Real Estate
Urban Outfitters To Open December 14th
Kenilworth Originally uploaded by Volá Berlín OnMilwaukee.com reports that Urban Outfitters will open on the east side of Milwaukee on December 14th. The store is located in the bottom of the Kenilworth Square Apartments (one UWM’s new dorm buildings) on the corner of Prospect and Kenilworth. This should help give UWM students yet another excuse to avoid driving out to Mayfair Mall and instead walk or ride the included-in-their-tuition bus to yet another developing east side location.
Nov 19th, 2007 by Jeramey Jannene
Mark Chmura and Company Buy Building at Pabst
Pabst Brewery Originally uploaded by compujeramey Former Green Bay Packer Mark Chmura, his brother and real estate broker Matt Chmura, and, developer and son of former Milwaukee Brewer Sal Bando, Sonny Bando through their development firm BC Pabst Holdings have purchased a three-story, 28,000 square foot building at the former Pabst Brewery on the edge of the Park East neighborhood. The building previously known as Building 14 was used for Pabst research and development. Chmura and company are already lining up tenants for the office building and may open a conference center in the 1,200 square foot penthouse that has skyline views. The tenants are apparently interested in the access the building provides to traffic from Interstate 43. We at Urban Milwaukee hope someday it’ll be able to leased based on the vibrancy of the neighborhood it’s in. I was surprised to learn that not only does the sports-supported triumvirate own this building, but they also together own the Germania Building at 135 W. Wells St. and the Iron Block Building at 200 E. Wisconsin Ave in downtown Milwaukee. So much for jock stereotypes, these three appear dedicated to urban redevelopment of historic developments. I’m happy to see their on-board with the Pabst Brewery redevelopment, which is undoubtedly going to serve as a catalyst for redevelopment of the rest of the Park East neighborhood. The Small Business Times and the Journal Sentinel each have stories on the purchase. NOTE: The building purchased is pictured in the attached image. It is the short building partially cut off on the left-hand side. If you have a better image, let us know.
Nov 19th, 2007 by Jeramey Jannene
The Residences on Water Are Rising Fast
The Residences on Water Originally uploaded by compujeramey The Residences on Water are rising fast, leading me to believe that the building actually will make its spring 2008 opening date. I walked by the building tonight on the way home from dollar burger night (every Tuesday) at Bar Louie. I was impressed at how quickly the building is rising. A couple quick facts… The building has 31 condos ranging from $234,000 to $2,300,000, of which 8 have been sold. The condos will occupy the top four floors. The Staybridge Suites hotel will occupy the middle six floors and include 128 rooms There will be a rooftop garden for residents and hotel guests. There will be 14,000 square feet of retail space The building is being built using the new ER Post Structural System that enables alternate floors to remain column free and allows for rapid build times from the use of precast trusses, the fact that it can be assembled in all weather conditions, and the requirement for fewer pieces. If you buy the penthouse of penthouses in the development for $2,362,100 you get a private 2,400 square foot root-top green space. Apparently there are two roof-top green spaces, presumably divided by some kind of massive HVAC unit. Developer Development Opportunity Corp of Fort Myers, Florida purchased six parcels of land for the development. Five of the parcels and a city-owned alley were purchased from the Milwaukee Redevelopment Authority for $443,340. The other parcel was a 13,000-square-foot parking lot purchased from the 1101 North Market Street Partners for $1.2 million. The 1101 North Market Street Partners also had previously sold the former Blatz Wash House located adjacent to the new development at 1101 North Market Street to SSG Properties Inc. of Pewaukee for $4.2 million in 2003. SSG Properties is too say the least, excited. The Blatz Wash House might finally get the attention it deserves with the increased foot traffic in the area. No word yet on who might be occupying the retail space. I don’t think it will take long to find a tenant for the site because there isn’t much else in the way of retail space in that area on Water St. coupled with thousands of drunk people at bars every weekend, MSOE dorms just around the corner, and a growing number of condos being developed in the area. The most important aspect of the development is that it replaces a surface parking lot with a large building that increases neighborhood density, which makes everything around the new building better and continues to expand upon a growing downtown area. The visual perception of downtown used to end at the 1000 North Water Street building, but will now continue north one more block to The Residences on Water. Dave Reid of the Milwaukee Development Update has a Flickr photo set up already and a blog post.
