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Editor Ken Harwood (608) 334-2174 October, 2006 |
Wisconsin Development . com |
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News&Notes Development News for Dane County and Wisconsin Development
News for the week of 09/22/06 to 09/29/06 MADISON BUDGET Mayor has plan to help business FRI., SEP 29, 2006 - Reaching out to business and the political left, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz on Thursday offered a $1.6 million plan to boost the economy and create jobs. But mayoral challenger Ray Allen quickly accused Cieslewicz of being sluggish on economic development issues, calling his initiative "election- year politics."… DANE COUNTY BUDGET Falk budget 2nd story Falk Budget Is Largest Ever FRI., SEP 29, 2006 - Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk's $447.9 million budget proposal, which focuses on public safety, land conservation and human services, is true to her fiscally conservative past, at least one conservative board member said. Based on constraints brought on by state law, the county budget levy increase for 2007 is limited to 7.93 percent… Editors
Note: This is an election year… Please remember that budgets are approved
after the November 7th election and levies are established in
December. Thursday, September 28, 2006 - The seventh annual Downtown Living Tour will be Sunday from 1-5 p.m., Downtown Madison Inc. and Capitol Neighborhoods Inc. announced. The tour, which was created to showcase the opportunities and experiences of living downtown, this year will have the theme "Views With A Room" and focus on living spaces with spectacular views of the city… Wholesaler Costco Looks To Land In Middleton Friday, September 22, 2006 - Benevolent big-box retailer Costco Wholesale Corp. plans to open in Middleton. The company has a deal to buy 17.5 acres of land from the Livesey Co. bordering Middleton's Discovery Springs development and across from an entrance to the Greenway Station Shopping Center. Middleton's Plan Commission has granted… Investors join on Todd Dr. projects WED., SEP 27, 2006 - Two major investors are teaming to move forward a big redevelopment in the worn Todd Drive-South Beltline area. The Baxter family and Mortenson Investment Group, which had been pursuing separate projects that hit snags, are working on a mixed-use redevelopment plan. "We're moving aggressively, very proactively," MIG president Brad Hutter said Tuesday… Todd Drive Revamp Brought Back Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - The president of the Arbor Hills Neighborhood Association is thrilled that plans have been revived for redevelopment at Todd Drive and the Beltline Highway -- but one area property owner isn't. "It sounds to me like things are going forward again,"… Thursday, September 28, 2006 - A developer is proposing a 12-story, mixed-use project that would include, for the first time, condominiums near UW-Madison. The project also would include retail, restaurants and a health club. The condos would be marketed to families with students attending the university, young professionals and empty nesters. Fleming Development of Madison, which has done projects on the city's outskirts but not Downtown, hopes to build its "454 West"… Thursday, September 28, 2006 - Sales of new homes, after falling for three months, rose in August. But the gain was expected to be temporary as the battered housing industry struggles with a near-record level of unsold homes. The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that home sales increased by 4.1 percent last month, the best showing since an 8 percent increase last March. But even with the increase… MATC Receives Funding for Solar Panel Testing Facility WED., SEP 27, 2006 - Madison Area Technical College and the University of Wisconsin-Madison have been awarded $20,000 by the Focus on Energy program to construct a solar collector testing facility at MATC – only the second of its kind in the U.S. When fully operational, the testing lab would join the University of Central Florida’s Solar Energy Center as the only facilities in the country authorized to certify solar panels, which qualifies the homeowners who install them for tax credits and rebates… Water Worries Swell In Fitchburg - Development Talks Uncover Fears Thursday, September 28, 2006 - In the