School proposed at troubled urban farm
A troubled urban farm which is the subject of litigation would lease part of its property for a charter school under a new proposal pending before Milwaukee officials. TransCenter for Youth Inc. wants to use 12,000 square feet at 1003 W. North Ave. for its Green School, according to documents filed with the Board of Zoning Appeals. The school would serve 125 students in grades 7 through 12. TransCenter, which already operates a similar school, Escuela Verde, 3628 W. Pierce St., would make a $1.9 million investment in the renovated building, according to the proposal. The board will consider TransCenter’s request for a variance at its Jan. 14 meeting. The former industrial laundry covers a city block, and is owned by North Avenue Development LLC, which is operated by Thomas Schmitt and Will Allen. Allen, founded of the nonprofit urban farm operator Growing Power, and Schmitt, a Greenfield accountant, also operate Will Allen Farms LLC, a for-profit venture. Waterford investor Debra Hoyer is suing Will Allen Farms, claiming Schmitt told her the company was developing an aquaponics farm at the North Ave. building. That operation has stalled. The firm says Hoyer is an investor who got cold feet, and whose claims will now further hurt its prospects. Hoyer’s lawsuit is pending in Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
Jan 6th, 2016 by Jeramey Jannene
Bob Donovan promoting aldermanic, mayoral races in same mailer
An unusual campaign flier recently arrived in mailboxes on Milwaukee’s south side. “Bob Donovan: For Alderman and Mayor!” reads the big bold type atop the mailer. In it, Ald. Bob Donovan asks for voters’ support in the upcoming spring elections — in both his re-election race for alderman and his mayoral bid. “I am running for both alderman and mayor, which is absolutely allowed by Milwaukee election law,” Donovan’s flier reads. “I am running for both alderman and mayor because the future of our neighborhood as well as the city as a whole is on the line.” This is not the first time a Wisconsin politician has simultaneously run for two offices. Just a few years ago, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan was on the campaign trail as the 2012 GOP vice-presidential nominee while the Janesville Republican also was running for re-election in Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District. Still, it’s rare for a candidate to be running for two city offices at the same time. And even more unusual to have a twofer campaign flier urging voter support in both of those races. Donovan, who was first elected to the Common Council in 2000, said the recent double-duty mailer was sent only to voters in the 8th District. He added that he’s “not at all” worried voters there will question his commitment to his job representing the district. “The bottom line is, I want to improve Milwaukee,” Donovan said Thursday. “The best way to do that is as mayor. But at the very least I want to continue as alderman.” He said his record over the last 15 years shows that he’s committed to the district. And Donovan said his campaign would be focused on public safety, jobs and education. If he were to win both races, a special election would be needed to fill his current seat. But Donovan insists that would happen quickly. “Should I win both the mayoral and aldermanic elections rest assured you will not go without representation at City Hall and a special election would be held readily to choose the 8th District’s new alderperson,” his flier reads. Running for both offices means Donovan needs to collect two sets of signatures, both of which must be turned in by Tuesday when candidates’ nominating papers, declarations of candidacy and campaign registration statements are due. Donovan will be required to turn in 1,500 to 3,000 signatures for his bid for mayor, and 200 to 400 signatures for his re-election race. Voters in his district can sign both sets of nomination petitions. He said he plans to do so, and will also prepare separate campaign finance reports to track campaign contributions and spending in both races. He will also need to follow two different sets of campaign contribution limits. The contribution limit in the 8th District, which has a population of 39,580, is $792 for individuals, committees and PACs alike, under limits that take effect Friday. In the mayoral and other citywide races, those limits jump to $6,000 for individuals […]
Dec 31st, 2015 by Dave Reid
Apartments, retail development proposed for Park East site
A new $47 million mixed-use development is being proposed for downtown Milwaukee’s Park East area by a local firm that is already building apartments and retail space in that strip. Wangard Partners Inc. would develop the seven-story building on a vacant lot bordered by N. Water St., N. Broadway, N. Milwaukee St., E. Lyon St. and E. Ogden Ave., according to an announcement Wednesday from Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele. Wangard would develop 250 apartments and 70,000 square feet of stores, restaurants and other retail space on the 2.1-acre site, which the firm would buy from the county for $2.4 million. It would be built just west of the Avenir, a mixed-use development that opened its first phase, with 104 apartments and 7,000 square feet of commercial space, at 1437 N. Jefferson St., in 