Nov 6th, 2007 by Jeramey Jannene
Committee Approves Minor Modification to Downer Avenue Redevelopment Plan
Just a couple of quick items of note from today’s ZND meeting. File number 070873 was a report on the redevelopment of the 440th Airlift Wing’s land. The consulting firm, RKG Associates, provided three proposed alternatives noting that they all include the airport’s plan of building a new runway in the future. Basically the plans break down as aviation re-use for entire site, split aviation with commercial, and non-airport use. Comments allude to the fact that the most likely outcome will be the aviation re-use for the entire site. File number 070964 was approved and authorized a “minor” modification to the DPD known as the Downer Avenue Redevelopment. Unfortunately this file isn’t truly minor as it is response to a lawsuit brought against the city claiming the city shouldn’t of issued a building permit and that the city didn’t take the state’s historic recommendations into consideration. Oddly, the changes to the DPD came about in attempt to further “appease” the neighbors. And I believe Alderman Willie Wade summed it up by saying “basically we are in this position because we were trying to be accommodating.” File number 070844 was approved and authorized the sale of a city owned vacant lot at 530 West Florida St to Rider Hotel, LLC. It will be sold for $1 as it has environmental challenges and will be capped to create a parking lot for the $23 million Iron Horse Hotel. File number 070935 was approved and authorizes the Land Disposition Report which basically allows HSI Development Partners, LLC. to acquire the land and construct a building for Derse, Inc. Derse, Inc. was founded in Milwaukee and originally made signs for Miller, Schlitz, and Pabst. They now specializes in tradeshow exhibits and have expanded throughout the U.S. and internationally. Mike D’Amato commented saying, “Now that you’ve expanded everywhere else let’s talk about Milwaukee,” and he’s right on point as this project bring 125 jobs back into the city.
Nov 6th, 2007 by Dave Reid
The Residences on Water
The Residences on Water is beginning to rise out of the ground. The building utilizes a new development method, called the ER Post Structural System, that should allow for the pace of work to dramatically pickup in the coming weeks. This acceleration is possible because this method allows for all-weather erection, has fewer pieces and lets other trades begin work earlier in the process. The $20 million project is being developed by Fort Myers, FL based Development Opportunity Corporation. Once complete it will include a 128-room Staybridge Suites, 31 condo units, ranging in price from $234,000 to $2.3 million of which 8 have been sold so far, and 14,000 square feet of retail space. I believe this project will have long lasting positive impacts on the Water St district. First it finishes the corner by removing a surface parking lot which adds to the urban fabric. Secondly the new activity created by the residents and hotel guests will continue to fuel neighborhood business. Further this project is clearly connected to Manpower’s move to downtown and should support their business travel needs. Overall this is one of the most intriguing projects to watch considering the potential long term affects it will have on Water St.To follow this development I’ve started a flickr set, The Residences on Water, that I will update with new pictures to keep track of the progress. Articles Ready to rise Downtown Staybridge hotel, retail project to finally begin New Precast Building Product from Spancrete Speeds On-site Construction Time
Nov 3rd, 2007 by Dave Reid
City Hall Is Worth Every Penny
City Hall Originally uploaded by compujeramey Mike Nichols has an article in the Journal Sentinel lambasting politicians for their failings in properly estimating the cost of projects. Nichols gives me the feeling that he’s upset at Mayor Barrett for the expense of the City Hall and the coming need for a lift of the building (covered earlier on this site). Nichols acts as if City Hall is some giant sink hole that we as Milwaukeeans throw all our money into for no return and that is not an asset to Milwaukee anymore. He imposes upon me that his feeling is that we should have spent millions years ago to remove the wood pilings underneath and replace them with something else. As if the pilings that have lasted more than 100 years were a bad idea from the start, and that people should have known better. That politicians are continually draining Milwaukee of money to fix this building that’s fundamentally flawed. To paraphrase a recent Barrett quote I saw in the Shepherd Express ” it’s not like we’re putting hot tubs in”. Barrett is simply spending the money it takes to keep one of Milwaukee’s greatest landmarks operating and available for future generations. Nichols apparently disagrees with that idea.. It’s also a place some were already calling outmoded back in 1954, one that is now dwarfed by surrounding buildings and will continue to suck up money that could have been used on something new and inspiring.There’s at least the possibility that if taxpayers knew a few years ago what they were about to spend, they would have considered another, fully accessible, internationally admired Calatrava instead. We’ll never know because taxpayers have already made the leap that is now about to carry them all the way into the pilings under the basement. Only, I wouldn’t really call it a leap. It looks more like, without any real discussion at all, they were given a firm, silent, chicken-hearted push. If he’s so upset about City Hall and the money being spent, why doesn’t someone run for Mayor that is for a new City Hall? The simple reason is that a new City Hall would have the same cost overruns without the old world charm and history of the current building. The investment in City Hall is one that will preserve one of Milwaukee’s greatest landmarks. You can’t build 100+ year old buildings whenever you want. The building has stood the test of time and helps give downtown Milwaukee a distinct look and feel that is welcoming to visitors and respected by residents. City Hall doesn’t feature the glass casing like many new urban buildings or the massive parking garage that accompanies many of the large buildings in downtown Milwaukee. The building instead is a tribute to what Milwaukee has grown from, while pointing to the sky to demonstrate where Milwaukee is going to. As each new building rises around City Hall, the value of the distinct look of the building increases. It is […]