face of a proposed 1,000-acre development plan of Fitchburg's northeast side, experts and residents expressed concern Wednesday night over the future of the city's wetlands and drinking water. "We still have time to thoughtfully plan our future growth," said Rosanne Lindsay, a resident and member of the West Waubesa Preservation Coalition… HospiceCare opens new building TUE., SEP 26, 2006 - FITCHBURG - Elthea Gill doesn't know how long she has left to live, but she knows where she will die, and that alone is a comfort. The retired social worker moved into the Ellen & Peter Johnson HospiceCare Residence in Fitchburg on Sept. 11, becoming the facility's first resident. "The thing that means the most to me is that I've finally arrived - this is the end for me," said Gill, 81, who has congestive heart failure. "I don't have to do any more planning. I've found my home."… FRI., SEP 29, 2006 - The U.S. Army is giving Madison biotech ConjuGon a $730,000 grant to keep working on a treatment for bacterial infections that haven't been cured by antibiotics up to now. Established in 2002 and based on UW-Madison research, ConjuGon has developed genetically engineered, harmless bacteria… Water Utility hires quality manager TUE., SEP 26, 2006 - The Madison Water Utility has hired a water quality manager who will tackle many of the issues, such as discolored water and complaints from the public about manganese, that have plagued the agency the past two years. Joseph Grande, who has worked… Development Projects Backed For South Side Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - The Board of Estimates recommended funding three major projects that could revitalize two neighborhoods on Madison's South Side. The board voted 3-1 in support of two amendments to the city's 2007 capital budget, both of which fund development plans in the Burr Oaks neighborhood… Grant Will Pay For New Bike Trail Friday, September 22, 2006 - Dane County has received a state grant to pay for new bike trail between Highway PD and the Military Ridge State Trail at Badger Prairie County Park near Verona. The $247,280 Department of Transportation grant will pay for a 2-mile bike and pedestrian trail near, but separate from, the Ice Age Trail west of Maple Grove Drive, county park planner Chris James said. It will also help link greater Madison's west neighborhoods to the Capital City Trail and the Southwest Commuter Trail… Lights, Camera, Dining Room Action - R.G. Harriman Co. Has A Flair For The Dramatic Saturday, September 23, 2006 - The recipe for a successful restaurant design combines a dining room with style and flair with a practical kitchen. R.G. Harriman Co. of Madison, which has designed several area restaurants, brings both of those ingredients to the table. Co-owner Tim Shaw, who studied theater and television at UW-Madison, said he still uses what he learned about lighting and drama… Top-flight Women Celebrate Tempo - A Group Of Leading City Women Was Founded 25 Years Ago Friday, September 22, 2006 - In 1981, heading a business was a lonely pursuit for a woman in Madison. Jean Manchester-Biddick, then chief executive and owner of Neesvig's, a supplier of fresh meat to the restaurant industry, was well aware of that. "Women just weren't in the meat business. It was a hard-run business. And I felt very, very isolated," Manchester-Biddick said. "I needed to have some association…
Around
The State Park East plan wins approval - County Board votes to sell downtown land for hotel, condos, offices Milwaukee - Sept. 28, 2006 - $104 million proposal for a luxury hotel, condominiums, offices and retail space in downtown Milwaukee's Park East area won approval Thursday from the County Board, which voted to sell a county-owned site for the development… Developers plan $10 million retail center in central city Milwaukee - Sept. 25, 2006 - Milwaukee - A Lena's Food Market, with space for additional retail businesses, would make up a $10 million neighborhood shopping center planned for Milwaukee's central city, one of the project's partners said Monday. Developers also plan to build 70 to 90 homes nearby in a $16.5 million residential development. The 45,000-square-foot Lena's supermarket and 50,000 square feet of additional retail space would be built on 7.5 acres along the north side of W. North Ave., east of N. 25th St., said Mark