MILWAUKEE | The Couture | 155m | 507ft | 44 fl | Pro

[aquaticko]

It seems weird that the development would be opposed because it's on a "former" lake bed. If the concern is that there will be archaelogically or ecologically-interesting things in the site, it's going to be excavated anyway for construction. At the least, couldn't the organization opposed try to work out something with the developer? I can't say I understand the reasoning there.

[Eriol]

Wisconsin's constitution guarantees that all waterways in and bordering the state will remain in the public domain, undeveloped by private business. This includes any lakebed regardless of whether it still has water over it.

The law has not always been enforced, such as the restaurant that sits on the old municipal pier in Milwaukee and the townhouses downtown that interrupt the riverwalk, although they were built before the riverwalk was there.

[Paule]

Originally Posted by aquaticko

It seems weird that the development would be opposed because it's on a "former" lake bed. If the concern is that there will be archaelogically or ecologically-interesting things in the site, it's going to be excavated anyway for construction. At the least, couldn't the organization opposed try to work out something with the developer? I can't say I understand the reasoning there.

I understand the reasoning, Milwaukee's lakefront is absolutely gorgeous and these people don't want it becoming cluttered with high-rise developments. However, they are wrong, the Couture proposal is not on a former lake bed. So, this isn't about archaelogical or ecological concerns, it's about preserveing the natural beauty of the lakefront downtown.

[MilwaukeeMax]

El Mariachi, your reasoning for Milwaukee's seemingly rudimentary skyline is only half true. The city and metro populations do indeed call for a much taller skyline downtown, but the close proximity of Milwaukee to Chicago has led to most corporate and regional headquarters to locate in the Windy City or between the two metro areas instead. Many of Milwaukee's taller buildings are actually residential, which lends itself to Milwaukee's quite dense city centre population. Milwaukee is far more suited for a light rail or similar mass transit system than places like Phoenix, Dallas, or MSP, and yet the latter are the cities which were gifted these while Milwaukee continues to squabble over financing a starter-line streetcar.
Anyway, with more mixed-use high-rises being proposed and designed and with Northwestern Mutual intent on expanding in the near future, I foresee even greater vertical stature in Milwaukee in the coming years...

[hybridy]

Originally Posted by Paule

It's starting to look very promiseing that NML will be building something very significant to replace their 16 story office building downtown. In the coming months we'll know for sure but we're all very excited about this.
http://biztimes.com/article/20120926...ilding-for-NML
"Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.’s plans for a new office building to replace the 16-story, 451,964-square-foot East Building on its downtown campus appear to be focused downtown, rather than at its Franklin campus."

i wasnt feeling very confident about the couture progressing, but NML building downtown may actually encourage a hotel to put a flag on the couture. milwaukee is maxed out with high end hotels, so im scratching my head about who would occupy the hotel portion.

current "high end" hotels:
-hyatt regency
-pfister
-marriott (2013)
-powatami casino hotel (2014)
-hilton garden (nov. 1)
-metro
-intercontinental
-iron horse
-hilton

i'm not sure where the Element Hotel will rank on the spectrum, but there is yet for a luxury brand to enter the market.

-conrad hilton
-ritz-carlton
-st regis
-jw marriott
-four seasons
-w (westin)

as with any flag property, these luxury properties require a daily rate/occupancy and milwaukee has never had the demand. a company could justify the demand by guaranteeing a certain number of nights (aka. ritz carlton charlotte, nc + bank of america) but i highly doubt nml would have the need. i guess we'll see.

[Eriol]

Also Sheraton.

[wukikimonkey]

Possible lawsuit looming on Transit Center development

It looks like the recent conclusion by state officials that the Wisconsin Constitution doesn't bar private development of the Downtown Transit Center site will result in a lawsuit.

The Department of Natural Resources ruled that the site, at 909 E. Michigan St., isn't covered by the constitution's public trust doctrine. The doctrine largely bars private development on former lake beds.

That removes a legal barrier to construction of the 44-story Couture, which would include a 180-room hotel, 179 apartments and a parking structure. Developer Rick Barrett is negotiating to buy the county-owned property, and any such agreement will need County Board approval.

Preserve Our Parks, which opposes redeveloping the transit center for private use, says most of the 2.2-acre site was once part of Lake Michigan.

There could be a lawsuit filed to block a sale of the site, said Brian Taffora, county economic development director, at Monday's meeting of the County Board's Committee on Economic and Community Development.

I don't really get this. POP would rather have an empty Transit Center sitting on this supposed lake bed? Where's the natural beauty in that?

[crusaderpat]

I think the curves and color of this building would match nicely with the Calvatra.

[Paule]

Originally Posted by hybridy

i wasnt feeling very confident about the couture progressing, but NML building downtown may actually encourage a hotel to put a flag on the couture.

