Wisconsin Development NewsEditor Ken Harwood |
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Development
News for the week of 08/25/06 to 09/01/06 Aug. 26, 2006 - Cindy and Gene Seidle reside between the commercial and intellectual capitals of Wisconsin. Theirs is a tale of two cities, Milwaukee and Madison. One's a research juggernaut with a booming population and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. The other's a Rust Belt icon, factories closing, population moving, crime and education intractable. Together, Milwaukee and Madison generate more than two-fifths of Wisconsin's economic output. But apart, the areas' economies are on separate paths. The Madison area added 7% more jobs since 2000; Metro Milwaukee lost nearly… 5 Things To Make Each City's Economy Better Aug. 26, 2006 – Experts from each community make recommendations based on experience. On the cutting edge - Madison builds itself into a potent hub for high-tech industries Aug. 26, 2006 - Madison - Thirty years ago, Nick Seay moved here - to a city he had never seen - and joined a handful of patent lawyers working in this relatively small university town. Today, Seay is one of more than 80 registered patent lawyers in Madison and is a key player in the commercialization of embryonic stem cells, one of the most cutting-edge scientific technologies on the globe…. Police celebrate station opening FRI., SEP 1, 2006 - With cake and ice cream in the lobby and a police dog making vicious-looking lunges at a well-padded officer in the parking lot, the Madison Police Department on Thursday celebrated the opening of its East District Station. A few dozen residents joined… THU., AUG 31, 2006 - After much criticism, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz is opening the spending spigot for water quality in his proposed 2007 budget. Cieslewicz today will propose increasing by more than 50 percent the amount of spending for Madison Water Utility infrastructure such as pipes, filters and wells to $16.4 million in the capital budget next year, up from the previous budget's $10.4 million… Dane County could face water problems Posted August 28, 2006 - Madison (AP) - The rapid growth of Dane County's surburban communities has left officials looking at how to find enough water to support the development. Currently, there's no regional management plan for water, and while there isn't a shortage in the area yet, officials say there could be local stresses on what is now a very reliable source of drinking water as the population grows … City closes Edgewood Drive at Woodrow to motor vehicles THU., AUG 31, 2006 - The city has closed Edgewood Drive at its intersection with Woodrow Street to motor vehicles to improve safety in the popular pedestrian and bicycle corridor. The intersection will be reconfigured to allow only bicycles and pedestrians to pass… THU., AUG 31, 2006 - The Collaboration Council has taken another step toward growing and attracting businesses to south-central Wisconsin. A business plan was unveiled Thursday at Monona Terrace that will help direct the Regional Economic Development Entity when it is formed late next month or in early October… Thursday, August 31, 2006 - Uw Men's Basketball Fans Can Lease Floor-level Seats At The Kohl Center -- For A Price. If you have been waiting for an opportunity to purchase hard-to-get season tickets to University of Wisconsin men's basketball games, your time has arrived. UW Athletics is now leasing 40 courtside seats for games at the Kohl Center, where there have been 52 consecutive sellouts of 17,142 and where every ticket has been sold in advance for the last three seasons. The seats, located across the court from the team benches, are available for $10,000 a season… Editors Note: I am available for most games and hosts will be prominently featured in that weeks News & Notes. Streamlined Commerce Programs Backed - Audit: 152 Economic Development Offerings Are Too Many Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - When anyone calls her office wanting information about what economic development programs Wisconsin offers, state Rep. Samantha Kerkman sends a thick binder full of information. "There's just so many programs out there they may qualify for," Kerkman, a Republican from Burlington, said as she held the binder up during a Tuesday hearing by a joint legislative audit committee. Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - Planning for a mixed-use development project, including as many as 50 condominiums, on Monroe Street is in its early stages, its developer said. Jim Corcoran, owner of J. Michael Real Estate, said he and architect Randy Bruce of Knothe and Bruce have talked to neighborhood leaders and Ald. Ken Golden, 10th District. They're working on scheduling a neighborhood meeting… Developer Plans Project On Monroe Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - Mixed-use Project Includes Condos, Restaurants, Shops. A major mixed-use redevelopment is in the works for the 2600 block of Monroe Street, the shady but busy thoroughfare that cuts through Madison's near west side. The project from local landlord Jim Corcoran is planned for properties just west of the Laurel Tavern and Michael's Frozen Custard, running through the entire block to Arbor Drive… Economic Growth Takes Center Stage Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - How to improve the Wisconsin economy is shaping up as a key question in the upcoming race for governor, at least for those paying more attention to politics than football this time of year. Republican challenger Mark Green took an early kick at the issue Monday… Lake Discovery Is Likely Truax Jet Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - THERE HAS been a stunning development in the half-century-old mystery of what happened to a Truax Air Force Base F-89 Scorpion jet airplane that disappeared over Lake Superior on Nov. 23, 1953… Editors Note: Not exactly economic development… but it has UFO’s… Blucreek Brewing Offers Real-life Education Monday, August 28, 2006 - It may be a rare University of Wisconsin School of Business student who doesn't consider developing a business plan for a brewery, but it's rarer still not only to develop a plan, but to make it work. That's what Thomas Moffitt and Runi Hadiprajitno did in developing BluCreek Brewing, probably the nation's only producer of ales that offer health benefits along with a pleasant high. Based in Madison, BluCreek this month released Zen IPA… Green: I'd Scrap Commerce Unit - Semi-private Substitute Urged Monday, August 28, 2006 - The state's Department of Commerce would be replaced with a public-private entity headed by the governor under an economic development and job creation plan released today by Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Green. That new entity would be charged with reviewing the state's 152 economic development programs with the goal of reducing them to 10 or fewer, Green said in a statement. Cooperation Key In Aiding Habitat Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - There is a common denominator when getting anything done in the conservation world today: collaboration. No matter what the task, whether it is buying land to preserve for future