2014. Wangard Partners plans to begin construction this spring on the second phase of the Avenir, with 82 apartments, said Wayne Wiertzema, the firm’s president. A third space, with 64 apartments, also is planned, with the entire Avenir project to be completed by early 2018, he said. Stewart Wangard, Wangard Partners chief executive officer, declined to comment on the new proposal, the name of which hasn’t yet been disclosed. But, according to plans filed with Milwaukee County, the firm believes the new development would attract both young professionals and baby boomers who want to be close to their workplaces, as well as stores, restaurants and entertainment. As with the Avenir, “we anticipate the apartment finishes to be of the highest quality, including granite counter tops, hardwood floors and stainless steel appliances,” the proposal said. “On-site amenities such as a fitness center, rooftop terraces, a common green area and patios will complete the urban living experience for our targeted residents,” it said. The proposal doesn’t mention rents. But it does say that 20% of the apartments in the development’s first phase would be set aside for “affordable housing” to “meet the requirements of various financial institutions.” That could mean that those affordable units would be rented at below-market rates to people earning no more than 80% of Milwaukee County’s median income. The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority provided a loan to help finance downtown’s new MKE Lofts development with a similar string attached. Wangard’s project would include enclosed parking for cars and bikes, as well as a possible Bublr Bikes bike-share station. The car parking would total 450 stalls. There also would be a small public park at E. Lyon and N. Milwaukee streets. The development is expected to be valued at $47 million, creating “hundreds of new jobs,” and $1.4 million in annual property tax revenue, according to Abele. Those new jobs would include 200 construction jobs, along with 100 retail jobs. Under a new state law, Abele no longer needs County Board approval to sell the county parcels that are not parks. However, Wangard’s purchase offer, which was a response to a public request for proposals, does need the approval of county Comptroller Scott […]
Dec 30th, 2015 by Dave Reid
Couture site sale delayed until early 2016; groundbreaking still set for next year
Developer Rick Barrett won’t complete his firm’s planned purchase of the Couture high-rise development site by the end of the year, according to a Milwaukee County official. Barrett said in August he hoped to close on the purchase of the Downtown Transit Center by the end of December, and begin demolition work in early 2016. His comments came after Preserve Our Parks announced it wouldn’t appeal a judge’s ruling allowing the Couture development at the transit center site, 909 E. Michigan St. The sale of the county-owned property is now expected to occur by the end of March, said Teig Whaley-Smith, county administration director. The sale has been delayed in part because the county is seeking a final agreement from federal officials to avoid paying the difference between the property’s appraised value and its discounted sale price. That agreement is tied to a 1988 Federal Transit Administration grant that helped financed the underused transit center. “We’ve made a lot of progress,” Whaley-Smith said. The Federal Transit Administration in 2012 said Milwaukee County could apply the transit center sale proceeds “to another capital project,” according to a letter from the agency. Mayor Tom Barrett‘s administration in 2014 expanded the planned downtown streetcar service to include a link to the Couture’s transit concourse. City officials said a multimodal transit concourse, which would include bus service, would help the county obtain an agreement to avoid paying over $8 million to the Federal Transit Administration. The Common Council in February approved the streetcar expansion, with opponents raising doubts about that claim. “FTA is working with Milwaukee County to identify options for the sale of the Downtown Transit Center that would comply with federal requirements,” an agency spokeswoman said recently. “We do not have an estimate for when a final decision will be made.” Rick Barrett hopes to finish razing the transit center by spring before Summerfest and other events begin at nearby Maier Festival Park. He wants to begin construction by fall on the 44-story apartment tower, which would take three years to complete. “We’re pleased with the progress,” Barrett said in a statement, “and optimistic that we can remain on schedule for groundbreaking before the end of 2016.” Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Christopher Foley ruled in June that a 2014 state law that established a Lake Michigan lake bed boundary east of the transit center is valid. The ruling cleared title to the 2.2-acre transit center site so the county can sell it to Barrett Lo Visionary Development at a discounted price of $500,000. The discount in the property’s sales price from the $8.9 million appraised value was necessary to make the project economically feasible, according to county officials. The proposed $122 million privately financed Couture would include 302 high-end apartments, along with restaurant and retail space.
