Milwaukee Suburban Development News

[Boatnurd]

Originally Posted by skylinedude

I have been seeing a large white crane putting in pre-cast pieces for a hi-rise parking garage at Johnson Controls in Glendale. Anyone have some pics of this project?

June 28, 2011,
Johnson Controls Inc. is building a two-story addition to its Power Solutions headquarters on its Glendale campus. The company’s battery business has grown to worldwide sales of $6 billion annually from $1 billion in 2000.



By Thomas Content of the Journal Sentinel

[qwerty44]

Good news, that lot is an eyesore and this should add to the neighborhood well. The building across the street seems to have had success based on the large number of people I see at Alterras and the other businesses there. Shorewood is a cool area with a lot of things going for it.

http://www.jsonline.com/business/127313953.html

The Shorewood Village Board has approved a revised developer's agreement for The Ravenna, a mixed-use apartment/retail development at 4521-4551 N. Oakland Ave.

The project was first approved in 2007, but was postponed because of the recession. WiRed Properties, the developer, had planned to build condos, but now will build apartments, which the company said were more feasible in this economy.

The village bought three parcels in 2005 that are the site for the project. The parcels are valued at $633,000, but will be sold to the developer for $230,000.

Groundbreaking is planned for September, with completion in spring 2012. Rents for the apartments will start at $1,450.

Retail space of 8,100 square feet is planned. Performance Running, at 4401 N. Oakland Ave., has signed a letter of intent to occupy 2,600 square feet.

[skylinedude]

It has been a few years since I went through West Milwaukee on Miller Park Way and I am really impressed by all of the redevelopment on Miller Park Way between National and Lincoln Avenues. A few years ago it was the big box retailers and now a lot of other businesses are moving in along the street. Cermak Fresh Market will be moving in with its first Wisconsin location next to Target, Wing Stop will be opening soon near the Sonic Drive-in and the recent opening of GFS Marketplace, which was very busy considering the area is in high demand for grocery and party supplies. Also a few more commercial buildings are going in and Walmart is going to be near the area on Greenfield Avenue. With reports of around 50,000 cars per day along Miller Park Way plus taking advantage of now being the major commercial hub for West Milwaukee, the east side of West Allis, the south side of Milwaukee and for events being held at Miller Park and the Menomonee Valley, its a great economic engine for the area.

[skylinedude]

Has anyone heard of any development opportunities for the former Dove Nursing Home in Glendale? This is the 10.3 acre site next to the Speedway gas station on Bender Road just east of Green Bay Avenue in Glendale. The address is 1633 W. Bender Road. The site has been on the market for more than a year and I think it would be a great location for a mix of businesses. I would like to see companies like CVS Pharmacy, GFS Marketplace, Sonic Drive-in and other similar types of bussinesses locate there. Though a rezoning of the site would be needed for these uses. With most of Bayshore Town Center leased, another small scale commercial development is needed in Glendale that is neighborhood friendly.

[Jesse276]

Originally Posted by skylinedude

Has anyone heard of any development opportunities for the former Dove Nursing Home in Glendale? This is the 10.3 acre site next to the Speedway gas station on Bender Road just east of Green Bay Avenue in Glendale. The address is 1633 W. Bender Road. The site has been on the market for more than a year and I think it would be a great location for a mix of businesses. I would like to see companies like CVS Pharmacy, GFS Marketplace, Sonic Drive-in and other similar types of bussinesses locate there. Though a rezoning of the site would be needed for these uses. With most of Bayshore Town Center leased, another small scale commercial development is needed in Glendale that is neighborhood friendly.

I would guess they might have problems attracting retail because of the limited visability off Green Bay & very low traffic on Bender. Some convenience retail (CVS,Walgreens,etc) might work considering the business park & Johnson Controls are nearby, but they have many locations nearby already.

The best use is probably as a renovated nursing home or senior apartments... anything else will probably need a TIF plus a fight with the neighbors.

