East Enterprise Lofts...to name just a few.

The charges McGee is facing, although unquestionably despicable, don't seem to be connected to redevelopments at all. It's more along the lines promising liquor license renewals in exchange for favors, threatening/buying voters, intimidating store owners. Development in his district seems to have happened independent of those things.

From Milwaukee Magazine...

The Masters of Urban Sprawl


Two weeks ago, Jim Rowen wrote a tough op-ed for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel blasting the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) and suggesting the city of Milwaukee withdraw from it. Rowen, a blogger and formerJS reporter, served as an aide to former Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist, who could go into tirades about SEWRPC.


Rowen argues that SEWRPC represents taxation without representation: While the City of Milwaukee pays for a big chunk of SEWRPC’s budget, the city has no representative. Each of the seven counties appoints three members to the board. Rowen argues that SEWRPC has no minorities on its core staff and is deaf to urban concerns.


Rowen’s salvo provoked a second op-ed by executives from the seven counties served by SEWRPC. They called Rowen’s column “a throwback to the negative, isolationist policies of the past.” Take that.


Splitting the middle, a JS editorial suggested SEWRPC could do better, darn it, and maybe there could be a governance change to allow a city representative on the board. But Milwaukee should not secede, the cautious editorial cautioned.


SEWRPC was created in 1960, and its makeup reflected a legislature dominated by rural and suburban legislators who were mostly anti-Milwaukee. The board’s membership was created not to represent people, but land. Had it represented people, Milwaukee County would have had more than half of the representatives on the board. Instead, Milwaukee County got 14 percent of the board members and paid for most of SEWRPC’s budget because the budget was, yes, based on population. Even today, after more than four decades of urban sprawl increasing the population in surrounding counties, Milwaukee County still pays for 36 percent of the budget, with some counties paying as little as 6 percent.


The structure of SEWRPC was manifestly unfair. And because it represented land, it routinely supported using state taxes to build free highways to help move people from the city to outlying areas. Milwaukee largely paid the bill for recommendations that were contrary to its interests.


SEWRPC says it has supported transit and not just highways over the years. I don’t doubt it did some good studies, but its focus has never been pro-city for the simple reason that its representatives were mostly from rural and suburban (and now exurban) areas.


Rowen has proposed Milwaukee ape Madison, which has a one-county planning commission. But Dane County is the entire region for Madison, while Milwaukee’s metro area encompasses five counties.


The JS editorial suggested giving the city of Milwaukee one board member. But one representative out of 21 would do little to enhance Milwaukee’s clout and is too piddling a change for the legislature to even bother discussing.


The only reasonable solution is a board that is as representative of population as the bill for SEWRPC is. And it’s a solution, I predict, that may soon get promoted by Waukesha. Because after nearly five decades of growth, Waukesha County has grown to the point where it now pays for 28 percent of SEWRPC’s bill, not so far behind Milwaukee County, yet Waukesha only gets 14 percent of the board representation.


Some day, the other six counties of SEWRPC will make a decision that hurts Waukesha, and the politicians and people of that county will wonder why they pay double for a commission that is stacked against them. Then they will understand what Milwaukee has put up with for 50 years, and they will demand the legislature address the problem.

And how another writer from the Journal Sentinal Responded? Read this wonderful opinion, great analogy there Pat...

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=763059

City taking steps to attract development to King Drive, Bronzeville sites
Source: Dan Knauss
Sunday, 08 June 2008
From the Small Business Times:

http://www.riverwestneighborhood.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2300&Itemid=567&lang=

http://www.biztimes.com/realestateweekly/2008/6/25/

That is good news, but I'm not sure where they're planning on finding a hotel. It seems like most of the major chains already have plans in the downtown area, I doubt they'd risk another one. Unless a new hotel like the Iron Horse (www.theironhorsehotel.com) moves in I think they're pretty screwed. Also, I thought the height was lowered from 17 stories after concerns from people across the river arose. I'm curious to see what this new "glassy appearance" looks like.
I'm more curious about the status of the Ghazi proposal or the Marcus theatre proposal on Water St.


BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY:
What's going on at the Pabst? It looks like they're tearing down quite a bit. Are my eyes just deceiving me, or is that one of the larger, older buildings that hold up the sign? I'm worried and www.thebrewerymke.com doesn't help one bit.

That is good news, but I'm not sure where they're planning on finding a hotel. It seems like most of the major chains already have plans in the downtown area, I doubt they'd risk another one. Unless a new hotel like the Iron Horse (www.theironhorsehotel.com) moves in I think they're pretty screwed.

I believe they've previously mentioned the type of hotel they want to do at Rivianna would be a smaller boutique hotel, so it may not even be a chain.

Also, I thought the height was lowered from 17 stories after concerns from people across the river arose. I'm curious to see what this new "glassy appearance" looks like.

The height and size of this proposal has changed a few different times in the year-and-a-half or so since it's been out there.

I'm more curious about the status of the Ghazi proposal or the Marcus theatre proposal on Water St.

You'll hear more about these as the developers advance their plans. For example, you're likely to hear some more about Catalyst this summer because the City is supposed to be considering a TIF for the project, which may or may not be part of another TIF they're supposed to be looking into for the Shops of Grand Ave area.

What's going on at the Pabst? It looks like they're tearing down quite a bit. Are my eyes just deceiving me, or is that one of the larger, older buildings that hold up the sign? I'm worried and www.thebrewerymke.com doesn't help one bit.

There is some spot demolition going on at the Past complex because some buildings were not able to be salvaged. Most of the cleared land will be used for new construction--including a new centrally-located parking structure and other new buildings in the future. The buildings on either side of Juneau Avenue to which the "PABST" overhead sign is attached are not slated for demolition.

I know things may feel slow right now, but biking yesterday, I was reminded of how much construction is happening and how many projects are nearing completion. I think we forget about them because they aren't all residential or office towers.

Three that will be completed within three months of each other are the Potawatomi expansion (mostly open), Harley Museum (technically open in 2 weeks) and the Marquette Interchange. Those three represent over $1 BILLION in enhancements and new attractions in the downtown area.

The Staybridge Suites should be completed by fall, the Iron Horse hotel is nearing completion in the next few months and the Ambassador Hotel's new parking garage and expansion is well underway.

On the western edge of the Valley, Derse has broken ground and Charter Wire will soon.

Technically, we have three 20-story residential towers under construction if you include the Park Lafayette towers and Breakwater. The Edge and North End are also moving along nicely.

And finally, don't forget about Pabst, which is under major redevelopment.

Quite a lot of development considering the economy and housing market.

Quick question...I went past the old Coast Guard station on the lake this morning, and they're building something in it's place. It looks like a pavilion of some sort. Does anybody know who owns it, what its for, etc?

I know things may feel slow right now, but biking yesterday, I was reminded of how much construction is happening and how many projects are nearing completion. I think we forget about them because they aren't all residential or office towers.

I'll be in Milwaukee next weekend (going to the Brewers game on Friday). I can't wait to check out the progress at Park East. Hopefully, I'll be able to snap some photos.

Quite a lot of development considering the economy and housing market.

A few days ago I took an old friend around town who used to live in Milwaukee and left four years ago. She was totally floored by all of the new development since she left. I took her through the Menomonee Valley, into Walkers Point, Third Ward, up through the East Side. There are whole neighborhoods now that weren't there when she left Milwaukee in '04. The street life Downtown and on the East Side is far more vibrant, the retail has filled in considerably. The Lakefront near the Summerfest grounds has been totally transformed. So yes, there is a lot going on in this city, despite the national slowdown.

Quick question...I went past the old Coast Guard station on the lake this morning, and they're building something in it's place. It looks like a pavilion of some sort. Does anybody know who owns it, what its for, etc?

The County is building a little open-air pavilion/shelter and plaza/walkways for the park. It's owned by the County. It's for doing all kinds of exciting things associated with such kinds of pavilions...like sitting under, or walking through, and maybe even standing under, or running through.

^^:lol:

The County is building a little open-air pavilion/shelter and plaza/walkways for the park. It's owned by the County. It's for doing all kinds of exciting things associated with such kinds of pavilions...like sitting under, or walking through, and maybe even standing under, or running through.

So how much is the County spending for a useless pavilion?

It's amazing how fast a piece of ugly, useless property can suddenly find itself occupying a prime location.

From the Journal-Sentinel, a picture of just south of the SE corner of 6th and Canal, across from the Harley:
http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/news/img/jul08/valley_071008_big.jpg

I have heard there are still negotiations going on regarding the company and the development that leaked a few months back. Marcus would build a theatre and also move it's corp headquarters there. The complex would also consist of a highrise (anywhere from 10-20 stories), a hotel, condo, parking and retail.

So nothing too new - but "slow progress" is being made.

I have heard there are still negotiations going on regarding the company and the development that leaked a few months back. Marcus would build a theatre and also move it's corp headquarters there. The complex would also consist of a highrise (anywhere from 10-20 stories), a hotel, condo, parking and retail.

So nothing too new - but "slow progress" is being made.

Do I understand correctly that you saying Marcus' interest would be in the land south of the Harley Museum; specifically, in Walkers point, just south of the canal offshoot of the Menomonee River? I'm trying to get my bearings about me.

Do I understand correctly that you saying Marcus' interest would be in the land south of the Harley Museum; specifically, in Walkers point, just south of the canal offshoot of the Menomonee River? I'm trying to get my bearings about me.

No.

MilwauKyle is talking about a proposal in the Park East Corridor in Downtown (Block 12--bordered by Water/Knapp Streets and the Milwaukee River...several blocks away from the Harley Museum, and on the opposite side of Downtown). Developers pitched a proposal to the County long ago for a large mixed-use tower (office/retail/condo/parking) for that site, but have not yet been able to attract anchor tenants. A few weeks ago the developers said that Marcus Corporation was considering opening a theater as part of that proposal. According to Milwaukyle's un-sourced information, Marcus is now considering moving its corporate headquarters offices into that proposed Park East development as well...which could presumably eliminate one hurdle that's holding up the development, that being a major anchor office tenant.

Topper's pizza is going in at the Kenilworth building on the East Side. I had more news but thats all I remember for now

Topper's pizza is going in at the Kenilworth building on the East Side. I had more news but thats all I remember for now

I love Toppers.. well atleast I did in college. Wonder if it will still taste as good :)

It's amazing how fast a piece of ugly, useless property can suddenly find itself occupying a prime location.

From the Journal-Sentinel, a picture of just south of the SE corner of 6th and Canal, across from the Harley:
http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/news/img/jul08/valley_071008_big.jpg

That vacant lot is one of my favourite places in the city. It would be a crime to be developed into anything other than a park.

That vacant lot is one of my favourite places in the city. It would be a crime to be developed into anything other than a park.From what I've read recently, the County isn't properly maintaining the parks that already exist. That's the crime. Nah, go ahead and develop that vacant lot to create another property tax revenue entity.

A canalside property like that in the middle of the up and coming Walker's Point neighborhood is too valuable for a developer not to put up some buildings there. There's room for at least 2 or 3 whole blocks of development, with room left over for greenspace in the form of courtyards, riverwalks, and plazas (such as on the Harley campus on the opposite bank of the canal).