Irgens of Irgens Development Partners. The vacant site is owned by the city Redevelopment Authority… DaimlerChrysler considering Kenosha plant - Decision expected by end of year September 27, 2006 - A technological innovation could lead to a major massive development in the Kenosha area. DaimlerChrysler AG is considering constructing a $500 million facility at its Kenosha engine plant that will manufacture a new V-6 engine, according to Automotive News, an auto industry trade publication. This potential development would come on the heels of a $624 million, 450,000-square-foot expansion for a new 3.5-liter engine line that Chrysler opened in 2002. The new V-6 Phoenix engine could replace four separate V-6 engines used in several Mercedes and Chrysler car models, such as the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum, by 2010. Automotive News reports that Chrysler is also considering investing $800 million in Trenton and $700 million in Toledo for Phoenix lines, although Kenosha is expected to be the first plant to produce the… Governor Unveils $80m Push For Renewable Energy - Green Camp Says It's Election Ploy Monday, September 25, 2006 - Gov. Jim Doyle was set to announce a plan today to invest $80 million in state funds in an effort to encourage the development and use of renewable energy. The governor says the state money would help leverage an additional $370 million in private investment and put the state at the forefront of the national movement to find alternative sources of fuel. The plan includes a $50 million fund to give loans to companies expanding their use and production of renewable fuels and energy… Analysts: We may avoid recession FRI.,
SEP 29, 2006 - WASHINGTON - The economy has a heavy burden on its shoulders:
the end of the housing boom. A sluggish growth spell is expected to continue
past Election Day in November. For now, though, economists believe a recession
can be avoided. Much will hinge on the extent to which the housing market
loses ground in the months ahead and how consumers and businesses react…
Stark
Buys Baraboo Coldwell Banker
Thursday,
September 28, 2006 - STARK COMPANY REALTORS ANNOUNCED THAT IT HAS ACQUIRED
COLDWELL BANKER MCGANN REALTY IN BARABOO FROM JIM MCGANN. TERMS WERE NOT
DISCLOSED. The branch will continue to be located at 1025 Eighth St. in
Baraboo. Bonnie Atkinson will move from Stark's Madison East office to manage
the Baraboo branch. All 10 Coldwell Banker agents at the office have joined
Stark, and Cassie Schreiber and Rosie Holloway will remain as support
staff….
Doctor
fees higher here - Milwaukee specialists charge more, study finds
Posted:
Sept. 28, 2006 - It can cost hundreds of dollars more to have a doctor read
the results of an MRI, perform arthroscopic knee surgery or do a colonoscopy
in Milwaukee than in other Midwest cities, according to a study on physician
fees released Thursday. The latest study - which looked at fees for
cardiologists, orthopedic surgeons…
Walker
budget draws howls - Cost of benefits blamed for big cuts; battles are looming
Posted:
Sept. 28, 2006 - It's going to be a fight. Milwaukee County Executive Scott
Walker's new budget takes on law enforcement and abolishes most skilled trade
jobs in parks with $150 million in park maintenance looming. It would end
county funding for the 211 emergency help hotline and turn away from
prevention programs for alcohol and drug addiction. The Sheriff's Department
would lose its anti-drug team. E. Michael McCann's successor as district
attorney would inherit a $2 million surprise budget cut of unspecified nature.
The court system would lose more bailiffs. Those details emerged Thursday on
top of previously announced Walker proposals…
Wal-Mart eyes Cudahy for supercenter THURSDAY, Sept. 28, 2006, - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is pursuing the possible development of a combined supermarket and discount store in Cudahy, a project that has surfaced even as the world's largest retailer seeks to expand a discount store on Milwaukee's south side into a similar supercenter… Luxury hotel for Park East area approved THURSDAY, Sept. 28, 2006 - A proposal for a luxury hotel, condominiums, offices and retail space in downtown Milwaukee's Park East area won approval today from the County Board, which voted to sell a county-owned site for the development… Dept.
