Height waiver granted for possible tower

Project planned at Laacke & Joys site

Plans are proceeding for a possible 24-story tower, which could include a hotel and other uses, on downtown Milwaukee’s riverfront.

The mixed-use project would be built on the site of the redeveloped former Laacke & Joys Co. building, 1433 N. Water St. Much of that building was razed last year.

The tower would be just up the Milwaukee River from a new office building, anchored by Bader Rutter & Associates Inc. Those offices combine part of the old Laacke & Joys building with a new addition.

HKS Holdings LLC, which has built apartments and a hotel in Milwaukee, would develop the tower. Wangard Partners Inc., the developer of the Bader Rutter building, would be an investor in the project.

The Redevelopment Authority board on Thursday approved a waiver of the Park East redevelopment plan’s height limitation of 12 stories for the N. Water St. site.

“We are hopeful a development on the site will occur,” said Alyssa Remington, a Department of City Development economic development specialist.

Remington said HKS Holdings needed the waiver to continue negotiations about the proposed tower’s prospective tenants and uses.

The tower’s specific uses and designs aren’t yet available, Remington said.

A specific proposal would need Plan Commission approval because of its connection to the public RiverWalk, she said. Also, department officials would be involved in the design process.

Kyle Strigenz, of HKS Holdings, declined to discuss

the possible tower’s details.

Sources have told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that a hotel and apartments would likely be parts of the project. The height waiver request was made by Water Street Hotel LLC, an affiliate of HKS Holdings.

HKS Holdings’ projects include the ninestory, 158-room Kimpton Journeyman Hotel , which opened at 310 E. Chicago St., in the Historic Third Ward, last July. HKS Holdings also

has developed apartments in Bay View and Walker’s Point.

The redevelopment plan’s 12-story height limitation for the site was based on the idea of having taller buildings closer to downtown’s traditional core, Remington said.

The waiver was supported by neighboring commercial property owners, as well as Ald. Nik Kovac, whose district includes the site.

“This is pushing the edge of downtown,” Kovac said. “But not by much.”