Milwaukee Suburban Development News

[Milwaukee, WY]

Originally Posted by DooMer_MP3

Very well said. These town centers sprouting up are definitely a more appealing version of your typical mall, though. And I tend to give Bayshore a nod, because Whitefish Bay, being an older suburb, definitely follows a much more urban landscape. The plots of land are small, the housing is dense and on a grid system... neighborhood retail scattered about etc.

Where in Greenfield are you from? Did you go to GHS? Class of '97 here lol.

Yeah, I went to GHS, we were there at the same time, for a year, I graduated in 2000. My folks live on Ohio between 44th and 45th, just North of Morgan Ave, that's where I grew up.

[brewcityfan]

Originally Posted by benscrape

I'll say Franklin's overall HH income is moving up but I don't see it overtaking Brookfield anytime soon. Its possible they could one day. Who knows. But at the rate its growing, it will become one of the more affluent suburbs of Milwaukee. Oak Creek won't even be close to 60,000 by 2020. Wisconsin DOA projects only 44,000 by 2020. ANd our HH income has steadily been rising, I think the highest I saw was $63,000 (I'll have to recheck sources). If thats true, I can see Oak Creek between $65,000-$70,000 by 2010. I'd post Franklin's but have no numbers right now.

Right now Franklin's income has been varied between $64-70,000. Our population by 2020 is supposed to be 45,000 residents. However, in 2007 we're already nearing 34,000 - and currently there are 41 subdivisions/condominium projects either proposed, approved, or under construction. I expect the 34,000 mark to be passed by December if things really get moving.

I'm not overly impressed so far with Liberty's proposal. Its supposed to be a green project, which is good, but it only consists of a business warehouse, a couple retail buildings and 1 story office buildings, which the latter, don't fit into the 27th St. corridor plan, which calls for minimum 2-stories. They've been told several times by Oak Creek officials to redesign the development because it didn't match the architecture of Franklin's side, pretty much the mayor and alderman saying "we don't want to be the dumping ground to Franklin." That statement was made in reference to the high quality design of projects in Franklin. We want equal.

Amen for your commentary on Liberty's proposal. Oddly enough some members of the Oak Creek Plan Commission and Common Council seem more than ready, however, to push this forward and basically put the agreements on 27th Street to an end. When I spoke to a few Franklin aldermen, they said the buildings in that zone must be at least 2 stories in height. It's very disappointing that Liberty so far hasn't been very compromising on your end. Wheaton's development across the street will lure a lot of high end jobs, and is serving the agreements well with I believe 5 or 6 stories on its 1st phase.

Another unfortunate moment for Oak Creek is your mayor's comment of being the "dumping ground." Franklin residents note the 3 railroad lines running through your community, the various manufacturing/factory jobs there or nearby, and the majority working class make-up as reasons to possibly be snotty. One Franklin resident, responding to the NOW talkback forum on 27th Street, openly said this with no remorse:

I envision low cost apartment complexes with lots of kids going to the Oak Creek Franklin public schools to make up for all the money from the business park that flows to their district. They can just build on to the motels that exist there now.
- A Concerned Taxpayer, Franklin, WI

I don't see Franklin getting a mall size development due to the proximity of Southridge. But numerous smaller developments like Fountains will be more common. The urban village is supposed to be mall like. It could become the mall for the southern part of the metro, upscale maybe, but not close to Mayfair/Bayshore/Pabst Farms. I could see a mall with stores similarly found at lifestyle malls in Illinois (Geneva Commons/Algonquin Commons/Deer Park Town Center).

But I'm still not overly impressed with the "urban village" design. Its still to spread and not more dense then I thought it would be. I hope the designs are tweaked with it.

The proximity to Southridge will do NOTHING to Franklin (or Oak Creek) if Southridge keeps faltering. Simon doesn't sound extremely interested in updating the look. Greendale seems to be holding on to the last optimistic thoughts in their Village Hall. Right now, Southridge is unfortunately becoming into a middle-of-the-road mall - and if nothing's done, suburbs like ours can jump on the opportunity. Even if Southridge gets a boost, I think a southern Mayfair/Brookfield Square scenario could exist. The urban village right now is seen as a possible problem for Franklin, and I don't know how it's going to work. Oak Creek has been putzing around with this concept since 2000 - with nadda to show. I guess that's fine for Franklin.