Oct 30th, 2007 by Jeramey Jannene
Sydney Hih Project Moves Forward
The controversial Sydney Hih project , that last summer was turned down for city financing of a TIF, appears to moving forward again. The first indications were the signing of multiple tenants to the project as recently reported in the Bizjournal article “Ruvin recruits Park East tenants”. The second significant step forward occurred this morning when the Public Works Committee approved a resolution agreeing to a long term lease with Ruvin Development Inc. of the city’s parking garage at 4th and Highland. This is important because Ruvin Development Inc.’s attempts to receive a TIF district revolved around the project’s perceived parking needs, so this agreement should allow Ruvin Development Inc. to move forward with the project. Additionally this will create a new revenue stream for the City of Milwaukee and better utilizes a city owned parking structure. I believe these two recent developments are very encouraging signs and that the Sydney Hih project may soon get underway. To follow this development I’ve started a flickr set, Sydney Hih that I will update with new pictures to keep track of the progress. Please note currently there’s just one photo as no construction has begun. Articles Ruvin recruits Park East tenants Plans on tap to rejuvenate Gipfel Brewery Billion-dollar building boom Gatehouse Capital and Ruvin Development select Kimpton for Milwaukee boutique hotel opening late 2009
Oct 30th, 2007 by Dave Reid
Park Lafayette
Park Lafayette is the first project for developer Warren Barr, of Renaissant Development Group LLC, in Milwaukee and it is worth stopping in the sales center to see the level of quality he delivers. Not only can your tour the two bedroom model but you can also check the view from every unit in the building. The project itself has approximately 292 households per acre which should only add to the Eastside’s already buzzing vibrancy. And although not affordable units per se the majority of the units in the building start in the 200’s allowing for a wider range of buyers to enter the market than many of the other developments in Milwaukee currently. To follow this development I’ve started a flickr set, Park Lafayette that I will update with new pictures to keep track of the progress. Articles Condo towers win funds The high-rise guy Department of City Development Documentation Detailed Planned Development:Renaissant’s Park Lafayette
Oct 24th, 2007 by Dave Reid
The Edge
For a quite sometime it appeared this project may not ever get built as no progress had been taken place on the site but finally progress can been seen at the site as work has begun on the foundation. This is great news as The Edge includes one of the missing Riverwalk pieces needed to complete the Beerline section and will include the cleanup of a contaminated property. Additionally this project has a creative design and once completed will have 133 units running in the range of $200,000 to $300,000. To follow this development I’ve started a flickr set, The Edge that I will update with new pictures to keep track of the progress. Articles Chicago firm plans condos near Milwaukee River Condo developers to receive brownfields grant
Oct 10th, 2007 by Dave Reid
Another Firm To Join The Party in the Valley
Derse Inc., one of the country’s largest exhibition display companies, plans to move to Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley from Wauwatosa, and add jobs to its growing work force. Derse, 1234 N. 62nd St., plans to lease a 160,000-square-foot building to be developed by HSI Development Partners LLC, the companies announced Thursday. Read more… While not a true part of the densely populated urban landscape of Milwaukee, the Menomonee Valley constitutes Milwaukee’s leading industrial area that is dedicated to sustainable and community-minded development. Compared to industrial parks of the past, the area is filled with bike trails, attractive buildings, and natural landscaping.
Oct 6th, 2007 by Jeramey Jannene
The North End
The Mandel Group’s North End development is easily the most exciting project under development in Milwaukee. The first phase alone will include 109 condos, 88 apartments and 25,000 square feet of retail space. Work has begun on the demolition of the Pfister & Vogel tannery in preparation for construction. The water tower was removed from the roof as it is being saved and will eventually be located near Water and Pleasant. To follow this development I’ve started a flickr set, The North End that I will update with new pictures to keep track of the progress. Articles Park East project hits construction phase City funding for North End backed
Oct 4th, 2007 by Dave Reid
City To Fund Building Redevelopment
In a rare move, the city is going to provide Compass Properties LLC with $3.2 million to repair their two Water Street properties immediately north of the 100 East Wisconsin building.
Oct 3rd, 2007 by Jeramey Jannene