generations, improving habitat, researching a problem, or just meeting day-to-day objectives, the way to success often involves help and assistance from other organizations… Ground Broken For New Erdman Hq Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - MARSHALL ERDMAN & ASSOCIATES, THE MADISON-BASED DESIGNER AND BUILDER OF MEDICAL CLINICS, HAS BROKEN GROUND FOR ITS NEW CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN THE OLD SAUK TRAILS OFFICE PARK ON THE FAR WEST SIDE. The company is partnering with local real estate developer George Gialamas on the five-story, 132,000-square-foot building, which is designed to be certified under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program… Taking A New Look At Rules For Razing - Panel Wants Clear Criteria For Demolitions Monday, August 28, 2006 - Madison's loosey-goosey system for approving or denying demolition permits will be more consistent once a Plan Commission subcommittee finishes its work, committee members say… Houses Go Up, Aquifer Goes Down Sunday, August 27, 2006 - Growth In Dane County Communities Such As Fitchburg And Verona Is Lowering Groundwater Levels And Affecting Surface Waters. For most of us, getting water is as simple as turning on the faucet. But for Mike Frey, it's considerably more difficult. Frey, operations manager for Middleton's water utility, is charged with finding water for an entire growing, thirsty city. It's a task that has become increasingly more complicated because of the rapid growth that typifies Dane County's suburban communities… Media Firm To Move Facility Here Saturday, August 26, 2006 - Discover Mediaworks Inc., producer of "Discover Wisconsin" and other TV and radio shows, is moving its production facility from Milwaukee to Madison. The company, which will keep its corporate headquarters in Eagle River, said it will complete the move of its production operations to a new state-of-the-art building at 5100 Eastpark Boulevard on the far east side by next Friday… Top Shops - Madison's Selections Are Improving But It's Hard To Compete With The Big Cities Saturday, August 26, 2006 - Madison has finally landed an H&M and a Macy's. In October, it will have a J. Crew. And here we thought we were pretty posh for reining in White House Black Market, Banana Republic, Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma. When back-to-school shoppers and those looking to build their fall… Uw Economic Outlook Speakers Set Friday, August 25, 2006 - The UW-Madison School of Business will hold its semi-annual Economic Outlook on Sept. 15 at the Fluno Center. The event brings in leading economists to speak on topics such as interest rates, oil prices, federal budget deficits and the relative strength of the dollar, helping business leaders and owners translate economic trends into competitive intelligence… Sunday, August 27, 2006 - There's a famous commercial featuring a couple looking back wistfully on their cruise. They were treated like royalty, basically. Their minions were instructed not to disturb them until such-and-such a time. Tea was poured. Pillows were fluffed. Eventually, they returned to their workaday lives, but they were comforted by those days of fluffed pillows and such. An at-home vacation is kind of like that, or rather a mirror image of it. Stoughton Group Pushing Grocery Co-op Friday, August 25, 2006 - They have a vision. Now they need community support. About 40 people showed up Thursday night at the Stoughton Area Senior Center to discuss the possibility of opening a grocery cooperative. It was the third meeting of the fledgling Yahara River Cooperative...
Around
The State Conference to address small town development - Speakers include author of Boomtown USA Menomonie, Wis. - The West Central Wisconsin Workforce Resource is inviting representatives from business, education, and government to participate in its 2006 Synergy Conference titled "Positioning for Economic Growth."… Forward Wisconsin: Retains Paul W. Ehrfuth & Assoc., LLC To Provide Economic Development Services 8/30/2006 - MADISON - - Forward Wisconsin, the state’s public-private business marketing and recruitment group, has retained the services of Paul W. Ehrfurth & Associates, LLC to bolster the organization’s business marketing and attraction efforts. Paul Ehrfurth, the president of the firm, has 30 years of experience in economic development, community development, planning and marketing. “Paul’s experience in economic development make him a great fit for representing Forward Wisconsin both within the state and externally,” said Forward Wisconsin President Pepi Randolph. “He will be spending a significant amount of time interacting with Wisconsin economic development officials, pitching in with Forward Wisconsin’s marketing efforts and providing information to out-of-state business executives that are interested in expanding their companies to the state.”… Ground is broken on casino expansion August 28, 2006 - Most of the speakers at Monday’s groundbreaking for the Potawatomi’s $240 million casino expansion in Milwaukee hit on the same talking points. The new jobs were first on the list. The two-year project will create 500 construction jobs paying a total of $44 million in wages over the life of the project. That’s $2 million each month of the two-year project, said Mike Goodrich, general manager of the Potawatomi Bingo Casino. When complete, the additional 500,000 square feet of casino space will require 1,000 new employees… Governor.
Announces $626,000 to support job creation in Baraboo. Firm wants to demolish factory, develop site 17.5 acres in Menomonee Falls would be filled with 13 retail buildings, under proposal Posted: Aug. 31, 2006 - A Menomonee Falls factory that is shutting down would be demolished and replaced by several retail buildings under a proposal from a local development firm. Continental Properties Co. wants to buy the 17.5-acre site of Worthington Industries Inc., formerly known as Western Industries Inc., south of U.S. Highway 41/45 and west of Pilgrim Road… Fee would help buy lake property - Annual assessment would be $77 Aug. 31, 2006 - Town of Hartford - The Pike Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District will ask town officials to collect an annual $77 special assessment on all town residential properties for five years to help pay for acquisition of 74 acres of wetlands, fields and hardwoods on the southwest shore of the lake, district Chairman Stan Blawas said. Locker’s breaks ground on new building Aug. 30, 2006 - A ground-breaking ceremony took place this week for the mixed-use development project for the Locker’s Pointe site at Swan Boulevard and North Avenue. Mayor Theresa Estness, Community Development Director Nancy Welch and representatives from Locker’s, including owner Tom Boesen and Director of Operations Emma Vogel, were on hand for the Aug. 29 ceremony. “We’re pleased to announce what we think is a beautiful project,” said Boesen, who owns the flower shop with brothers Ed and Frank… Pabst property cost $7.6 million - That's what Zilber paid for buildings, land, records say Aug. 28, 2006 - Milwaukee real estate investor Joseph Zilber paid just more than $7.6 million for the buildings and land that make up the