For 27th St. in general, the video provides big visions for the corridor. Will we likely see it like that, I don't think so, but with having a big vision, it puts the pressure on developers to having high quality developments to be proposed. I can see an office cluster happen here, but its how the market will dictate that. It could be years before see anything like that.

I think an office cluster can definitely happen. Franklin's Business Park has been the leading business park in the state concerning tax returns - and it still lands more companies. As Chicago creeps to the north, companies will too. It's too bad Abbott didn't build up here instead of in Kenosha, because damn would that complex been HUGE.

[benscrape]

Oddly enough some members of the Oak Creek Plan Commission and Common Council seem more than ready, however, to push this forward and basically put the agreements on 27th Street to an end.

And this is really sad that some are in such a hurry to pass this. If I remember, one alderman said something along the lines of, "its green which is new here. We shouldn't hold up this development because its not meeting certain requirements." This would set a bad precedent, especially on Oak Creek's side that "well you let liberty put up 1-story, why can't we."

One Franklin resident, responding to the NOW talkback forum on 27th Street, openly said this with no remorse:

I envision low cost apartment complexes with lots of kids going to the Oak Creek Franklin public schools to make up for all the money from the business park that flows to their district. They can just build on to the motels that exist there now.
- A Concerned Taxpayer, Franklin, WI

I hope that this one person is just one bad apple in the whole bunch. I've never really paid enough attention to see, you would know better than I would in regards to Franklin residents on their general view of Oak Creek. I know here we tend to speak about, "Why can't we get what Franklin is getting?" in regards to higher class homes and developments. Which we are starting to see with some newer subdivisions going in. I do know that for athletic rivalries, OC-Franklin has gotten good.

The urban village right now is seen as a possible problem for Franklin, and I don't know how it's going to work.

Do you see maybe Franklin and Oak Creek work together on making this the upscale mall of South metro instead of possibly 2?

Oak Creek has been putzing around with this concept since 2000 - with nadda to show.

I really wish we could be seeing something more definite by now too. I know some OC citizens want to see something. I know that a development like this can sometimes last a decade before anything really starts moving. OC has been kind of quiet in regards to the urban village right now. I know several planning/engineering firms have been working on the project. I know for malls, they look for certain demographics (surrounding pop., income, business market) and need to meet their requirements. So I don't know if we are not there yet or what. And what I'm thinking is that the city is waiting on the decision of the DOT about the Drexel interchange, which OC has made a key important piece of the Urban Village. And I'm sure land ownership is another part they are working on since there are several properties on that block.

[brewcityfan]

Originally Posted by benscrape

And this is really sad that some are in such a hurry to pass this. If I remember, one alderman said something along the lines of, "its green which is new here. We shouldn't hold up this development because its not meeting certain requirements." This would set a bad precedent, especially on Oak Creek's side that "well you let liberty put up 1-story, why can't we."

That and Oak Creek will be reaffirming Franklin beliefs that you guys aren't being truly serious on this whole project. Right now there's cooperation. Let's not make it become competition.

I hope that this one person is just one bad apple in the whole bunch. I've never really paid enough attention to see, you would know better than I would in regards to Franklin residents on their general view of Oak Creek. I know here we tend to speak about, "Why can't we get what Franklin is getting?" in regards to higher class homes and developments. Which we are starting to see with some newer subdivisions going in. I do know that for athletic rivalries, OC-Franklin has gotten good.

All I have to say is read the article that came out today in FranklinNOW, that is posted below:

MONDAY, July 2, 2007, 3:08 p.m.
By John Neville</B>


Subdivision may have $4 million homes

A Franklin developer is planning to build an upscale 42-acre subdivision - Whispering Woods - on land now owned by the Tuckaway Country Club north of West Puetz Road between South 68th Street and South 76th Street.

Icon Development Corp. President Jeff Klement said lots in the 24-lot executive subdivision will range from $195,000 to just under $250,000. Including lots, the single-family residences will begin at about $1 million and possibly top out at $4 million.

Klement said sale of the property by Tuckaway is contingent on approval of the proposed subdivision by the city.

"It's a beautiful parcel of land that overlooks (Tuckaway) club," Klement said. "It's almost the shape of an 'L' because it follows the golf course on a number of holes."