of Commerce: Shawano to Receive $11,500 Economic Development Grant
Development
News for the week of 09/15/06 to 09/22/06 Capitol West gets OK on cost-cutting design changes September 19, 2006 - Everything is in order on the Alexander Co.'s stalled $110-million Capitol West condominium project. The only thing missing now are the buyers. The Madison Plan Commission Monday night unanimously approved major changes to the design, clearing the way for construction to start again on the 300 block of West Washington Avenue. The long-anticipated project - the largest mixed-use residential development in city history - has been on hold since June following demolition of the site. That has left a giant hole in the ground, the former Meriter Hospital building stripped to its skeleton and nervous parties all around… Berbee to be acquired by Fortune 500 company Monday, September 18, 2006 - Berbee Information Networks Corp., one of Wisconsin's corporate technology jewels, has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by Vernon Hills, Ill.-based CDW Corp. for $175 million in cash. Founded in 1993 by James Berbee, the company is one of the nation's largest independent providers of information technology (IT) solutions to a broad spectrum of corporate and governmental clients. Berbee is based in Madison… Berbee believes acquisition by CDW will make it a national IT player Published 09/18/06 - Madison, Wis. - CDW Corp., a $6 billion-a-year information technology product and services provider based in Vernon Hills, Ill., has agreed to acquire the stock of Madison-based Berbee Information Networks Corp. for $175 million in cash. The acquisition, which has been approved by the boards of both companies, is expected to close by… Illinois company buying Berbee TUE., SEP 19, 2006 - One of the Madison area's most successful home-grown, information technology companies, Berbee Information Networks Corp., is being sold. Berbee, a Fitchburg computer services company… Editors
note: Wisconsin, Madison, Fitchburg… I think the Collaboration Council has
it right, we are a region deserving of national attention! Sizzle fizzles: Once-hot Monona condo market cools off MONONA - With lots of seniors ready to give up their homes, Monona seemed the ideal place for a condominium boom. Now, developers of a string of condo projects are either retooling or dropping their plans. Blamed are a sagging demand for such housing and rising construction costs. Projects being rethought include Bert Slinde's Watertower Plaza at Monona Drive and Femrite Drive; Kevin Metcalfe's Riverfront Condos at Broadway… Growing green space at center of land sale THU., SEP 21, 2006 - Dane County is poised to buy 103 acres in the town of Blue Mounds that will connect a state park and a county park, making way for an extended greenway and trail system. County officials say the land between Blue Mound State Park and Brigham County Park and views of it from adjacent roads are "gorgeous."… 09/21/06 - If you guessed that something unusual was going on when State Bank of Cross Plains suddenly quit the construction work at its newly acquired piece of land on West Verona Avenue, you were right. That project has been abandoned, as State Bank will be working its way into Verona a completely different way. It’s buying Independent Bank of Verona… Epic: A look outside – Work never stops The cranes that pierce the sky on Verona’s west side have been there so long that it’s hard to imagine the horizon without them. Then again, maybe we won’t have to. The way Epic Systems keeps expanding its corporate headquarters, it seems the 27-year-old software company knows no bounds. It’s almost comical to think back to September 2001, when Epic announced it was moving from its overstuffed Madison headquarters to a 340-acre plot of Verona farmland north of U.S. Hwy 18/151. Back then, the company had just more than 500 employees and was aiming to build 300,000 square feet of office space for about $50 million. That was big. Bigger than anything else in Verona. But consider where Epic is now. The city building inspector’s office says construction at Epic has topped $278 million… Impact of research park firms pegged at $680M - University Research Park collects lucrative tenants Published 09/19/06 - Madison, Wis. - Almost everybody knows the University of Wisconsin-Madison stimulates the local economy by generating high-tech spin-off companies. But a new study has produced figures to back that assertion. Many of the 114 companies housed in the University Research Park, located three miles west of campus, are developing products based on university research. And the concentration of these innovative… UW is ninth in biotech patents THU., SEP 21, 