Dec 29th, 2015 by Dave Reid
Former cop starts reggae-themed taxi service
Bobby Hamilton was born and lived in Jamaica for most of his life. In 2012, he moved to Milwaukee after briefly living in New York City because he found the people here to be friendly and it reminded him of home. “I came to Milwaukee on vacation, and I fell in love with the place. The people were so nice and I thought it would be a good city to raise my daughter,” says Hamilton. Hamilton, who was born in Runaway Bay in Jamaica, worked in Kingstown for 20 years as a police officer. When he moved to Milwaukee, he worked as a security supervisor for the Milwaukee County Transit System, but when the company went on strike, he decided he wanted to start his own business. “I owned a computer store in Jamaica for awhile, and I liked owning my own business,” he says. “I like talking with people and I have good customer service relations.” Hamilton, who lives near State Fair Park, saw people taking cabs to and from the Fair and decided he would like to provide a taxi service. And so, he bought a Dodge Caravan Minivan, decorated it with Jamaican flags and stickers, followed the necessary procedures to be a taxi service and the Reggae Cab was born. “It’s a luxury ride,” says Hamilton. “We have wi-fi and people can select their own music.” Most of the time, however, people want to hear reggae and Hamilton says it’s playing in his cab almost 100 percent of the time. “People will tell me that when they hear Bob Marley in my taxi in the morning, they sometimes hear his positive words all day long,” says Hamilton. So far, Hamilton has been extremely busy on the road and says most of his business comes from seeing the website and number on his taxi or from word-of-mouth referrals. Sometimes customers misunderstand the concept and ask if they can smoke ganja in the cab. “No, you cannot drink or smoke marijuana in my taxi,” says Hamilton. “People often ask me if I have ever smoked it and I never have – I was a cop for 20 years. I have nothing against it, though. People are free to do what they want to do, just not in my cab.” Hamilton sees his job as more than a taxi service; rather, it’s about sharing stories with people and making them feel happy. He says customers love to share tales with him about their travels to Jamaica or ask him about what his life was like living there. “I really enjoy having conversations with people about Jamaica or whatever they want to talk about,” says Hamilton. “I like to make people smile.”
Dec 28th, 2015 by Dave Reid
Taco Fest organizer Jon Firle
Jon Firle: I’m an Assistant Manager for Axiom Properties. I was destined to be in apartment management ever since I saw “Mr. Furley” in the TV show “Three’s Company” since we basically have the same name. I have worked in almost every industry possible before this, from sales to management and even as a postal carrier. It’s a job where I feel comfortable and I can use my love for getting to meet new people and things on a daily basis. OnMilwaukee / Too Much Metal: What time of year / season is your favorite in Milwaukee and why? Firle: I have to say spring is my favorite time. It signifies starting new to me and you can see it in others, too. Everyone just seems a little happier when that first warm, sunny, spring day appears. OnMilwaukee / Too Much Metal: What’s your favorite or least favorite smell in Milwaukee? Firle: Oy! Jones Island on a hot summer day. It’s a necessary facility but that doesn’t mean we have to like it. OnMilwaukee / Too Much Metal: What neighborhood do you live in? Firle: Bay View, SSP. (“South Side Pride.”) OnMilwaukee / Too Much Metal: What’s your hope for Milwaukee? Firle: My hope is that Milwaukee becomes as great as it once was. I grew up in Bay View and remember when thousands of blue collar jobs disappeared due to shut downs and companies relocating. It was devastating and caused a chain reaction of smaller businesses to close as well. However, we’ve come a long way since then and I believe our Midwest hard-working values helped us out of those dark days. Milwaukee has a lot to offer between the neighborhood associations, the area BIDS and local businesses. I believe in getting out and supporting them as often as you can. Get involved, volunteer, try to make a difference and spread the love. We all need support now and then and being helpful when you’re able is what ties us all together. OnMilwaukee / Too Much Metal: When / how did you fall in love with Milwaukee? Firle: I was born and raised here and always had Milwaukee pride but it wasn’t until I got a little older that I began respecting what we actually have here. The people are what make a city great and I believe we have some pretty cool peeps here. OnMilwaukee / Too Much Metal: Why do you do what you do? Firle: I love socializing, doing community work and trying to make a difference. Growing up my family struggled and there were a few neighbors who really helped us out and made a difference in our lives. I would like to hope I can spread some positive vibes to help others out too. Smiling can be infectious and is what drives me to keep on keeping on. I also started Taco Fest. I would contract a taco truck to cater my birthday party and I figured that everyone can donate for a great […]