former Pabst brewery complex, according to documents filed with the Milwaukee County register of deeds. Zilber's investment group, Brewery Project LLC, bought the 21-acre site on the northwest side of downtown from Juneau Avenue Partners LLC, an investors group led by Wispark LLC, the development subsidiary of Wisconsin Energy Corp. The purchase price was $7,608,700, according to the register of deeds… Aug. 30, 2006 - A local developer wants to build a $7 million project, featuring loft-style apartments and retail space, in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood. Vetter Denk Properties LLC is proposing the five-story development, called Mod Lofts, for a city-owned parking lot at 2254 S. Allis St. The site is roughly a half-block east of S. Kinnickinnic Ave. and just north of E. Lincoln Ave… Aug. 30, 2006 - An Oconomowoc manufacturer will build a new facility within the Pabst Farms development, becoming the latest company to move to that mixed-use development's business park. Sentry Equipment Corp. hopes to begin building its $5 million facility by late October, President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Farrell said Wednesday. The 51,100-square-foot building is scheduled for completion by August 2007, he said… New hospital may help town incorporate - Aurora deal boosts Summit's case, chairman says Aug. 29, 2006 - Summit - A legal deal that clears the way for the construction here of a new Aurora hospital will help the town obtain state approval of its application to incorporate as a village, town Chairman Len Susa said Tuesday. The settlement, which ended a 5-year-old lawsuit filed by Aurora Health Care against Oconomowoc… Chicago's New Star - Millemnnium Park Is A Wonderful Addition Saturday, August 26, 2006 - Despite all the hype -- and even the rave reviews -- nothing quite prepares you for the first sight of Chicago's Millennium Park on a sunny, sweaty summer afternoon. Millennium Park may well be the crown jewel of Chicago's huge network of urban parks with it's combination of art, architecture, and acres of greenery…
Development
News for the week of 08/18/06 to 08/25/06 State unveils plans for Hill Farms redevelopment - Proposal calls for new housing and retail Posted August 23, 2006 - Ten months ago, the 1,000 Friends of Wisconsin first suggested that the eastern parking lot of the Hill Farms state Department of Transportation building in Madison could be put to better use. During Monday’s meeting of the Madison Plan Commission, state officials revealed a plan to redevelop the entire site, not just the seven acres covered by the parking lot. All 21 acres are now earmarked for redevelopment, which could ultimately… Madison Developers Protest Loss of Pluto FRI., AUG 25, 2006 - Several Madison area developers have filed a formal complaint against the world's top astronomical authority as it striped Pluto of its status as a planet. They claim that the planet could have been fully developed by 2017 and the lack of high-end condo revenues alone represents billions and billions in lost cash flow. The International Astronomical Union's general assembly in Prague sited lack of TIF revenue after marathon discussions with mayor Dave, the Madison council and plan commission. The council was able to site a clear annexation path to the former planet and suggested the owner was in full support of the development once the planned Space Mart had been eliminated… After years of lying mostly dormant, Verona Technology Park is showing signs of life THU., AUG 17, 2006 - The 140-acre business park, located at the southeast corner of County Highways PB and M, has landed just one tenant — Latitude Corp. in 2004 — since it was created around 2000. But this month, a Blue Mounds company announced it’s moving to the park, and landowner John Livesey Sr. said more – and larger – businesses are on the way. Livesey made similar claims more than two years ago, when he told the Wisconsin State Journal he was in negotiations with 11 different companies interested in building here. The difference now, he says, is the timing. “The market has come to that area,” said Livesey, whose Madison-based commercial real estate development company, Livesey Co., operates more than a dozen business or tech parks in the state. “I would guess that the park will eventually go way over $100 million… Hill Farms Remake Considered By State Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - With a major New Urbanism redevelopment already under way at the Hilldale Shopping Center, attention is now turning to the sea of asphalt at the Hill Farms State Office Building. The 22-acre site, which houses offices for the state Department of Transportation, is being eyed by state officials as part of the remaking of properties along University Avenue and Segoe Road… The State Would Be The Developer Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - In a first for the state, officials are working on a plan that would make it the developer on a project designed to make better use of the sizeable parcel of land where Hill Farms State Office Buildings now stand. State officials -- with a nudge from the environmental group 1,000 Friends… Well 29 filter system in 2007 budget plan FRI., AUG 25, 2006 - Mayor Dave Cieslewicz announced Thursday that a $2.4 million water filtration system for Well No. 29 will be included in his 2007 budget plans. Tests from Well No. 29, on the city's Far East Side, have shown levels of the metal manganese of approximately 170 parts per billion - below the EPA's health advisory standard of 300 parts per billion… FRI., AUG 25, 2006 - WASHINGTON - Sales of new homes dropped in July by the largest amount since February while the inventory of unsold homes climbed to a record high. Piling on more proof that the housing boom is over, the Commerce Department reported Thursday that new home sales fell by 4.3 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual sales pace of 1.072 million units. The decline was the largest since an 11.5 percent plunge in February… Primed
to fuel the economy Eclectic business offers designer purses and more THU., AUG 17, 2006 - The little gift shop at 4221 Lien Road is the culmination of Julie Stelmaszewski's life-long dream. "I've always wanted to be in retail, even when I was a little girl," she said. "I used to make change in egg cartons, price things around the house and make my mom buy them."