North End Phase Gets $2 Million in Funding

The third phase of The North End development got a boost on Tuesday, as the Common Council voted to use funding from Tax Incremental District #48 to support this phase of the project being developed by Mandel Group.  The council approved spending $2 million in tax incremental financing to be used for 400 feet of new RiverWalk, utilities, dockwall repair, and the extension of N. Edison St., all in connection with this development, located on the northwest corner of N. Water St. and E. Pleasant St.

The five-story, $53 million, mixed-use development will include a 30,000-square-foot Fresh Thyme Farmers Market grocery store and 168 apartments. It will contain approximately 100 underground parking spots and cartalators allowing for customers to take their shopping carts to the underground parking structure. Along E. Pleasant St. there will be 17 surface parking spots, in part due to restrictions on the land governed by an easement for the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. Atop the grocery store the 168 apartments will line the street edge, and a green roof will cover the center of the development.  The apartment residents will have underground parking within the building.

Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2014, with a fall of 2015 opening.

In other Mandel Group news, the organization recently announced 100 percent occupancy for its Shorewood rental property, LightHorse, and noted that the three completed buildings in The North End are now almost 100 percent occupied. Also, Tracy Bredow, who had been with Mandel for 13 years, is moving on to take an opportunity with Reginald Baylor‘s Plaid Tuba team.  No replacement has been announced yet.

Phase III Renderings

Beer on Bikes

It seems as if the plight of the Pedal Tavern might never end.  The Pedal Tavern is a commercial business that takes up to 16 passengers, who pedal but don’t steer, on a quadricycle through Walker’s Point and the Historic Third Ward, stopping at various taverns long the way.

After owners of the Pedal Tavern successfully lobbied the state legislature to pass a law allowing alcohol to be consumed by riders (but not by the driver) of a commercial quadricycle, the City of Milwaukee considered both a full ban of alcohol on the bike or allowing the practice with some additional controls.

Would passengers be allowed to hoist some beers?

At Tuesday’s Common Council meeting, Ald. Robert Bauman explained that the latest version of the local ordinance before them had two key changes from a prior one, as this was the second time the council was hearing the item. First, it would prohibit glass containers on the quadricycle, and second, it would require that the regular route of the operation would be part of the business plan. Ald. Jim Bohl added that the plan could be used in a revocation hearing for a quadricyce license if it wasn’t followed by the operator.

Alds. Willie Wade, Robert Puente, and Milele Coggs voted in opposition. However, they voted nay not because they opposed creating a local ordinance, but because they favored a ban on alcohol for the Pedal Tavern, which was already legal under a recently passed state law. The rest of the council approved the new version, providing good news for those who like to imbibe on a commercial quadricycle.

Quick Hits

• Help Wanted. Walnut Way is looking for a Research Project and Engagement Specialist. More info here.
• Event. Once again politicians will break out into verse for the public’s literary “pleasure.” The third Politics & Poetry event will be held March 20th, 2014 at City Hall.