Dec 27th, 2015 by Dave Reid
Milwaukee County hires new airport director from private sector
Milwaukee County has hired a new director for General Mitchell International Airport eight months after the prior airport chief abruptly resigned. Ismael Bonilla, the chief business development officer at Hi-Lite Airfield Services in Jacksonville, Fla., will start as the new director on Feb. 1. Bonilla currently oversees business development for the airfield and runway maintenance company’s operations in the U.S., Latin America and the Middle East. Bonilla’s recruitment from the private sector strays from the typical career path of airport directors, who often climb the ranks of progressively larger public airports. Bonilla, who goes by “Izzy” on his LinkedIn profile, will take the helm of an airport working to reinvent itself as a top regional hub after the almost complete departure of Frontier Airlines in 2012. “In Ismael, we have found a director with the right combination of airport leadership experience, passion for the aviation industry and a broad network of industry connections that will build on Mitchell International’s strength as the gateway to Wisconsin and northern Chicago,” Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele said. “I know Ismael shares Milwaukee County’s mission to think big in everything we do, and I’m confident his leadership will be a huge asset in making GMIA even more successful.” Milwaukee County’s extensive search for a new airport director started when former director Terry Slaybaugh left after only four months. Bonilla was not one of the original candidates for the position when Slaybaugh was hired. Brian Dranzik, Milwaukee County director of transportation, managed day-to-day airport operations during the search. Bonilla’s career spans both public and private sectors, including 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and senior leadership positions at airports in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Fort Lauderdale; and Santiago, Chile. Earlier this year Abele identified a few priorities he hopes the next director will tackle, including growing the freight business, evaluating centralizing security and reconfiguring international arrivals and departures.
Dec 23rd, 2015 by Dave Reid
State Supreme Court suspends law license of Gerald Boyle
Prominent Milwaukee lawyer Gerald Boyle may have lost his last big case Wednesday. The Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended the veteran lawyer’s license to practice law for 60 days, rejecting his personal plea that a public reprimand would suffice. In addition, he must take courses in law office management, submit quarterly reports about his office trust accounts for a year and pay nearly $25,000 to the Office of Lawyer Regulation for the costs of its prosecution of ethics complaints against him. While the sanctions might be a road bump for a lawyer in his or her prime, Boyle, 79, had told the court a suspension might effectively end his career. At oral argument to the court in October, Boyle seemed to be trying to cut a deal with the court: If they would not suspend his license, he would retire in 2016. “These are the waning days,” Boyle told the court with a sense of resignation and sadness. “I mean, the time has come.” He sounded different Wednesday when informed of the court’s decision. “I’ll take this,” Boyle said. “It’s like losing a jury trial you thought you’d win.” He said the suspension will not speed his retirement. “I’m not going to be under the gun. I’ll quit when I want to quit. “I haven’t 60 days off in probably ever,” he added. “I’ll take a nice little trip.” A referee found Boyle had committed six violations of the rules of professional conduct. Five involved a prolonged and contentious representation of David Peterson, a Waukesha rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia collector who paid Boyle $65,000 to help him recover payments for fraudulent items he had purchased. One count related to Boyle depositing a $19,000 fee in a criminal case into his operating account, not a client trust account. The OLR said it sought the 60-day suspension in part because Boyle had gotten private reprimands in 2002, 2009 and 2012. Some of those were for similar violations — failing to perform diligently, keep a client informed and to prepare a written fee agreement. Over 53 years of practice, Boyle became one of the best-known