Klement said so far reservations have been taken out on 14 of the 24 mostly half-acre lots.

"There aren't a lot of options for high-end executive level housing in the southwest area of (suburban) Milwaukee," said Klement. "With the number of reservations we have, you can see there's a great demand for this type of product."

The proposed development is now being reviewed by Franklin officials and will head back to the city Plan Commission for consideration.

So far Mayor Taylor's conversation with me has begun to make sense. A $4 million-home subdivision only means one thing - more will be coming. The best Oak Creek can do is plop single-family homes along the lake. Unfortunately, the WE Energies power plant doesn't provide a good view.

Do you see maybe Franklin and Oak Creek work together on making this the upscale mall of South metro instead of possibly 2?

Right now, Franklin residents are pretty upset that Oak Creek currently has a cash cow for their public schools system. Some regret even trying to do the 27th Street corridor because of this. All the companies on Franklin's side of that street pay Oak Creek schools, including NML, and that frankly just pisses us off. That's why Franklin is trying to pull retail and other commercial ventures off, like Fountains of Franklin. I can't see a Oak Creek/Franklin relationship concerning retail developments. It's a miracle that the office component is still working - but then again I think that's only working because those high paying jobs will end up moving and living in upscale Franklin estates, which once again is unfortunate for Oak Creek. So far it seems Franklin is doing this to keep their demographics going up to attract better things, and Oak Creek just wants a nice street and won't wanna dare look like the lower end of the stick.

I really wish we could be seeing something more definite by now too. I know some OC citizens want to see something. I know that a development like this can sometimes last a decade before anything really starts moving. OC has been kind of quiet in regards to the urban village right now. I know several planning/engineering firms have been working on the project. I know for malls, they look for certain demographics (surrounding pop., income, business market) and need to meet their requirements. So I don't know if we are not there yet or what. And what I'm thinking is that the city is waiting on the decision of the DOT about the Drexel interchange, which OC has made a key important piece of the Urban Village. And I'm sure land ownership is another part they are working on since there are several properties on that block.

Well I do know Franklin doesn't want that urban village marketed with the 27th Street corridor. That could wreck our chances of landing upscale stores in the Franklin Public School District, and affect developers in Franklin with their marketing. I-94 is your golden ring that Franklin doesn't have.

[brewcityfan]

Just a little tidbit...

THURSDAY, July 12, 2007, 12:49 p.m.
By Tom Daykin

Tosa office building sold: $96.5 million
The Wauwatosa office building that houses GE Healthcare's regional headquarters has been sold for $96.5 million, the largest commercial property sale so far this year in the Milwaukee area.

The 506,000-square-foot office complex was sold to investors groups led by Boston-based Eaton Vance Management, according to information filed with the Milwaukee County Register of Deeds. The building was sold by Edison Technology Center LLC, an investors group led by Irgens Development Partners LLC.

Investment funds managed by Eaton Vance Management own around $5 billion in commercial real estate. Eaton Vance Management is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp., an investment management firm with $144.3 billion under management as of March 31.

"We were very happy to be able to bring such a high-quality institutional buyer to Milwaukee," said Mark Irgens, of Irgens Development. "We couldn't have found someone better to own such a great building."

It's a good thing to know that Milwaukee area developments are beginning to become attractive (and expensive)

[brewcityfan]

Wauwatosa developments are top of the news today...

THURSDAY, July 12, 2007, 1:12 p.m.
By Tom Daykin

Prime land off Highway 45 sold
A prime development spot along U.S. Highway 45 in Wauwatosa has been sold to Chicago-based investors.

Roundy's Supermarkets Inc.'s former warehouse properties, 11300 and 11500 W. Burleigh St., were sold by a Roundy's subsidiary to investors groups affiliated with Chicago-based HSA Commercial Real Estate Inc. for $8.5 million, according to documents filed today with the Milwaukee County Register of Deeds.

The warehouses, built in the 1954 and 1955, carry less value than their land, which totals around 39 acres. The parcels bought by HSA Commercial are among 70 acres east of Highway 45 and north of Burleigh St. that have been designated for redevelopment by city officials.

The city plan envisions condos overlooking Currie Park along the site's eastern edge, along with offices and high-tech manufacturing - with many of those buildings along Highway 45. The plan also calls for retail space along Burleigh St. and a hotel.