As far as building and maintaining them (or poorly maintaining them, as the case may be), the County is not the only game in town. The City, and also private developers, have built and maintained various public spaces, sparks, squares, plazas, and pathways around Milwaukee that are not a part of the struggling County Park system. See the new park in the middle of the Menomonee Valley, the new parks being built along the southern edge of the Valley, the various plazas along the RiverWalk, the RiverWalk itself, the Harley Museum campus, the parks at East Pointe, Catalano Square in the Third Ward, the plazas outside the Marcus Center, the greenspaces at the Northwestern Mutual campus Downtown....

The Reed Street Yards (the property immediately south across the canal from the HD museum) is one of the most interesting parcels in the city ... when things pick up again and this big chunk of land gets developed, it could turn out to be a very cool little section of the city.

The Reed Street Yards (the property immediately south across the canal from the HD museum) is one of the most interesting parcels in the city ... when things pick up again and this big chunk of land gets developed, it could turn out to be a very cool little section of the city.

Indeed. And there have been some loose proposals floated for the site during the last few years, but that was before Walker's Point had become a really hot spot for redevelopment. Now that there's some development momentum going in the neighborhood, and perhaps once this economic slump clears up, the iron will be hot enough to strike, so to speak. Lots of potential there.

MillerCoors LLC is putting its corporate headquarters in Chicago - not Milwaukee or the Denver area.

That word comes today from MillerCoors President Tom Long. He said executives of the 50-50 joint venture, formed July 1 by combining Miller Brewing Co. and Coors Brewing Co., decided it was important to have a "neutral site" for the headquarters - confirming comments that MillerCoors chairman Pete Coors made in February.

It would have been "too difficult" to choose either Milwaukee or the Denver area as the MillerCoors headquarters location, Long told the Journal Sentinel. Such a choice would have "communicated so powerfully that one system took over the other," Long said. "We came to the conclusion that we did need a neutral third place."

The headquarters will be bigger than initially expected, with 300 to 400 jobs, when it opens next summer, Long said. In addition to Long and other top executives, the downtown Chicago headquarters will include the MillerCoors marketing organization, with over 200 employees, and some sales and sales support employees.

That includes 150 to 175 jobs that will be pulled from Milwaukee, where the former Miller headquarters complex on Highland Blvd. has around 900 employees. Another 150 to 175 Chicago positions will be drawn from Golden, Colo., where Coors was based.

Decisions will be made in the coming months on cutting additional office and administrative positions in both Milwaukee and Golden. Long said MillerCoors will maintain a significant office presence in Milwaukee, where the joint venture's eastern division is based.

Also, the Milwaukee brewery, with 800 employees, will add jobs as it expands to produce Coors Light and other brands formerly owned by Coors Brewing, Long said.

The Milwaukee brewery's capacity will increase by around 55% over the next three years as MillerCoors pours $50 million worth of improvements into the State St. complex, Long said.

Coors Light, the nation's third-largest brand, was made at just two breweries that Coors Brewing operated in Elkton, Va., and Golden. By spreading production to additional breweries, MillerCoors executives expect to see a large savings in shipping costs for Coors Light.

Long and other MillerCoors executives have said the company expects to save $500 million annually. Of that amount, $170 million to $200 million is expected to come from lower shipping costs for the joint venture's brands, Long said.

In addition to being a neutral site, Chicago presents a more attractive location than either Milwaukee or Denver for the marketing talent that MillerCoors needs to be successful, Long said.

Chicago also boasts O'Hare International Airport, the world's second busiest airport. O'Hare offers global air connections, an important consideration for a company that is partly owned by London-based SABMiller.

Long said those factors outweighed the higher cost of doing business in downtown Chicago, where a specific site for the headquarters has not yet been disclosed.

He said taxes were not a deciding factor in evaluating headquarters sites, which included Dallas as a finalist. Illinois has a corporate tax rate of 7.3%, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators. That compares with 7.9% in Wisconsin, 4.63% in Colorado and 0.5% to 1% in Texas.

"I think Milwaukee is a great place to do business," Long said. "This doesn't reflect in any way on the city of Milwaukee or the state of Wisconsin."

Just read that Illinois is giving them $18m in incentives. While I wish we would have offered the same, I don't think we really had a shot anyway, due to their wish to have a neutral site.

First there was the fear that it might move to Denver. This is obviously better than that.
Then there was the fear that it might move to Dallas. This is obviously better than that.

With them still only being 90 miles away, I think that Milwaukee comes out better than Denver in this, at least. Yeah its consolation, but more reason to get that high-speed rail running between Milwaukee and Chicago.

Just read that Illinois is giving them $18m in incentives. While I wish we would have offered the same, I don't think we really had a shot anyway, due to their wish to have a neutral site.

First there was the fear that it might move to Denver. This is obviously better than that.
Then there was the fear that it might move to Dallas. This is obviously better than that.

With them still only being 90 miles away, I think that Milwaukee comes out better than Denver in this, at least. Yeah its consolation, but more reason to get that high-speed rail running between Milwaukee and Chicago.

I think you have the correctly optimistic viewpoint on this one. This may save more jobs because it's close. But really, now both major brewers in the US are major international companies. Makes me want to pick up a 6-pack of Lakefront or New Glarus.

You'd think with fuel prices the way they are, now would be the right time to strike on rail proposals. There are few things more fuel efficient than trains on a per-passenger basis.

A key site along the River up for sale:

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/07/14/tidbits1.html

Along with the Reed Street Yards, the Riverfront along Second Street facing the Third Ward could become one of the most interesting areas of redevelopment in the city, when the economic slump ends and developers get going again. When the gas station sells, and when the Post Office finally leaves its St. Paul facility, you'll have three riverfront sites in a row ready for redevelopment directly facing the Third Ward riverwalk. Throw in the Pritzlaff building across the street and this area could be very hoppin' in a few years.

No one wants to lose a corporate HQ, but with the nature of modern business, it was inevitible that Miller would not be able to continue as an independent entity. It was either merge with Coors or eventually go out of business, and I don't think anybody would want the loss lof the HQ and the huge brewery on the west side of town. As it is, Milwaukee loses about 200 corporate jobs but retains thousands of production jobs and may actually see an increase in production activity if MillerCoors invests $50M in the Milwaukee brewery as they have indicated they would. So it's not a total loss, and in the end might actually lead to a net gain of jobs. It does hurt, however, to lose a corporate headquarters.

There is a lot on Water Street near the bars for sale. Briefly saw the sign when I was downtown.. I think it was next to Water Street Brewert?

First on MillerCoors. Although they got $18 mil in incentives, I find it hard to believe Milwaukee/Wisconsin wouldn't off ponied up some cash as well (note Manpower at $26 million TIF) to keep MillerCoors.

As far as that lot on Water St. I think that is Rosie's parking lot and it goes up for sale every once in a while.

First on MillerCoors. Although they got $18 mil in incentives, I find it hard to believe Milwaukee/Wisconsin wouldn't off ponied up some cash as well (note Manpower at $26 million TIF) to keep MillerCoors.


No doubt City/County/State officials would have put together a financial incentive package to attract the MillerCoors headquarters to locate here, had the company been interested in Milwaukee as an option. Whether it would have beat out what other cities/states had offered, we'll never know.

In their interest to have a neutral site, MillerCoors execs specifically asked the City and State officials NOT to offer any incentive packages for trying to attract the headquarters to Milwaukee.

MillerCoors basically said "Don't make us an offer, you're not even in the running anyway, because you're not neutral."

The good news is that Milwaukee will indeed retain a sizable office presence for the company's Eastern Division and Great Lakes Regional Office, and a planned improvements/expansion of the actual brewing production facilities (with new jobs in those parts of the company), and that the company will continue have a public presence in terms of supporting local events, charities, etc.

No doubt City/County/State officials would have put together a financial incentive package to attract the MillerCoors headquarters to locate here, had the company been interested in Milwaukee as an option. Whether it would have beat out what other cities/states had offered, we'll never know.

In their interest to have a neutral site, MillerCoors execs specifically asked the City and State officials NOT to offer any incentive packages for trying to attract the headquarters to Milwaukee.

MillerCoors basically said "Don't make us an offer, you're not even in the running anyway, because you're not neutral."

The good news is that Milwaukee will indeed retain a sizable office presence for the company's Eastern Division and Great Lakes Regional Office, and a planned improvements/expansion of the actual brewing production facilities (with new jobs in those parts of the company), and that the company will continue have a public presence in terms of supporting local events, charities, etc.

Until down the road when they have to start making cuts, and as Milwaukee is no longer the headquarters, will be prime target #1. They threw away their loyalty to the city, and I am not gullible enough to think any of those jobs are secure in any way shape or form.

On the channel 12 news tonight they had a piece about opposition to a condo tower that is proposed for a lot on Prospect next to 1522 on the lake attached to Goll Mansion. This may have been mentioned before but the video segment they had on TV showed a 27 story tower building with "only one to two condos per floor starting around 1 million"

http://www.wisn.com/news/16905725/detail.html video link as well


Anyway all NIMBY bashing aside, is this a proposal that has been discussed here before? Looks pretty slick from the 8 inch foam cut out

Saw the report --- design looks great! Looking forward to renderings (hopefully tomorrow?) Is anyone planning on going to the meeting?

Those NIMBYs are crazy.. especially the condo owner asking if we really need more condos in the area.. Guess now that she has hers they can stop building..

Should be a good addition to the area

I love how the neighboring condo owners are pretending that they care about the mansion. In reality, they probably didn't even know the thing was there until the tower was proposed.

I just watched the video and this project seems great. It also said construction could begin this fall, which would be nice, but the renderings aren't out yet, it hasn't been approved and fall is almost here. Is fall really a realistic time frame?

and they haven't even begun pre-sales. with this housing market, i don't think that there is any way they start this fall.

The original Park Lafayette is back!:lol: but seriously that would add some great height to the lakefront. I wonder how the lady felt when she took the view away from the neighbors across the street in her tower hmmm...

Exit> I intend to go to tonight's meeting. At least to listen and cover it for UrbanMilwaukee.com but I might pipe up if the nimby crowd gets to me.

North Powerhouse building being torn down

The Brewery Works Inc. has determined that it is not feasible to redevelop the historic former North Powerhouse building, located just south of the new Manpower Inc. corporate headquarters building in downtown Milwaukee, and has begun demolition work on the five-story red brick structure.

"We're tearing it down," said Sam Denny, executive vice president and general manager of The Brewery Works. "We couldn't make (the redevelopment plans) work."

The Brewery Works, which owns the building and the Schlitz Park office complex, is owned by Milwaukee developers Gary Grunau and Scott Sampson.
Grunau and Sampson also developed the new Manpower headquarters, a four-story, 280,000-square-foot building that was completed last year. Originally that project was to include renovations of the North Powerhouse building into about 55,000 square feet of office space. The Brewery Works agreed to redevelop the North Powerhouse as a condition for Manpower agreeing to move from Glendale to the new downtown Milwaukee building
Grunau and Sampson received $25.3 million in tax incremental financing from the city for the Manpower headquarters building project.

