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News&Notes Development News for Dane County and WisconsinProvided
by: Development
News Economic Growth Beats Forecast Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - Business growth slowed to a 2.2 percent pace in the late summer, a much better performance than anticipated and an encouraging sign that the housing slump hasn't been too much of a drag on the economy. The upgraded reading on gross domestic product, released by the Commerce Department today, was considerably stronger than the 1.6 percent growth rate for the July-to-September quarter that had been estimated a month ago… 2007 United States Senior Open Championship - July 2-8, 2007, Straits course at Whistling Straits. This holiday season, Destination Kohler and the 2007 U.S. Senior Open are offering the perfect gift idea for golf enthusiasts… Editors
Note: I am available the entire week…
Creativity and Computers Combined - Scott Ruttencutter and IQ Foundry Scott Ruttencutter sits behind a wall of shelves that hold robots and other high-tech toys. As I walk past a soda machine, a pool table and other assorted gadgets his dog Moka prances over seeking attention. This is what is known as a creative environment!… Fitchburg project is built to last WED., NOV 29, 2006 - When Bill Linton decided to build Fitchburg Town Center, the last thing he wanted was a slapdash structure that would be obsolete in a decade or two. Linton, owner of Promega, was inspired by his travels to Europe, where building life spans are much longer than in the U.S. "My parents bought a place in Switzerland that's expected to be around for 300 to 400 years," he said. "It's a different view of how structures become part of a community."… Sanders to head venture to attract funding THU., NOV 30, 2006 - Henry Sanders Jr. will lead Hamilton.gsp, a joint venture that says it will bring more government dollars to Wisconsin's bioscience and technology companies. Hamilton.gsp, 10 E. Doty, is a collaboration between Madison's Hamilton Consulting Group - one of the state's largest lobbying firms - and GSP Consulting… County Panel Stops Developer In Arboretum Thursday, November 30, 2006 - A contentious development near the UW Arboretum was dealt a setback Wednesday night when a zoning decision was overturned. The Dane County Board of Adjustment voted 3-2 to overturn an interpretation of the county's zoning laws. The action essentially blocks a developer from building two houses and expanding an existing home at the intersection of Arboretum Drive and Arboretum Lane. The developer, Darren Kittleson… Wall-to-wall Wal-marts - 14 Supercenters In Place, In Works In The Region Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - Stoughton is one step closer to being the next area community to have a Wal-Mart Supercenter. Tuesday night, the Stoughton City Council approved a detailed plan near U.S. 51 and County B for a 185-acre neighborhood that is proposed to include 410 duplex and single-family homes, senior and multi-family housing, a large park and a commercial area anchored by a Supercenter. The vote in Stoughton Tuesday night was 10-2… The Hills Will Be Alive - Sound Of Music' Sing-along To Close Hilldale Theatre Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - But rather than close quietly, the beloved 40-year-old movie house will go out with a song. Patrons of the theater at the Hilldale Shopping Center can sing with Julie Andrews and the von Trapps Dec. 15, 16 and 17 with a special showing of the "Sing-Along Sound of Music." The final show is a rare opportunity to see this interactive version of the 1965 Rodgers and Hammerstein classic that opened the beloved theater in 1966 on the big screen. "I think it's better to go out with a bang rather than a whimper,"… Animal-rights activists win primate museum suit TUE., NOV 28, 2006 - A Dane County judge said Monday that the law is on the side of animal-rights activists who want to buy buildings next to the UW-Madison's primate labs and open a museum highlighting the cruelty they say happens at the labs. Budget Bicycle owner Roger Charly, who owns the property, cannot back out of an agreement he made to sell it to Dr. Richard McLellan, a retired California physician who is bankrolling the $675,000… What is the role of business incubation in the creative economy? November 28, 2006 - Common Wealth Development Newsletter - Marianne Morton, Executive Director, of Common Wealth Development addressed this timely question in her presentation at the Wisconsin Economic Development Association’s annual conference held in LaCrosse on October 6. Entrepreneurs are key drivers in the creative economy. They are super creative risk takers and… City looks at $4.5 million to save Cherokee marsh TUE., NOV 28, 2006 - To the delight of environmentalists, Madison and others may spend up to $4.5 million to buy land and property rights to protect Dane County's largest marsh. The move, among the more costly and larger parks initiatives in recent city history, would scale back a major development and help preserve an "Eden" of natural area near Cherokee Lake on the North Side, city parks Superintendent Jim Morgan said. "It is a very big deal,"… THU., NOV 30, 2006 - CUNA Mutual Group wants to shift regulation of its insurance functions to Iowa, a move that would more easily allow it to become a public company or create a mutual holding company. The Madison-based company filed an application last month with the Wisconsin insurance commissioner to merge two insurance entities and register them in Waverly, Iowa, where CUNA Mutual has 590 employees. CUNA Mutual, which provides insurance and financial services to credit unions worldwide, has completed the first year of a three-year transformation plan that involves reorganizing back-office operations, revamping its sales force and better managing its investments. About 650 employees have lost their jobs over the past year. The company has 2,150 Madison employees… J.T. Puffin's: Store's toys run on imagination THU., NOV 30, 2006 - J.T. Puffin's is a testament of a parent's love for a child. Owner Chuck Susmilch said he decided to open his toy shop 24 years ago while looking to buy his daughter, Jenny Goodlund, her favorite stickers. In 1981 Susmilch had just finished his postdoctoral work in sociology at UW-Madison. He hoped to start a business that would allow him to stay in Madison and have some fun in the process. A toy shop turned out to be the perfect fit… Madison/Villager Mall redevelopment Top Job - Bids Wanted December 1, 2006 - Project: Villager Mall redevelopment, Madison request for qualifications for architectural design, site planning and cost estimating services for the development of the Villager. Bids Due: Accepting qualification statements until 4 p.m. Dec. 22 - Owner: Madison Department of Planning & Development, Madison… Around
The State Governor
unveils $750 million plan
for biotech - $375 million research institute is centerpiece Nov.