An HSA Commercial executive couldn't be reached for immediate comment on the firm's plans for the site.

[brewcityfan]

An ugly eyesore turns into attractive apartments

West Allis complex to house seniors
Developer plans 200 apartments
By TOM DAYKIN
tdaykin@journalsentinel.com
Posted: July 11, 2007
A Minnesota-based housing developer plans to build nearly 200 apartments for elderly people in West Allis.

MSP Real Estate Inc. has proposed a housing campus of three buildings for about 6 acres along the south side of W. National Ave., between S. 77th and S. 80th streets.

The firm hopes to begin construction by late fall on the buildings, which would take about a year to complete, said MSP President Milo Pinkerton.

The project's largest building would have 120 apartments in four stories for seniors who can live independently, Pinkerton said.

The development would include a two-story assisted living facility with 40 apartments, and a one-story, 32-unit building for people with memory loss, he said. All three buildings would be linked.

Financing for the project would include federal tax credits that are provided to developers who create apartments with below-market rents for moderate-income people.

The project received a preliminary approval Tuesday from the West Allis Community Development Authority.

The project needs additional city approvals, tax credit approval from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority and completion of its financing package before construction could begin, Pinkerton said.

MSP, based in the Minneapolis suburb of St. Louis Park, owns about 600 apartments in senior housing complexes that the firm built throughout the Milwaukee area, Pinkerton said. MSP also has apartment buildings in Minnesota.

Along with the apartments, the Community Development Authority approved plans for a PyraMax Bank branch at the southwest corner of W. National Ave. and S. 81st St. The branch office, which would be the eighth location for PyraMax, is to open by January, said Monica Baker, senior vice president of marketing.

West Allis officials last year designated the apartments and bank branch sites as a redevelopment area. Most of the land was used by Laidlaw Transit Inc. for school bus storage until Laidlaw's lease ended in 2006.

[Milwaukee, WY]

Originally Posted by brewcityfan

An ugly eyesore turns into attractive apartments

I used to live on 79th just two blocks north of there... that space is a grassy field and an old school bus lot... not the most attractive space, but there are worse eyesores in 'stallis. but, good infill development for them. W.A. is on a roll...

[brewcityfan]

Milwaukee suburbs hit CNN Money's "Top 100 Best Places to Live"

Germantown - #30
New Berlin - #41
Franklin - #90

May this promote growth and development for the Milwaukee area!

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/...mag/index.html

[brewcityfan]

High-end apartments still make their push into the suburbs from downtown Milwaukee...

Harmony Homes plans $30 million Waukesha apartment complex
The Business Journal of Milwaukee - July 20, 2007 by Pete Millard

The shortage of high-end apartments in Waukesha is prompting a subsidiary of Harmony Realty Corp. to build a $30 million, 248-unit complex on the western edge of the city.

Harmony Homes, also based in Waukesha, plans to construct a four-building apartment community called The Lodge east of Meadowbrook Road and north of the Meadowbrook Marketplace on the corner of Highway 18 and Meadowbrook Road.

Even though Harmony's plans for the development are being redesigned, city officials expect the 23-acre apartment project to be valued at $30 million. The Waukesha Plan Commission turned down Harmony's original plan to have 72 units in each of the four buildings. The Plan Commission agreed to have 62 units in each of the buildings.

Harmony plans to resubmit its plans for The Lodge in late August or early September with the intention of breaking ground in late 2007 or early 2008.

Harmony Homes is owned by Bryce Styza, who also owns Meadowbrook Marketplace and more than half a dozen other commercial properties in southeast Wisconsin.

At a recent Waukesha Plan Commission meeting, Styza said The Lodge units would be rented at $1.20 per square foot. The majority of the rental units would be 1,000 square feet and priced at $1,200.

The supply of rental units in Waukesha has not kept up with demand, said a spokesman for the Metropolitan Builders Association. In the last three to four years, more than a dozen apartment complexes in Waukesha County have been converted to condominiums, creating the rental imbalance.

Harmony Homes is one of the largest single-family home builders in Waukesha County. The company has developed more than a dozen subdivisions, including Rolling Ridge South in Waukesha, Waterford's Fox Glen, North Prairie's Broadlands and the Kettlefield in Genesee.