2006 - The University of Wisconsin System ranks among the top 10 universities worldwide in biotechnology patents but falls behind several other Big Ten universities in transferring that technology to commercial uses, according to a study released today by the Milken Institute of Santa Monica, Calif. Boy Scouts Building New Service Center Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA GLACIER'S EDGE COUNCIL BROKE GROUND TUESDAY ON ITS NEW SERVICE CENTER AT 5902 MANUFACTURERS DRIVE IN THE CENTER FOR INDUSTRY & COMMERCE OFF U.S. 51. The 10,358 square-foot building, which will include office space for staff and a conference room, is scheduled to be completed in January. The land… Christian Coffeehouse Looks For New Home Monday, September 18, 2006 - Apopular Christian coffeehouse on the UW-Madison campus that weathered a public falling out with its volunteer base last year has found itself in transition again. Catacombs Coffeehouse is looking for a new home after being displaced from its longtime site due to construction. The nonprofit business, opened in 1993 by Madison… Housing Market, Inflation Slow Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - Housing construction plunged in August by 6 percent, the third consecutive decline and a much bigger setback than analysts had been forecasting. Meanwhile, wholesale prices edged up a modest 0.1 percent in August, and outside of energy and food, prices actually fell for a second… Dayton Condo Plan Nixed - Older Houses Are Preserved Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - In a vote for preserving single family homes in the downtown, the Madison Plan Commission has turned down a request from developer Pat McCaughey to demolish three older houses and build a new four-story, 20-unit brick condominium project at 415-419 W. Dayton St. The commission Monday deadlocked 3-3 on the issue with chairwoman Nan Fey deciding not to break the tie and grant the demolition permit… County Plan Group Nears Ok - Water Quality A Top Issue Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - Dane County civic planners will soon be able to get the wheels rolling once again on the future of urban development, if Gov. Jim Doyle approves the blueprint hammered out over the past four months by local municipalities for the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission. The new 13-member commission would replace the defunct Dane County Regional Planning Commission, which went out of business almost two years ago. A public hearing will be held prior to the governor approving the new commission. If all goes as planned, the new planning body could be up and running by the end of the year. "This is the best thing for Dane County," said DeForest Village President Jeff Miller… Mt. Horeb Plans Visitor Center Saturday, September 16, 2006 - A Downtown Building Will Be Converted And Will Also House The Chamber Of Commerce. In a move designed to result in a welcome center for visitors, the Mount Horeb Area Chamber of Commerce will soon be moving from a bank basement to a prime Main Street location. The village has purchased, and the chamber will help pay for… Economy called OK if people still spend MON., SEP 18, 2006 - Will Americans keep up their healthy appetite to spend money? That could determine whether the U.S. will head into a recession in 2007, Don Nichols, UW-Madison professor emeritus of economics and public affairs, told a conference at the Fluno Center on campus Friday. The "big unknown" is how consumers will respond to falling home prices - a problem on the coasts but not in the Midwest - and high oil prices, Nichols said. "If they cut spending 1 percent, we could tip into recession," he cautioned. "It's not the likelihood, but it's what I worry about… City Groups Awarded State Grants Friday, September 15, 2006 - The state is doling out nearly $1 million to help promote business development around the state, including $222,000 in six grants to Madison organizations. The grants, which were announced by Gov. Jim Doyle on Thursday, come from the Community-Based Economic Development program and the Community Development Block Grant program. The Community-Based Economic Development… Condos Aid Stoughton Growth - The Townhouse-style Condos Are Called Unique To The Area. Sunday, September 17, 2006 - The just-completed Cedarbrook Condominiums are part of the growing east side of this Dane County community. The townhouse-style condos were constructed as a six-unit building at 1825 Cedarbrook Lane. They're across the street from single-family homes in the Eastwood subdivision off Highway N a block from East Main Street…
Around