17, 2004 - Madison - Gov. Jim Doyle announced plans Wednesday
for a $375 million institute for stem cell and other
biomedical research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
campus. The institute is part of a nearly $750 million plan to
bolster the state's position in the growing biotech field. The
institute will be financed over 10 years with state and
private money. Doyle, speaking at a news conference in a
UW-Madison laboratory crowded with scientists and politicians,
also outlined a strategy for keeping Wisconsin's research
competitive. The plan includes changing state laws to make it
easier for faculty to be entrepreneurs and committing $1.5
million a year of state money to Alzheimer's research. The
moves are necessary, Doyle said, because thousands of
potential jobs are at stake, which is why he wants to have an
"aggressive and comprehensive strategy." The
governor said Wisconsin has invested more than $1 billion over
the last 15 years in high-tech facilities… Posted:
Nov. 29, 2006 - A $29 million city financing package to help
convert the former Pabst brewery into housing, offices and
retail space was endorsed Tuesday by a key Common Council
committee. The Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee
voted 5-0 to recommend that the full council approve the
proposal at its Dec. 12 meeting. The city funds would help
Milwaukee real estate investor Joseph Zilber redevelop the
former downtown brewery, which closed in 1996. Meanwhile, the
committee delayed acting on a separate plan to provide $8.2
million in city funds for a housing development planned just
north of downtown, overlooking the Milwaukee River. Committee
members praised that Mandel Group Inc. project, known as The
North End. But they voted to hold the matter until receiving a
report from the city comptroller's office on that financing
plan. The committee plans to meet again on Dec. 11… Posted
December 1, 2006 - The Milwaukee 7 group meets in We
Energies’ headquarters in Milwaukee to adopt a new code of
ethics. The group, with Journal Communications CEO Steve Smith
and M&I Bank CEO Dennis Kuester as chairmen, includes
election officials and business representatives from seven
southeastern Wisconsin counties: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee,
Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha. The Milwaukee 7
regional economic development council adopted a formal code of
ethics and promised to play nice when wooing businesses
considering moving into the area. The M7 council is intended
to organize development efforts in Wisconsin’s seven
southeastern counties, and resembles similar organizations
that … Looking
ahead as one - Milwaukee 7 members sign pact to work together
for region's greater good Posted:
Nov. 29, 2006 - On paper at least, the seven politically
fractured counties of southeastern Wisconsin on Wednesday
night took a big stride from parochialism to globalism.
Representatives sat at a long table, decked out with gold
bunting, and signed a set of protocols that commit their
counties to work cohesively to promote the region as a single
economy to the rest of the world. That means setting aside
urban-suburban governance warfare that dates back to water and
annexation disputes in the 1950s and spilled over into freeway
planning skirmishes in the 1970s and sewer district and
taxation fights in the 1980s and 1990s. Former Milwaukee Mayor
John O. Norquist was fond of glamorizing his city by giving
slide shows of unattractive suburban sights and was forced to
apologize in 1989 for calling the suburbs
"boring."… Region
warned to avoid rivalries - But federal official says
development efforts beat the curve Posted:
Nov. 30, 2006 - Brookfield - A federal administrator said the
Milwaukee area is ahead of the country in regional economic
development efforts, but she warned that longstanding
parochial rivalries stand in the way of progress. Emily Stover
DeRocco, assistant secretary of labor for employment and
training, told a gathering of business, development and civic
leaders Thursday that the local institutions charged with the
education and training of workers need to transform. "In
an era of global competition, many former competitors have a
common economic fate, so they must join together to create a
common economic future," DeRocco said… Group
seeks development credits - Consortium aims for growth in
lower-income areas of region Posted:
Nov. 27, 2006 - Some southeastern Wisconsin communities are
creating a group that will seek federal tax credits to help
finance commercial development in lower-income areas. The new
non-profit organization, the First-Ring Industrial
Redevelopment Enterprise, hopes to seek New Markets Tax
Credits in 2007, said John Stibal, West Allis development
director. West Allis and Kenosha are among the regional
communities that are creating the group, known as FIRE, Stibal
said Monday. The group hopes to obtain credits from the U.S.
Department of Treasury, then make them available to various
developers for projects in targeted areas. New Markets Tax
Credits are provided to developers in Wisconsin through… City
to work with developer on grant proposal - Funds would enable
assessment of brownfield Posted:
Nov. 29, 2006 - OAK CREEK - The Oak Creek Common Council on
Nov. 21 authorized the submittal of a brownfield site
assessment grant application to the Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources for the former Wabash Alloys property, 9100
S. Fifth Ave. The city's resolution is part of an ongoing
effort, supported and encouraged by the DNR, to clean up the
lakefront and allow new developments that fit with ideals
about what the lakefront should become. Since only local
governments can apply for the assessment grants, K2 Capital
Real Estate Development requested the city apply on behalf of
the company. K2 plans to take ownership of the land by early
2007… Aldi
not ready to throw in towel
- Plan Commission recommends plan to accommodate Posted:
Nov. 29, 2006 - SOUTH MILWAUKEE - The Aldi grocery store
planned for the commercial area at 3105-3111 S. Chicago Ave.
