Joel Lee

Former Downer Chancery To Be Renovated For New Tenants

SereniTea would occupy half of space, which will be reconfigured in line with its original design.

Adams Hotel Dispute Triggers Lawsuit

Plus: Batttlebox Studios running crowdfunding campaign

More Apartments for Downer Avenue

New owner converting office space into 13 units.

Downtown Building Stripped To Its Core

Adams Hotel will initially include 11 rooms in 100-year-old building.

Demolition Underway for Adams Hotel

Plus: DCD gets new leadership team

Investor Buys Signature Downer Ave Properties

Seattle firm acquires much of East Side commercial corridor, including Downer Theatre building.

Downtown Building Getting Overhauled

Plus: More apartments for former Grand Avenue Mall.

Kopmeier Building Saw History Made

American Family Insurance to redevelop building that had nationally unique, integrated WPA program.

Bucks Player Plans Brady Street Building

Plus: American Family announces plans, Mount Mary plans new housing, buildings change hands.

American Family Unveils Downtown Office Plan

Insurance company to redevelop century-old Mandel Graphics building near Fiserv Forum.

American Family and MB Acquisition, LLC enter a joint venture to revitalize Mandel building in Milwaukee

Building will be renovated and expanded for 400 employees in variety of roles

Sugar Maple Was Once A Bank

And a post office! Now it's a beer lover's paradise, with more than 60 rotating taps.

Historic Building to Become Boutique Hotel

Plus: Soldiers Home redevelopment on pause, coworking company buys building on streetcar route

Contribution to Tony Zielinski of $5,000

Contribution to Tony Zielinski of $1,000

Contribution to Tony Zielinski of $780

Design By Committee

Or how Ald. Kovac and the Historic Preservation Commission bedevil architects.

Contribution to Tony Zielinski of $250

Contribution to Robert Donovan of $100

Contribution to Michael Murphy of $150

Contribution to Shannan Hayden of $150

Contribution to Shannan Hayden of $150

Contribution to Robert Donovan of $250

Contribution to Chris Wiken of $100

Contribution to Mark Borkowski of $150

Judge approves Downer Ave. theater, stores foreclosure sale

Contribution to Terry Witkowski of $100

Will Historic Building in Third Ward Be Saved?

Third Ward review board defers decision on Historic Designation. And Milwaukee now has a Croatian sister city.

Downer Avenue Stalled by Joel Lee?

City officials meet with neighbors about Downer Avenue, a thriving retail strip with one huge problem: Landlord Joel Lee's foreclosed properties.

Contribution to Robert Bauman of $100

Contribution to José G. Pérez of $100

Contribution to Robert Bauman of $100

Does Downer Avenue Need a Tax Subsidy?

Developer Joel Lee claims the buzzing retail strip needs help from the city.

Goodbye Faye McBeath Foundation

The foundation created by a Milwaukee Journal heir gave untold millions to local causes since 1960s, but will spend its final assets this year.

Ryan Braun’s High-Rise Home Base

His 21st floor downtown condo is pricey, but dirt cheap compared to his second home in Malibu.

Jim Wiechmann’s Gothic Mansion

The real estate tycoon and owner of Stevens Point Brewery has one of the grandest mansions in town.

Herb Kohl’s Arena Commitment, The Second Downtown Strip Club, Northwestern Mutual’s New Downtown Building, and More

This week's Eyes on Milwaukee column explores Herb Kohl's commitment to a new arena, the idea of another downtown strip club, Northwestern Mutual's potential new downtown building, and a whole lot more.

Sales Tax, Bradley Center Transportation, The Moderne, and More

Welcome to the third installment of Eyes on Milwaukee. This week we take a look at Milwaukee's sales tax rate compared to other major cities, the Bradley Center's new transportation option, UWM's continued insistence on growing parking subsidies, and a whole lot of development news.

Washington Square Office Tower Renderings

Godfrey & Kahn could soon anchor a 22-story class A office tower, known as Washington Square, in downtown Milwaukee.

Downer Avenue Development Project Heats Up Again

This past Monday night a public meeting was held to discuss possible streetscape improvements to Downer Avenue.

Common Council Expands BID Board

To begin the proceedings Don Smiley the CEO of Summerfest gave a presentation regarding this year’s Summerfest during which he pointed out two items of interest. First, they have demolished the Harley Davidson Roadhouse and constructed a new stage that will open on June 26th. They’ve opened up that stage to the lakeside and created a 3,000 square foot deck so the general public at large can enjoy the lake front while enjoying the music. Secondly, Smiley made it clear that part of Summerfest’s marketing would be to tie the marketing to the City of Milwaukee. These improvements should be applauded and hopefully Summerfest will continue to improve the grounds and connection with the City of Milwaukee. The first items taken up at the Common Council meeting were to complete unfinished business from the previous cycle. Although all five appointments had been held at the encouragement of Alderman Nik Kovac specifically included in this was the appointments of Boris Gokhman and Joel Lee to BID #41. The delay provided time to expand the board from five to seven members and with the history between New Land Enterprises and Alderman Kovac it at least gives the appearance that this board expansion was done to dilute the influence that New Land Enterprises may have on BID #41. The Common Council also approved resolution 080121 which would accept funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar America Cities 2008 grant. The City of Milwaukee is one of twelve cities selected for this grant which will be used to provide training for solar panel installation and funds for educational materials to help promote solar technologies. Alderman Tony Zielinski sponsored and encouraged these efforts and it is clear this is just the beggining of his attempts to “green” the City of Milwaukee.

Committtee Approves North End’s Job Training Plan

Dick Lincoln from the Mandel Group presented resolution 071618 which is the job training program portion of The North End development that receives funding from TIF No. 48. He explained that it would be “a little bit different than traditional workforce development” in that in focuses more on mentoring and coaching of emerging businesses to “take them to the next level.” Specifically, the program will help emerging business develop business and management skills so these firms can enter into larger contracts and participate in The North End project. This resolution was approved by the committee and will go before the full Common Council. Resolution 080209 changed the operating plan and structure of Business Improvement District No. 41 which represents the Downer Avenue business district. The changes would enlarged the board from five to seven members and it would adjust various line items within the proposed operating plan to allow the BID greater flexibility in their future operations. Although this resolution seems inoucous enough it gives the appearance as though these changes are connected to New Lan Enterprises’ controvsional re-development efforts on Downer Avenue. It appears this way because while Alderman Nik Kovac has worked to expand BID No. 41 both Boris Gokhman and Joel Lee have had their appointments to BID No. 41 held in committee. This resolution was approved by the committee and will go before the full Common Council.

Committee Approves Appointments

The items that stood out the most on the agenda were resolution 071355 and 071358. These resolutions would appoint Joel Lee and Boris Gokhman respectively to the Business Improvement District Board #41. This BID represents Downer Avenue which has been at the center of a continuous development project by New Land Enterprises. These appointments were approved but at May 20th Common Council meeting because the BID intends to rework some details and BID boundaries.

Contribution to Cavalier Johnson of $100