In September Grunau said the North Powerhouse redevelopment would start later in the fall, but it was later determined that the renovation project wasn't feasible, Denny said. The building is just a shell, with no floors on the inside and it has no other useful infrastructure, he said. It would be cost prohibitive to transform the structure into an office building, he said.
When Harley-Davidson was planning to put its museum at Schlitz Park, the building was considered for a hotel and restaurant, Denny said.

The building is believed to have been constructed during the late 1920s and once housed a boiler for the city's steam system, Denny said.

After the structure is demolished the site will be used for green space, not parking, and will be a "great site" for future development, Denny said.


So going back on their word is pretty cool...

Exit> I intend to go to tonight's meeting. At least to listen and cover it for UrbanMilwaukee.com but I might pipe up if the nimby crowd gets to me.

Glad people from our view will have representation there! I wish I could make it.

Here is a JSonline article about the Gohl mansion and the proposed condo tower.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=773782

So going back on their word is pretty cool...

No kidding... I can't believe it's so easy to just turn away from an agreement like that. Kind of reminds me of a certain park east property that is suddenly not including some historical buildings as it originally agreed to...

Not to get off topic, but, is there anything about Ruvin Devolpment in this thread? or is that a stale proposal. I really like that building's design.

For anyone that hasn't seen this yet....

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc69/exit_320/prospecttower.jpg

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=774046

Bradford Beach gets its groove back
Posted: July 19, 2008

Except for my one and only Polar Bear Plunge in 2004, I can’t remember the last time I was at Bradford Beach.

And not just driving past. I mean really at Bradford Beach — sunning on a blanket, walking on the hot sand, spiking a volleyball and swimming in chilly Lake Michigan if one dares.

I grew up here, and there was a time when you couldn’t get much cooler near the lake than Bradford Beach. Dick Bacon was its king. It was skin galore by day and mythical submarine races by night. Milwaukee’s seaside.

Then came neglect, budget cuts, rowdyism, algae and too many news stories that included the word E. coli. Most of us wrote off this tarnished treasure. It was vaguely comforting knowing it was still there, but we never went.

All that is changing. I was down there twice in the past week, and the beach has never looked better. Newspaper stories I’ve been reading about improvements at Bradford are all true. People have come back, by the thousands on weekends. And with the lake level down, the beach is huge.

“I just have a constant smile on my face the last couple months because this is what I was dreaming of,” said Deb Lukovich, chairwoman of Friends of Bradford Beach. The group is working to raise a million dollars in private donations for a water garden and a play and seating area, and is hoping for coveted Blue Wave environmental certification as one of America’s great beaches.

The beach has never had this many friends and partnerships. MillerCoors is donating $500,000 over five years, which is paying for daily sand raking and border collies to chase away the messy gulls — quite successfully, it appears.

Businessman Sheldon Lubar kicked in $65,000 to bring back a crew of lifeguards this summer. The county parks and sheriff’s departments have made the lakefront and Bradford a priority.

And the partymeister is Todd Gawronski, a beach volleyball player who remembered a vibrant Bradford Beach of years back and vowed to make it happen again. His company, G1 Inc., is putting together two dozen special events at the beach this summer, including games, live music, an art show, wine tasting and bicycle rides. Next weekend is Bradford Beach Jam with live reggae music, and volleyball, rugby, disc golf, wrestling and other sports on the sand Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

There’s WiFi down there, and you can check out volleyballs, nets, soccer balls, beanbag games and beach toys — all free. Gawronski is partnering with the Hi-Hat Group to run the concession stand in the landmark beach house. Try the spicy L.A.-style tacos. Drinks include beer, wine, margaritas and mojitos, but no one minds if you bring a cooler of your own.

Gawronski was away from Milwaukee and returned in 2000 when things were bleak at Bradford. He’s been working on the problem ever since, in between his regular job as a printing company salesman.

“This is the first year we’ve had services available every day,” he said. “You go to any landlocked state and they’d bend over backward to have a beach like we have.”

The canary in the coal mine for Gawronski is that he’s seeing young women returning to the beach and feeling safe there. “Obviously the boys will follow,” he said.

When I was down there, the sand was clean and free of algae and dead fish, the crowd was friendly and diverse, lifeguards were helpful and vigilant, and music was playing at the beach house. If you want more company, then hang out at the middle or south end. If you prefer an acre of your own, then head to the north end. The beach is free and so is parking.

Most days this summer, except for right after the June monsoon, have seen a green light for water quality and swimming. Storm-water runoff has been routed away from the sand and water, and algae is being plucked from the water’s edge.

The beach is buzzing on hot days. I spotted four 20-something guys puffing on a hookah they brought along. “We get some crazy looks, but it’s all legal,” said Alex Depies.

Chris Rizio of Glendale combed the beach with his new treasure detector. He said the beeping had led him to 54 cents so far, with help from his kids and their sandbox shovels.

“This is great. I feel like I’m back in southern California,” said Peter Obradovich of Greendale, who was enjoying the sun with Michele Hamilton. He has moved back to his native Milwaukee after living in Los Angeles for 22 years.

Lukovich, a consultant who lives in Mequon, said hundreds of people are involved with Friends of Bradford Beach, which formed four years ago.

She loves to hear people saying the beach is cleaner and safer and more fun. That’s what everyone I talked to was saying.

“There’s a reason to come back,” she said. “It’s just a cool place right now.”

Call Jim Stingl at (414) 224-2017 or e-mail at jstingl@journalsentinel.com

That's the coolest thing. All of the other building stuff in Milwaukee is great too - but that lakefront is something not too many cities have. Glad to hear the beach is being brought back to the way it used to be - or even better. Anybody got any pictures? I'd love to see how nice it looks on a busy weekend.

That's the coolest thing. All of the other building stuff in Milwaukee is great too - but that lakefront is something not too many cities have.

I agree. Milwaukee may not be building a bunch of tall skyscrapers like some other cities, but it's making a lot of small improvements that, in the aggregate, are adding up to a better and better city. A resurgent Bradford Beach is just another piece of the puzzle.

MONDAY, July 21, 2008, 4:01 p.m.
By Steve Schultze

County impatient with Park East developer
Milwaukee County officials today signaled their impatience with Chicago developer RSC & Associates, saying the county may seek new proposals for a Park East Freeway site that RSC wanted for a residential and retail development.

The board's Economic & Community Development Committee voted 7-0 to consult with RSC on whether it still has an interest in buying the site, bounded by N. Milwaukee St., N. Broadway, E. Lyon St. and E. Ogden Ave.

The firm has paid the county $115,000 in options toward the $3.5 million purchase price. RSC has plans to build 175 residential units and 185,000 square feet of retail space at an estimated cost of $100 million.

"The prospects for that proposal going forward are very, very dim," said Supervisor Joseph Rice. He called for finding a new developer "with a greater sense of urgency."

Craig Dillman, manager of real estate services for the county, said RSC had been focused on its development plans for an adjacent Park East plot, where RSC wants to build apartments, retail space and a hotel.

Richard Curto, RSC's chief executive, couldn't be immediately reached. The firm agreed to buy the property in September 2005.

http://www.biztimes.com/nf/uploads/Image/reweekly7.23.08/new-land1.jpg

New Land unveils renderings for condo tower
Milwaukee-based New Land Enterprises LLP recently unveiled its plans to build a 27-story, 35-unit condominium tower behind the Goll Mansion at 1550 N. Prospect Ave., on Milwaukee's east side. The $60 million project would include a $1 million restoration of the 110-year-old mansion, which would be connected to the new condo tower. "(The mansion) becomes the front door for the tower," said Tim Gokhman, director of sales and marketing for New Land. In addition, the second floor of the mansion has a "huge gathering room" and the third floor has a ballroom that will be available for use by the condo tower's residents. Also, guest suites will be created in the mansion, that can be used for guests of the condo tower's residents.

Gokhman said the condo development is necessary to make the restoration project for the mansion feasible. He also said that New Land has been meeting with national, state and local historic preservation officials to make sure that the design of the condo tower is appropriate and will compliment the historic mansion building. The combination of a modern high-rise with a historic mansion has been done before Gokhman said, pointing to the 55-story New York Palace Hotel, which was built attached to the Villard Mansion in Manhattan.

Milwaukee-based Workshop Architects Inc. is the principal architect for the project and H. Russell Zimmerman will be the architect for the restoration of the Goll Mansion. Some residents in the neighborhood have expressed objection to the project saying it would desecrate the historical integrity of the mansion, and would obstruct some lakefront views for current area residents.

The narrow condo tower, which will have 1-2 units per floor, will have the lowest density of any condo tower in Milwaukee, Gokhman said. Since the proposed condo tower building has a small footprint and low density, the zoning for the site would not limit its height, said Department of City Development spokeswoman Andrea Rowe Richards. The project will also have a 75-foot indoor swimming pool and a fitness center.

The building will appeal to residents at the high end of the housing market. Despite problems with much of the housing market, the demand for high-end downtown condos remains strong, Gokhman said. "There is absolutely demand for this type of product," he said. "I think we have, if not the best, then one of the best sites in the city. The views are going to be amazing." New Land hopes to begin construction by next spring or summer, Gokhman said. The firm needs to obtain 15 to 18 reservations to begin the project, he said.

Wow, that's a really nice proposal. I love that they are choosing to integrate the mansion and keep a high end product.

I'm not sure which Milwaukee thread that someone asked about the status of the Pleasant Street Market. Well I'd say this sure doesn't help http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=775394

@Goll Mansion Tower

I like it. So far the only problem I have with their buildings is the street level hell they create. But that problem is resolved by leaving the mansion there. And I love the idea of walking though the mansion to get to the tower. Screw the neighbors at 1522.


@Pleasant Street Market

HAHA...terrific! I used to shop at the Shorewood Sendik's almost every day. Looks like I'm now an accessory to theft.

The development as it was originally planned is dead in the water from what I understand.......I heard this prior to the stolen banana caper.....Not sure what the plans are now but it's too bad as the design was really cool for the development and it's a great spot surrounded by both residential and commercial density.........

I wish developers would stop proposing things... I've been getting too excited too many times, only to be disappointed.

This morning they began tearing down the ugly blue building at North/Prospect!

This morning they began tearing down the ugly blue building at North/Prospect!

Which one?

I saw a fence around it and got excited for a second. Then I saw the brand new building right next to it with no tenants.

So I heard that the Moderne sold enough units now to break ground. Hopefully we'll get official word about it soon!

Which one?

it's about 4 stories, behind the one-story building that was just built on the corner...across from qdoba and propsect mall. was used by columbia st. mary's i believe.

So I heard that the Moderne sold enough units now to break ground. Hopefully we'll get official word about it soon!

OMG!!! Coldwake, you're really getting my hopes up. I want to know your source, NOW!!!

it's about 4 stories, behind the one-story building that was just built on the corner...across from qdoba and propsect mall. was used by columbia st. mary's i believe.

Ahh guess I don't remember it as being blue -- now I know which one you are talking about. Good riddance.