came one step closer to reality when the South Milwaukee Plan
Commission recommended a development option to the Common
Council that would allow the store to use the city right of
way on Sherman Avenue. The option was the one preferred by
developer Randy Roth of Endeavor Group, and would require 11th
Avenue to be extended and improved to provide truck access to
the rear of the proposed store. Had this option been shot down
by the commission… Mall
fights back with plan to lure shoppers from Mayfair, Bayshore Posted:
Nov. 30, 2006 - Brookfield Square is booming. New restaurants
and retail stores are popping up at the shopping center at the
corner of Bluemound and Moorland roads, and shoppers have a
handful of new options inside the mall, too. Four new
restaurants and a specialty grocery store will open starting
next spring, and the city hopes they will bring in more
shoppers and more commerce to the city. Dan Ertl, the city's
director of community development, said the new construction
"represents a significant reinvestment at Brookfield
Square that we have promoted for some time." Creating a
new image… Binding
referendum on development-rights purchases urged Posted:
Nov. 28, 2006 - West Bend - Washington County voters should
have the final word on whether to create the state's first
countywide, purchase of development rights program that would
pay willing farmers to not develop agricultural land, the
County Board's Executive Committee recommended Tuesday. When
the 30-member board meets Jan. 9, it will be to decide whether
to place a referendum on the April 3 ballot asking voters
whether they approve of spending "at least $800,000 a
year for 10 years to preserve farmland" by buying
development rights. A majority of committee members
recommended board adoption of two land preservation program
resolutions. One would place the question on the ballot. The
other would bind the board to establish the program if the
public approves the referendum plan… Power
plants help fuel construction in state - Milwaukee center of
growth in commercial projects Posted:
Nov. 27, 2006 - Wisconsin's construction market is having a
heyday powered by power plants and commercial improvements.
"What we're seeing is pretty good activity all around the
board," industry spokesman Mike Fabishak said Monday.
"But the power plants in Oak Creek and Port Washington
threw it into a whole new velocity." His comments
followed a McGraw-Hill report that Wisconsin won $1.1 billion
in new construction contracts in October, a 23% year-over-year
gain. That outlay pushed Badger State construction contracts
near $10.1 billion for 2006, with two months to go, the New
York based industry tracker reported. Wisconsin's 9% spending
gain this year is outpacing that of the nation… Posted:
Nov. 25, 2006 - Back in the roaring '90s, digital luminaries
declared that businesses either go online or out of business.
This week, metro Milwaukee debuts on the Internet. The
Milwaukee 7, a relatively new economic development
organization that spans seven counties, is putting the
finishing touches on www.ChooseMilwaukee.com
, a $200,000 site that's meant to beam flashy graphics and
reams of southeastern Wisconsin data to a global audience of
potential investors and expansion-minded industries. Though it
might be arriving late, it intends to arrive with a splash.
The Web portal is set to go live by Wednesday, in time for the
next quarterly meeting of the M-7's board, and will include a
tool that Milwaukee has never seen before: interactive maps
that zero in on available land, warehouses, offices or
factories, cataloged according to specifications typed in by
companies that might be looking to expand in the Midwest… Residents'
input needed to shape development plan Posted:
Nov. 22, 2006 - More than 28,000 Waukesha County households
were sent a land use survey from the University of Wisconsin
Survey Research Center to obtain critical input from residents
about future development plans… Posted: Nov. 22, 2006 - 3 companies
getting development funds. The state Department of Commerce
announced financing for three projects: • Freedom Plastics
Inc. in Janesville will receive $42,000 in Enterprise
Development Zone tax credits to help with an expansion. The
project is expected to create 14 jobs and generate $3.3
million in new investment. • A&D Machine Inc. of
Redgranite, in Waushara County, received a $42,000 loan from
the Rural Economic Development program. A&D will use the
money to buy equipment and for working capital as part of a
total project valued at $397,000. • Universal Truck
Equipment Inc. in the Town of Trempealeau received a $50,000
Rural Economic Development program loan. It will use the funds
to buy equipment as part of a total expansion project valued
at $826,000… Development
News HAPPY
THANKSGIVING! *Note
November Release on WEDNESDAY the 22nd due to the
Holiday Sheriff Hamblin's Retirement Party Farwell Open House for Sheriff Gary Hamblin's Retirement after 40 years in Law Enforcement Thursday, November 30th, 2006 Monona Terrace Community Terrace 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Home sales plunge in Dane County TUE., NOV 21, 2006 - A statewide decline in existing home sales has affected Dane County and surrounding areas harder than most other parts of the state. The south-central region's 15.1 percent decline in third- quarter sales was deeper than every area of the state except northern Wisconsin, according to a report issued Monday by the Wisconsin Realtors Association. In Dane County, existing home sales plunged 18 percent to 1,991, down from 2,427 during the same quarter last year. The report is the latest indicator… Council Oks Tax Hike Of 3.75 Percent - Increase Fees At Goodman Pool And Add 10 Police Officers. Friday, November 17, 2006 - The Madison City Council late Thursday approved a $210.8 million operating budget for Madison in 2007, a 3.67 percent increase over this year. The budget will increase city property taxes on the average $239,449 home by $62.45, or 3.75 percent, according to Comptroller Dean Brasser. The total amount of property taxes raised will increase by 5.09 percent, he said, more than the 4.84 percent the mayor originally proposed… Foreclosure Rate Is Up In Wisconsin Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - Real estate foreclosures were on the rise in Wisconsin last month, according to a report issued by RealtyTrac, which publishes a national database of foreclosure properties. The state had 679 properties at some stage of foreclosure in October or one for every 3,391 households. That's up 36.4 percent from September and 28.1 percent higher than a year ago… Saturday, November 18, 2006 - Housing construction plunged in October as builders slashed activity to the lowest level in more than six years. Further declines were expected as the five-year housing boom turns into what is being described as a "housing recession." Construction of new single-family homes and apartments dropped 14.6 percent to an annual rate of 1.486 million units, the slowest pace since July 2000… Editors
