Feature

Engberg Anderson Moving To Third Ward

Engberg Anderson Moving To Third Ward

In yet another move that illustrates the point that “if you own an architecture firm in Milwaukee, it better be in the Third Ward”, Engberg Anderson Design Partnership Inc. is moving to the eight story P.H. Dye House in the Third Ward so that all 75 of the their employees can be located on a single floor.   The firm will lease 20,000 feet in the 180,000 square foot building. Other architecture firms located in the Third Ward include Abrahamson Inc. and Eppstein Uhen Architects Inc.

Courtyard By Marriott Changes Hands

Courtyard By Marriott Changes Hands

The Journal Sentinel reports… The Courtyard by Marriott hotel in downtown Milwaukee has been sold for $26.1 million to a group of investors led by a Los Angeles-area firm, according to documents filed Thursday with the Milwaukee County register of deeds. Read more. Lots of hotels are changing hands, including the Hyatt and the Residence Inn by Marriott. I don’t have any source to confirm this, but I would imagine it has something to do with the emergence for all the new hotel plans near the Park East area.

Breakwater Development

Breakwater Development

Despite minor community concern over the height of the building and DCD’s concerns over the balconies, the BreakWater condominium tower has begun demolition of the former Christopher East Medical Center building. The tower is planned to be 20 stories with 101 units and is the latest in what has become an ongoing trend of lakefront development in Milwaukee. To follow this development I’ve started a flickr set, Breakwater Development, that I will update with new pictures to keep track of the progress. Articles Breakwater to break ground. East side condo tower proposed

Park East Square: Let’s Dig A Hole
Park East Square

Let’s Dig A Hole

It looks like I’ll have new neighbors sooner rather than later, the construction of the Park East Square will start in November. The project will be free of city-financing assistance, the absence of which is credited as a reason for the reemergence of downtown according to former mayor John Norquist.

Photo Gallery: Downer Ave. Development Breaks Ground
Photo Gallery

Downer Ave. Development Breaks Ground

The controversial Downer Ave area development that includes an 11-story high rise hotel/condo building and a parking garage on Downer Ave has finally broken ground. The neighborhood was polarized on this issue and certain residents were outraged to say the least but overall this is a good development for the area. The added foot traffic that the new medical offices, hotel guests and condo residents will bring should bring needed vitality back to the street. Further the renovations of the historic buildings are long over due and the work already done looks great. To follow what’s going on I’ve started a flickr set, Downer Ave. New Land Enterprise Development, that I will update with new pictures to keep track of the progress. Related Articles New tenants signed to Downer Ave. project A round peg sometimes does fit in a square hole New Land Enterprises reveals possible future plans for Downer Avenue

Milwaukee Public Market Manager Resigns

Milwaukee Public Market Manager Resigns

The general manager of the Milwaukee Public Market, Meg Rauschenberger, has resigned, ending the term of the third manager since the market opened in October of 2005.  Instead of giving the fourth a chance, the Third Ward Association has elected not to replace the general manager position.  Looking to trim overhead the market management team will have oversight from Third Ward Association President Ron San Felippo and Executive Director Nancy O’Keefe. I’ve always loved the atmosphere of the market and the friendliness of the vendors, but I wish they had more ready-to-eat food (which they have been working to address).

Milwaukee Intermodel Station To Open Before Thanksgiving

Milwaukee Intermodel Station To Open Before Thanksgiving

The revamped train station is on schedule and budget and will open the day before Thanksgiving.  Just in time to give everyone riding the Greyhound bus, Megabus, or Amtrak train a look at the new station before it opens. Milwaukee and Wisconsin as a whole got this one right, a beautiful station will greet visitors to the city and there won’t even be any snickering about budget overruns or the time it took to complete the station.

Plenty of Horne: Rep. Wood Stiffs Firm
Plenty of Horne

Rep. Wood Stiffs Firm

Rep. Wood Stiffs Firm

Plenty of Horne: Brady Street Artisan Food Festival
Plenty of Horne

Brady Street Artisan Food Festival

This year, a Ferris wheel will be erected west of N. Humboldt Av., at the east side thoroughfare's highest point. As always, there will be cheese for sale.

Plenty of Horne: Kaye to Pay in Tossed RICO Suit — Updated!
Plenty of Horne

Kaye to Pay in Tossed RICO Suit — Updated!

“Only a Fool has Himself for a Lawyer” –proverb On September 13th, 2005, Atty. Joe Kaye filed a lawsuit on his own behalf (“pro se”) in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin alleging a violation of federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO) by a number of entities, including the City of Milwaukee, Ald. Michael D’Amato, Julilly Kohler, Lincoln Fowler and others, claiming they conspired to wrongfully deny him the opportunity to buy and develop city-owned real estate. The riverfront property at 1142-58 E. Kane Place was eventually sold to Kohler, who had been vice-chair of the City of Milwaukee Plan Commission. On July 11th, 2006, U. S. District Judge J. P. Stadtmueller dismissed the case, finding it to be frivolous, and ordered sanctions against Kaye, including that he “reimburse the defendants for their reasonable and necessary attorney’s fees.” Kaye made many allegations in his complaints, including behind-the-scenes machinations between Kohler and fellow commissioner Fowler; that Ald. D’Amato collaborated with officers of the East Village Association [EVA] to create a historical preservation district that would exempt Kohler’s proposed development; that D’Amato, Kohler and others engaged in a fraudulent scheme to manipulate the EVA election; that a wire fraud scheme existed; that D’Amato stole a yard sign from a neighbor; and that D’Amato’s actions constituted theft and extortion. The allegations were contained in a rambling 19 page complaint riddled with grammatical and spelling errors, reminiscent of “Riddley Walker,”a post-apocalyptic cult novel of which Kaye is apparently fond. His business address on court documents is listed as “Grooling and Smarling, 7355 N. Green Bay Av., Glendale.” “Grooling and Smarling” are neologisms introduced in the novel, which is either gibberish or inspired, depending upon the reader. [Editor’s note: It is gibberish.] The city attorney’s motion in November, asking to dismiss the suit, called Kaye’s case “a rambling, disjointed and unsupported complaint that fails to state a claim. “[Kaye’s claims are] fatally deficient in every material respect … [and are] linguistically and logically incoherent.” In other words, the sort of case one might find from a jailhouse lawyer, but not from a licensed attorney. In the court’s ruling yesterday, Stadtmueller said, “While we treat pro se litigants gently, a pro se attorney is not entitled to special treatment,” the veteran jurist ruled. “Although the court liberally construes allegations in a pro se litigant’s complaint … the court does not apply this principle of construction to Kaye’s complaint because Kaye is an attorney.” He added, “Kaye does not specify the many victims, the time frame involved, the five separate schemes or the distinct injuries. Kaye does not cite to any allegations within his complaint or to any exhibits. “Kaye’s RICO claims must be dismissed for another reason: Kaye has not properly pleaded the existence of an enterprise. … Each of the RICO claims, therefore, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. “Kaye should have known that his RICO claims had no legal basis,” he added. The amount […]

Plenty of Horne: Donovan Plays to His Base
Plenty of Horne

Donovan Plays to His Base

"They said he should be governor."

Plenty of Horne: Another Fortis Feud
Plenty of Horne

Another Fortis Feud

The Shepherd Express has lost yet another regular contributor.