Here you go : (when in doubt "Streetview" to the rescue)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/looksee/bluebldg.jpg

Same thing's happening to this building on 12th & Wisconsin:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/looksee/1212wwisconsinave.jpg

What really needs to happen on North/Prospect is the old Prospect Mall has to replaced with something - anything - better. That's what needs to happen.

What's going on around here? Everywhere I look I see buildings coming down.
Prospect & North
14th & Wisconsin
The Pabst Brewery
Vliet and Martin Luther King

Do we know what, if anything is going to fill these spaces? I sure hope this isn't a new round of Urban Renewal. I like ALL of the buildings being torn down (Except maybe the one on the Marquette campus,) so what's the deal?

ajknee> Yea I agree it is a little disturbing when, yes even ugly buildings, come down because unless something is going right back up far too often they become surface parking lots.

So going back on their word is pretty cool...

Another huge potential totally lost. That's a real disappointment; that building is very handsome. The 'five story' designation is deceiving, because with its industrial nature it's more like 10 stories.

So, I'd like to offer up my review of the latest county expenditure at the Milwaukee Zoo. They recently completed a covered atrium/entrance sponsored by US Bank. I was optimistic going in that they would truly renovate the first set of buildings with something that felt modern and organic, fitting with some of the wonderful exhibits at the zoo. What we got is a big metal box with too few doors, no open air, no seating, no displays, and no serious upgrades to the food or gift areas. It's a complete and total failure in my mind. Anyone who is familar with the zoo remembers the nice open walkway that used to exist in the front with rolling kiosks and an almost fair-like quality. That's all gone. It's dark and industrial now. I simply cannot understand what they were shooting for. Considering the wonderful architecture behind the education center they added a few years back, this is a real step down. And on top of that, it doesn't even seem up to code. There is one handicapped entrance for the entire zoo. One. I think Scott Walker needs to get a few letters.

More good news for the Public Market. This is great because it expands the market past its current building and really starts to make the market part of the neighborhood. However, this does mean that the Weas proposal for a hotel must be dead, which is a shame. I don't know if this store is the best long-term use for that corner.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=777736



Public Market lands organic grocer Business will open in nearby building
By TOM DAYKIN
tdaykin@journalsentinel.com
Posted: July 29, 2008
The Milwaukee Public Market is expanding beyond its main building to accommodate its newest store: a grocery that sells organic foods, including meat, poultry, produce and dairy products.

The Milwaukee Public Market has announced that Good Harvest Market will open down the street from the Public Market building.

The new store, Good Harvest Market, will open by November at 346 N. Broadway, around the corner from the public market’s main building. It will be the public market’s largest store and fills a gap at the facility, which doesn’t have a store that focuses largely on organic items, according to Sherry Bantug, marketing manager.

This will be the second store for Good Harvest Market, which has operated for nearly four years at 1850 Meadow Lane, Waukesha. The store is seeing its first profitable year, and has posted over 20% sales growth for the first half of 2008, compared to the same period in 2007, Joe Nolan said.

“Business is good,” said Nolan, a Robert W. Baird & Co. financial adviser who owns the store with his wife, Jody. “We’re finally not losing money.”

The Nolans expect to draw around 65% of their business from a 2- to 3-mile radius of the store. Nolan said he and his wife expect to draw a lot of customers from nearby condominiums in the Third Ward, Walker’s Point and other growing parts of the downtown area.

The Nolans had earlier looked at the main public market building, but it could only offer 1,000 to 2,000 square feet. The public market, which struggled initially after its 2005 opening, has lately landed new stores and is having a good year, Bantug said.

The Historic Third Ward Association, which owns and operates the public market, also owns the 6,000-square-foot building on N. Broadway. That’s large enough to accommodate the Good Harvest Market, and also provides an opportunity to renovate an Art Deco building that has been empty for around 20 years, said Ron San Felippo, association president.

An organic grocery is a major step toward fulfilling the public market’s mission of helping create a market for locally owned food growers and purveyors, San Felippo said.

The building to be restored for Good Harvest Market had been marked for demolition as part of developer Doug Weas’ plan to build a 150-room Renaissance ClubSport by Marriott hotel in the 300 block of N. Broadway. That proposal has died because of a lack of financing.

Good news for the Third Ward. This will help enliven the block of Broadway between St. Paul and Buffalo. Hopefully the grocery store will be open longer hours than the Public Market, making it more convenient for residents and tourists.

What's going on around here? Everywhere I look I see buildings coming down

...

Do we know what, if anything is going to fill these spaces? I sure hope this isn't a new round of Urban Renewal. I like ALL of the buildings being torn down (Except maybe the one on the Marquette campus,) so what's the deal?

...

14th & Wisconsin

Assuming you mean the building at 12th and Wisconsin...

This was originally a private office building, and then Marquette University acquired it long ago as the campus was expanding. MU used it for various school offices, but it ultimately became outdated for their needs. The University is demolishing it to make way for a new student services and administration building on the site. It will consolidate several functions that are currently scattered across the campus.

The Pabst Brewery

Some selective demolition within the Pabst complex has been planned since the beginning, generally by focusing on buildings that were not really marketable, or unable to be rehabbed into new uses, or had little historical value. Some of the cleared space will be put on the market for new construction eventually, and some of the cleared space in the middle of the complex will be replaced with a centrally-located parking garage.

Vliet and Martin Luther King

Unfortunately the developer determined that it would be unfeasible to convert an empty shell of a floorless power plant building into anything else, and so it is being knocked down. It will be replaced with some greenspace, supposedly as a placeholder until a workable proposal for new construction presents itself.

Thanks for the response Markitect.

I'm still really curious about the blue building on Prospect though. It's completely gone now, and I noticed today that the new building next door "appears" to be finished but still has no ceiling in the main entrance. Does anyone know who owns these sites and what their plan is for them?

Also, I went down North Ave today and there are MANY new projects along the street between 15th and 35th. It's looking great.

Listening to Milwaukee radio I am surprised and amazed that the cities common council is adding a wheel tax on Milwaukee city resident owned vehicles.

What is this common council thinking?

Sure you get an extra 20 bucks per vehicle from Henry who owns a Mercedes Benz or a BMW or two.

But they are also asking for 20 bucks per vehicle from poor Jose Whatever who drives a '73 Pinto who can barely afford to keep the heap running.

Makes alot of sense to me!

So just what is this common counsil trying to do?

Drive more people out of the city of Milwaukee!

Here you go : (when in doubt "Streetview" to the rescue)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/looksee/bluebldg.jpg



Dang that is where I was going to open my North Ave strip club...

MJinOshkosh> Actually I'm pretty sure the intent of the "wheel tax" was to end assessments for road rebuilds that on average cost property owners $2500. This $2500 assessment caused numerous road projects not to happen and quite frankly was very difficult on homeowners. Is the $20 fee perfect? no. But is it better than getting a $2500 assessment... well yea probably.

It is a user fee of sorts, putting the cost on the people who actually use the roads the most. Everyone has complained about potholes this year (well, almost every year) and this will help fix them. If someone can't afford $20/year, they probably shouldn't have a car anyway, they need that money to pay rent, buy food, etc.

And like twoaday said, this prevents people from getting nasty specials assessments when their street gets redone.

I reckon this is the kiss of death.


Friday, August 1, 2008

Ghazi insists downtown project still on
The Business Journal of Milwaukee - by Rich Kirchen

Financial disputes have left unfinished a condo tower and delayed the entertainment complex at his EpiCentre in Charlotte, N.C., but Afshin Ghazi insists they’ll have no effect on his high-profile $200 million Catalyst project proposed for downtown Milwaukee.

Ghazi said in a phone interview this week that the Catalyst is on schedule for groundbreaking in spring 2009 at North Fourth Street and West Wisconsin Avenue across from the Midwest Airlines Center. That’s later than his previously announced schedule of spring 2008 for a 31-story hotel, retail and residential development.

Ghazi initially disclosed in May 2006 his interest in the long vacant, city-owned surface parking lot and updated his plans in October 2007.

“We’re still just as bullish on the project,” Ghazi said.

I reckon this is the kiss of death.


Friday, August 1, 2008

Ghazi insists downtown project still on
The Business Journal of Milwaukee - by Rich Kirchen

Financial disputes have left unfinished a condo tower and delayed the entertainment complex at his EpiCentre in Charlotte, N.C., but Afshin Ghazi insists they’ll have no effect on his high-profile $200 million Catalyst project proposed for downtown Milwaukee.

Ghazi said in a phone interview this week that the Catalyst is on schedule for groundbreaking in spring 2009 at North Fourth Street and West Wisconsin Avenue across from the Midwest Airlines Center. That’s later than his previously announced schedule of spring 2008 for a 31-story hotel, retail and residential development.

Ghazi initially disclosed in May 2006 his interest in the long vacant, city-owned surface parking lot and updated his plans in October 2007.

“We’re still just as bullish on the project,” Ghazi said.


I was really looking forward to this project, that surface parking lot has been an eyesore for a long time, and this would go a long way in revitalizing that part of downtown. Hope it pulls through!

What's up with the goofy Emporis Website? I go to the Milwaukee "Tallest Buildings" list, and a few of Milwaukee's tallest skyscrapers are now missing off the top of the list. Weird.

http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/bu/sk/li/?id=101324&bt=2&ht=3&sro=1

Shouldn't that statue of the Fonz be popping up soon..?

What's up with the goofy Emporis Website? I go to the Milwaukee "Tallest Buildings" list, and a few of Milwaukee's tallest skyscrapers are now missing off the top of the list. Weird.

http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/bu/sk/li/?id=101324&bt=2&ht=3&sro=1

Wow, that's really strange. I wonder what's going on there. I certainly hope 1000 N Water St isn't our tallest building.

Actually, the whole website is messed up. None of the cities I looked up had high-rises taller than 99 meters. I hope they didn't lose all that data. That would be a nightmare.

From JSOnline today:


MONDAY, Aug. 4, 2008, 11 a.m.
By Erica Perez

Proposed locations for UWM dorm released
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Real Estate Foundation has released the list of eight proposed locations for the school's next student residence, along with the names of developers who proposed them.

The companies responded last month to a request for proposals issued by the foundation in May. They will present details of their proposals to the foundation this week, and foundation officials estimate they will choose a winning developer in mid- to late August.

The foundation released the names of locations and developers after an open records request from the Journal Sentinel.

The proposed dormitory would house 500 to 700 freshmen and sophomores and would open in August 2010.
The developers and locations include:



Boulder Venture: Prospect Ave. between Ivanhoe Place and Kenilworth Place (Prospect Mall and parking lot)


HD Development Co.: Northwest corner of E. Locust St. and N. Humboldt Blvd.


Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee: Undeveloped portion of the housing authority's Holton Terrace at 2825 N. Holton St.


HSI Development Partners, LLC: Just west of intersection of N. Water St. and Humboldt Ave.


Inland Newport II, LLC: 2628-60 N. Humboldt Blvd., east side of Humboldt south of Center St.


Mandel Group, Inc.: Abuts Milwaukee River corridor to the west, E. North Ave. to the south, N. Cambridge Ave. to the east, Wisconsin Paperboard to the north.