criminal defense attorneys in Wisconsin. He garnered national attention representing Milwaukee serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. His defense of former Green Bay Packer Mark Chmura also generated massive news coverage. He defended John Maloney, a Green Bay arson detective convicted of killing his wife and setting fire to her body. Boyle famously won a $24.7 million verdict for a fired Miller Brewing executive in what came to be known as “the Seinfeld case.” Jerold Mackenzie had been fired in 1993 after a female co-worker complained that he had discussed a “Seinfeld” episode that made jokes about a female organ. He sued Miller and won the big award. On Boyle’s advice, the executive turned down $3 million to settle, and then the award was thrown out on appeal. The client sued Boyle and ultimately settled for $625,000 from Boyle’s insurer. Boyle’s daughter, Bridget Boyle, followed him into the legal profession and […]
Dec 23rd, 2015 by Dave Reid
Whitefish Bay couple charged with health care, food benefits fraud
A Whitefish Bay couple has been charged with fraudulently collecting nearly $115,000 in state health care and food benefits from 2007 to 2014, when one of them was earning about $160,000 a year. Authorities say Mary Carini-Gallagher, 51, and Todd Schaller, 52, repeatedly misled the state Department of Health Services about their joint finances and living arrangement. State officials didn’t spot the alleged fraud, even after the couple and their home were featured in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel “At Home With” feature story in 2012. That didn’t happen until someone sent the Office of Inspector General an anonymous letter in July 2014. Carini-Gallagher faces counts of public assistance fraud, collecting benefits and failing to disclose events affecting eligibility. Each is punishable by up to five years in prison. Schaller faces two counts of conspiracy to commit public assistance fraud and a single count of getting less than $2,000 in public assistance benefits by fraud. The first two carry the five-year maximum sentence, and the third count has a maximum prison term of 18 months. Both were charged Friday and made their first court appearances Tuesday. Court Commissioner David Sweet released both on $1,500 signature bonds and set preliminary hearings for Jan. 22. According to the criminal complaint: Investigators raided the couple’s home in the 5900 block of Santa Monica Blvd. in March. At that time, investigators found several records indicating the couple had resided together since 2007. Each had children from previous marriages, and one child together. Carini-Gallagher had initially qualified for and received public assistance. But when she moved in with Schaller, who was an executive at a concrete company, she failed to inform the DHS about her change in circumstances, time after time, even after the couple bought the house in Whitefish Bay in 2009. Carini-Gallagher also claimed to DHS that one of her daughters was still living with her when the daughter was, in fact, living and studying in Thailand. In January 2013, Schaller applied for food stamps for himself, listing his two older children as part of his household, though they resided with their mother, while omitting that he lived with Carini-Gallagher, her children, and the couple’s own daughter. Four days before he applied, Schaller had gotten a $53,369 severance check from VCNA Prairie Material, a major supplier of mixed concrete in the area. While detectives were in her home serving the search warrant in March, Carini-Gallagher first said she had just skimmed the various public benefit forms and didn’t realize she was supposed to report her change in household. But she later admitted intentionally misleading the state about her true situation to continue getting the extra money. Carini-Gallagher “stated that being a mother was what she was born to do and that she falsified the information to DHS so she could stay at home with her children.” The 2009 purchase price on the 2,300-square-foot, four-bedroom home: $380,000. The current value is estimated at well over $400,000.
Dec 22nd, 2015 by Dave Reid
Safe House founder Dave Baldwin dies
According to a notice in the Milwaukee Journal, Dave Baldwin, founder and long-time operator of Milwaukee’s spy-themed bar and restaurant Safe House, has died. Baldwin – who retired this summer at age 85 after over 50 years running the iconic Milwaukee venue – passed on Sunday, leaving behind a James Bond-filled legacy in the form of passwords, secret doorways and creative cocktails. Because of Baldwin’s retirement, the Safe House was sold to the Marcus Corporation in June. Under its management, the restaurant has seen the beginnings of changes to its menu as well as the introduction of additional craft cocktails and other beverages.