Note: News and Notes will gladly publish articles or press
releases reflecting positive turns in development in
Wisconsin. In fact in light of the above articles I am
considering offering incentives… anyone need a dozen golf
balls… WED., NOV 22, 2006 - A veteran travel industry executive has been named chairman of the board of Great Wolf Resorts. The Madison company, which owns and operates waterpark resorts, including Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells, announced Tuesday that Joseph V. Vittoria had been elected to the company's board of directors and concurrently was named chairman… Developer To Meet Princeton Neighbors Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - Real estate developer Steve Brown is meeting with the Regent Neighborhood Association Dec. 4 on a proposed redevelopment of the Princeton House site at 1815 University Ave. The Princeton House, formerly a student residence hall, has been closed since June, Brown said Monday. He said a design for the property hasn't been finalized but would involve razing the building. Brown said he hasn't proposed anything to the city because he hasn't met with the neighborhood… North Beltline' Help - City Backs Plan But Offers No $$ Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - The city of Madison will supply staff time but is not committing any money to speed along a long-debated highway bypass around the north side of Lake Mendota. The Madison Plan Commission Monday night approved Madison joining an intergovernmental agreement with Middleton, Waunakee and the towns of Westport and Springfield for a coordinated environmental study of natural resources and farmlands in the potential path of the North Lake Mendota Parkway. But Mayor Dave Cieslewicz is not committing any money… Stones Make Pledge To Help Gilda's Club Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - In an effort to raise money for Gilda's Club Madison, University of Wisconsin women's basketball coach Lisa Stone and her husband, Ed, will donate 25 cents to the organization for every fan who attends the Badgers' game against Minnesota Jan. 28 at the Kohl Center. Officials at Gilda's Club Madison, a non-profit organization that offers emotional and social support to individuals and families touched by cancer, are expected to open their center as early as next year on a site at the Discovery Springs development in Middleton… Old Flavors The New - Samba Grill Brings Hot Brazilian Steakhouse Trend To Town Monday, November 20, 2006 - It will be a landmark restaurant in a landmark building. So says the team that will bring one of the hottest trends in the restaurant industry -- the Brazilian steakhouse -- to one of Madison's most historic buildings -- the Woman's Building at 240 W. Gilman St. When it opens by July after extensive building renovations, Samba Grill will be one of the area's premier restaurants, the team promises. "If you're going to do a new restaurant in Madison, there has to be something about it that is remarkable… MON., NOV 20, 2006 - Marilyn and Arnold Schuett shopped at East Towne Mall last week and found themselves taking a break on a comfortable padded seat. The rest stop at the center of the mall features a series of chairs and benches surrounded by carts offering Chinese back rubs (10 minutes for $12), carved wooden Nativity scenes, jewelry, Christmas ornaments and small bamboo plants. The Schuetts, 74 and 75 respectively, had brought their two girls to the same spot years ago but that was when it bubbled water, snared pennies and served as a meeting spot for separated shoppers. The Waterloo couple miss the fountain… $1 million brass ring offered to women MON., NOV 20, 2006 - A nationwide program to help female-owned businesses become million-dollar companies is kicking off a campaign in Wisconsin. Make Mine a Business is looking for female entrepreneurs statewide who want to reach $1 million in revenue, program founder Nell Merlino will announce today at the Madison Women's Expo, in the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Center. The goal, Merlino said, is "To create highly successful women, learn from them and make sure any woman who wants to travel this path knows what the steps are."… Reinventing Hilldale - Reactions Range Widely To 'urban' Mall Remake Saturday, November 18, 2006 - Love the parking ramps. Hate the parking ramps. Love the new urban feel. Hate the new urban feel. While views differ on the recently completed changes at the Hilldale Shopping Center, most shoppers, neighbors and merchants agree on one thing. They're glad changes were made. "We're happy about the mall being revitalized and everyone is excited about Sundance (Cinema), the Great Dane and having more businesses in the area," said nearby resident Liz Ringle… Metamorphosis - Monroe Street Icon: Change Isn't All Bad Friday, November 17, 2006 - "Oh my gosh, yes, Monroe Street has changed," Hank Reese acknowledges. "But is it really such a bad thing?" It is 10:55 on a recent midweek morning, and the 81-year-old Reese, dapper as ever in a powder blue shirt and beige cardigan sweater, is standing in the same spot where he has spent much of the last 59 years -- behind the cashier counter at Mickie's Dairy Bar, the most popular diner this city has ever known. He is also giving me his own no-holds-barred perspective on the vast transformation that continues to take place in the neighborhood southwest of Camp Randall… Common Sense Drops Director - Michael Quigley Let Go By Board Thursday, November 16, 2006 - The Common Sense Coalition has dismissed its controversial executive director, board member Dan Guerra confirmed this morning. Guerra said the board was concerned over public perceptions that the nonpartisan public policy group, which debuted officially in June 2005, had become too partisan under the leadership of Michael Quigley, who was hired as the group's first executive director in September 2005… Wednesday, November 15, 2006 - The Sun Prairie Plan Commission Oks More Retail Space In A Proposed Development. At a standing-room only meeting Tuesday night, the Sun Prairie Plan Commission approved a developer's request to more than double the retail space in a proposed development on the city's west side. Prairie Development Ltd. will be allowed to request up to 890,000 square feet of retail space for the 130-acre Towne Square project near highways 151 and C, said Sun Prairie Mayor Joe Chase. It would be one of the largest retail developments in recent years in Dane County…. Big box plans pass after bitter debate Anyone who has followed the recent debates over commercial development in Verona could have told you that Monday night’s Common Council meeting was bound to have an emotional discussion. It didn’t disappoint. With the T. Wall Properties concept plan for the 62-acre West End on the same agenda as the Blain’s Farm and Fleet proposal on the east side of town, those for and against the expansion of large-scale commercial development into Verona had plenty to get riled up about.