In addition to Meadowbrook Marketplace, Styza owns four other commercial properties in the city of Waukesha: Silvernail Woods Shopping Center, North Street Market, The Shoppes of Mountain Village and Main Street Plaza.

[brewcityfan]

High quality architecture occurs even out in the suburbs.

Eye-catching Indian school nears completion
Officials view facility as a source of pride for local community
By John Neville
Staff Writer
Posted: July 25, 2007
A state-of-the-art school designed by an internationally renowned architect has set its sites on a Sept. 1 opening, even as the city of Franklin works out some final details concerning the campus.

On July 19, the Franklin Plan Commission approved a site plan amendment for Indian Community School of Wisconsin to add 12,773 square feet of playground for the soon-to-be-open school in the 10400 block of West St. Martins Road.

The pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade facility cost about $35 million to build.

Architectural wonder
The school, designed by New Mexico-based architect Antoine Predock, features four white pine trees from the Menominee Indian reservation as pillars. The 165,000-square-foot facility will also boast unique features such as metal beams in the ceiling near a main doorway to represent migratory paths of birds. There also will be a drum-shaped, 200-seat theater. A breakout classroom overlooks nearby wetlands.

Franklin Mayor Tom Taylor described the building as an architectural showpiece.

"We had the number one architect in the world design this building. For those of you that haven't been in the building yet, you will be utterly amazed and have a great sense of pride … in what has been built," he said.

A cornerstone-placing ceremony took place last September and was attended by Wisconsin First Lady Jessica Doyle. A time capsule with various artifacts and gifts was also sealed and installed at the now nearly complete school.

Preparing to move in
The old school, which has a student population of about 375 students and more than 30 teachers, is in its final days of operation in Milwaukee at 3121 W. State St.

Taylor said a coordination team has been assembled to inspect the new building before it opens.

"There's hundreds of items that need to be checked off a list, from fire suppression to building inspection things. Because it's a school, we really put it under a microscope," he said before the meeting.

City Building Inspector Frederick Baumgart said school administrators have targeted Wednesday, Aug. 1, as move-in day for the school's teaching staff.

The school will open about a month later.

Space to play with
Franklin Planning Manager Joel Dietl said school officials recently requested additional playground space as one final detail that differed from earlier plans for the campus.

"The area where (the school is) planning the playground would have been a parking lot so there would have been no impact on natural resources," Dietl said prior to the July 19 commission meeting. "It would have been resurfaced anyway."

Timothy Hayes, an engineering consultant who represented the school at the meeting, said school officials decided recently to request a second playground, which would include two basketball hoops.

The first playground was approved with the project's site plan in 2006.

[brewcityfan]

Welcome Wal-Mart: Communities working with retail giant for supercenters
The Business Journal of Milwaukee - July 27, 2007by Rich Kirchen
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is preparing plans for supercenters in Greenfield and Franklin as part of the well-known retailer's big push into the Milwaukee-area grocery store market.

The two locations would be the Bentonville, Ark.-based discount retailer's third and fourth grocery/general merchandise megastores in the Milwaukee area. Wal-Mart also has 10 general merchandise stores in the Milwaukee area.

Wal-Mart Supercenters have about 185,000 square feet of floor space and carry about 142,000 items. They incorporate the traditional Wal-Mart discount store and a grocery supermarket under the same roof.

The Franklin supercenter would entail an expansion of the existing Wal-Mart at 6701 S. 27th St. The Greenfield supercenter will be either an expansion of the Wal-Mart at 4500 S. 108th St. or a new structure on an adjacent property.

The rest of the article is here: http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/mil...ml?t=printable

[FutureChicaukeean]

On-the-Border put up a new sign (It actually looks nice and can be seen from the interstate)

Oak Creek started updating the city limit population signs.

They have posted new 32,XXX signs. Hmmm...seems kinda low? I was expecting atleast 33...possibly 34,000.

The new hospital is looking very very nice to say the least and a subdivision is starting to pop up just north of it.

27th and Ryan Rd continues to be a nightmare until you hit HWY 100 in Hales Corners which... well I will never take that route again.

[brewcityfan]

A new blog has been started that is strictly Franklin Development News. I'm thinking of perhaps throwing in Oak Creek as well.

The site is linked on my sig.

OTB got a new sign? Yes! That's just what Franklin needs...better advertising of the strip joint.

