New Marriott Hotel Still Controversial?
The hotel got a lot of state WHEDA money that was supposed to target Milwaukee's central city job centers. Still, the hotel is a boost for downtown.
Despite the controversy that surrounded the Marriott Downtown Hotel project, it is apparently ‘transforming’ Milwaukee. At least according to Gov. Scott Walker.
Rich Kirchen, Senior Reporter for The Business Journal, recently questioned governor Walker about the status of his Transform Milwaukee initiative, a program that promised $100 million of investment in Milwaukee primarily, according to WHEDA, in “a corridor connecting the 30th Street Industrial Corridor, Menomonee Valley, Port of Milwaukee and Milwaukee Aerotropolis located south of General Mitchell Airport.”
Walker’s response: “Some of it is a leverage for other dollars that will come in. Some of it included the water project ($22 million renovation of a Walker’s Point warehouse for the Water Council) and the hotel.”
By the time the Marriott Hotel project received $43.5 million in WHEDA low-interest, tax-free bonding construction had already started and private financing was in place. The state’s involvement certainly transformed the bottom line for Jackson Street Management, LLC., the developer.
Whether this project is meeting the goals of the Transform Milwaukee Initiative is at best questionable, but it is certainly altering the corner of Milwaukee St. and Wisconsin Ave. See for yourself:
Photo Gallery
Past Stories: Marriott Downtown Milwaukee
- Friday Photos: Room at the Inn
- Friday Photos: Construction Continues
- Friday Photos: Marriott Hotel Begins to Rise
- Are Milwaukee’s Historic Preservation Laws Too Strong or Too Weak? Yes
- Marriott Approved. Greenwich Park Apartments Approved
- Marriott Hotel Project Wins Appeal on 3-2 Vote at Zoning Committee
- A Possible Solution for the Marriott Proposal?
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Eh, regardless of ol’ Walker, this is an excellent project. Glad it’s rolling! Now to get the convention center properly built out!
So, what projects are in the works for the 30th street corridor? When I initially heard about the $100m initiative, I thought it was all for that area only.
Hello,
I assume that the photographs are from January 31st, 2013 not June 31st, 2013. Interesting to see the evolution of this project. I’m looking forward to the Remarkable Milwaukee program on Monday to see one of the other hotel developments downtown.
Paul
@Paul, Yes. Thanks January 31st, 2013…