[skylinedude]

I agree on the CVS and Walgreens possibility though if it opens up again as a nursing home they probably would have to reduce the number living on the property. At one time it was a 320 bed facility. I don't want to see this turned into a situation like they had in Brown Deer when Hearthside closed nearly a decade ago. That building sat vacant for so long and then had to be torn down and it became a vacant open field.

[Boatnurd]

Shots taken on Sunday December 11, 2011.

[embora]

Out of curiosity, Johnson Controls relocating from another location in the Milwaukee area, or moving some offices from elsewhere? Or for that matter ... are they just expanding?

Originally Posted by Boatnurd

Shots taken on Sunday December 11, 2011.

[Boatnurd]

Originally Posted by embora

Out of curiosity, Johnson Controls relocating from another location in the Milwaukee area, or moving some offices from elsewhere? Or for that matter ... are they just expanding?

Expanding their Glendale location. Corp HQ is in Milwaukee.

[skylinedude]

I took a drive along Highway 83 between I-43 and I-94 in Waukesha County for the first time since the reconstruction and 20 mile detour of the highway last year from Highway NN in Mukwonago to north of Highway 59 in Genesee. That has become a vastly improved highway. The road was widened from County Highway NN to County Highway X from 2 to 4 lanes and upgraded the 2 lane road from County Highway X to Highway 59 with right of way for a 4 lane expansion. Also three roundabouts were added. They are at County Highway I, County Highway X and Highway 59. The road is designed for suburban expansion in the southern part of Waukesha County. When Highway 164 was widened t0 a 4 lane highway from Big Bend to Waukesha and from Waukesha to Sussex it brought in a lot more traffic and mostly residential development. The same effect will also happen along Highway 83 though it will probably take until the seection of Highway 83 north of Genesse Depot to Glacier Pass in Delafield is widened to 4 lanes which is slated to start construction in 2014. Overall I recommend checking out the upgraded Highway 83.

[Jesse276]

As for the highway widening, I wish we would have a policy to "fix it first". There are alot of WI state roads that are in poor condition.

[skylinedude]

The reason for the widening and reconstruction of Highway 83 in Waukesha County is the steady increase in population. The Town and Village of Mukwonago combined is around 15,000, Genesee/Genesee Depot area is around 8,000, Wales around 2,600, the City and Town of Delafield around 15,000, the Village of Hartland is approaching 10,000, Chenequa is steady around 600 to 700, and the North Lake/Town of Merton area is around 8,500 to 9,000 residents. With the population of the communities along that corridor between 60,000 and 65,000 residents they had to improve the current roadway to prevent a highway option of going across the inland lakes of Lake Country.

The other interesting part is that some brand new subdivisions are ready to go along the recently reconstructed corridor this year between Mukwonago and Genesee with one on Black Bear Road east of Highway 83 on the Town and Village of Mukwonago border north of Highway NN and a large residential subdivision connected to the new roundabout on the west side of Highway 83 and County Highway X in Genesee. So this will be an area to watch when the economic recovery gets into gear.

[Jesse276]

Originally Posted by skylinedude

The reason for the widening and reconstruction of Highway 83 in Waukesha County is the steady increase in population. The Town and Village of Mukwonago combined is around 15,000, Genesee/Genesee Depot area is around 8,000, Wales around 2,600, the City and Town of Delafield around 15,000, the Village of Hartland is approaching 10,000, Chenequa is steady around 600 to 700, and the North Lake/Town of Merton area is around 8,500 to 9,000 residents. With the population of the communities along that corridor between 60,000 and 65,000 residents they had to improve the current roadway to prevent a highway option of going across the inland lakes of Lake Country.

The other interesting part is that some brand new subdivisions are ready to go along the recently reconstructed corridor this year between Mukwonago and Genesee with one on Black Bear Road east of Highway 83 on the Town and Village of Mukwonago border north of Highway NN and a large residential subdivision connected to the new roundabout on the west side of Highway 83 and County Highway X in Genesee. So this will be an area to watch when the economic recovery gets into gear.

It's merely induced demand & drive until you qualify. Per capita the road-miles of these areas are some of the highest. If the local jurisdictions want to induce local development, they are more than able to raise their local taxes to do so.

