Proposal focuses on design
Bauman wants to OK it before site sale
Designs for a possible office development on Milwaukee’s near west side would have to be approved by city officials in connection with the sale of a project site, under a new proposal.
Ald. Robert Bauman said Monday that design approval would help prevent a possible repeat of what he considers a poorly conceived project that’s near the city-owned land.
Bauman’s proposal, which requires Common Council approval, would change a land sale agreement approved last month by the council.
Near West Side Partners Inc. agreed to pay $40,001 for an empty lot and a vacant former billiards hall.
Those parcels are part of a larger development site on the block bordered by W. Wisconsin Ave., W. Michigan St., N. 27th St. and N. 28th St., along with an additional property at 2801 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Near West Side Partners, a nonprofit neighborhood development group, is seeking two high-profile prospects for the site: a $65 million, 163,400-squarefoot state office building, and a Medical College of Wisconsin office building with up to 150,000 square feet and an undisclosed cost.
Mayor Tom Barrett’s administration initially proposed selling the two parcels, at 2719 W. Wisconsin Ave. and 625 N. 27th St., for $1. The price took into account the buyer’s costs of demolition and environmental cleanup for the properties.
Bauman, whose district includes the site, said they should be sold for the value of their land, which is $83,200. Near West Side Partners has paid market prices for other parcels on the block.
The group and Bauman agreed to the $40,001 compromise price.
Bauman now wants that agreement changed to require Near West Side Partners to prove that either the medical college or the state has selected the site as a finalist for development.
He also said the land sale should include a condition of providing design plans to the Department of City Development and Common Council.
Bauman said that’s necessary because of what he considers a poorly designed state office building south of W. Wisconsin Ave. and east of N. 27th St.
“We got burned on that project,” Bauman said. The building, created by Klein Development Inc., is leased to the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare and opened in 2013.
That two-story building was initially to have three stories, he said. Also, its entrance is off the rear parking lot, which does little to help attract other development, Bauman said.
“That building violated just about every urban design principle the city has been practicing for the last 25 years,” he said.
Keith Stanley, Near West Side executive director, couldn’t be immediately reached for comment.
The group is financially supported by Marquette University, Aurora Health Care Inc., Harley-Davidson Inc., MillerCoors LLC and Potawatomi Business Development Corp.