The Coulture may be held up for the time being but I'm very confident that it will be built. Here's breaking news from yesterday!

http://www.jsonline.com/business/nor...182259331.html

Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. plans to build a new office tower, housing hundreds of employees, at its downtown Milwaukee campus and is seeking $48 million in city financing for the $300 million project.

The new building, with 840,000 square feet and more than 30 stories, would be among downtown's largest office buildings. It would replace Northwestern Mutual's 16-story building south of E. Mason St. and east of N. Cass St., and would be built at that location once the existing building is demolished, the company announced Wednesday.

[ThatOneGuy]

Should have been a colour other than white. There's already a white tower...

[EastOfTheCumberland]

Very nice looking tower.

[Paule]

The current news:
http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2012/12/11...m_medium=email

"The proposed 44-story lakefront tower, The Couture, is still moving forward, now with the United States Department of Transportation’s blessing. Taffora provided an update to the County’s Committee on Economic and Community Development Monday morning. He noted that former Milwaukee County Director of Transportation Frank Busalacchi received a letter from the U.S. Department of Transportation approving the county’s plan to sell the land currently occupied by the Milwaukee County Downtown Transit Complex."

"While none of this news is surprising, it’s a sign that the deal is still alive. Still looming is the potential lawsuit over the legality of building on the site given its lakefront location (the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has ruled the site isn’t covered by the Wisconsin constitution’s public trust doctrine)."

With the DNR's ruling this lawsuit should be dead although it will hold things up for awhile yet.

[Paule]

Originally Posted by ThatOneGuy

Should have been a colour other than white. There's already a white tower...

Some of us think the samething, including me, but I don't think it's a bad thing. I would rather have something different than white though. What might really disturb me is if NML decides to design their new tower as an all white building. This building will be only a few blocks away from the Couture and basically across the street from the all white US Bank tower. Now we're talking trouble IMO.

[He Named Thor]

Good for Milwaukee! They're doing well lately.

Originally Posted by hybridy

i wasnt feeling very confident about the couture progressing, but NML building downtown may actually encourage a hotel to put a flag on the couture. milwaukee is maxed out with high end hotels, so im scratching my head about who would occupy the hotel portion.

current "high end" hotels:
-hyatt regency
-pfister
-marriott (2013)
-powatami casino hotel (2014)
-hilton garden (nov. 1)
-metro
-intercontinental
-iron horse
-hilton

i'm not sure where the Element Hotel will rank on the spectrum, but there is yet for a luxury brand to enter the market.

-conrad hilton
-ritz-carlton
-st regis
-jw marriott
-four seasons
-w (westin)

as with any flag property, these luxury properties require a daily rate/occupancy and milwaukee has never had the demand. a company could justify the demand by guaranteeing a certain number of nights (aka. ritz carlton charlotte, nc + bank of america) but i highly doubt nml would have the need. i guess we'll see.

Originally Posted by Eriol

Also Sheraton.

No love for the Astor?

Originally Posted by ThatOneGuy

Should have been a colour other than white. There's already a white tower...

There are a couple white towers. The University Club tower is also white if I'm not mistaken. It's becoming a little overused in Milwaukee.

Port Washington's lighthouse would fit right in.

[OliverDP]

Remember that there are many ways to differentiate a building besides color. It is possible to have 5 white buildings that all look different due to design, lighting, etc. I am not worried at all about the design based on their recent comments.

[crusaderpat]

I think people tend to exaggerate the amount of tall white buildings in Milwaukee anyways. There are only 5-7 by my count(depending on what you consider white). The university club tower, the Cudahy tower, US bank, and that hidious building on E Wisconsin.

[AdmiralsFan24]

Milwaukee County may be going to court to help spur the redevelopment of the Downtown Transit Center site, where developer Rick Barrett hopes to build apartments and a hotel overlooking Lake Michigan.

County Executive Chris Abele's administration is asking the County Board to authorize hiring the Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren law firm "to obtain legal certainty as it pertains to Milwaukee County’s legal right to develop" the site.

That's according to a memo to board Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic from Julie Esch, county director of operations.

A resolution filed with the memo calls for board permission for the law firm to negotiate the issuing of title insurance to the property's potential buyer, and its lender.

It also calls for permission to file a lawsuit asking a judge to declare that the county has the legal right to sell the property, 909 E. Michigan St., for a private commercial use.

The law firm has been providing legal advice on the issue, and the resolution would increase that contract from $40,000 to $140,000.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/189520201.html

And Betty Brinn Children's Museum is considering a move to the Couture.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/190901421.html

[chitrek]

State proposes changing lakeshore definition to help Couture

Under new legislation, downtown Milwaukee's historic lakeshore would be defined according to where it was set in 1913--an attempt to end questions about whether a private development can be built on the Downtown Transit Center site.

That provision was tucked into the proposed state budget which was recommended for approval early Wednesday morning by the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee. The budget still needs approval from the Assembly and Senate, and Gov. Scott Walker.