… Thursday, August 24, 2006 - A Madison Biotech Company Is Developing Adhesive Compounds That May Someday Replace Sutures. If there's one thing that boaters don't want to find after a day of cruising on the lake, it's the nuisance of mussels plastered all over the bottom of the boat. But what if the stickiness that lets the mollusks attach to floating objects could be put to good use, for example, to fix a broken arm, to coat a hip replacement so bacteria won't collect on it or to coat instruments used by marine biologists so algae and barnacles won't stick to them? That's what Nerites Corp., a young Madison biotechnology company, is trying to do… Judge To Rule On Land Sale To Activists Thursday, August 24, 2006 - In Question Is Whether The Property Owner Illegally Backed Out Of An Agreement. A Dane County Judge will likely decide in late October whether a Regent Street bicycle shop owner illegally backed out of an agreement to sell a building for a primate cruelty exhibition center… OPINION Help United Way Help Our Children Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - It's heartbreaking for a child to arrive for the first day of school and instantly realize he or she is already far behind. Many disadvantaged children have vocabularies of just 800 to 1,000 words by age 5. In contrast, children in households where parents read to them and encourage learning have vocabularies of 8,000 to 10,000 words… Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - Its 'huge' Resources Should Help The Waunakee Company Grow. Scientific Protein Laboratories -- a Waunakee company that makes active pharmaceutical ingredients for drugs -- has a new owner. It's a Washington, D.C.-area buyout firm whose holdings also include the makers of Gibson guitars, Bushnell binoculars and Evenflo baby bottles. Terms of the purchase by American Capital Strategies… Randall Lot To Get A Face-lift - Football Parking Spots To Be Reduced Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - Badger fans will be able to park behind Randall Elementary School -- a stone's throw from Camp Randall Stadium -- this football season, but spaces are likely to become fewer after that. The lot is both a playground and park -- Olive Jones Park, to be exact -- but it also is a huge cash generator for the Franklin-Randall Parent Teacher Organization. "It's a balance between a well-funded PTO and having a crappy playground… What's With Vacant Buildings Near The Square? Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - Q: What's happening with that block just off the Capitol Square, the one kitty-corner from the Overture Center? All the businesses except the Silver Dollar Bar were vacated long ago, but now it just sits empty. A:The four vacant one-story properties in question -- 119-125 W. Mifflin St. -- are owned by Hovde Building LLC . In July 2000, the late Don Hovde petitioned the city for demolition permits so he could put a 17-stall parking lot on the site until… New Condos Feel Like Typical Homes Sunday, August 20, 2006 - Hawks Reserve added a new twist to ways condominiums are designed to feel more like typical single family homes. The condominium development in the Hawks Landing subdivision off Midtown Road in Verona features separate two-car garages in its underground parking area. Securing the garages by closing the overhead doors allows the deep space to serve as a storage area as well. Units with three bedrooms have an extra… Hilldale Mall Plan Criticized At Meeting Sunday, August 20, 2006 - By the time the standing-room-only neighborhood meeting was finished on Saturday, there wasn't much about Hilldale Mall and its $175 million redevelopment plan that hadn't been roundly criticized. Too many condominium units. There isn't enough green space. The traffic is going to be horrible. Underground parking makes… Neighbors Protest Fitchburg Growth Sunday, August 20, 2006 - The West Waubesa Conservation Coalition Believes Possible Development Will Threaten Wetlands. Mel "Butch" Powell has a quiet, unassuming presence. He could hardly be considered confrontational by nature. Yet the part-time vegetable farmer and full-time medical technologist has aligned himself against one of the biggest expansion steps Fitchburg has taken in years: The planned extension of water and sewer services into an area called the Northeast Neighborhood… Land Use Plan Holds Up Fitchburg Subdivision - Developers Push For Approval Friday, August 18, 2006 - Whether to develop a 420-acre plot of land in Fitchburg or wait for the city to amend its growth plan remains the question for residents and city officials after a meeting Thursday night. The project in question is the proposed Ballygrady… Around
The State New questions on role of Doyle's office in sale of nuclear plant FRI., AUG 25, 2006 - Gov. Jim Doyle's top aide met with utility representatives to discuss the sale of a nuclear power plant just before speaking by phone with a utility regulator deciding the case - raising new questions about whether the administration played a role in the sale's controversial approval… Dells outlet mall tempts tourists with bargains THU., AUG 24, 2006 - WISCONSIN DELLS -- It's 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 17, and I'm headed off to the Dells, at my editor's request, to check out the new outlet mall that just opened in waterpark heaven. This probably doesn't sound like a bad way to spend a day, except that in two weeks I will have two children in college and I've been brainwashing… Fans Of Eagles Rap Prairie Du Sac Plan Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - Riverfront Development Impact Feared. In the Sauk Prairie area, the bald eagle is king. The eagles soar majestically over the Wisconsin River and nest in the trees along the riverbank, drawing tourists and fueling the local economy. Now there is considerable debate here that a proposed redevelopment would forever alter the views of the river, bluffs and eagles. Ken Nonn's proposal for a riverfront redevelopment… State Unemployment Up To 5% In July Friday, August 18, 2006 - Wisconsin’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 5 percent in July from 4.7 percent in June, marking the first time the rate has been at 5 percent or higher in more than a year, the state department of workforce development reported. Beverly Gehrke, a labor market analyst for the agency, said the higher adjusted rate in July is because more seasonal jobs, especially those related to education, were lost between June and July than in… Survey
respondents desire upscale options Greed
derails Bayshore post office plan, Glendale says Property Taxes See Smallest Rise In 9 Years Friday, August 18, 2006 - Thanks to a drop in taxes levied by school districts last year, net property taxes in Wisconsin increased by the smallest percentage in nine years, according to a report released Thursday. Property taxes went up just 2.3 percent in 2005, the report by the nonpartisan Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance said. The biggest reason for the slower increase was a large infusion of state aid to schools… Posted August 23, 2006 District to receive $105K for naming rights Brings total naming pledges to $1.46M Sheboygan Area School District will receive $105,000 in exchange for the naming rights to the stores and women's team locker rooms at the new North and South high school field houses. The Sheboygan School Board approved all donations to the Sheboygan Public Education Foundation on Tuesday… Green
with envy Development
plans in Grafton draw fire Condo
project moves forward Mayor
says development plan 'rejected' Companies eye Kaukauna for state foothold Posted August 25, 2006 - KAUKAUNA — Two out-of-state companies, looking to expand their business in the Fox Valley, have set their sights on Kaukauna land, officials said Thursday. Mayor Gene Rosin said while the city has not received any offers to buy land at Prosperity Center, he anticipates new developments in two weeks… Transportation Development Association. Wisconsin transportation infrastructure facing crisis.