Dec 21st, 2015 by Dave Reid
Grand Avenue sold to local buyer group for $24.5M; new owner to save retail, add new uses
A buyer group led by Milwaukee-based Interstate Parking Co. has purchased The Shops of Grand Avenue for $24.5 million, and is laying plans to retain stores while adding new uses for its vacant spaces, the Milwaukee Business Journal has confirmed. The transaction will mark the first time in a decade that the downtown mall on West Wisconsin Avenue has been locally owned. Over that time, it has shed retailers and been the subject of ongoing discussions of how to revive the key downtown Milwaukee property. The most recent owner is a company led by Alex Levin, a Brooklyn real estate investor who bought Grand Avenue for $16.5 million in November 2014 through an online auction, beating out a local group of community leaders. The shopping mall is a linchpin to the revival of the west side of downtown, Tony Janowiec, principal of Interstate Parking Co., said in an exclusive interview with the Milwaukee Business Journal. Retail will always be a significant part of the property, he said, but a true revival depends on bringing in other, compatible uses, including potentially educational, entertainment or event spaces. “Historically, the community has often responded with, ‘more of the same is a bad idea,’” Janowiec said. “So trying to continue to fill vacant retail with more retail, there’s a lot of experts out there who can tell you why that strategy has been difficult, at best. It has been for a long time. We don’t want to be a group that says we’re trying to do more of the same, because we’re not.” The planned revival has several components for the mall’s parking structure, Plankinton Arcade area and main mall space. The buyers hope to keep existing retailers in the mall while adding new uses. Spaces in the parking structure, which is the most valuable part of the property, will be dedicated to support new development in the surrounding neighborhood. Janowiec assembled a buyer team that includes Chuck Biller, a local developer who was with Williams Development Corp. Janowiec said he’s been friends with Biller for 15 years. Janowiec said he’s been interested in Grand Avenue for five years. Interstate Parking, which owns and manages parking structures and lots, has several Milwaukee properties in the area west of the Milwaukee River, he said. Milwaukee developer Zilber Ltd. is a part owner of Interstate Parking, but will not have direct involvement in the Grand Avenue, Janowiec said. Also involved in the buyer group is Minneapolis-based Hempel Cos., which has several high-rises in that community and brings retail experience through its ownership of shopping centers. The buyer group bought the Grand Avenue as Aggero Group. “It means to add value, in Latin,” Janowiec said of the Aggero name, adding that Biller came up with the idea. Another key player is Milwaukee Development Corp., an affiliate of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. MDC, through its Milwaukee Urban Strategic Investment Corp. affiliate, is providing a needed loan to help buy the mall. Pat O’Brien, president of MDC, […]
Dec 18th, 2015 by Dave Reid
A People on the Move spotlight
Steven Montreal has been named the new dean for the School of Arts and Sciences at Concordia University Wisconsin. Montreal, who has been with the university for 19 years, will begin his new role Jan. 1, 2016. He currently serves as registrar, a position he has held for the past nearly eight years. Prior to that, he served as dean for the School of Adult Education. He answered a few questions for the Milwaukee Business Journal. Hometown: Port Washington Education: Ph.D. in political science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His master’s degree, also in political science, was obtained through Mankato State in Minnesota. What attracted you to this new opportunity:“The chance to work with outstanding faculty to prepare students to make significant contributions to their communities, and to help position Concordia University as a resource for its communities” Thoughts on your position:“The liberal arts comprise a body of knowledge about who we are, how we live, what we are like, what are our aspirations and our failings, what we know and how we know it. I believe that students with a background in the liberal arts are well-equipped for a life of personal and career success, while also carrying out the responsibilities of citizenship in a democratic society.” First job:“Worked on a mink ranch” Career advice:“Embrace the opportunity to learn new things.” Last book read:“How Google Works” by Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg Person you would most like to meet: Abraham Lincoln Family:“Wife, Peggy, and two sons, Will and Aaron” Favorite vacation spot: Yellowstone National Park Most meaningful accomplishment:“Running a marathon” Favorite film:“Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” Likes about Milwaukee:“The museums and the lakefront” What you most like doing in your free time:“Reading, writing and running”
Dec 18th, 2015 by Dave Reid
