Milwaukee Development News

[BorisMolotov]

In all seriousness, as a frequent user of this road, the ONLY time its ever backed up is friday and sunday afternoons in the summer. Also the road is in pretty good condition, and they just replaced or are replacing most of the overpass bridges. But hey an extra lane never hurt anyone, especially since this isn't really a major metropolitan stretch where the lane will be instantly absorbed actually making traffic worse

[PANTHERfan]

More info on the potential Marcus project in the Third Ward: http://www.biztimes.com/article/2012...NE03/120419926

This would be a large scale development filling the gap between the Third Ward and Summerfest.

I for one hope that part of the development is a fantastically pedestrian street linking the City to the Summerfest grounds. Imagine Little Italy/Bourbon St --- Something intensely pedestrian, narrow building frontages, retail, bar, restaurants, etc. Hopefully they find a nice mix between local establishments and unique national retailers. That's been the recipe for success in the developed Third Ward. Either way, let's finally find a way to meaningfully link the incredible amenity we have on the lakefront to the city grid.

[AcctStdntUWM]

Anyone have a list of the area development proposals that received WHEDA tax credits?

[Wright St.]

Feh, that article doesn't give me much hope for your reasonable suggestion, PANTHERfan. Multiple references to National Retailers and Anchors with "prototypes" doesn't suggest the sort of pedestrian based environment thats been created on Broadway and other Third Ward streets.

I drove through there an hour ago or less and fear we'll see more of the scale and monolithic developments that Mandel has completed just west of the ICC property.

PS. I'll confess, I watched the entire Sammy Hagar video...

[PANTHERfan]

I know it's wishful thinking on my part regarding the link to the Summerfest grounds. The City should be taking the lead here, demanding this kind of planning. A strong retail corridor leading to the grounds would make a certain amount of sense --- piggybacking on the current retail in the Third Ward and creating a mall-like promenade that captures the critical mass of people entering and leaving festivals. And when I say mall-like, I mean that in the best sense of the word (if that's possible) --- narrow, thus frequent storefronts, intimate street scale, etc.

[Eriol]

I remember back iin the '80's when the Coachyards were being put up for sale a guy had a plan to dig out a lagoon in what was a huge parking lot that opened to the Milwaukee River and the inner harbor and surround it with townhouses and stuff with lots of boat docks. I was hoping he would have won the bid, but the city gave it to the ICC instead.

[Crankbaiter]

Originally Posted by BorisMolotov

In all seriousness, as a frequent user of this road, the ONLY time its ever backed up is friday and sunday afternoons in the summer. Also the road is in pretty good condition, and they just replaced or are replacing most of the overpass bridges. But hey an extra lane never hurt anyone, especially since this isn't really a major metropolitan stretch where the lane will be instantly absorbed actually making traffic worse

I use the road frequently as well. Badger Game Saturdays in the fall are very bad. I've seen some pretty bad accidents.

I would think the stretch of 94 from Milwaukee to Madison would need to be expanded before the I-90 stretch. The MKE to Madison stretch is probably less interstate commerce than the I-90 stretch. Let the feds pay for I-90 and the State pay for I-94.

[jehuty]

Originally Posted by MJinOshkosh

What does this have to do with development in Milwaukee? Really this is nothing more than a rant against someone you dislike. In posting #7066 you posted in the end of your post how Milwaukee is hated. Now you make a posting of something (a Road project of I39-I90 from Beloit to Madison) that has nothing to do with Milwaukee development other than you are pissed off yet about the HSR project!

MJinOshkosh

This has to do with Milwaukee because tons of stuff got cancelled (train shed, new rail lines, train station in Madison, other stops in cities, etc) because Walker vetoed the HSR from Milwaukee to Madison because he said the state couldn't afford paying a couple million a year in maintenance costs. All the while this highway project gets the go ahead nod when the state would have to pony 70% of 715 million dollars for it. It doesn't make sense. According to Walkers logic, the state is broke. But not broke enough to pay for a highway project that is not needed. So if i'm pissed about anything it is for the blatant hypocrisy that the Governor is displaying in this matter. Shouldn't he be vetoing this highway project since the state is broke?