Development
News for the week of 08/11/06 to 08/18/06 Please
report any problems to Ken Harwood at Editor@WisconsinDevelopment.com
Thanks Ken
There's
no place like home. From community centers and green spaces to shops and
gathering places, here's 12 of Madison's most vibrant and interesting places
to live. Some neighborhoods in Madison date back to the city's earliest days,
while others are so brand-spanking-new, even natives would be hard-pressed to
identify their location on a map. So what is a neighborhood, exactly? Some
define themselves by their garage sales, block parties and Fourth of July
parades -- kids on bikes… Verona
- AUG 17, 2006 - Verona has abandoned its latest TIF district project. The
plan, which would have created the city’s eighth tax increment financing
district on the site of the Erbach and former Thompson properties on the west
side of town, had squeaked through Common Council and Plan Commission meetings
for the past several weeks with split votes. It was days from its deadline to
be authorized by a joint review board when it was unanimously pulled off the
table at Monday’s Common Council meeting… Saturday,
August 12, 2006 - After two years of effort, a major housing and retail
project seen as a catalyst in revitalizing the East Washington Avenue area is
dead. Developer Gary Gorman, citing insufficient public financial support and
puzzled by what he termed an "off-the-cuff" financial analysis by
the city, is dropping the $58 million project, which would have covered a full
block now occupied by a used car dealership… Evansville
site for biodiesel plant; soybean crushing plant also being considered FRI.,
AUG 18, 2006 - Evansville is on the verge of becoming Wisconsin's one-stop
shop for biodiesel fuel. And it's all happening fairly quickly for the
northwestern Rock County community. North Prairie Productions, Waterloo, has
announced plans to build a 45 million-gallon refinery that will convert
soybean oil into biodiesel… Office
Construction Takes A Break Sunday,
August 13, 2006 - Cubicle
construction is on a coffee break -- a long, triple-cappuccino of a break. The
number of commercial office buildings that took shape in Madison during the
past 12 months dropped sharply from the previous year. Office starts totaled
$57 million, less than half of the $122 million worth of projects initiated
over the previous 12-month period. "I think we are seeing a slowdown in
speculative office construction… THU.,
AUG 17, 2006 - Don't expect to eat lunch at the Holiday Inn now under
construction on Madison's Far East Side at the American Center. That's because
the hotel restaurant will serve breakfast and dinner, but no lunch. The hotel
will be geared to the corporate market, said Stephanie Sabo, vice president of
sales and marketing for Staybridge Suites/Holiday Inn… THU.,
AUG 17, 2006 - A day after one of Great Wolf Resorts' largest investors said
the company is undervalued and should be considered for sale in a Securities
and Exchange Commission filing, the Madison business on Wednesday formally
distanced itself from talk of a sale and defended its performance. "We're
not actively looking to sell and we're not engaging any investment bankers… WED.,
AUG 16, 2006 - Prices on existing home sales in Wisconsin are starting to
level off due to a slower real estate market and higher inventories of unsold
homes. The median home price rose 2.6 percent statewide to $166,000 during the
second quarter of 2006, according to a report issued Tuesday by the Wisconsin
Realtors Association. That increase is less than a national median home price
increase of 3.7… No
Buyer Yet For Bancroft Dairy Building Monday,
August 14, 2006 - The former Bancroft Dairy at the corner of Fish Hatchery
Road and Park Street, which closed in 2004, is still for sale but no serious
buyers have appeared, officials said. The dairy site includes parcels at 1010
and 1102 S. Park St. and last operated under the Dean Foods Morningstar label.
Dean bought the dairy in 1988. It currently is owned by Suiza Foods Corp. of
Dallas. "That property is for sale and we are looking… Tuesday,
August 15, 2006 - Middleton biotech company Lucigen Corp. has spun off a firm
dedicated to the development of enzymes for biofuels. C5-6 Technologies will
be the exclusive licensee of Lucigen's proprietary molecular cloning
technology for biofuels applications. Lucigen's technology enables the cloning
of previously unclonable genetic material and doing so from as little as a
single cell -- such as a microbe found in a hot spring in Yellowstone National
Park. The material can then be analyzed in a lab for possible use in creating
a new drug or… Rain
Gardens Corral Harm - Madison's Water May Get A Little Less Pollution Thanks
To GardensMonday,
August 14, 2006 - Some residents along Adams Street have new gardens --
compliments of the city of Madison -- that do a lot more than look pretty. The
picturesque prairie plants -- purple cone flower, brown-eyed Susan and other
native species -- are hard at work in the terraces between the street and
sidewalk. Their roots -- up to 15 feet deep -- are creating channels that let
storm water from streets, sidewalks and rooftops flow into the ground… FITCHBURG
TO GET NEW SWIM FACILITY Tue
Aug 15 2006 - After operating out of two hotel pools on the west side for
three years, Kittelson Swim School announced that it is partnering with
Landgraf Construction Inc. and Oak Bank to build a new aquatic facility in
Fitchburg. The building will be located at 5200 Anton Drive, just north of the
County PD (McKee Road) and U.S. 18/151 (Verona Road) intersection. Ground is
scheduled to be broken on Aug. 24 with construction to be completed by the
start of 2007… Mazomanie
Poised For New Park - Village, Railroad Arrive At A Deal Tuesday,
August 15, 2006 - Work is anticipated to begin this month on a new Mazomanie
park that's been several years in the making. The park will be located on both
sides of the active railroad line that runs through the western Dane County
village's historic downtown district. Plans include a gazebo band shell,
shelter structures, an outdoor movie screen, grass seating berms, an oak tree
canopy and a pond with a replica of a millrace, a canal for water that turns a
mill wheel… OPINION
- Lift City Limits On Prime Lot
Tuesday,
August 15, 2006 - Madison Should Give Developers More Freedom To Propose A
Mixed-use Project With Parking For State Street Shoppers. An above-ground
parking garage is not the best use of a prime Downtown Madison lot. Instead,
the city should loosen restrictions on the site's redevelopment to attract
other projects. Developer Curt Brink proposed a $26 million project for the
city-owned Buckeye surface lot on the 200 block of Gilman and Gorham streets.