Around
The State MILWAUKEE - Nov. 21, 2006 - The Department of City Development proposed Tuesday $8.2 million in city financing for a housing and retail development just north of downtown - paving the way for what would be the largest project within Milwaukee's Park East area. The city's funds would help finance Mandel Group Inc.'s $175 million project, known as The North End. The development is planned for 8 acres overlooking the Milwaukee River, on the former Pfister & Vogel tannery site… CB RICHARD ELLIS GROUP, INC. ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE TRAMMELL CROW COMPANY October 31, 2006 -- CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc (NYSE:CBG) today announced that the Company has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Trammell Crow Company for $49.51 per share of common stock in cash. The acquisition will expand CB Richard Ellis’ global leadership and strengthen its ability to provide integrated account management and outsourcing solutions. The transaction is valued at approximately $2.2 billion… Comptroller supports financing Pabst plan - Report could boost project's prospects for approval Posted: Nov. 21, 2006 - The proposed $29 million in city financing assistance for redevelopment of the former Pabst brewery received qualified support Tuesday from Milwaukee Comptroller W. Martin Morics. The report by Morics, the city's chief financial watchdog, could help boost prospects for the Pabst funding plan, which will be reviewed Tuesday by the Common Council's Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee. The financing package requires council approval. Real estate investor Joseph Zilber, who bought the Pabst property in August, has conceptual plans… Milwaukee Redevelopment Authority is Seeking Proposals The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee (RACM) is seeking proposals to redevelop the vacant land at 3701-19 West Vliet Street in the Washington Park neighborhood. The property is near the Harley Davidson Corporate Headquarters and part of the Harley Targeted Investment Neighborhood (TIN), a collaborative effort of the City of Milwaukee, community organizations and the Harley Davidson Company. The TIN has resulted in over $1.0 million in investment towards new or rehabilitated housing and streetscape improvements. The neighborhood has also seen construction of the new Bethune Academy at 35th & Cherry and new housing units to replace the units displaced by the new school… Weas scales back Third Ward hotel project Wauwatosa-based Weas Development Co. has scaled back its proposed hotel development for Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward, and the company hopes to begin construction by March 1. Doug Weas, president of the firm, said the project could be complete by the fall of 2008 or the spring of 2009, he said. The $75 million development would include a 165-room hotel with an 80,000-square-foot health club, a 450-car parking garage and 13,000 square feet of retail space… Water Street hotel to break ground Fort Myers, Fla.-based Development Opportunity Corp. (DOC) plans to break ground during the first or second week of December on a $27 million, 12-story building at the southeast corner of North Water Street and East Juneau Avenue in downtown Milwaukee. The project will include a 125-room Staybridge Suites hotel, 17,000 square feet of retail space and 30 residential condominiums… Friday, November 17, 2006 - "prairie House" In Prairie Du Sac Was Moved Thursday About A Block From The Spot It Had Occupied Since The 1850s. One of this Wisconsin River town's oldest residences, a tiny wooden house dating perhaps to 1851, dodged a condo developer Thursday morning. About 4 a.m., the house was moved from its once prominent spot on Water Street, overlooking both Prairie du Sac's main street on one side and the river on the other, to a less prominent but safer spot a block away… Nov. 21, 2006 - A chain of stores that specializes in selling large quantities to restaurants and other food service operators plans to open a new location in West Milwaukee. The Gordon Food Service Marketplace Store is proposed for the site of the former Fleischmann-Kurth malting facility, 2050-2100 S. Miller Park Way. The 8-acre site was made available after the former grain elevator was demolished this year. Heartland Development Group Ltd., which owns the property, is seeking village zoning approval for the 15,100-square-foot store, said Timothy Freitag, village administrator. Heartland also wants to develop additional retail space for various tenants, Freitag said. Heartland would build 12,000 square feet of additional retail in the project's first phase, he said… Hold on development OK'd - Planners looking ahead to Menards, theater departures Nov. 21, 2006 - Town of Brookfield - Facing the relocation of two key businesses, town supervisors approved a one-year development moratorium Monday night on land near Blue Mound and Barker roads with the goal of redevelopment of the property for mixed use. The land, bounded by Blue Mound on the north, I-94 on the south and Barker Road on the west, has a mix of retail and manufacturing properties. A draft plan from Madison-based Vierbicher Associates, presented to the Town Board and Plan Commission Monday, proposes to redevelop the corner of Barker and Blue Mound as a hotel and restaurant area. Mixed-use office and retail buildings with a residential component would be located to the south and west… Milwaukee's economic development needs help Nov. 18, 2006 - It's more than a little interesting that essentially the same verdict has been returned on the City of Milwaukee's economic development program that was returned recently on the state's economic development efforts - namely, that both lack strategic focus and rigor on job creation. Maybe it's just that auditors in general feel an obligation to highlight deficiencies rather than successes, or they are not doing their jobs. Nonetheless, Milwaukee does have an assortment of economic challenges, so any call to do better on the jobs front has to be taken seriously… Ocean Spray to expand in state - $50 million Wisconsin Rapids plant spurred by Craisins demand Nov. 18, 2006 - Ocean Spray will build a $50 million production plant in Wisconsin Rapids that the company needs to keep up with consumer demand for Craisins, Ocean Spray's brand name for sweetened dried cranberries. The 100,000-square-foot building is scheduled to be finished by September 2008 at the site of Ocean Spray's existing facility in Wisconsin Rapids, the former Northland Cranberry plant. Ocean Spray, a cooperative owned by 700 growers, is based in Massachusetts. The new plant is expected to create … Fond
du Lac Reporter. $26.1M (Fond
du Lac) city budget gets stamp of approval. Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel. State budget short
$1.6 billion.