[benscrape]

FutureChicaukeean: Which signs ahd the population changes? Green or the city? If they the city ones, I wonder if they have received the update WI DOA estimates which come out this month. I've always thought that our numbers were lower than actually reported. But oh well.

For development here in Oak Creek, it really has slown down. Last number I heard for housing permits for the year was 47. Alot lower than the past decade.
And for commercial developments:
Woodman's
Guardian Credit Union (Howell & Drexel)
Medical office (Between Masterlock & diCarlo)
office condominiums (Mayhew & Centennial)
addition to Pick N Save (Ryan & 27th)
2 Hotels will be starting next year on 13th south of college where Edgerton Construction is.
THese are just a handful I can think of that are in current development.

It would be nice to be rid of OTB. I know alot of people in Franklin & Oak Creek wish it to be gone as We here in Oak Creek wish we could get rid of Cupid's Toys.

Now, once Hwy 100 is done in Franklin, aren't they supposed to then expand the rest of it from 68th to Drexel?

[brewcityfan]

You forgot one Ben. What's going on @ 27th & Puetz? There's a massive area full of construction just north of that intersection, towards NML. That spot in particular was noted in the 27th Street video as mixed use.

Hwy 100's expansion is as follows:

This year: Hwy 100 to 6 six lanes (continuation for OC's side) from 27th to just short of 68th.

Next year: Slight expansion of Hwy 100 to 4 lanes from Drexel to just a bit beyond The Shoppes at Wyndham Village

2009: Expansion of Hwy 100 to 4 lanes all the way to Puetz

2012: Expansion of Hwy 100 to 4 lanes from Puetz to 68th St.

20??: Possible expansion of Hwy 100 to 8 lanes - YES 8 LANES - from I-43 to Loomis Road. Officials in DOT are considering possible US 45 Expressway (much like US 41 in Northern Illinois) It should be noted that one of the heads of the DOT for the Milwaukee area lives in Franklin and resides on the Franklin Plan Commission (George Torres). This could also help explain DOT beliefs of expressway thinking through western Franklin.

[benscrape]

I was just listing the commercial developments. But the development north of Puetz is the Colonial Woods Condominiums. To the north of that is zoned mixed use from the development to Drexel.

Ok. So it will be awhile before Hwy 100 is expanded fully. I wouldn't be surprised that 100 would be widened to 8 lanes especially from 1-43 to Loomis.

I've missed the past 27th Street meetings. Have you heard of any timeline of when they would be actually doing any construction on 27th?

[brewcityfan]

Sorry about the delayed response.

Thanks for the info on the development for OC's side of 27th Street. Honestly, I think both cities are still in need to pass the funds necessary for such a project. I don't think they have a timeline for that stuff.

[brewcityfan]

It made their respective papers on the same week.
Project requires zoning change

Building plan draws objections, enthusiasm

By LISA SINK
lsink@journalsentinel.com

Posted: Aug. 6, 2007

Brookfield - A proposed 97-foot tall, 127,000-square-foot building with a rooftop garden, other "green" features and numerous fountains would be a needed architectural gateway into the city at the intersection of Greenfield Ave. and Moorland Road, city plan commissioners said Monday.

The commercial project - with four stories atop two levels of underground parking, one partially exposed - would require the city to change the zoning to allow greater height and coverage on the vacant 2-acre corner.

New Berlin developers Lanae Fox and her husband, Bill Hoeg, said that without zoning changes, the site would be restricted to a much smaller, 27,000-square-foot project.

The development, dubbed Fountain Brook Crossing, would be on the northeast corner of that high-profile intersection dividing Brookfield and New Berlin.
On the southwest corner, New Berlin city officials have approved a 405-room combination hotel, water park and convention center. A neighboring apartment complex has threatened to go to court to block it, objecting to its 94-foot height and scope.

That hotel project would overshadow Brookfield's commercial building if it were restricted to existing size and height rules, Hoag and Fox wrote to commissioners. In addition, "horrific soil conditions" make construction of the northeast corner in Brookfield economically difficult, they said.
Hoag touted the project Monday as an environmentally friendly, signature building with unique architecture that allows about 9 acres of parking and commercial space to be consolidated vertically on 2 acres.