The city was to build the underground parking, while Brink was to build the
above-ground condos, retail and parking… OPINION
Tighten Oversight Of State Bucks Monday,
August 14, 2006 - Greater Scrutiny And Accountability Are Needed To Ensure
Wisconsin's Important Economic Development Programs Are Working For
Entrepreneurs And The Economy. State officials need to streamline and better
monitor Wisconsin's economic development programs. These initiatives, when
efficiently managed and scrutinized, can help businesses and industries
flourish. Instead, many programs are duplicative, outdated and aren't closely
tracked and reported, a state audit found last week… Sunday,
August 13, 2006 - Many Landlord Don't Want To Rent To Section 8 Housing Aid
Recipients, And There's An Effort To Ban Rejecting Recipients Simply Because
They Get The Subsidy. For most of the last 10 years, Madison landlord Rose
LeTourneau has rented to Section 8 tenants with positive results. Yet for two
years she opted out of the federal program, not because of tenant problems but
because dealing with the local housing agency became too frustrating… Commerical
Building Is Strong In Suburbs - Construction Update 2006: Commercial Sunday,
August 13, 2006 - If you're out in search of construction crews putting up a
new row of stores or an office building, look no farther than Madison's
suburbs. There's just as much commercial building under way outside the city
as there is within Madison now -- in fact, a little bit more. "It's not
surprising," said Michael Reisinger, vice president of brokerage services
for commercial real estate firm CB Richard Ellis in Madison… T.
Wall Properties Raises $12 Million Saturday,
August 12, 2006 - T. Wall Properties recently raised $12 million through two
debt and equity offerings. The offerings increased the number of investors in
Wall's limited partnership to 210 and provided money for the company's
purchase of Greenway Center, eight office buildings in Middleton. The company
now owns or controls more than 2.3 million square feet of office space and
more than 600… Around
The State Pabst
project moves ahead - Purchase complete, investor hopes to secure city funding
by year's end Aug.
16, 2006 - Having completed the $13 million purchase of the former Pabst
brewery complex, real estate investor Joseph Zilber said Wednesday he is
moving forward with plans to redevelop the 21-acre site on downtown
Milwaukee's northwestern edge… Settlement
could spur development
- It clears the way for other Pabst Farms projects, officials say Aug.
17, 2006 - Oconomowoc - Settlement of the Aurora Health Care lawsuit against
the city sets the stage for a rapid pace of development in the Pabst Farms
area as the economic growth of the metro area continues its advance to the
western edge of Waukesha County, officials said Thursday… Pact
gives Pabst Farms site a boost while hurting chances of Delafield proposal Posted:
Aug. 16, 2006 - Prospects have brightened for a huge, new shopping center
proposed for the Pabst Farms development, with an Oconomowoc Common Council
vote this week helping clear the way for the project… Regional
economic group stimulates investment through tax credits
MANITOWOC
-- August 13, 2006— The North East Wisconsin Regional Economic Partnership (NEWREP),
one of the state's eight technology zones, has awarded more than $3 million in
tax credits to companies in Northeast Wisconsin. Companies receiving tax
credits… FARM
REAL ESTATE HITS RECORD VALUE IN STATE Sat
Aug 12 2006 - The value of farm real estate in Wisconsin, including land and
buildings, reached a new high of $3,200 per acre at the start of this year,
the Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics Service reported. The value is up $350
per acre over the state figure from 2005. Wisconsin had the 19th highest value
per acre and was well above the national average of $1,900 per acre… New
Milwaukee Amtrak station on track Redo of 1965 building to be completed in
year Posted
August 14, 2006 - It took a few years to get rolling, but on Monday, the
state, city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee Intermodal Partners celebrated the
remodeling of Milwaukee’s downtown train station. “While we wanted to get
construction going earlier, our team collectively decided to get the design
right,” said Scott Mayer, president of Milwaukee Intermodal Partners… Developers
propose housing, industrial projects Wauwatosa
- Aug. 16, 2006 - Whether the city should support construction of multifamily
housing or light industry on the city-owned landfill site south of the
Wauwatosa Police Station is the question under consideration by a committee of
elected officials. This summer, four developers have been vying for the
confidence of the Community Development Committee, which has heard
presentations over the past few months. The committee plans to select one of
the residential projects and pit that developer against Cobalt Partners, which
has proposed light industrial and logistical use for the site… Sub-Zero
unveils blog for winelovers Sub-Zero
of Madison, which makes refrigerators and freezers, as well as wine storage
coolers, has launched a wine blog on the Internet at
http://blog.subzerowine.com/ .
The blog, which offers advice on drinking and storing wine, features three
main contributors: Andrea Immer Robinson, an expert in wine and food pairings;
Michael Green, wine and spirits consultant for Gourmet magazine; and Anthony
Dias Blue, who has been associated with Bon Appetit magazine for more than 25
years… Keeping
Business At Home - Business Is Booming At Feature-laden Hotel In Iowa County. Saturday,
August 12, 2006 - If Todd King had any doubts about opening a hotel, waterpark
and banquet facility in Iowa County, those concerns have likely been erased.
The 5,000-square-foot banquet facility, for example, has only four open
Saturdays through July. And the hotel, open just three weeks, is booked solid
for this weekend. "It turned out better than we ever expected," said
King, general manager of Deer Valley Lodge in Barneveld, about 30 miles west
of Madison… Broker
to help with development plan Lee
& Associates, a national commercial real estate broker with a Madison
office, has been hired to create a retail development plan for Bielinski
Homes, a Waukesha County homebuilder. Steve Doran and John Walsh, Madison
office principals of Lee & Associates, will direct the plan, which will
determine where stores should be located in the homebuilder's 11 residential
subdivisions in southeast Wisconsin. (Entire Story) Green
Lake Detour sends drivers 50 miles
August
14, 2006 - Green Lake (AP) - A detour that bypasses road work near this
popular vacation spot sends motorists more than 50 miles out of their way,
even though there’s a five-minute alternative nearby. The
construction work is being done about 10 miles west of Green Lake, on a
10-block stretch of state Highway 23 in Princeton. Locals avoid the
construction by taking legal shortcuts through Princeton’s downtown, about a
five-minute trip… Editors
Note: Get a map and cut through town the detour is a nightmare! Developers
offer incentives to sell condos in slow market August
14, 2006 - San Diego - The hip Atria condos have a lot to offer young
professionals and empty-nesters -- a prime downtown address, skyline views,
gym, rooftop deck and units starting at $300,000. Developers are even throwing
in free plasma TVs and $5,000 home renovation gift certificates to lure
skittish buyers in what had been one of the nation’s hottest real estate
markets. With sales stalled by a spreading slowdown, incentives are on the
rise in San Diego and other big cities that saw explosive condo construction
during the boom… Brodhead's
Kuhn Knight grows with 78,000-square-foot facility THU.,
AUG 17, 2006 - BRODHEAD - Farmers working their fields look to increase their
speed by cutting wider swaths and mixing or spreading larger loads. Kuhn
Knight, an agricultural machinery manufacturer in Brodhead, is working to meet
their demands by making bigger hay tools and larger, more innovative manure
spreaders. "We've got machines that can cut nearly 30 feet (of hay) in
one pass and easily do 250 acres in a day. That used to be a weeklong job
when… DATCP.