[jehuty]

Bauman tries new strategy in Milwaukee streetcar utility debate

http://urbanismnews.com/wi/milwaukee...tility-debate-

In response to the ongoing debate over utility relocations for the Milwaukee streetcar, downtown Ald. Robert Bauman proposes charging utility companies rent to put their pipes and power lines under the city’s streets.

I don't really have the highest opinion of Bauman or any of the aldermen (especially Donovan) but kudos to Bauman for actually putting up a fight for Milwaukee. The article does a great job explaining why we should start charging the utility companies for use of Milwaukee land. Maybe this will make them change their minds. I always enjoy a good chess match

[3rd_Coast]

Originally Posted by jehuty

Bauman tries new strategy in Milwaukee streetcar utility debate

http://urbanismnews.com/wi/milwaukee...tility-debate-

In response to the ongoing debate over utility relocations for the Milwaukee streetcar, downtown Ald. Robert Bauman proposes charging utility companies rent to put their pipes and power lines under the city’s streets.

I don't really have the highest opinion of Bauman or any of the aldermen (especially Donovan) but kudos to Bauman for actually putting up a fight for Milwaukee. The article does a great job explaining why we should start charging the utility companies for use of Milwaukee land. Maybe this will make them change their minds. I always enjoy a good chess match

I'm not a big fan of the Chicago-native either, but I really support this proposal by Milwaukee Ald. Bauman. This should most definitely advance the debate over public utility relocation along the streetcar route. Now the hard part, getting the proposed fees approved at the capitol.

Something like this should not take an act of state government to enact.

[Eriol]

This sounds like a good lesson. Pabst City comes to mind.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The tab is mounting for this Midwestern city on a bet it made during the real-estate boom on an $850 million entertainment district meant to breathe new life into its struggling downtown.

While the eight-block restaurant, nightclub and retail complex named the Power & Light District is mostly complete, traffic and sales are well below initial projections when construction started in 2006.

Such woes are common among real-estate developers who imagined values and rents in a fast-growing U.S. economy would continue to rise for years.

From the Wall Street Journal.

[MilwaukeeMax]

what's with the "I'm not a big fan of Bauman" stuff? What has the guy done so horribly wrong according to you guys? He gets a bit hot-headed at times and comes off as rather cynical, but so what? He's passionate about improving the city's downtown-- the guy is doing exactly his job.

I think this is also a great strategy and if the utility companies don't want to pay a one-time cost of relocation of their lines, then I wonder how they'll like it when they have to pay a permanent annual fee for use of public land under ALL the city streets.

I don't think I like the notion of charging restaurants that use sidewalk space for their outdoor seating... Mayor Norquist actually introduced an subsidy to city restaurants who put out café seating more than a decade ago, and it worked brilliantly. There's no need to roll up the sidewalks and make them deserted again, especially since they're hardly using much of the space at all, while the utility lines are having a major impact on street projects.

[mohammed wong]

http://www.riverwestcurrents.org/201...rks-Lofts.html


Riverworks Lofts
Written by Janice Christensen
Saturday, 31 March 2012

by Tess Reiss

Work is nearly complete on the Riverworks Lofts at 3372 N Holton St, and the first occupants are eager to move in April 1.

The renovated industrial space, originally built for the Tharinger Pasta Company in 1915, has extra thick exterior walls that are near impervious to exterior noise and the weather. Some of the open concept 36 one- and two-bedroom units feature exposed brick interior walls that, combined with the concrete pad between floors, help to provide a quiet living environment.