Phelan Development, LLC and Towne Investments: The southeast corner of N. Farwell Ave. and E. Royall Place.


Vetter Denk and Gilbane Development Co.: 1300 E. Locust St. (Heinemann's Commissary)

The real estate foundation has posted a map of the locations (http://www4.uwm.edu/realestate_foundation/upload/RFP-Responses.pdf).

Are you a student, parent or resident with an opinion about one or more of the proposed sites? Please e-mail Erica Perez today at eperez@journalsentinel.com.

Shouldn't that statue of the Fonz be popping up soon..?
Milwaukee’s Fonzie statue getting bronzed Aug. 19
‘Happy Days’ cast members joining celebration
By DON WALKER
dwalker@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 1, 2008

Civic boosters on Friday released details of the Aug. 19 Fonzie celebration in Milwaukee, which includes the official bronzing of the Fonzie statue, a parade from downtown to Miller Park and a free Fonzie baseball card to all fans attending that night’s Milwaukee Brewers-Houston Astros baseball game.

The statue will be dedicated on the east side of the Riverwalk on the south side of Wells St. Visit Milwaukee, which promotes Milwaukee as a travel destination, led the fund raising for the statue. The dedication ceremony is closed to the public.

Here is the schedule for the Aug. 19 event:

Starting at 9 a.m., 100 limited-edition “bronze the Fonz” commemorative posters will go on sale at $50 each at the Peck Pavilion at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St. Proceeds from the sale will go to SPARK (Spheres of Proud Achievement in Reading for Kids), a program coordinated by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Additional posters at $20 each will be sold, with proceeds going to SPARK.

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Culver’s Frozen Custard will host a free public frozen custard social at the Peck Pavilion. At that gathering, actor Henry Winkler, the Fonz, is scheduled to make an appearance.

5:45 p.m.: The cast of the old “Happy Days” show will travel down Wisconsin Ave. in vintage autos starting at N. Water St. and going to W. Blue Mound Road and into Miller Park.

Winkler and his colleagues will be honored at a ceremony at Miller Park before the game. The cast will throw out the first ball, and Anson Williams, who played Potsie on the old series, will sing the national anthem.

All fans attending the game will receive a Fonzie baseball card.

For more information, go to www.bronzethefonz.com.

regarding the uwm dorms, i prefer prospect mall or mandel's hometown site. they are both next to existing uwm facilities, which makes sense. they are also on very underutilized properties. I do fear that if they don't pick prospect mall, that site could be vacant for many years to come. dorms with retail on the first floor to build on the success of urban outfitters and american apparel would be great. plus, it is right on the 30 bus line going to campus.

I do fear that if they don't pick prospect mall, that site could be vacant for many years to come. dorms with retail on the first floor to build on the success of urban outfitters and american apparel would be great. plus, it is right on the 30 bus line going to campus.

Also don't forget that the RiverView dorms are served by MCTS Route 21...at least with weekday service when school is in session during Fall/Spring semesters. The Hometown site, being right across the river from RiverView, would also be right on the 21. Perhaps if this new dorm were built there, regular year-round service to campus could be reinstated.

In addition to that, UWM runs its own private shuttle buses to RiverView and Kenilworth dorms, so any new dorm built at Propsect Mall or Hometown would also be on the existing shuttle bus route.

Of course, if the new dorms were built elsewhere, UWM would probably extend the shuttle bus to wherever it'd be located.

I like the Prospect Mall location as it provides both infill along Prospect and combines with the Kenilworth Building for UWM services. I also like the Locust locations as they are close to campus and can continue development up Humboldt. My only concern with the Hometown site is that it seems like it is a good piece of property for development that can expand the tax base, rather than a location that needs to be built upon right now with the first thing that comes along. Are there environmental issues with the site or other factors that make it less attractive for development?

NIMBYism is going to be a huge factor in the UWM dorm site decision. For that reason, I predict the Prospect Mall, Water/Humboldt, Center/Humboldt, Locust/Humboldt and Farwell/Royall sites are highly unlikely. Once the neighbors catch wind of plans to plop 500 to 700 college freshmen in their midst, there's going to be an outcry. The neighbors around the Kennilworth Building were vociferous in their opposition to even grad students living in the neighborhood in large numbers. Imagine their opposition to a Freshmen dorm.

The Holton Street site may have some opposition, but I would imagine that Holton Street is too far from UWM and too close to "the hood" to be acceptable to the decisionmakers at UWM.

I suspect the likliest two candidates are the Hometown site and the Locust site east of Humboldt. Of these two, I would imagine the Locust Street site would get the nod. The Hometown site has been eyed by the City for a long time as a prime redevelopment opportunity. I'm sure the City will do what it can to ensure that becomes a tax-generating development.

While neighbors complained a lot when Kenilworth was proposed, I haven't heard a single person complain about it since it has been completed and I live in the neighborhood. I think the number one complaint among residents right now is "What the hell is going on with Prospect Mall?"

Given that the Hometown site has a higher and better use than a dorm, I have to give the edge to the Prospect Mall site. Neighbors be damned. Plus, what a great advantage that will give UWM in recuiting students...freshman would love to live right there.

@MilwaukeeD what about the near Brady St site... it wouldn't be too much further for the UWM shuttle bus, it would fill up a vacant lot, and well it's just off Brady.. not a bad spot either. My fear with the Prospect Mall spot is the neighbors will say we already got one dorm,...

The Farwell site wouldn't be too bad either, but I still think it would be better as condos/apartments similar to The Sterling. That's a desirable residential location.

I think Prospect Mall is less desirable because of the noise/bars/etc. right there, but students wouldn't mind and would actually probably prefer to be right in the middle of it. I guess my fear is that I'm not sure what other kind of development could work on the Prospect Mall site, unless it is strictly commercial and that seems like a wasted opportunity.

Most condo buyers wouldn't want to be right on top of all that activity, and with a condo building, a ton of parking spaces would need to be built. A dorm could get by with much less.

Interesting item regarding the "Prospect Mall" site: The proposed dorm is actually across Prospect from the actual Prospect Mall building - on the southeast corner of Prospect and Ivanhoe. The dorm would be built on the land that currently is occupied by Qdoba - a wonderful little Workshop Architects job from a few years back. I would hate to see this building go, but the balance of the site is surface parking and certainly underutilized. And I am sure Qdoba would get a space in the new building.

I was hoping it would be part of a development that included both sides of the street. If it is just the east side, then I am much less excited.

the promotional website for the Moderne isn't up anymore.. hmm

TwoaDay and myself (okay, blame me, it was mostly me) broke down each proposed dorm location in terms of the logistics of each site.

Oh, and we did it in bullet points, for your easy reading pleasure.

Enjoy (and give us feedback).

http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2008/08/07/where-is-the-new-uwm-dorm-going/

@bjkeys321 The Moderne site still appears to be up to me http://www.themoderne.net/

From the website its look to me that 15 or so units have been sold/reserved. With no public help needed for this project it looks like things are still moving along? This would be a great skyline addition lets hope they can nab a few more and break ground.

TwoaDay and myself (okay, blame me, it was mostly me) broke down each proposed dorm location in terms of the logistics of each site.

Oh, and we did it in bullet points, for your easy reading pleasure.

Enjoy (and give us feedback).

http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2008/08/07/where-is-the-new-uwm-dorm-going/

An interesting point to consider regarding the Prospect Mall site is that the mall building has some promising brickwork beneath its facade, which may make it a good candidate for renovation.

Here's a picture from a blog called "Milwaukee Streets" (http://milwaukeestreets.blogspot.com/):
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/2558913192_2ac63eb5d1.jpg

Cool!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008 - 4:51 PM CDT

National City moves state HQ downtown, adding Milwaukee branches
The Business Journal of Milwaukee

National City Corp., the Cleveland parent of National City Bank, said Wednesday that it has relocated its Wisconsin state headquarters from Brookfield to downtown Milwaukee and will open 11 new branches in the area over the next three years.

The first new full-service branch, expected to open in October, will be located on the first floor of the bank's new state headquarters at 411 E. Wisconsin Ave. National City now has 24 Milwaukee-area branches.

"Combining our existing Milwaukee operations into a downtown headquarters provides a dramatic and visible base to grow market share and strengthen the connection between our employees and their customers," said Beth Wnuk, president of National City-Wisconsin Banking, in a press release. "We want to invest in the region's future and be a part of its success."

Functions moving from the bank's Brookfield offices to 411 East Wisconsin Center include commercial banking, private banking and wealth management, small business banking and retail branch administration. National City will lease a total of 22,500 square feet.

In addition, National City's branch expansion plan will add an estimated 60 new jobs throughout greater Milwaukee over the next three years, the bank said.

The consideration of existing public transit lines should be important for UWM's development of its new dorms. Rather than creating an extensive shuttle bus route as an added expense, the new students can use their UPASSes that they already have to pay for on these city routes.

I actually like the Brady street site the best, if any of you remember Dig Dem Dogs, (that used to be our restaurant down there til it went out of buisness)( also did you guys see that Yianni's went under, sad) it would bring in a lot of young people to the area. Economic stimulation is always good. Plus it would add a nice tall building :)

I actually like the Brady street site the best,... it would bring in a lot of young people to the area.

Indeed. There is a great deficiency of young people around Brady Street.

Does anyone know what's up with the US Bank building? It has a color changing light on top now, but it only looks like it's on the NE corner.

I don't know why they can't have a taller website. Taller websites are more valid than shorter websites even if the shorter website has more information in it.


:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Tumbleweeds and dust...

The wind blows stiffly. Bats flap overhead and an owl hoots in the distance. Somewhere, a door squeaks as it bangs against the jam.

Not a soul can be seen.

Could someone shut that door please... teh wind is blowing right up the Kyber :lol:

jam = jamb

there are a couple of interesting things in the news, just no one has posted them. the public market is getting a new bakery and organic grocery store.

iron horse hotel is nearing completion...website is updated with photos: www.theironhorsehotel.com

and, like always, work continues on the staybridge, park lafayette, the edge, north end, pabst brewery, columbia st. mary's, breakwater and others.

I still wish the media would keep us update on stuff going up in the North Side. North Ave has about a dozen projects under construction or recently finished. I've seen none of them in the media or on here. The closest thing I've seen is this article from last fall:




Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=653903)

Central city inspires African nation

Nigeria hopes to model development

By TANNETTE JOHNSON-ELIE
telie@journalsentinel.com

Posted: Aug. 28, 2007


Implausibly, Nigeria, a nation rich in mineral assets such as oil and diamonds, is looking to Milwaukee's central city as a model for economic development.

That's right. Milwaukee, with the eighth-highest rate of poverty among large cities in America, has captured the interest of Nigeria, a nation in western Africa where devastating poverty affects nearly 60% of the population, despite vast wealth in fossil fuels.

I found this a little hard to comprehend, but that's the problem with Milwaukee - it often takes an outsider to see opportunities that people here miss.

And Nigerian officials see a goldmine in a part of the city that many businesses abandoned years ago and still shun today. They are impressed with the revitalization along North Ave., a neighborhood that is making a comeback.