The State $70 million ethanol plant in Dover proposed September 18, 2006 - The town of Dover wants an ethanol plant that the neighboring village of Union Grove does not. It will be up to Racine County to play Solomon and determine which municipality gets its druthers, and cutting the plant in half is not an option. The county’s Economic Development and Land Use Planning Committee was scheduled to vote on a $70 million ethanol plant proposal in Dover Monday night. But Planning and Development Department Director … Who's right about Wisconsin - CDW or RedPrairie? Published 09/20/06 - Madison, Wis. - Two news stories in the past week have stirred debate about the future of Wisconsin's high-tech sector. Is the state competing in the global economy, as CDW Corp.'s acquisition of Berbee Information Networks Corp. suggests, or a low-talent, high-tax backwater, as RedPrairie executive John Jazwiec repeatedly insists?… Park East plan OK'd - Panel urges new level of oversight on area's developments Sept. 18, 2006 - A $70 million development proposed for the Park East area won approval Monday from a County Board committee, but only after supervisors voted to add a new level to the county's approval process for such proposals… Doyle seeks $2.5M for biomedical alliance Published 09/20/06 - Madison, Wis. - Gov. Jim Doyle is urging the Wisconsin Legislature to accept a $2.5 million earmark for biomedical research in southeastern Wisconsin. If re-elected in November, Doyle will attach the funds to his proposed 2007-09 executive budget to support the Biomedical Technology Alliance, a group of investors… DWD
Doyle administration awards $135,000 to Fox Valley Technical College Child
Care Center DWD
New North partnership receives $50,000 GROW grant DWD
West Central Wisconsin Regional Development Coalition receives $80,000
"GROW" grant DWD
Doyle administration awards $110,000 to Eau Claire, Chippewa and Dunn child
care centers DPI
Four districts share $335,000 in Continuous Improvement grants DWD
Southeastern Wisconsin's Regional Workforce Alliance receives $110,000
"GROW" grant TUE., SEP 19, 2006 - New York Times SAN FRANCISCO - Researchers were set to announce that they have created a silicon- based chip that can produce laser beams. The advance will make it possible to use laser light rather than wires to send data between chips, removing the most significant bottleneck in computer design… Editors Note: I know not Wisconsin – not development – but WAY COOL read the article…
Development
News for the week of 09/08/06 to 09/15/06 4th Annual Wilderness Run/Walk Conservancy Place 9/16/2006 - The 4th Annual Run/Walk will take place at Conservancy Place on Saturday, September 16, 2006 winding through the nature trails on site. Enjoy the sun and come out and walk or run the trails at Conservancy Place. Doyle vs. Green on taxes tonight FRI., SEP 15, 2006 - Think of Tuesday's primary as the appetizer. Now, it's on to the main event. The next course leading up to the Nov. 7 general election gets served tonight in Waukesha, with the first debate between gubernatorial candidates Jim Doyle, the Democratic incumbent, and U.S. Rep. Mark Green, his Republican challenger. Extending a hand - New group sees Milwaukee, Madison cooperation as key to regional growth Posted: Sept. 11, 2006 - Better highways and high-speed rail, more university research dollars and stronger ties between Milwaukee and Madison are needed to build an economic dynamo in southern Wisconsin that competes with other regions throughout the world, political and business leaders said Monday. The event marked what Barrett jokingly called "a second date" for the M2 Collaborative… FRI., SEP 15, 2006 - What embattled entrepreneur and race car driver Eric Schwartz said he enjoyed most about the restaurant business were the openings, especially designing, refurbishing and decorating a new restaurant. He didn't like the chronic financial struggle to stay in business in a highly competitive industry. Schwartz, 49, who founded Upstairs Downstairs Deli with a partner at age 19 and… September
2006 - In Business Magazine Local