Development
News *Note
November Releases will be on WEDNESDAY Evenings the 15th
and 22nd due to Holiday Developer's bankruptcy leaves investors, tenants in the lurch SEE NOTE BELOW In what appears the biggest Madison real estate scandal in years, a prominent development firm has collapsed amid a market downturn - leaving a trail of creditors, tax bills and disgruntled investors from Green Bay to Dallas. Professional Realty and Development Corp. of Middleton, which has developed hundreds of senior housing and market-rate units in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa, is seeking bankruptcy protection for one venture in Appleton and has left another major project half-completed in downtown Kenosha. The firm, owned by longtime Madison architect Robert Niebauer, also recently backed out of a proposed condominium project in Monona and is facing a lawsuit from investors… Developer Faces Financial Trouble SEE NOTE BELOW Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - Professional Realty and Development Corp. of Middleton, which has developed Angelus retirement communities in Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois as well as other apartment and condominium projects, faces foreclosure on projects in Appleton and Nekoosa…. Editors Note: I had a chance to talk with a representative of Professional Realty and Development Corp. and they would like to point out that – “No bankruptcy has been filed by Robert Niebauer, or any entities in which he has an interest. No plan exists at this time to file bankruptcy. Mr. Niebauer is devoting extensive time and effort to resolve any and all financial issues in a manner that is least detrimental to all interested parties. Richmond Terrace, a retail and residential property in Appleton, Wisconsin is currently the subject of a foreclosure action. In a spirit of cooperation to maintain the value of the property, the lender and owner (an entity in which Niebauer has an interest) entered into an agreement to appoint a receiver pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 128, rather than pursuant to the foreclosure statute. The benefit to the parties with interests in this property is that a Chapter 128 receiver has an obligation to protect all parties who have an interest in the property. A typical receiver appointed in a foreclosure action only has an obligation to the lender. Niebauer continues to work with the lender, receiver, City of Appleton, and all interested investors to obtain a maximum value for the property. A retirement facility in Nekoosa, Wisconsin is also subject to a foreclosure action. Again, Niebauer cooperated with the lender and agreed to appoint as receiver a management company chosen by the lender. The new management company is the same company that managed the property in the past. The health and welfare of the residents is in no way at risk. Niebauer remains committed to ensuring the comfort and safety of all residents at this property and all properties in which he has an interest. Professional Realty Development Corp. (PRDC) is an entity that was involved in the construction of projects and management of projects involving apartments and condominiums. PRDC's debt is less than $2 million, and PRDC is working to resolve those debts. Any reduction of Niebauer's interest in any project did not limit any responsibility of debt by Niebauer. Niebauer's interest was reduced only by sale of that interest to investors. Niebauer has held meetings for each project subject to defaults or upon request of investors. All investors are invited and their comments and suggestions are encouraged. Niebauer is faced with a market in which construction costs have increased and condominium sales and demand for retail space has decreased. In spite of these difficulties, Niebauer continues to work diligently to resolve these financial issues.” – It seems there is more to the story and I will do my best to keep you up to date. Ken Harwood Students develop plan to rehabilitate Monona Bay WED., NOV 15, 2006 - Few bodies of water in Madison are more emblematic of the city's impact on its lakes and streams than busy, weed- choked, pavement-bound Monona Bay. On Thursday, the students will present the findings of a summer long study they conducted of the bay and its problems as part of the 2006 Water Resources Management Workshop of UW-Madison's Nelson Institute. Students from fields as diverse as land use planning and civil engineering work together to intensively study a contemporary problem in water resources… Finding a downtown grocer no easy task November 14, 2006 - There's more cheap wine than parking at the new Trader Joe's on Monroe Street. Or, as Yogi Berra once said: "The place is so popular nobody goes there anymore." But what about a long-awaited new grocery store in downtown Madison? Developer Cliff Fisher has 20,000 square feet of space reserved in Phase II of Metropolitan Place on the 300 block of West Mifflin Street for a grocery. The only thing missing is a grocer. "We're still talking with several different operators," said Fisher… Editors Note: Story(s) not posted at time of News and Notes release check this link for latest updates…SBT launches real estate news bulletin Wednesday, November 15, 2006 - Small Business Times launched the BizTimes Real Estate Weekly bulletin this morning to subscribers of the BizTimes Daily. The free weekly bulletin features exclusive news about southeastern Wisconsin's commercial and residential real estate industries. The bulletin also profiles the people and events shaping the local real estate scene… Editors Note: Imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery… Andrew you owe me lunch and of course 3%… You may want to add these to your real estate resources list:
“Our job is marketing outside Wisconsin to attract new businesses, jobs and increased economic activity to the state.”
www.PropertyDrive.com Property Drive
“Commercial
Real Estate Listing Service serving Wisconsin and beyond.”
www.WisconsinDevelopment.com Wisconsin Development News
“Wisconsin’s
original real estate development news source!” Development Doesn't Match Land Use Plan In Cross Plains Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - Residents learned more about a proposed residential development that would run contrary to the town's land use standards for development density at a public hearing here Monday night. The proposed development would be carved out of 337 acres of land near Mineral Point Road and Timber Lane bordering Ice Age National Scientific Reserve land. Developer Janice Faga said she is working with the National Park Service to sell about half of the acreage. The other half would be put into residential development of lot sizes of 2 to 3 1/2 acres each, Faga said… Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - The City Council Starts Considering The Mayor's Proposed Budget Tonight. The Madison City Council tonight starts chewing on Mayor Dave Cieslewicz's proposed $209.5 million budget for next year. In an atmosphere predicted to be more collegial than last year's, the council will start considering the mayor's budget at 6:30 p.m. with public hearings. Wednesday and Thursday nights have also been set aside for budget considerations, if necessary… Residents Decry New Retail Plan - Sun Prairie Will Be Asked To Add Stores, Reduce