Department of City Development

Downtown TIF Will Bail Out Three Districts

City increasingly using downtown revenue to support ailing neighborhoods.

City Launches Business Restart Grants

Businesses with $2 million or less in revenue can apply for $20 million grant program.

Is A Couture Deal Finally Coming?

City officials say it is, while Ald. Bauman pushes city to separate streetcar from project.

Resources for Homeowners During the Pandemic

These resources can help you with critical repairs to your home.

City To Furlough, Cut Hours For 750 Employees

Revenue down $27 million in pandemic and city forced to make cuts.

Common Council President Cavalier Johnson announces 2020-2024 committee assignments

Affordable Housing Redevelopment for 37th Street School Gets City Funding

Plus: City assessments top 2008 values for the first time.

24 Groups Win Healthy Food Grants From City

New grant program focused on increasing access to, providing education on healthy foods.

City Housing Program Targets Emerging Developers

MERI 2.0 intended to create jobs, train developers and rehab tax-foreclosed homes.

Boarded Up Businesses Appear Across Milwaukee

Modern furniture store, a grocery store and gas stations are all covered in plywood.

Inside Milwaukee’s Vote Counting Operation

Over 200 workers sort, count and process thousands of ballots in a downtown office building.

Council Overrides Mayor’s Veto

Should Friends of Housing contract be terminated? Did mayor violate attorney-client privilege or council violate city charter?

Donut Shop Planned for 41st and North

Fred Chambers grew up in neighborhood, plans to revitalize vacant building.

River One Rises Over Harbor District

Michels' new office building hits the heights.

National Ave. Affordable Housing Moves Forward

But is it ugly? Committee debates design of Thirteen31 building at 13th and National.

Rexnord’s Secret Headquarters

Company is moving HQ downtown, but still hasn't publicly announced deal.

City Selling “Prime” E. North Ave Site

Seeks developer for Riverwest site that could host affordable housing.

World’s Tallest Timber Tower Gets First Okay

City Plan Commission approves increase in Ascent's height to 25 floors.

Commission Okays Rezoning for Wantable

Company to double in size, add public cafe to new Walker's Point headquarters.

UWM Gets Okay to Partially Demolish Columbia Hospital

Plus: Council could delay convention center expansion, MSOE expanding nursing facilities.

Perez Leads Termination of Friends of Housing Contract

Frustrated by nuisance properties, Alderman takes aim at organization's city contracts.

Emergency Housing Program Stalls

Proposal for 10 homes for those at-risk could face funding gap, other issues.

Developers Must Monitor Homes on Hold

Under new policy, developers must watchdog city-owned homes held for them to buy.

What To Do About Century City?

Bailout needed; what's the impact of losing Strauss or trying to start a hemp farm?

Safe & Sound Announces New Executive Director

Joe’Mar Hooper brings leadership experience, local ties, and passion for community to his new role

Cathedral Square Improvements, Century City Bailout Get First Approval

$16 million plan would repay debt, improve park, rebuild streets.

Goll Mansion Site for Sale

Plus: A full week of real estate news.

City Using Downtown TIFs to Bail Out Century City

Overperforming downtown development districts will repay debt used to create Century City business park.

Neighbors React to New East Side Apartment Building

Meeting attendees offer feedback on renderings, ask who secret developers are.

Brew City Match Announces Second Round of Competition

Entrepreneurs and Commercial Property Owners are Invited to Apply

Design of Brady Street Building Approved

Bucks guard Pat Connaughton's proposed building sails through historic commission.

10,000 Affordable Homes Effort On Track

Two years into it, mayor's initiative driven by new houses, home repairs, home sales.

Tracking Four Downtown Tower Proposals

Real estate news from Walker's Point, the East Side and Near West Side caps a busy week.

City, Partners Creating 13th Street Plan

Effort will focus on charting future of Crisol Corridor.

Is This Good Urban Design?

Alderman objects to car-centric layout of proposed south side grocery store.

Bucks Player to Buy City Lot for $105,000

Mixed-use building on Brady Street will be Bucks guard Pat Connaughton's second Milwaukee project.

27 Apartments Planned Near Marquette

Plus: MU plans new business school, Rivecca brothers buy out disgraced Ganos, Abele gives $300,000 to new project.

Healthy Food for the Central City

Project championed by Ald. Rainey seeks partners, offers $400,000 in grants.

Is Tire Disposal Fee Causing Illegal Dumping?

Council wants data, raises concerns.

Hoping for a 50-Story Lakefront Tower?

City consolidates land parcels, Rinka envisions tower, but no development imminent.

Apartment Building Planned for King Drive

More development happening near new home of Bader Philanthropies.

Downtown House Being Deconstructed For Apartments

Plus: City planning third cruise ship dock

City Plans 2nd Round of Housing Rehab

MERI 2.0 to sell homes for $1 and developers must hire under- or unemployed workers.

Crane Added to City Plan Commission

Menomonee Valley Partners deputy Catrina Crane has long worked on economic development.

Lakefront Tower Loses A Few Floors

Plus: Northridge Mall trial starts, Foxconn bailing on project could cause up to $120 million state bailout.

A New Design Vision for Villard Avenue

UW-Milwaukee will lead design charette to envision future of commercial corridor.

“Catalytic” West Side Project Coming?

Committee okays vacating two alleys, hoping 27th and Wisconsin site attracts state office building.

500 Media Members Get DNC Preview

Officials host national media for first look at city and convention venues.

Urban Farm Planned for Near West Side

Plus: A trio downtown buildings change hands, including one that contained Trio.

Meet HQ501

Scott Lurie, in partnership with RINKA, unveils renderings for redeveloped Assurant building.

Can Downtown Boom Boost Poorer Areas?

Airbnb tax, mentorship program, other proposals suggested to boost investment elsewhere.