The consul general of Nigeria, Ibrahim Auwalu, came to Milwaukee on Aug. 17 to meet with city leaders. The purpose was to discuss economic opportunities between Nigeria and central city businesses and ways Nigeria could duplicate the business reinvestment and housing development that have occurred along the North Ave. corridor.

Renee Booker and John White Jr., of the North Avenue Community Development Corp., talk about the development plans for North Ave.

During his Milwaukee visit, one of several this year, Auwalu toured new retail and office space and housing developments. The neighborhood is bounded by I-43 to 48th St. on the west, Burleigh St. on the north and Juneau Ave. on the south.

"Here you have a community that was being abandoned, but through the sheer determination of the people to bring it back to life, it's now being revived," Auwalu said in a phone interview last week. "It is that determination that we're interested in."

Auwalu, who represents the president of Nigeria, learned about redevelopment efforts in Milwaukee's central city from Ali Garba, a local Nigerian who is a vice president and investment officer for Wachovia Securities.

Garba met Auwalu at a conference of Nigerian professionals last year in Minneapolis and invited him to visit Milwaukee to get a firsthand view of the development taking place in the central city, pointing to North Ave. as a model.

The Nigerian government is interested in partnering with the North Avenue Community Development Corp., a non-profit organization that is buying and developing commercial and residential real estate properties along North Ave. The goal would be to share ideas and resources for economic development both here and in Nigeria, Auwalu said.

This delights Renee Booker, president and chief executive officer of the North Ave. development group.

"This is a unique opportunity where Milwaukee can really make a national name. This is the kind of thing you don't hear about," Booker said. "If we can make this work here, then why couldn't that happen in Nigeria?"

Milwaukee Common Council President Willie Hines Jr., whose 15th aldermanic district includes North Ave., is excited about a potential relationship with Nigeria and hopes it will help erase some of the stigma associated with the central city.

"Unfortunately, there's limited appreciation for the outstanding success and achievements that have occurred in the central city. There are a number of neighborhoods where residents are taking back their communities, where residents are moving back in and you're seeing business growth," Hines said. "It took someone from Nigeria to really appreciate the value of what's happening in the district."

The consul general sees parallels between the central city and parts of northern Nigeria, where riot-damaged cities are being rebuilt. Auwalu compares Milwaukee to Kano, the economic center of northern Nigeria and one of the oldest and largest cities in the region.

Like parts of the central city, Kano, the capital of the State of Kano, is an old industrial city that has had stagnant economic growth.

"Some parts are so old, we want to see if we can tear those down and build a new city within an old city," Auwalu said. "We want to open a discussion between Kano state government and North Avenue CDC to see how they can partner and share ideas."

This could mean potential opportunities for minority-owned firms in Milwaukee to help in the rebuilding of Kano and other Nigerian cities, and North Avenue CDC can help lead such efforts, Auwalu said. What's more, such a partnership might help Milwaukee build stronger relations with Nigerians here at home, where the Nigerian population is estimated to be about 5,000.

"This is an opportunity to create economic development in poor areas of Nigeria, using North Avenue as a model," Wachovia's Garba said. "If we can get things done in Nigeria, it's going to catch on like fire. What they're doing on North Avenue may not be exciting to people here, but to Nigerians, it's like heaven."

Imagine that. Somebody sees the central city of Milwaukee as heaven. It may be a stretch, but the thought is refreshing.

Tannette Johnson-Elie writes about small and minority-owned businesses and diversity issues for the Journal Sentinel. She can be reached at (414) 223-5172 or by e-mail at telie@journalsentinel.com.

Here's the pic from the article:

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/news/img/aug07/johncol_082807_big.jpg

I was wondering if people wanted to do another meetup soon?

THURSDAY, Aug. 14, 2008, 4:05 p.m.
By Erica Perez

3 finalists picked for UWM dorm site
The UWM Real Estate Foundation today announced three developers that are finalists to design and build a new student dorm, slated to house 500 to 700 freshmen and sophomores and open in August 2010.

The three are:

Boulder Venture: The old Prospect Mall at 2217-2239 N. Prospect Ave. and parking lot at 2214-2228 N. Prospect Ave. between Ivanhoe Place and Kenilworth Place. The Prospect Mall building, bought by Boulder Venture in 2004, has about 42,000 square feet.

Mandel Group, Inc.: Property that abuts Milwaukee River corridor, E. North Ave., N. Cambridge Ave. and Wisconsin Paperboard, 1514 E. Thomas Ave.

Phelan Development, LLC and Towne Investments: 1744 N. Farwell Ave. (southeast corner of N. Farwell Ave. and E. Royall Place).

The foundation is gathering additional information from the three finalists regarding their proposals and will continue to consider community input as it moves forward in the selection of the preferred site.

Nice! I'm glad the Brady street proposal carried. Now about the developer..

Also heard this on the radio this morning

http://www.wiba.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=118857&article=4105055

The August issue of Marie Claire, which targets 20- and 30-something women, included our town in a list called "Sexy 101." The lead-in to each item on the list, described by one of the magazine's editors as an "It" list of the here and now, was "sexiest." The list included such items as the Democratic National Convention, France's top newlyweds Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni, AMC's "Mad Men" and the trend of women out-earning men.

(Not a joke, here's the link: JSonline.com (http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=783581))

Anyone know when Mandel released information about these new lofts in third ward?
http://www.mandelgroup.com/data/properties/Corcoran-render-lg.gif
link (http://www.mandelgroup.com/apartments/apartment_detail.cfm?n_id=99)

Anyone know when Mandel released information about these new lofts in third ward?
http://www.mandelgroup.com/data/properties/Corcoran-render-lg.gif
link (http://www.mandelgroup.com/apartments/apartment_detail.cfm?n_id=99)

Wow, how Robert Scarano. That said, it's quite nice infill.

Anyways, if youse guys are looking for something to go in this space, I guess I'll just post some pictures I posted on SSP from two weeks ago:

Here's a few photos from last Wednesday; a view of Park Lafayette, North Powerhouse demolition (featuring a cameo by Staybridge Suites) and a skyline shot that shows exactly how the Breakwater is the ugliest building in the skyline; a fat, graceless sore thumb of a building plopped square in a place where it demands attention. I'm praying that the balconies will add depth to its stale facade or at least that the vacant lot across Burns' Common on Prospect gets developed with something big just so Breakwater isn't all by itself.

[Note the 'topping out' tree on the East tower]
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/3750/mke1oa5.jpg
http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/8742/mke2vg4.jpg
http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/5877/mke3qh4.jpg

Has there ever been any proposals or effort to build on all the open area on Mckinely by the time warner building? Is any of that even for sale?

Has there ever been any proposals or effort to build on all the open area on Mckinely by the time warner building? Is any of that even for sale?


McKinley between the Milwaukee River and 3rd is owned by Ruvin Development. They have proposed an Aloft Hotel for the site. The project also keeps getting trimmed--first the offices were eliminated, then the condos were eliminated.

McKinley between 3rd and 4th is owned by the County, but there is a purchase option on the land by developers Gatehouse Capital and Ruvin. They have proposed the Hotel and Residences at Palomar on that block, and are working on getting financing so they can buy the land and build the hotel and condo tower. In order to do that, they began pre-construction sales for the condos a few months ago.

McKinley between 4th and 6th is owned by the County, which has not issued a request for proposals for that land, so it hasn't been put up for sale yet.

ahh yeah, I forgot all about the Aloft Hotel proposal, thanks for the info. Everytime I drive along Mckinely I cringe at how much space there is.
p.s. I totally forgot Fonzie goes up tomorrow

http://urbanmilwaukee.com/category/neighborhoods/east-side/1550-n-prospect-avenue/

http://urbanmilwaukee.com/category/neighborhoods/east-side/1550-n-prospect-avenue/

I like that. It's pretty similar to the Kilbourn Tower, but that's not a bad thing.

http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/08/25/story1.html?b=1219636800^1688497

I am not entirely opposed to this idea although I do enjoy having a large prominent bridge as part of the city skyline. I would still hope they could do something similar like they did with the bridges on 6th street.

So weird... I was just thinking about this while I was driving over the bridge last night. I would support replacing the bridge.. but I would really like to see some general plans on future connections to see how it will all work.

Jeez. They just finish rebuilding 794 from the Marquette to the river as though it will remain elevated and now they want to bring it down to street level.

A large problem is if they turn I-794 into a lower highway, they would need to have a basquille bridge over the Milwaukee river to allow boat traffic through. I doubt they could keep the interstate designation (and federal dollars) if they had that.

I would love to see it done, with the road built out to a similiar scale to Mckinley Ave, starting from a traffic circle at Lincoln Memorial drive and then going south. I can already see the corporate headquarters lining up to build for their excellent road access and beautiful lake views. Anything over 2 or 3 stories would have a lake view.

It looks like a strong possibility that Park East area's loss is Delafield's gain.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=786051

This will most likely considerably scale down the MLG project in the Park East area, if it hasn't been already. The article did suggest that Associated Bank might be interested in moving into the MLG project. But I don't suspect much will be decided by Associated Bank until after the "banking crisis" has passed.

Can anyone confirm or deny? SCB is a Chicago-based firm.

Does anybody know about this proposal? Is this legit and have you even seen these images yet. I wandered across it on the SCB website:

Its called "Washington Square"

http://www.scb.com/images/project/312/NE-060413LR.jpg

http://www.scb.com/images/project/312/SW-060413nightLR.jpg

Both of those are from scb.com under "office"

where is that proposal for? I see the skyline in the reflection.. just can't tell where it would be located.

---- my only guess is that lot directly across from the south side of cathedral square and east of the Pfister?

There's a surface parking lot on E. Mason between N. Jackson and N. Jefferson Streets that almost always comes up as a possible site for a new office building whenever some company or firm is considering a move in Downtown Milwaukee. That's where this proposal is. One of the most recently rumored possible tenants for that site is Associated Bank, which has been considering consolidating its Milwaukee offices into one location.

Associated Bank has also been associated with looking at going into MLG's possible mixed-use tower in the Park East (Water Street between Knapp and Cherry Streets) and also somewhere within the Pabst Brewery complex.

They also have a propsed 17 story condo tower on the lakefront

http://scb.com/?mainpage=2&pagetype=Architecture&p=73&firstlevel=1&seclevel=0

They also have a propsed 17 story condo tower on the lakefront

No they don't.

Cathedral Place was finished four years ago. It's at Cathedral Square Park, not the lakefront.

a lotta' development going on in milwaukee. good stuff!!:okay:

It looks like a strong possibility that Park East area's loss is Delafield's gain.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=786051

This will most likely considerably scale down the MLG project in the Park East area, if it hasn't been already. The article did suggest that Associated Bank might be interested in moving into the MLG project. But I don't suspect much will be decided by Associated Bank until after the "banking crisis" has passed.

This really irks me... That whole development out there is so ridiculous and wasteful!

So I contacted Lauren Siegal from the Moderne and she said that Moderne will break ground in March of 09

Cool, I guess. Gotta be better than the Bumrushers, er Bonecrushers, whatever.