Housing Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - When residents here helped form a development plan for a 2,600-acre parcel of Sun Prairie's west side, they said one heavily traveled area should be a mix of retail, housing, office space and parkland. Tonight, a developer is scheduled to ask the city's Plan Commission to change that 2003 development plan for the 130-acre Towne Square project near Highway 151. The changes would make it primarily retail Sunday, November 12, 2006 - Twenty-seven Units At Mccomb Place Sit Above Businesses At Highways 51 And 138 In Stoughton. When a prime piece of property went up for sale at the Highway 51 entrance to Stoughton, Steve Forrer jumped at the chance to buy it. A native of Stoughton, Forrer figured he knew what the growing community needed. He built a mixed-use building with 13,000 square feet of commercial space on the first floor and 27 condominium units on the second and third floors… Learning Centers Make Big Difference - Tenants At Two North Side Developments Get Extra Services Sunday, November 12, 2006 - Sainey Nyassi has lived at the low-income Northport Apartments for 23 years. And he's probably unlike any tenant in Dane County -- except for others living at Northport or its sister housing development across the street, the Packer Townhouses. Nyassi has a big job, site manager at Northport… Landlords Change Lives - Some Property Owners Make Big Impact In Rough City Neighborhoods Sunday, November 12, 2006 - John Lucille was ill prepared to be a landlord in a neighborhood besieged by drugs and violence. Lucille, a Madison firefighter who bought a beaten building for a low price on the city's South Side in 1996, conceded that back then he wouldn't have known "what a drug dealer was if he came and slapped me in the face." But he got an education during his decade as a landlord in the fragile Burr Oaks neighborhood off West Badger Road and South Park Street. One lesson was not a slap, but a hard punch in the eye from a drug dealer. Now, Lucille is among a group of landlords -- each an invaluable cornerstone of stability in a rough neighborhood -- who are teaching through example how property owners can make a difference, police and city officials say… Conference Honors Madison Neighborhoods Sunday, November 12, 2006 - The Bridge-Lake Point neighborhood on Madison's South Side, where drug dealing and carjacking have been replaced with condos and a cafe, wasn't merely a success story Saturday. It was a lesson for people who want to improve other troubled neighborhoods in Madison, such as Allied Drive… Donald Park Will Gain 125 Acres Saturday, November 11, 2006 - Donald Park, a picturesque multi-use park between Mount Vernon and Mount Horeb along Highway 92, will gain 125 acres if the Dane County Board approves a $1.4 million purchase resolution next week. The park in the town of Springdale, which was established with a 105-acre donation in 1993, will increase in size to more than 500 acres. The newly acquired 125 acres includes 83 acres of land and 42 acres of conservation easement. The area is being purchased from the Woodburn family, which has donated money for development and other parcels in the park…
Around
The State 11/15/06 - MILWAUKEE - Harley-Davidson's union workers approved contract concessions, including cuts in pay and health benefits, that the motorcycle manufacturer said it needed to undertake a $120 million plant expansion project in Milwaukee. Members of United Steelworkers of America Local 2-209 accepted the proposal, 943-536, in results announced by the union Tuesday evening. But local president Jim Wheiland said the concessions grated on workers after the company chalked up 2005 earnings of just under $1 billion. "It burns us a lot to take concessions at a time like this," he told reporters. "We took the emotions out and we looked at the realities, and the realities were that a new plant (elsewhere) would have hurt us worse than taking these concessions."… New homes initiative backed - Bronzeville to include affordable housing Posted: Nov. 14, 2006 - Milwaukee city officials cleared the last hurdle Tuesday toward creating a new housing development near the proposed African-American cultural and entertainment district, with many of the homes designated as affordable housing. The Bronzeville New Homes initiative will include 23 owner-occupied… Brookfield real estate firm joins network WEDNESDAY, Nov. 15, 2006 - A Brookfield commercial real estate brokerage firm announced today that it has affiliated with a national network of real estate brokerages. Apex Commercial Inc. has affiliated with Grubb & Ellis Co., Apex principal Dan Jessup said. Apex, which has nine brokers, can now gain referrals through Grubb & Ellis when large, out-of-state corporations need commercial real estate services in southeastern Wisconsin, Jessup said... Posted: Nov. 15, 2006 - Raymone Jackson is among a new generation of entrepreneurs of color who are changing the urban landscape in Milwaukee. Not satisfied to sit idly by as development takes place in the inner city neighborhoods where many of them grew up and still live, minority professionals and entrepreneurs like Jackson are forming alliances and leveraging resources to do meaningful development in city neighborhoods that badly need it… Economic report stings city leaders - Barrett, Sheehy defend development efforts, rip study Posted: Nov. 15, 2006 - Seldom do think-tank reports roil Milwaukee's civic establishment like this week's Public Policy Forum study that assailed the city's economic leadership. Mayor Tom Barrett, eager to "set the record straight," posted a rebuttal on a city Web site Tuesday. He charged that the group ignores several efforts that are meant to reverse some of the shortcomings documented by the report, including efforts to channel more funds into training programs for the city's vast numbers of unemployed. "The Public Policy Forum's report was long on rhetoric but fell short when it came to reporting results," Barrett wrote… Local investors buy Tower parcel - New industrial, office tenants will be sought for site Posted: Nov. 15, 2006 - The eastern portion of Tower Automotive Inc.'s former industrial complex has been sold to local investors, who will seek new industrial and office tenants for the site. That 86-acre parcel, bordered roughly by W. Capitol Drive, W. Townsend St., N. Hopkins St. and railroad tracks, was sold by Tower to Milwaukee Industrial Trade Center LLC. The group is led by Jerry Blomberg, owner of Midwest Rail & Dismantling Inc., a West Milwaukee demolition firm. The former Tower buildings, totaling about 2.2 million square feet, include large portions of heavy industrial space that is becoming scarcer as Milwaukee-area manufacturing sites are converted into new uses, Blomberg said Tuesday. The buildings include cranes for lifting heavy materials, as well as railroad access, he said. Dickman Co. has been hired to find tenants for the buildings. Dickman Co. has already fielded interest from prospective tenants… Posted: Nov. 10, 2006 - Sturtevant - The new 13-screen Marcus Cinema at The Renaissance business park will open Thursday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony, but local moviegoers will be able to see it for themselves on Friday. Officials said last week that they expect the theater complex to provide an economic upswing for the