Depending on which news sources you follow, Milwaukee is going through either a “renaissance” or a “reinvention.” Or maybe it’s a “reboot” or a “reimagining,” like that crappy Tim Burton version of Planet Of The Apes. However you want to define it, it’s safe to say that Milwaukee is currently building a lot of new shit.
• The future of the Milwaukee streetcar—a.k.a. The Hop—took a slight hit last month when the city failed to secure $20 million in federal funds to extend the route to the Fiserv Forum. But never mind that, because city officials are going ahead with some extensions anyway. According to Mayor Tom Barrett, the city has $20 million of its own available for an extension to the Fiserv, the Wisconsin Center, and, eventually, the Bronzeville neighborhood. That $20 million, however, is strictly a “match” for hoped-for federal money or other funds. Barrett won’t commit to a timetable for the project, but Ald. Robert Bauman says “It’s our goal to have that section done by the end of 2019 or early 2020. It’s only about two and a half blocks.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• Work has begun on the six-story, 144-unit apartment building on the north end of Bay View—a.k.a. where that Hamburger Mary’s used to be. Interesting features of the project include the elimination of a portion of nearby E. Archer Ave., the integration of nearby Zillman Park, and the overall odd shape of the lot. [Urban Milwaukee]
• A Columbus, Ohio-based developer wants to build a 90-unit apartment building—complete with 15,000 square feet of first-floor retail space—near South First Street and East National Avenue in Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighborhood. The project is dubbed Olson Place, and 81 of its units would be priced for low-income families. [BizTimes]
• Speaking of affordable housing, Milwaukee developer Cornelius McClendon wants to convert the old Perlick Corp. refrigerator plant at 3100 W. Meinecke into a 72-unit apartment building, with 58 units set aside for low-income families. [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• Milwaukee Public Library is looking for a developer to combine a new, 17,500-square-foot Capitol Library with either apartments, condos, or retail or office space. The new facility will be located within one mile of the library’s current site, 3969 N. 74th St. [Urban Milwaukee]
• Developers Randy Roth and Dennis Klein purchased 27 former Associated Bank and Bank Mutual properties in Wisconsin last year, and are now looking to fill the vacant one at 510 E. Wisconsin Ave. in downtown Milwaukee. Plans for renovations and exterior updates are also in the works. [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• Jones Sign Co. of De Pere filed for a sign permit to create a permanent exterior sign for the Fiserv Forum. The sign will be located above the arena’s main entrances, facing the public plaza on the east. Estimated size: 21 feet wide by nearly 6 feet tall. Estimated cost: $45,000. [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• WUWM has a list of the top 5 developments coming to downtown Milwaukee in 2019. [WUWM]
• Every time we read this headline, “Big-time disassembly hits stride at Bradley Center,” we can’t help but here Björk singing “Biiiig time / Disassembly!” [Milwaukee Business Journal]