From the J-S

FRIDAY, Aug. 29, 2008, 9:48 a.m.
By Don Walker

New Arena Football League team signs lease
The Milwaukee Iron, a new Arena Football League 2 franchise in town, has reached formal agreement on a three-year lease to play arena football at the Bradley Center beginning next March.

For details, check our Business of Sports blog.

So I contacted Lauren Siegal from the Moderne and she said that Moderne will break ground in March of 09

:banana: Very good news, if true. But as always, we Miwaukee-ans will remain very wary of any good news. Now lets just get some news on The Catalyst!

The Hoan should be replaced with a neat cable-stayed structure - it would be another structure that looks like a sailboat, and at night lights on the bridge would make it look very neat.

So I contacted Lauren Siegal from the Moderne and she said that Moderne will break ground in March of 09

Would the timing of this [waiting until March] be meant to time construction so as to minimize exposure to winter temps? I take Lauren Siegal at his/her word until I hear otherwise, but its interesting to me that they would express any certainty about breaking ground 6 months in advance. I would think that they would jump right in when they crossed some sales threshold, and/or got some extra financing.

Interesting article on the "freeness" of cities around our country. Milwaukee ranked the 6th best city in terms of freedom. http://www.reason.com/news/show/127481.html


6) MILWAUKEE

When the fictional town of Springfield was deemed the “fattest city in the U.S.” on The Simpsons, Homer Simpson retorted, “In your face, Milwaukee!” Truth be told, despite its kielbasa reputation, Milwaukee isn’t all that fat: Since 2000 Milwaukee has made periodic appearances among the 25 fittest cities in annual rankings by Men’s Health magazine. The food nannies should be disappointed to learn that Milwaukee shared the top spot on our list of food freedom with several cities (including fitness-crazed Denver) that have apparently discovered other routes to good health besides regulation. No soda tax, no trans fat ban, no snack tax—and the city’s fit. Brew City does finish a disappointing 19th when it comes to alcohol, but Milwaukee’s pro-freedom approach to drug enforcement (including decriminalization of pot possession) helps bump the city to a very respectable sixth place overall.

—R.B.

Sex: 31 Tobacco: 5 Alcohol: 19 Guns: 17

Movement: 3 Drugs: 9 Gambling: 23 Food/Other:

This would be a perfect candidate for the Valley...

Friday, September 5, 2008
Astronautics seeking new HQ site

The Business Journal of Milwaukee - by Rich Kirchen
In a move that is sure to set off a bidding war among communities and developers in southeast Wisconsin and other states, Astronautics Corp. of America, a low-key but high-tech Milwaukee manufacturer, is seeking a new headquarters site that would employ 1,000 people.

Privately held Astronautics told The Business Journal this week that it is commencing a search for “a potential new headquarters location” of 225,000 to 250,000 square feet. The company will consider locating in southeast Wisconsin and other states. Astronautics will explore developing a new structure on vacant land or remodeling an existing structure.

“We really don’t want to deny any options, but obviously we’d prefer to stay in the Milwaukee area,” said Holly Russek, the company’s vice president of administration.

http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/09/08/story3.html?b=1220846400^1695450

Would the timing of this [waiting until March] be meant to time construction so as to minimize exposure to winter temps? I take Lauren Siegal at his/her word until I hear otherwise, but its interesting to me that they would express any certainty about breaking ground 6 months in advance. I would think that they would jump right in when they crossed some sales threshold, and/or got some extra financing.

They did indeed pass their target for sales and they don't have the usual obstacles that most projects have when it comes to financing. This will break ground.

^ Great news. Gosh, it has been absolutely dead in here lately. This is the least activity in the Milwaukee Development forum that I can remember in my 3-4 years here.

Just saw this posted on jsonline

http://www.jsonline.com/watch/?watch=1&date=9/5/2008&id=45714


Apartment building to rise in Third Ward
Mandel Group Inc. plans to break ground in October on a 76-unit apartment building in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward, a Mandel executive said today.

The building, Corcoran Lofts, will be built on a vacant lot adjacent to Mandel's Gaslight Lofts, a 138-unit apartment building at 425 E. Menomonee St., said Robert Monnat, Mandel Group chief operating officer. Corcoran Lofts will be mostly studio and one-bedroom units, which are in strong demand, he said. The monthly rents will be over $900 for the studio units, and $1,200 to $1,500 for the one-bedroom units.

Corcoran Lofts will open by fall 2009, Monnat said.

I believe 2 apartment buildings will break ground in the Third Ward, the other being Jackson Square.

Also UWM is close to selecting the site of its next dorm building. It is between the Hometown site on North Ave, the Prospect Mall Parking Lot, and a site on Farwell near brady.

Here are the renderings for the Prospect Mall building: Renderings (http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2008/09/03/prospect-mall-uwm-site-meeting-review) ... we're working on getting the others...

As much as I have always loved floating above the industrial mouth of the city on the Hoan Bridge and 794, I wouldn't miss the Hoan Bridge a lick. Let's face it, although it is an 'iconic' bridge, it is ugly as hell. It's really not that aesthetically redeeming or anything, and 794 completely destroys any sort of ground level fluidity between downtown and the Third Ward. Tear all that shit down and make a lakefront boulevard (light rail medians, anyone?). In the long run, of course. Heh, the city/county have some bigger shit to handle first.

Milwaukee Magazine says Moderne hopes to break ground in October this month according to September 2008 edition of online "All-In-One"

http://www.milwaukeepalomar.com/flashAssets/article_pdf/mm_20080814.pdf

Milwaukee Magazine says Moderne hopes to break ground in October this month according to September 2008 edition of online "All-In-One"

http://www.milwaukeepalomar.com/flashAssets/article_pdf/mm_20080814.pdf

Thats great news but I was just curious why this doesn't have it's own thread since it's one of the more major projects and once this breaks ground that would make it easier to post pics.

So I contacted Lauren Siegal from the Moderne and she said that Moderne will break ground in March of 09

Milwaukee Magazine says Moderne hopes to break ground in October this month according to September 2008 edition of online "All-In-One"

http://www.milwaukeepalomar.com/flashAssets/article_pdf/mm_20080814.pdf

:nuts:

So which one is it?!? I'll just glance over on my way to work, and hope for the best. :lol:

:nuts:

So which one is it?!? I'll just glance over on my way to work, and hope for the best. :lol:

Well there is a difference between the quotes... one says hope and one says will

Twoaday and myself were at a meeting on Brownfields last night which happened to be on the top floor of the US Bank Center. We brought a camera with.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3242/2846652780_7a4188435f.jpg (http://flickr.com/photos/compujeramey/2846652780/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/2846618262_67fbb11700.jpg?v=0 (http://flickr.com/photos/compujeramey/2846618262/)

See the rest (http://flickr.com/photos/compujeramey/archives/date-taken/2008/09/09/) or view our article on it (http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2008/09/10/photos-from-top-of-us-bank-building/).

^^ That's too funny. I noticed the top floor was lit up last night and thought "that's unusual". So it all makes sense now :)

Good lord, its amazing from that perspective to see how those festival ground parking lots really eat up a lot of space! Bear Gryles could do a show there! Quite a contrast from North to South.

Just imagine street level if the Hoan Bridge wasn't there!!

And I'm in love with that view of Prospect Ave...

It would be very difficult to continue a ground level roadway through the sewage plant! Lets remember that one of the big reasons for the Hoan bridge was to get over that eyesore. I don't think anyone wants to get closer to it than they have to. It is a vital piece of Milwaukee infrastucture but one that nobody wants to see or smell.

@boatnurd Take a close look at the photo of the traffic over the Hoan because it was taken during "rush hour". The traffic could be re-routed into Walker's Point, it doesn't need to cut right through downtown.

Hmmmmm. I'm open, and familiar with the area. are you talking about running it down 1st street just out of the 3rd ward? If you go anywhere East of 1st and just before KK you hit water. Heck, I kept my boat at Skipper Bud's for many years. That water way kind of meanders and would be difficult anywhere east of 1st street. Is this what you were thinking Twoaday?

Ok, here is a snapshot of the harbor. Top right shows where the Hoan Bridge begins to climb up over the harbor entrance.

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

@boatnurd Take a close look at the photo of the traffic over the Hoan because it was taken during "rush hour". The traffic could be re-routed into Walker's Point, it doesn't need to cut right through downtown.

That is in no way rush hour.. just rerouting traffic onto side streets with existing infrastructure would be disasterous. If the Hoan is torn down it needs to be replaced with something VERY similar leading to the same off ramps into the city (maybe with a few extra).

Great shots, jeramey.

Hmmmmm. I'm open, and familiar with the area. are you talking about running it down 1st street just out of the 3rd ward? If you go anywhere East of 1st and just before KK you hit water. Heck, I kept my boat at Skipper Bud's for many years. That water way kind of meanders and would be difficult anywhere east of 1st street.

The article a few weeks ago in the Business Journal, from which this story originates, described one alternative (of at least a few) WisDOT is considering. It described rerouting traffic onto a new roadway that could be built west of Jones Island/Port of Milwaukee (thereby making concerns about having to drive past/over/through the wastewater treatment plant moot).

While not stated directly in the article, this implies a routing from the existing Lake Parkway following along/in the Union Pacific/former Chicago & North Western railroad corridor (on which, incidentally, is where the KRM commuter train is proposed to run)--east of S. 1st Street/CP/Amtrak rail line and west of the Inner Harbor--past the former Milwaukee Solvay & Coke site, up through Walker's Point and crossing the river into the Third Ward near the old railroad swing bridge, in order to link up with a new Lincoln Memorial Drive or Harbor Drive along the western edge of the Summerfest Grounds. This not only opens up land on Jones Island for further development of port activities, but it also opens up access to adjacent sites along the new roadway--like the northern edge of Bay View (the old Army Reserve site, the old Allis plant, the former railroad yards and carferry slips--all south of the KK River), not to mention large undeveloped tracts in Walker's Point (more old carferry slips, the Solvay site, the WeEnergies coal storage pile site, the various scrap yards and warehouses), plus a whole huge chunk of the Third Ward (the remaining few blocks of warehouses, the Summerfest parking lots, the Italian Community Center parking lots, the parking lots underneath the elevated freeway.

This new connection could easily be done in the Park East style--a ground level, high-capacity, surface level streets and low-level opening bridges which tie into a series of new blocks/cross streets that connect to the adjacent established neighborhoods.

And that's just one of multiple options being looked at.

Another possibility that's also sure to be considered is building a new connection in the same corridor as the Hoan Bridge, but just not so tall--and hopefully not so wide. This would not open up access to as much developable area as the further-western routing, but it could still allow for a bunch of development in Bay View at the southern end and the Third Ward at the northern end, and improvements on Jones Island.

