Indianapolis Comes to Bay View?

Rendering of Milhaus Ventures development — in Indianapolis.

In February, news broke of a proposal by Dermond Property Investments, LLC to build a 5-story, 72-unit apartment building at 2202-2206 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., in Bay View. The project quickly received sharp criticism from Bay View residents.

On Thursday, Ald. Tony Zielinski issued a press release announcing a new $40 million, 307-unit apartment building in Bay View. Curiously, the rendering included in the press release is actually of a project built in Indianapolis, IN by Milhaus Ventures, the developer proposing the project in Bay View. It begs the question, when the actual rendering for this development is created and released, will it receive the same welcome as the Dermond development did?

In his press release, Zielinksi had no doubt about the proposal, calling it “a significant development proposal for Bay View, where excellent projects of all sizes are regularly coming forward and at a pace that is moving Bay View forward at breakneck speed.”

Before the project moves forward the developer will need to receive zoning change approval from the City of Milwaukee. Blair Williams of WiRED Properties is representing the project locally and tells Urban Milwaukee the developer will pursue a zoning change to a detailed planned development.

The development would encompass two parcels of land, 2151 S. Robinson Ave. and 2181 S. Robinson Ave.; both are owned by The Big Whale LLC., the footprint includes the site where the high profile failure, Sweet Water Organics, was located.

Zielinksi is holding a community meeting on the proposal Monday the 16th at 6 p.m. at the South Shore Park pavilion, 2900 S. Shore Dr.

$120 or $150 Million, Whatever it Takes

Naturally the issue of the proposed NBA arena got more discussion in the past week. On Friday, Rich Kirchen and the Business Journal reported that Gov. Scott Walker’s plan to help fund the new Bucks’ arena to the tune of $220 million will be cut down to size. During a WisconsinEye interview Assembly Speaker Robin Vos explained, “We’re going to spend $120 million to keep [the Bucks] here,” adding, “is there a number beyond that? $120 [million] to $150 [million] — maybe a little bit north of that. But I think our caucus is comfortable in that range because that’s what we’d spend anyways.”

Kirchen also reported on Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce president Tim Sheehy’s warning that the Bucks must announce the site and scope of the project in the next two weeks, or else. Sheehy explained, “It’s going to happen in the next two weeks because the Joint Finance Committee and the public need the vision and the cost.” The Joint Finance Committee will begin reviewing Walker’s proposed state budget, which includes the $220 million funding proposal for the new arena, in April, hence the deadline.

Park East Update

Tom Daykin, of the Journal Sentinel, reported that Wangard Partners Inc. is finalizing plans for the second phase of the Avenir, a three-phase mixed-use residential development located at 1477 N. Jefferson St. The second phase will include an apartment building with approximately 100-units. Wangard expects to break ground on the second phase later this year.

A national construction bid website lists bids to begin site work on The Rhythm, a seven-story, 140-unit apartment building located at 1632 N. Water St., with an expected start date of April 6th, 2015. The development team is made up of Tim Gokhman and Jim Wiechmann, and Scott Kindness is the project architect.

Avenir Plans and Renderings