news and briefs--expanded from the print version! Plans For Allied Drive Unveiled Monday, September 11, 2006 - Three visions for the Allied Drive neighborhood were unveiled at a presentation Sunday night, the results of four days of intensive brainstorming by Allied Drive residents, architects, city planners and leaders. The plans offered varying levels of reconstruction to 129 housing units the city of Madison recently bought for $4.3 million. They all emphasized security from violence, green spaces, gathering places and buildings that can be used for residences or commercial opportunities… Residents voice concerns about new power line FRI., SEP 15, 2006 - Fitchburg residents whose families were some of Dane County's earliest settlers were among the dozens of people at a public meeting Thursday evening about plans for a new power line from Fitchburg to Verona. American Transmission Co., which owns and operates the high-voltage power… County Sees Plunge In Housing Starts Wednesday, September 13, 2006 - Housing starts in Dane County were down more than 50 percent to 111 last month from 219 in August 2005. For the first eight months of 2006, the number of single-family and duplex permits was down 36 percent to 1,043 from 1,632 issued during the same period last year. Madison permits dropped to 33 from 70 during August 2005 while… Carbon tetrachloride level shuts down water well FRI., SEP 15, 2006 - High levels of carbon tetrachloride, an industrial carcinogen, have forced the Madison Water Utility to shut down a well that provides drinking water for neighborhoods on the east side of the Isthmus, including East High School… Thursday, September 14, 2006 - There are four growing sand islands in Lake Wingra and its adjacent ponds, and the city of Madison is working with the lake's advocacy group to get rid of one of them. Genesis Bichanich, the city's water resource specialist, said the city applied May 15 to the state Department of Natural Resources for a permit to dredge a small area in front of the Wingra Park boathouse… THU., SEP 14, 2006 - Forward Community Investments will honor an individual, a nonprofit organization and a corporation at its first statewide Community Builder Awards reception today at Monona Terrace. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the awards ceremony begins at 6 p.m. Rick Phelps, senior vice president of M&I Bank, will be the master of ceremonies… Written In Stone - Fitchburg Town Center Embraces Environment Thursday, September 14, 2006 - The new Town Center has been billed as this city's "signature project." Given the attention to detail it's hard to argue with that assessment. With its clay tile roofing, cut limestone terraces, cedar siding and copper accents, it's clear the developers have spared no expense. A $22 million price tag -- the most expensive single commercial real estate project in Dane County this year -- suggests as much… FITCHBURG CENTER TIMELINE LARGE
PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS
BUILDING
PERMITS
Great Wolf chairman resigns - Neviaser had sparked talk — later refuted — of impending sale Posted: Sept. 12, 2006 -The chairman of Madison-based Great Wolf Resorts Inc. has resigned, one month after he raised speculation that the company might be sold. Bruce Neviaser, in a statement released Tuesday, said he has left Great Wolf "to pursue other investment opportunities." A company statement declined to elaborate… OPINION - Clarify But Don't Clamp Down Law Wednesday, September 13, 2006 - Madison certainly needs Clear Standards For When And Why Buildings Are Demolished. But Clarifying The City Law Should Not Become An Excuse To Needlessly Tighten It. It's easy to say an old building should be renovated and preserved for history's sake. It's much harder to actually come up with the money to save a century-old structure, especially if it's run down or even dangerous to inhabit… Forecast Predicts Sluggish Growth Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - The economic expansion, which began in late 2001, still has staying power although growth will be sluggish through the rest of the year, business economists predict. The forecast by the National Association for Business Economics has gross domestic product growing at a 2.6 percent annual rate in both the current July-September quarter and in the final three months of the year… Local Job Outlook Steady - Survey Reports 30% Hiring In Fall Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - Those looking for a job in the last three months of the year in the Madison area will do so in a typically positive climate, according to Manpower Inc.'s quarterly Employment Outlook Survey. For the fourth quarter, 30 percent of local companies interviewed said they plan to hire more employees, while 13 percent expect to reduce their payrolls… She Puts Wind In The Sails Of Entrepreneurs Sunday, September 10, 2006 - If there were a Dolly Levi of the business world, it might be Joan Gillman. Levi was the heroine of Thornton Wilder's novel, "The Matchmaker," later recast as the musical and movie, "Hello, Dolly." Gillman, an internationally known expert on small business and entrepreneurship, is a master matchmaker -- we call it networking now -- with contacts in Madison and around the world. As head of Special Industry Programs for the UW-Madison School of Business Executive Education program… Saturday, September 9, 2006 - I was next to the World Trade Center when it fell, and for the past five years, people have regularly asked me, "How has it changed your life?" This month, for the first time, I can say, "I moved to Madison." I was at the corner of Liberty and Broadway when the first tower fell… Editors