Sure, everyone could drive on those roads, but everyone could drive through my alley. Why doesn't the state pay for my alley?

[usbmfa]

Originally Posted by Jesse276

It's merely induced demand & drive until you qualify. Per capita the road-miles of these areas are some of the highest. If the local jurisdictions want to induce local development, they are more than able to raise their local taxes to do so.

Sure, everyone could drive on those roads, but everyone could drive through my alley. Why doesn't the state pay for my alley?

Is your driveway a state highway?

[Jesse276]

Originally Posted by usbmfa

Is your driveway a state highway?

What does that matter?

[MilwaukeeMax]

Originally Posted by Jesse276

What does that matter?

Jesse, I'm afraid your well-noted and accurate point was completely lost on usbmfa.

[skylinedude]

Has anyone heard anything about plans for the former Catholic Life building in Shorewood? With that building and the Citgo Station across the street next to the post office on Capitol Drive both on the market for sale it would be a great investment for redevelopment.

[skylinedude]

There is a former greenhouse on 5 acres for sale on the north side of Good Hope Road just east of Range Line Road. This is over by Brown Deer Golf Course and DCI Marketing. I would see if Growing Power might consider the property to expand operations.

[skylinedude]

Its been talked since the multiple rejections from the state for the Town of Lisbon becoming a village that an advisory vote is scheduled in summer for a merger between the Town of Lisbon and the Village of Sussex. This would be a very good move considering that Richfield became a village just a few years ago. Also the combined population of Lisbon and Sussex is 20,726 (2011 estimate) which both areas are steadily growing. Most townships in the state have less than 10,000 in population though other communities in the area could also qualify for a village or city status if they become one community. I could also see the Town of Merton and the Village of Merton do the same thing. They have combined population of 11,717 (2011 estimate) and similar population density as the Village of Richfield. In the short term you will have the usual issues of tax rates and service proportion issues but in the long term will be good for the area.

[mgk920]

Originally Posted by skylinedude

Its been talked since the multiple rejections from the state for the Town of Lisbon becoming a village that an advisory vote is scheduled in summer for a merger between the Town of Lisbon and the Village of Sussex. This would be a very good move considering that Richfield became a village just a few years ago. Also the combined population of Lisbon and Sussex is 20,726 (2011 estimate) which both areas are steadily growing. Most townships in the state have less than 10,000 in population though other communities in the area could also qualify for a village or city status if they become one community. I could also see the Town of Merton and the Village of Merton do the same thing. They have combined population of 11,717 (2011 estimate) and similar population density as the Village of Richfield. In the short term you will have the usual issues of tax rates and service proportion issues but in the long term will be good for the area.

I have felt for many years now that the Village of Sussex should annex/merge with Lisbon Township, it only makes sense. Ditto the two Pewaukees, the two Brookfields, the two Germantowns, the two Waukeshas, etc. That attitude would do wonders nearly everywhere else in the state, including and especially here in the Appleton area, too.

I would even go as far as advocating that every township in the state be taken over by its respective county board. Most of the state's townships do very little that cannot be easily done at the county level and many simply contract with their counties and/or adjacent small cities or villages to provide other local services (ie, fire, plow and chipseal the roads, planning and zoning, etc), rendering their very existence moot. Here in the Appleton area, Grand Chute Township (most populous township in the state) recently explored merging its police department with that of the City of Appleton, now has a 'first response' agreement with the city's fire department, buys its water from Appleton and contracts with the city's Department of Public Works to maintain their non-DOT stop-and-go lights. Why, then, do they even exist?

As I have stated many times in many forvms, Wisconsin leads all fifty USA states in the ratio of the number of separate units of local government (below the state) with taxing authority to population. EVERY ONE of those units (cities, villages, townships, school districts, township sanitary districts, counties, VTAE districts, etc) has a governing body, either elected or appointed, every one has a hired bureaucracy to run its day-to-day affairs, every one of those people must be paid and we, as a state, can no longer afford all of that gross overabundance of local government.

Mike