Announces $60,000 to help develop bio-based industry in Brown County. DATCP.
Announces $60,000 to help bio-diesel in Dane County. Governor.
Announces $390,000 to support job creation in Menasha. DATCP.
Announces $115,000 to help develop bio-based industry in Sauk County.
Development
News for the week of 08/04/06 to 08/11/06
FRI.,
AUG 11, 2006 - In a big win for landlords and developers, a state court has
struck down part of a Madison law that requires lower-cost apartments in most
new rental projects. The 4th District Court of Appeals, in a 3-0 decision
issued Thursday, said the part of the city's controversial inclusionary zoning
law that applies to rental units violates state law that bans rent control… THU.,
AUG 10, 2006 - Beer aficionado Pete Kroll is getting his wish, but he's also
patiently waiting. Brew pubs - businesses that combine beer production with a
restaurant - are on the rise, though owners say keeping them viable is a
constant challenge. By the end of the year, three more will open their taps,
giving Dane County eight brew pubs. Two are being built near malls, while the
other will open in Verona, one of the fastest- growing cities in Wisconsin… Pour
Another Round - New Glarus, Brewery Reach Agreement They
will be rolling out a lot more barrels in New Glarus, and the taxpayers will
be dancing for free, according to the terms of an agreement reached between
the village and New Glarus Brewing Company Thursday night… Plans
for new Badger Prairie facility get rolling August
9, 2006 - VERONA - After more than a century looming outside Verona, the
nursing facility on the east side of town is getting ready to take a lower
profile. Dane County has chosen an architect to design a new Badger Prairie
Health Care Center and is expected to break ground on the facility in about a
year. “Horty Elving has an impressive background in this field,” Dane
County Executive Kathleen Falk said in a press release issued last Thursday,
noting that the firm has designed modern facilities for similar purposes in
Appleton and Winnebago… FRI.,
AUG 11, 2006 - Last summer, hand-painted lawn placards in the Regent, Vilas
and Dudgeon-Monroe neighborhoods supported one of two Near West Side
possibilities: A neighborhood grocery where none had been since 2001, or a
cooperative like the Willy Street Co-op on the East Side. The co-op couldn't
afford the upscale rent at the Monroe Commons condominium and retail building
under construction in the 1800 block of Monroe Street, according to Brendon
Smith, Willy Street's communications manager. Instead, Trader Joe's, a
national chain, is scheduled to open Oct. 20th at Monroe Commons… Grand
Canyon Redux - Panera To Add West Side Outlet Tuesday,
August 8, 2006 - The redevelopment of Grand Canyon Drive is continuing with
Panera Bread coming to 8613 Mineral Point Road, a site that has housed with
mixed success a variety of restaurants over a 25-year period. The
Madison Plan Commission Monday approved a plan from Flad Development to
demolish the building most recently home… Staying
Right At Home Chamberlain Research Takes New Digs In City Thursday,
August 10, 2006 - When the Madison City Council started debating a law
requiring companies to offer paid sick leave to their employees, Sharon
Chamberlain got more than a little nervous. The local businesswoman had just
committed to moving her growing Chamberlain Research Consultants across the
street into a brand new $5 million office building on John Nolen Drive next to
the Sheraton Hotel. But with the sick leave issue up in the air, Chamberlain
starting worrying… Six
County Governments Agree To Parkway Proposal Thursday,
August 10, 2006 - The North Mendota Parkway is a step closer to reality. Six
local governments announced today an agreement that will identify natural
resources to be protected as well as a two-year moratorium on development in
the corridor. Officials from Dane County, the cities of Madison and Middleton,
the village of Waunakee and the towns of Westport and Springfield made the
announcement… Tax
Credits Support Cap Tel Expansion Thursday,
August 10, 2006 The Funds Will Help Create A New Office And More Madison Jobs.
CapTel, a Madison company that provides captioned telephone service for people
who are deaf or hearing-impaired, is getting $3 million in tax credits from
the state to open a call center in Milwaukee that could employ 600 people or
more over the next five years. The expansion won't eliminate any of CapTel's
600 full-time and part-time jobs at the company's primary call center in
Madison, spokeswoman Jackie Morgan said. In fact, it will create more… Audit
Finds Fault With State Programs Wednesday,
August 9, 2006 Results Of State Economic Development Programs Are Not
Evaluated And Programs Overlap, Audit Says. In spite of spending $152.8
million on grants, loans and other economic development costs in the 2003 to
2005 budget, Wisconsin does not have a strong system for evaluating and
comparing the actual results of these programs, according to an audit released
Tuesday... Thursday,
August 10, 2006 – Madison - 3502 Dennett Drive, 16-unit condominium,… Madison
nixes mixed-use project - City says parking portion too costly August
8, 2006 - Businesses on State Street in Madison will have to wait just a
little longer for a parking ramp for customers. The city of Madison ended
negotiations last week with developer Curt Brink on his proposed condo, retail
and parking project just off the street near Gilman and Gorham streets. The
city budgeted $11.5 million for the underground parking portion of the $26
million project, which it agreed to pay for if Brink paid for the construction
of the condos and retail space. But rising construction costs and other
parking projects have rendered… Tuesday,
August 8, 2006 - Sporting air conditioning, large rooms, walk-in closets and
high ceilings, The University of Wisconsin’s newest dormitory, Newell J.
