Development of all-ages music venue proceeding
Plan Commission OKs needed zoning change
The proposed $3.5 million conversion of a long-closed night club on Milwaukee’s near west side into an allages music venue and music education center is moving forward.
That development, dubbed The New State, would combine a nonprofit arts group to help young people learn about the music business with forprofit businesses, including sound engineering studios, a store to sell Tshirts and other musician-branded merchandise, and the sober all-ages performance venue.
The project would redevelop the former State Theater, at 2612 W. State St.
The Plan Commission on Monday voted to endorse a zoning change that would be needed for the project, which is raising funds from foundations and other private sources.
On Thursday, the Redevelopment Authority’s board will consider a separate proposal to sell the city-owned building and two adjacent vacant lots to New State MKE LLC for $2,000.
Both the land sale and zoning change proposals also need Common Council approval.
The two-story, 10,000-square-foot building, built in 1915, hosted a movie theater for more than 30 years.
It later housed several night clubs, including the Palms from 1979 to 1984.
The Palms featured acts such as U2, Joan Jett, The Police, B-52s and Tom Petty — often before they were big stars.
The last business there was Hoops, a strip club, which operated from 1986 to 1991. The city later took ownership of the building, which was damaged by a fire in 2017.
Under the redevelopment proposal, part of the building would house a new nonprofit group, West Side Arts Un, Limited.
That group would help young people with composing, recording and performing music, with a focus on hiphop and electronica.
Additional space would be leased to Mammyth Audio, Unifi Records, a consignment store for musicians to sell merchandise and an all-ages, alcoholfree performance venue for musicians.
The 400-seat venue’s operators would include Janice Vogt and hiphop performer WebsterX (born Sam Ahmed).
They’re among the co-founders of Freespace, an all-ages music venue that since 2015 has staged around 10 annual young musicians showcases, and other events, at the Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts, 926 E. Center St.
“We’ve had incredibly high demand and incredible success with our events,” Vogt said.
At The New State, Freespace could double the number of shows and provide additional programs for young musicians. It would be more centrally located and a much larger space than the Riverwest site, which seats up to 50 people.
All-ages venues play an important role in helping young musicians develop their talent, Vogt and Ahmed told the Plan Commission.
The New State is needed to “lift the spirit of the youth of the city, and the arts, as well,” Ahmed said.
The development’s backers are raising $2.5 million for renovations and another $1 million to support West Side Arts Un, Limited.
Along with foundation grants and individual contributions, The New State is seeking state and federal historic preservation tax credits to help pay for part of the renovation costs.
There also would be rental revenue from the businesses, said developer John Hennessy, who’s helping lead the project.
The New State’s supporters hope to begin renovations by fall 2019, with the project completed in 2020, Vogt said.