A 7,010-square-foot roof garden would have at least 50% green space to help with storm water management. The building would use supplemental geo-thermal heating and cooling and set energy conservation standards, such as lighting specifications, for tenants.

Several plan commissioners enthusiastically backed the project, saying the design was visually exciting and the corner was one of few places in Brookfield where a building of that height would work.

"This is going to be very, very dramatic and stand out," said Ald. Gary Mahkorn, a commissioner. "It fits in perfectly and it is a signature gateway."

The 97-foot height at the tallest gable would tower over the adjacent height of the Country Inn and Brookfield Suites - at 54 feet. Farther north on Moorland Road, the Sheraton hotel is 75 feet tall, and Midway hotel is 85 feet.

Other commissioners raised questions about effects on traffic, storm water issues and the 16- to 20-foot height of the proposed retaining wall.
City Engineer Jeff Chase also said he has concerns about traffic and storm water and that a more detailed traffic study would be needed before commissioners could vote on rezoning.

By John Schultz</B>

Commission OKs minor changes in hotel plan

The New Berlin Plan Commission has given its blessing to some tweaking of the plans for the Deer Creek Inn and Conference Center, to be built on the southwest corner of Moorland Road and Greenfield Avenue.

Commissioners Monday approved changes that reduced the number of underground parking floors from five to four, modified traffic patterns for the north end of the project, and decreased the size of the underground parking stalls. The controversial $55 million project calls for more than 400 rooms, a water park, conference center and exhibit hall in a seven-story building.

At Monday's Plan Commission meeting, the architect for the project, Bob Williams of TDI Associates, said the removal of the lowest level of parking under the building takes the building out of the water table, a concern of nearby residents.

He said the design now allows for the parking of cars under the water park area. That means an extra 60 to 70 vehicles can be moved up from the bottom layer of parking.

The project features a "green roof," which recycles runoff water from the roof to cisterns in the basement. By moving the cisterns in the basement more parking became available.

"We were able to get significantly more efficient," he said. "That allowed us to eliminate a whole floor of parking."

The project, originally approved in 2001, was changed when it was resurrected this year and approved in February. Ament agreed with some residents who asked in February for another public hearing on the project because of the changes, which included the additional height of the building.

Though the New Berlin Board of Appeals in April upheld the Plan Commission's decision not to hold another public hearing on the project, a lawsuit has been filed by the owners of the Deer Run Apartments the project immediately to the south of the proposed Deer Creek Inn and Conference Center, over the height of the building.

The courts have yet to rule on that suit.

[Sonic reducer]

It is good to see things are progressing. This area is such an eyesore. I do not believe that an 18 story condo tower will ever be build across the street though. I believe that it would stick out like a sore thumb, especially next to the mammoth water tower to the west.


Chicago firm buys another Tosa site
Burleigh St. parcels designated for redevelopment
By TOM DAYKIN
tdaykin@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 15, 2007
A Chicago-based real estate investment firm has purchased a high-profile development site in Wauwatosa, adding to its holdings in the area east of U.S. Highway 45 and north of W. Burleigh St.

Advertisement

Buy a link hereThe former warehouses for Kohl's Food Stores Inc., 11100, 11200 and 11310 W. Burleigh St., were sold by Burleigh Partners LLC, a local investors group, to investors groups affiliated with Chicago-based HSA Commercial Real Estate Inc. for $9 million, according to documents filed with the Milwaukee County Register of Deeds.

The parcels total about 24 acres.

HSA Commercial in July led the purchase of Roundy's Supermarkets Inc.'s former warehouse properties, 11300 and 11500 W. Burleigh St., for $8.5 million. That site totals about 39 acres.

The parcels bought by HSA Commercial have been designated for redevelopment by city officials.

The city plan envisions condominiums overlooking Currie Park along the site's eastern edge, along with offices and high-tech manufacturing - with many of those buildings along Highway 45. The plan also calls for retail space along W. Burleigh St. and a hotel.

Tim Blum, an HSA Commercial executive vice president, said the firm will eventually create a development plan for the sites. He said the firm will work with city officials on that plan.

"It's going to be a long process," Blum said.

South of W. Burleigh St., Franklin-based Icon Development Corp. plans to create an office building, retail space, a luxury hotel and condo tower on 6 acres that formerly housed a pair of car dealerships.

City officials are waiting for Icon to submit detailed plans for the site.