area. Village Administrator Mark Janiuk sees the new theater complex as the anchor in the business… Microtel Inn planned for Oak Creek WEDNESDAY, Nov. 15, 2006, A Brown Deer developer plans to build a 57-room hotel just off I-94 in Oak Creek. Trunk Bay Investments LLC will build the $4 million Microtel Inn & Suites at 9611 S. 13th St., which is east of I-94 and south of Ryan Road, Jim Piwowarczyk, Trunk Bay principal, said today… Redevelopment project seeks city aid TUESDAY, Nov. 14, 2006, A $21 million redevelopment project, including improvements to one of downtown Milwaukee's oldest office buildings, would receive around $3 million in city financial assistance under a proposal unveiled today. The city funds would help finance renovations at a 295,000-square-foot office building at 735 N. Water St. and a nearby riverwalk. Compass Properties LLC plans to make improvements to the building, and convert an adjacent 80,000-square-foot building, at 731 N. Water St., into condominiums and a parking structure… Medical Associates to build health center MONDAY, Nov. 13, 2006, Medical Associates Health Centers said it will begin construction Friday on a health and well-being center at Silver Spring Road and Creekwood Crossing in Menomonee Falls. The health and well-being center, at W165 N5595 Creekwood Crossing, is expected to be completed late 2007. The 28,000-square-foot building will house medical spa services, medical imaging services, cosmetic spa services and laser services… Development is planned in Port Washington Posted: Nov. 9, 2006 - Port Washington - A Grafton developer wants to build a business park, a 40-unit assisted living complex and a nursing home at the northeast end of Port Washington, a city official said Thursday. The 27-acre development, which would be located along Highway LL northeast of Wisconsin St., would require city sewer and water services, said Randy Tetzlaff, the city's director of planning and development. On Wednesday night, the Port Washington Common Council agreed to consider forming a tax incremental financing district to pay for the public improvements…
Development
News Thursday, November 9, 2006 - OK, so her visit lasted just three days. And much of it was spent on State Street. Nonetheless, Jamie Gumbrecht says she now understands what the hype's about -- why Madison continues to be regarded as one of the most desirable places to live in the country. And what an incredible recruiting tool that reputation is for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "Madison was just as I expected… Tuesday, November 7, 2006 - Famous Architect's Pew House Is On The Market, And Its Owners Want It To Land In Good Hands. A 1,500-square-foot house on Lake Mendota built for about $7,500 in 1940 is now on the market for $1,550,000, and, despite the inflation, there is interest around the globe. News that the legendary Pew House is for sale made the Japanese edition of Gentlemen's Quarterly, and one prospective buyer in London is trying to persuade his wife that this is the place for them. The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home, across the street from Blackhawk Country Club… The
Time To Build Your House Is Now Low Lumber Prices Mean Big
Savings Sunday,
November 5, 2006 - Plummeting lumber prices, combined with
relatively low interest rates and stabilized land costs make
this an exceptional time to build a house, area homebuilders
say. People can build a more affordable home today than a year
ago, said Jim Belanger, president of Tuscany Custom Homes in
DeForest. Raw lumber used in housing construction is probably
one-third less expensive than this time last year, he said.
The material costs for lumber should decrease the cost of an
average home between $5,000 and $10,000, Belanger said… Bridgeman Foods Buying Local Chili's Wednesday, November 8, 2006 - LOUISVILLE, KY.-BASED BRIDGEMAN FOODS, WHICH IS OWNED BY FORMER MILWAUKEE BUCKS PLAYER JUNIOR BRIDGEMAN, HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE BUYER OF 15 CORPORATE-OWNED CHILI'S GRILL & BAR RESTAURANTS, INCLUDING THE TWO IN MADISON AT 4344 EAST TOWNE BLVD. AND 7301 MINERAL POINT ROAD. Dallas-based Brinker International Inc. two weeks ago announced that it has sold 10 Chili's in Wisconsin and five in the St. Louis area to a franchisee with development commitments to build 31 new restaurants in those areas. But Brinker did not return calls seeking the identity of the buyer… Middleton Corporate Center To Grow Saturday, November 4, 2006 - The Blettner Group of Madison is planning a 31-acre addition to the Middleton Corporate Center on the west side of Highway 12, south of Airport Road, in Middleton. Besides 720,000 square feet of office space, the addition known as Deming Campus will include bicycle trails, winding pedestrian paths and $2 million worth of landscaping including ponds, a fountain, sculptures and seating areas… Retail Projects May Transform A Commuter City Friday, November 3, 2006 - Multimillion-dollar Developments At Each End Of Verona Expected To Draw More People Downtown As Well. A combination of two new development proposals is signaling the city's possible transformation from a suburban commuter city to a destination that provides more jobs, shopping and lodging: A $144 million mix of retail, restaurants, public space and housing called The West End is being proposed for the west side of the city near Epic Systems' growing campus along Highway 18-151 by Terrence Wall. "I think one of the reasons he's excited about it is the demographics" of the community, Harwood said. "It is a fabulous site. There is no question about it."… Commission, forum uphold West End - Big box plan goes to Council after getting two thumbs up 11/7/2006 - Terrence Wall’s vision for the West End, with its sharing spaces, long-term ownership and muted big box stores, seems to be winning over skeptical Veronans. Wall, whose Dane County-based real estate juggernaut, T. Wall Properties, has a purchase agreement on the old Thompson farm, is disarming concerned citizens with a comprehensive development plan that includes two particularly controversial – and apparently non-negotiable – pieces… New City Hall a ‘no-brainer,’ task force concludes 11/2/06 - After the group responsible for planning a new police station looked at the options last week, there really was only one issue left unanswered. “People will ask questions. ‘Why aren’t we saving the (old City Hall) building?’” Bray Associates architect Mike Clark pointed out. Bray had presented the Public Safety Administration Facilities Task Force with four possible site plans and two options for refurbishing City Hall. But it didn’t take long for the group to settle on a third option Thursday night: completely rebuilding City Hall. Editors
Note: Congratulations Verona Press on the new Website… www.Veronapress.com
- If there are other publications I should scan weekly
feel free to email me. Ken Wisconsin will miss wave of refinancing THU., NOV 9, 2006 - Some experts predict a wave of mortgage refinancing next year, especially in markets like California and Florida where soaring home prices forced many buyers into risky "pay-option" adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) or interest-only loans. In Wisconsin and elsewhere, however, where fixed-rate loans are more popular and home price increases have been more reasonable… |