Smith Hall, is anything but ordinary when it comes to residence halls. Located
on Park Street between Dayton and Regent Streets, Smith Hall is set to open
for the fall semester, and, according to University Housing Director Paul
Evans, the new dormitory offers an updated design more suitable for today’s
college students… Be
Sure To Look At Function First Thursday,
August 10, 2006 - Ventilation, lighting and garbage are hardly the sexy things
that people think about when it comes to kitchen design, but they're
incredibly important to the function of the room. So
plan for them early on in a remodeling project because it's much harder -- and
more costly -- to get it right after the fact. That's the advice of Celia
Kuperszmid Lehrman, a senior projects editor at Consumer Reports in New York
City. The
August issue of Consumer… Sunday,
August 6, 2006 - Developer George Gialamas was among the first to extend
Madison's borders beyond the Beltline. He paid for sewer and water lines under
the Beltline near West Towne Mall to build High Point Center, a strip retail
development, and High Point Plaza, an office building. Later, he battled in
court to get Old Sauk Trails Park annexed to Madison. All but 40 acres of the
486-acre office park along Old Sauk Road are occupied… Southeast
Business Park Breaks Ground Saturday,
August 5, 2006 - Construction has begun on the Tradewinds Business Centre on
the Southeast Side. The
27-acre, mixed-use commercial real estate development at 4810 Tradewinds
Parkway features a 45,000-square-foot anchor building that will be home to
four companies. The project includes 12 other lots, most of which are between
two and three acres. Officials with B&R Enterprises, the developer… Cinema
For Southeast Side - Marcus Plans 12 Screens Tuesday,
August 8, 2006 - A new 12-screeen cinema may soon be rising on Madison's
southeast side. Marcus Theatres is planning a 1,484-seat cinema complex in the
Tradewinds Business Centre. Plans for the 36,316-square-foot theater building,
with 428 parking stalls, will be unveiled Wednesday before the city's Urban
Design Commission. The
10-acre Marcus site is being purchased from B&R Enterprises of Madison,
developers of the 27-acre mixed-use Tradewinds development… City
Drops Project Developer - The Mayor Now Is Considering A $3 Million Parking
Garage Tuesday,
August 8, 2006 - The 30-year dream for more mid-State Street parking is back
to square one. The
city has cut talks with developer Curt Brink on his proposed $26 million,
Victorian-style condo, retail and parking project just off the street. Mayor
Dave Cieslewicz is now exploring a simple, $3 million above-ground parking
garage on the core of the site -- the city-owned Buckeye surface lot on the
200 block of Gilman and Gorham streets… Around
The State Manufacturing
up in Rock, Green, Lafayette FRI.,
AUG 11, 2006 - Manufacturing is staging a rebound in three of five south-
central Wisconsin counties, a UW-Whitewater report says. Rock, Green and
Lafayette counties each saw factory jobs increase more than 4 percent during
the January-March quarter over the same period last year, says the Stateline
Regional Economic Report by the UW-Whitewater Fiscal & Economic Research
Center… Local
Call Firm Adds Milwaukee Center Thursday,
August 10, 2006 - Confirming previous reports, a Madison company has announced
plans to open a call center in downtown Milwaukee that could be employing 200
people next year and eventually up to 600. Captel Inc., a unit of
Madison-based Ultratec Inc. that provides phone captioning service for people
who are deaf or hard of hearing, held a news conference in Milwaukee Wednesday
to announce the captioning center… Green
Lake center to sell 150 acres - $25 million-plus sale will fund pastor renewal Aug.
9, 2006 - Green Lake Conference Center plans to sell part of its 1,000-acre
spiritual retreat on Wisconsin's deepest lake, using proceeds from the
possible $25 million-plus sale to help America's pastors revitalize their
congregations and reach out to everyday "unchurched" people… Developer's
request denied after Doyle reopened bid
August
5, 2006 - PORT WASHINGTON - A contractor can't introduce correspondence it
claims shows it won a lucrative state construction project months before the
deal went to a firm that donated to Gov. Jim Doyle's campaign as evidence, a
judge ruled Friday. A developer called Prism has asked Ozaukee County Circuit
Judge Paul V. Malloy to review a decision by Doyle's administration to reopen
the bidding process… Commerce
Bluff condo owners sue developer
Aug.
9, 2006 - Units are said to have bowed walls, moisture, mold… The developer
of a 12-unit condominium building just north of downtown Milwaukee is being
sued over alleged construction defects. Tim Dixon was named in the lawsuit
filed in Milwaukee County Circuit Court by the owners of nine units at the
Commerce Bluff condo development, 1801-1809 N. Commerce St… EDITORIAL
Oconomowoc Subdivision's Defeat An Inspiration To Farm Preservation Monday,
August 7, 2006 - A look at some recent decisions by governments in the
counties near Milwaukee suggests a collective nervous breakdown. Some of the
most visible evidence: The city of Waukesha's Plan Commission approved
locating 200 high-end homes on 333 acres of annexed land at the edge of
Waukesha County's priceless Vernon Marsh, though the plan will severely
stretch service delivery in a sprawling community… Grandeur
of Kilbourn bridge to be restored August
8, 2006 - When the designs for the Kilbourn Avenue bridge showed up at
Milwaukee’s Department of Public works in the mid-1920s, city staff sent
them back. It wanted something grander, said Craig Liberto, Milwaukee
Department of Public Works structural design manager. After all, Kilbourn
Avenue was named after one of the city’s founding fathers, and the boulevard
was a mainline leading to City Hall, which was the city’s tallest building
at the time. Modern
Milwaukeeans should recognize the design… Retailers
Ink 70,000 SF in New WI Leases August
8, 2006 - MILWAUKEE-The retail market in the Midwest is heating up with a
string of new leases coordinated by Mid-America Real Estate-Wisconsin LLC. The
largest lease was more than 30,000 sf; the sum of the leases total 69,338 sf.
TJX Cos. signed a lease with Continental Properties for 30,672 sf at a new
retail center on Maple and County Line roads in Germantown, with plans to open
a TJ Maxx store in spring 2007. This will be the retailer’s third location
opened in Wisconsin this year… Governor.
Announces $3 million to help Captel, Inc. create 600 new jobs. Tomah
Journal.
Ethanol plant slated for construction. Aug.
6, 2006 – Communication Spot Filmworks, a Madison commercial production
company, has signed with Michael Eha & Associates for East Coast
commercial sales representation. Construction Total Team Construction,
Brookfield, was awarded contracts to complete the suite interior… Builders
see slowdown
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