A recent tour of the building with Philip Schultz of Horizon Development showcased the attention to detail with deep window ledges, 10 and 11 foot ceilings, granite counter tops, carpeting, lighting fixtures, kitchen appliances, and in-unit washers and dryers. Other building amenities include a club room, fitness center, reflection room, secure lobby, and underground parking ($50/month extra). Rents are very affordable at $580 to $780, especially when taking into account that heating costs will be lower due to the extra insulation.

[mohammed wong]

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee...riverwest.html

Johnson Bros. purchases Riverwest warehouse

The Business Journal by Rich Rovito, Reporter
Date: Friday, April 13, 2012, 5:00am CDT

Johnson Bros. Liquor Co. , a distributor of wine, spirits and nonalcoholic beverages, has purchased a warehouse in Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood.

The St. Paul, Minn.-based company purchased a 116,000-square-foot building at 301 E. Vienna Ave. for about $3 million, according to public records. Johnson Brothers bought the building from KTR WIS II LLC of Conshohocken, Pa.

Johnson Bros. will be moving its operations to the Vienna Avenue location from its existing warehouse at 3775 N. Richards St. The company plans to sell the Richards Street building, said Gary DeGeorge, who leads the company’s Wisconsin operations.

DeGeorge declined further comment.

[Milwaukee, WY]

I thought with all the crappy weather we've been enduring the past week, everyone could use a nice sunny picture of the new skyline. Sorry about the quality... it's an iPhone picture.

[usbmfa]

This plan won't even make a dent in the problems faced by Milwaukee, but at least it is an honest attempt to try. What's the mayor doing (besides building trolleys)?

Walker unveils $100 million economic plan for Milwaukee's poorest areas
http://www.jsonline.com/business/wal...149485415.html

Also, I hear that NML is remodeling a building on Van Buren and Mason, and is trying to build a skywalk to it. This would probably be temporary space while the 1980's building is razed. I have not heard how many people would stay downtown afterwards.

[Milwaukee, WY]

Originally Posted by usbmfa

This plan won't even make a dent in the problems faced by Milwaukee, but at least it is an honest attempt to try. What's the mayor doing (besides building trolleys)?

Walker unveils $100 million economic plan for Milwaukee's poorest areas
http://www.jsonline.com/business/wal...149485415.html

Also, I hear that NML is remodeling a building on Van Buren and Mason, and is trying to build a skywalk to it. This would probably be temporary space while the 1980's building is razed. I have not heard how many people would stay downtown afterwards.

So, no word at all on whether or not they're replacing the brown building with another building on the downtown campus?

[MilwaukeeMax]

Originally Posted by usbmfa

This plan won't even make a dent in the problems faced by Milwaukee, but at least it is an honest attempt to try. What's the mayor doing (besides building trolleys)?

Walker unveils $100 million economic plan for Milwaukee's poorest areas
http://www.jsonline.com/business/wal...149485415.html

Also, I hear that NML is remodeling a building on Van Buren and Mason, and is trying to build a skywalk to it. This would probably be temporary space while the 1980's building is razed. I have not heard how many people would stay downtown afterwards.

"honest attempt"?? you would think that, usbmfa. This is nothing but a weak political attempt by Walker to save his hide which is on its way out the door. this "economic plan" of his consists of a variety of urban development programs that ALREADY EXIST at the city and county level. Walker sounds like he's trying to take credit for these programs that have been in place for years and years and years already. pathetic.

[HaletotheZoo]

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee...proposals.html

40 stories is close to the USB, yet no cigar

[PANTHERfan]

Originally Posted by MilwaukeeMax

"honest attempt"?? you would think that, usbmfa. This is nothing but a weak political attempt by Walker to save his hide which is on its way out the door. this "economic plan" of his consists of a variety of urban development programs that ALREADY EXIST at the city and county level. Walker sounds like he's trying to take credit for these programs that have been in place for years and years and years already. pathetic.

Apparently the term "pandering" is new to usbmfa. Honestly, how could anyone try to argue the contrary?! I know we live in a black and white world where everyone is absolutely right and the others are absolutely wrong, but come on...