That new connection could be done in the Sixth Street Bridges style. The Lake Parkway sloping to a ground level intersection in the vicinity of Lincoln Avenue or Bay Street, or Carferry Drive, then gradually ramping upward through Jones Island--high enough to allow clearance for any port and railroad activities on the ground, but not as high as the current Hoan Bridge and freeway as to be ridiculously expensive or difficult to build. This would allow a crossing over the mouth of the Milwaukee River using a new openable bridge (lift, bascule, swing, whatever)--a bridge high enough to allow free flow of auto and small boat traffic, and would only have to open for the very large boats, which are comparatively infrequent (pretty much just like all the other drawbridges Downtown, most of the boat traffic is short enough that they can pass freely underneath without having to have the bridges open, and even then, bridge openings are restricted during rush hours and heavy traffic events). Anyway, once on the other side of the river, the roadway can slope back down to street level right in the Third Ward alongside the Summerfest Grounds, linking with Lincoln Memorial Drive near the Art Museum/Discovery World to the north, and another new east-west boulevard that slopes up to the Marquette Interchange approach on the west back of the river.


In either of those examples, the replacement roadway and bridges maintain the connections between the South Shore suburban communities and Downtown, provides new/reestablishes old access to underdeveloped and undeveloped land/buildings, does not simply dump traffic onto existing local streets, and does not negatively disrupt the operations and infrastructure of the wastewater treatment plant or the Port, which is an important intermodal water/rail/truck and importing/exporting global link for the region.

Thanks Markitect, you did a great job recapping and explaining the options. I fully understand the routes and potential re-use of land options now. After your recap, I became an advocate of this change. Nice job!

Markitect lays out a couple of options that the DOT should consider.. Though the route along the KRM line needs to be considered carefully as I'd hate to see a boulevard eliminate a rail line.

PS @Exit_320 That photo was most certainly taken during rush hour (I was standing next to Jeramey when he took it).

As a taxpayer who lives in the state of Wisconsin I don't want the state to throw anymore transportation money toward Milwaukee.

Until there is some sort of well thought out transpotation plan in place for Milwaukee and the whole area, tearing down a bridge just to build a new street level one is to me just crap.

A transportation plan shouldn't be based on one small segment of the 7 county SE Wisconsin transportation district (area around the Hoan bridge).

The whole area plan should also include the whole 7 county SE Wisconsin transportation district too.

As a taxpayer who lives in the state of Wisconsin I don't want the state to throw anymore transportation money toward Milwaukee.

Until there is some sort of well thought out transpotation plan in place for Milwaukee and the whole area, tearing down a bridge just to build a new street level one is to me just crap.

A transportation plan shouldn't be based on one small segment of the 7 county SE Wisconsin transportation district (area around the Hoan bridge).

The whole area plan should also include the whole 7 county SE Wisconsin transportation district too.


Is it your suggestion that money for transportation projects in the state's largest city is wasted? By all accounts, the recent Marquette interchange project was a massive success that came in ahead of schedule and under budget and has renewed the state's largest artery. That project did not effect just the city of Milwaukee alone. It was a regional impact, and a regional benefit.

I think the regional planners should be given the benefit of the doubt in this situation. They are actually exploring tearing down the bridge as a cost savings method -- not simply a nice-to-have. The open exploration of ideas on this situation is very healthy. The vast majority of transportation projects are local in scope, but this one just happens to effect more residents per capita than many across the state. To me, that makes relative sense.

As far as I know the next most important project is U.S. 18 and 151 in the cities of Fitchburg and Madison from county highway PD to the Beltline Highway (U.S. 12, 14, 18, 151)which was built for carrying the traffic requirements of the 1950s when the Mt. Horeb, Verona and Fitchburg corridor is the one of the fastest growing corridors of Madison or at least was since the 50's. It was supposed to be started when the Marquette interchange was finished but it looks like that this will be delayed due to the state's financial situation.

Although all this is academic because this discussion about the Hoan Bridge is mostly hypothetical or is it seriously being discussed as a realistic possibility?

As a taxpayer who lives in the state of Wisconsin I don't want the state to throw anymore transportation money toward Milwaukee.

Do you think it would be better off wasted expanding 41 in Green Bay and Oshkosh? :lol:

Do you think it would be better off wasted expanding 41 in Green Bay and Oshkosh? :lol:

41 from Richfield to Green Bay should be 3 lanes. I spend a lot of time on that stretch and come Friday night and Sunday evening, all the weekend warriors absoloutely POUND that corridor. I get off on the 45 in Oshkosh to head to Stevens Point, and almost every time traffic stops at one point or another at any given point from a bout 5 miles south of Oshkosh until you are over the bridge...and typicallly if you aren't stopped, at the very least it is always a crawl. IMO, and this is with extreme bias, that would not be money wasted. OR...if they just spent the money to re-educate humans that the left lane is the passing lane and not an "OH...an open lane for me to do 66 in" lane...the expansion wouldn't be necessary. Alas, humans are wierd, so stretch that (*^*sucker!!

As a taxpayer who lives in the state of Wisconsin I don't want the state to throw anymore transportation money toward Milwaukee.

Until there is some sort of well thought out transpotation plan in place for Milwaukee and the whole area, tearing down a bridge just to build a new street level one is to me just crap.

A transportation plan shouldn't be based on one small segment of the 7 county SE Wisconsin transportation district (area around the Hoan bridge).

The whole area plan should also include the whole 7 county SE Wisconsin transportation district too.

This is a part of an ongoing transportation plan concerning the entire freeway system in southeastern Wisconsin. It's been going on for several years now due to the fact that after 40-50 years all of the freeways in the area are approaching the end of their useful lives (you can only resurface them so many times before they need to be entirely rebuilt from the ground up).

This is what the Marquette Interchange reconstruction was all about. This is what the upcoming rebuilding/widening of I-94 south to Illinois is all about. This is what the upcoming reconstruction of the Mitchell Interchange is all about. This is what the upcoming reconstruction of the Zoo Interchange is all about. This is what the eventual re-do of ALL the freeways are all about. And it is expected to take upwards of three decades to incrementally complete.

And since I-794/Hoan Bridge is a part of the freeway system, that's what this exploration into demolishing it is all about, too. It's not being looked at as something to do just for the heck of it, on a whim. It's being looked at as a possibility because it's a fact that the bridge continues to deteriorate as it ages, and as time increases the costs to make repairs increases, and it is inevitable that something is going to have to be done with the bridge in the upcoming future. The purpose of studying these different reconstruction alternatives is to determine more precisely what that "something" is going to be: rebuilding it at great expense, or demolishing it and building new street connections at great expense. So it's a matter of studying options, weighing the costs and befenfits of each one against each other in order to determine which one to chose and then move forward with implementing it.

Of course, there's always the option of doing nothing at all, and let it continue to fall apart. It's already partially collapsed once. Maybe next time it will go all the way like the bridge in Minneapolis.

I am not against mindful and thoughtful road projects.

What is upseting is wasteful pork barrel spending.

Irregardless of the Hoan bridge and what may or may not happen to it is that it isn't just up to the county, city, or even the state as to what ultimatly happens to the bridge because the portion of highway the bridge belongs to is a Federally designated blue shielded three digit (794) interstate highway.

There was a time when I-794 was to extend down towards the airport as an alternative route to it.

But I-794 isn't the only freeway project to have a part of it built and then die on the drawing board either, Fond du lac ave and Miller Park way are also examples.

Until the State and the 7 county SE Wisconsin Transportation district has some idea as to how and what kind of transportational plan that can be implemented and be used by the people who will use it then all this talk about replacing the Hoan bridge with something else is all hot air.

Believe me when you get the federal government involved as they will be you can bet that there will be a whole lot of red tape and other BS involved too.

Irregardless of the Hoan bridge and what may or may not happen to it is that it isn't just up to the county, city, or even the state as to what ultimatly happens to the bridge because the portion of highway the bridge belongs to is a Federally designated blue shielded three digit (794) interstate highway.

Until the State and the 7 county SE Wisconsin Transportation district has some idea as to how and what kind of transportational plan that can be implemented and be used by the people who will use it then all this talk about replacing the Hoan bridge with something else is all hot air.

Believe me when you get the federal government involved as they will be you can bet that there will be a whole lot of red tape and other BS involved too.

All this talk is part of the planning process. You can't implement a decision without first formulating a plan. You can't formulate a plan without first exploring alternatives.

It is true that the Hoan Bridge and link to the Marquette Interchange is a Federally designated Interstate Highway. It is also true that the Feds would have to officially un-designate it in order for the highway to be demolished and replaced with something more urban-scaled.

Repealing the highway's Interstate designation probably wouldn't be too big of a deal with the Feds--especially since it's less than 4 miles long.

There is already a southern connection to the Airport on the Lake Parkway, which is also designated as State Trunk Highway 794--a designation that could simply just be extended north and west along any new roadway back up to the Marquette Interchange, should the Hoan Bridge actually be torn down. Most people probably couldn't care less whether there's an "I" or a "STH" in front of the "794," as long as they can get to where they're going.

It is also true, however, that the Feds passed down the authority to do the planning and construction of our highways to WisDOT. In the grand scheme of things, the Feds aren't going to get into all the nitty-gritty work (such as cost/benefit analysis, or exploring design alternatives, or even just brainstoming ideas...like what's going on right now), that's for WisDOT to handle. The Feds would just give their stamp of approval or disapproval whenever it is needed.

So the Feds may like a plan that replaces the Hoan Bridge with something else. The Feds may not like such a plan at all. The Feds may never even get hear about it if WisDOT feels it's not a worthwhile plan to present to them. They wont know until they look into it some more.

A few years ago, WisDOT determined the cost to rehabilitate I-794 and the Hoan Bridge to be somewhere in $40-45 million range. Of course that was a few years ago, and prices for steel, concrete, and pretty much everything else has risen since then, and are likely to rise even more into the future, when this project would be taking place. So WisDOT is doing a smart thing with looking into alternatives. It may be they come up with something that costs less. It may be they come up with something that costs more. And by this, we're not just talking monetary costs, either. They may come up with something that's an improvement over what's there now in terms of access points or impact on the surrounding neighborhoods. They may not. They won't know for certain until they're finished investigating.

Since this is very early on in the process, it's a bit premature for anybody to be making accusations of simply throwing money toward Milwaukee, or tearing down a bridge just to make a ground level street, or implying that it is wasteful pork barrel spending on a road project that isn't thoughtful.

Irregardless of the Hoan bridge and what may or may not happen to it is that it isn't just up to the county, city, or even the state as to what ultimatly happens to the bridge because the portion of highway the bridge belongs to is a Federally designated blue shielded three digit (794) interstate highway.

Umm... actually, it is up to the State. WisDOT owns all State, U.S., and Interstate highways in Wisconsin. The Federal government does not, with very few exceptions, own public highways. Their role is mainly general oversight of what happens with Federal dollars, and with few exceptions, go with the plans presented to them by the states. There may be some funding issues involved with decomissioning I-794, but if the state wants to do it, they certainly can.

Until the State and the 7 county SE Wisconsin Transportation district has some idea as to how and what kind of transportational plan that can be implemented and be used by the people who will use it then all this talk about replacing the Hoan bridge with something else is all hot air.

Umm... actually, they do have a couple plans, completed a few years ago:
http://www.sewrpc.org/freewaystudy/ - Freeway Plan
http://www.sewrpc.org/regionalplans/regionaltransysplan.shtm - General transportation plan