See The Canstruction of Local Landmarks

Plus: Associated gives Milwaukee Center new name & upgrades, mass timber building tops off.

City Adjusts Zoning for First Floor Design

More active first floors create more a more activated, walkable city.

Could Strauss Plant Deal Be Revived?

Ald. Johnson working to save deal, Barrett holds out hope, community meeting planned.

Racist Policy? Committee Rejects Hotel Sign

Comfort Suites hotel simply wanted a new sign. Then things got strange.

Still No Deal For The Couture. Yet

Sorry, Mark Belling, deal still isn't quite done, says developer.

Committee Okays Reed Street Yards Fix

Sewer being relocated to accommodate development. But by which company?

40 Affordable Homes for Washington Park

Developer plans to rehab 24 properties, including many duplexes, in one-mile radius.

The “Little Pink Church” is Back

New version of long-gone church part of Lower East Side senior housing complex.

City Targets Scam Artists and Slumlords

Fines doubled to ensure city-repaired bargain homes aren't turned into rentals.

Journal Square Will Be Hundreds of Apartments

Plus: Packed week of affordable housing news, and Cheesehead expansion.

117-Year-Old School Getting Transformed

Developer will turn MPS school he once attended into 40-unit apartment complex.

RACM Okays $3.4 Million Reed Street Yards Fix

New sewers being built to help attract future tenants, possibly Rite-Hite HQ.

Gorman Buying 38 Foreclosed Homes

Developer will convert city-owned homes on North Side to affordable rental housing.

MPS School To Become Apartments

Plus community programming in unused expanded building on far northwest side.

City Subsidy for Schuster’s Project Okayed

$85 million redevelopment of old department store will have prestige tenants.

Admiral’s Wharf Sails Through Committee

City committee okays zoning for 11-story, 133-unit apartment complex in Walker's Point.

Cafe-Cop House Coming to Clarke Square

Unique center is a partnership of city, non-profit Journey House and police department.

Statement on closure of Midtown Starbucks

Statement of Alderman Cavalier Johnson November 15, 2019

The Quiet Plan to Save Grand Avenue

Actually written 10 years ago. Civic leaders discuss how public private partnerships revived Downtown.

Mayor Signs Homeless Proposal on Veterans Day

Development would house up to 48 veterans while providing supportive services.

Council Could Override Zielinski on Bay View Development

Developer Scott Lurie's project is headed towards a vote.

5 Takeaways on Strauss Brands Debacle

Community members talk about lost jobs and what could have been done better.

Council Okays St. Augustine’s $30 Million Plan

One of city's fastest-growing schools plans substantial expansion.

Journal Sentinel Complex Sold

Plus: Badger Mutual moving downtown, Northridge security deal, Lion House has a buyer and much more.

Hamilton Keeping Door Open for Strauss

Council president halts move to officially kill deal. "Let's continue the process," he says.

What’s This Sherman Park Home Worth?

City, prospective buyer have wrangled over price of foreclosed home.

Business Leader Blasts Council on Strauss Deal

Hamilton and council members are to blame for losing hundreds of jobs, Sheehy says.

Lurie’s Bay View Proposal Revived

Plus: MPS unveils new schoolyards, Cambria hotel opens, Athea expanding chemical plant

Who Lost the Strauss Brands Deal?

State Sen. Lena Taylor helped kill a deal bringing hundreds of jobs to depressed Century City area.

City Moves to Close Slumlord Loophole

Low-price city homes for "owner occupants" who turn them into rental properties creates call for reform.

Barrett Blasts Council On Strauss Deal

They let "malarkey" of disinformation campaign kill meat processing plant deal, he charges.

Commission Okays Admiral’s Wharf Project

11-story, 133-unit apartment building planned for S. Water St. along Milwaukee River.

Strauss Deal is Dead

Company pulls plug on $60 million Century City deal after area alderman decides he opposes it.

New Apartments Near Streetcar Line

Plus: Where does the Strauss deal stand? State office building moving forward.

RACM Approves Land Use for Meat Processing Plant

While council stalled financing package, RACM okays land use change affecting Strauss Brands.

RACM Approves Deal for Schuster’s

City TIF payment, up to $15 million, to help finance project to redevelop old department store.

City Selling Properties in Harambee

On Thursday, city will show off three commercial buildings for sale for redevelopment.

Puerto Rican Cafe Opens in Walker Square

Johanna's Cakes & Desserts Cafe offers sweet treats, custom cakes and sandwiches.

NBA Player Plans Downtown Apartments

Big week in real estate with Couture taxes, Strauss, Marchese, Airbnb, Scott Lurie and more making headlines.

59 Winning Businesses in Brew City Match

92 percent are run by entrepreneurs of color, 80 percent owned by women.

Healthy Meat Market Coming to N. 22nd St.

Carl Wesley will transform vacant building with Fresh 2 Fork concept.

The State of TIF in Milwaukee

City has $1.8 billion in incremental value in TIF districts, but do they raise taxes?

V. Marchese Acquiring More Land for Expansion

Company buying former railroad spur for 50,000-square-foot expansion.

Deconstruction Program Expected to Restart Next Week

Contractor will start after months of delays.

Committee Approves $60 Million Century City Deal

City would give the Strauss Brands up to $4.5 million if it creates 500 jobs.

Tent City Being Evicted

Plus: A packed week of real estate news, including the Schuster's project moving forward.

City Contributing Up To $15 Million to Schuster’s Project

Financing will support $84 million project for Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Medical College of Wisconsin.

Couture Streetcar Extension Decision Pushed to June 2020

"We look like complete fools," says Bauman as Marcoux expresses confidence in project.

Developer Assembling Land for Ikon Hotel

Kalan Haywood confirms hotel won't be open by DNC.