Note: An excellent 9/11 story if you missed it… well worth the read. Legal Challenge Likely On Section 8 Measure Saturday, September 9, 2006 - Starting April 1, Landlords Cannot Treat Tenants Differently Solely Because Of Their Housing Subsidy. Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk will sign a County Board measure that prohibits landlords from rejecting tenants solely because they receive Section 8 rental assistance, her office said Friday. The proposal was approved by the board early Friday following several hours of debate that began Thursday evening. The vote was 18-14 with five members absent… Around
The State Postal Service considering new building in region - Development process still in its early stages Posted: Sept. 14, 2006 - The U.S. Postal Service is again considering the possible development of a new mail processing and distribution center in southeastern Wisconsin, a project that could create one of the area's largest light industrial buildings… Sendik's proposed as anchor tenant in Franklin - Plan for upscale grocer reflects area's growth Posted: Sept. 14, 2006 - A Sendik's supermarket is in the works for Franklin, marking the first time that upscale grocery chain - known throughout the North Shore and western suburbs - has ventured south of I-94. The Sendik's store is proposed as an anchor tenant within a 295,000-square-foot shopping center that developer Mark Carstensen plans to build at the southeast corner of Highway 100 and W. Drexel Ave., said Ashley Booth, Franklin's senior planner… Wisconsin Briefing Nelson & Schmidt executive buys office building and other ED stories Posted: Sept. 14, 2006 - The president of a Milwaukee brand consulting firm has purchased a downtown office building, which will be renovated into the firm's new headquarters. An investors group formed by Daniel Nelson Jr., president of Nelson & Schmidt Inc., recently purchased the 19,300-square-foot building at 600-606 E. Wisconsin Ave., according to city building inspection records… Alliant Rates Cut, Refund Coming Thursday, September 14, 2006 - NATURAL GAS COSTS THAT ENDED UP MUCH LOWER THAN PROJECTED HAVE LED TO A RATE CUT AND REFUNDS TO CUSTOMERS FOR ALLIANT ENERGY'S STATE UTILITY UNIT WISCONSIN POWER & LIGHT CO., THE Rates will decrease by 4.5 percent and the utility also will refund nearly $30 million to customers as a result of a fuel audit, the PSC said. The refund, which includes 11.5 percent interest, will be about $25 for the typical residential customer… Nine months is a long time to look at a hole in the ground that once was an important part of the main street in Sauk City. In November, a fire destroyed two longtime businesses in Sauk City this Wisconsin River town and caused heavy damage to another on Water Street. Hopes of a major reconstruction effort were buoyed this spring as owners weighed on-again, off-again offers for Robert Nachreiner's Tri-County… 12 new east side condos aim at affordability Posted: Sept. 12, 2006 - A local developer plans to build 12 condominiums on Milwaukee's east side, where he says demand is shifting from larger, more expensive units to condos that are more affordable to younger professionals… Sunday, September 10, 2006 - They Will Be Part Of The Marquette Interchange Project And Will Depict The City's Underground Railroad Role. New murals depicting Milwaukee's involvement in helping slaves reach freedom and the eclectic neighborhood of Bronzeville are being painted as part of the Marquette Interchange Project. Milwaukee artist Ras 'Ammar Nsoroma is working on the Underground Railroad murals on the overpass that spans Fond du Lac Avenue just west of Downtown. His murals as well as others by artists on the nearby Walnut Street… Posted: Sept. 14, 2006 - Plan commissioners want more information before they vote on a final plan approval for Stone Pointe Condominiums, members told the developer this week… Loosened steel makes Powerade Iceport site unsafe, Cudahy building inspector says Posted: Sept. 15, 2006 - Cudahy - The shell of what was once envisioned as a $29 million ice arena has been reduced to rusted and fallen steel that the city building inspector has condemned as unsafe and ordered razed… Posted: Sept. 13, 2006 - An estimated $50 million residential-retail project that will put a new face on Lake Park Golf Course has taken its first step. Late last month, Lake Park Golf Course, W17300 Mequon Road, was sold to Pewaukee-based VJS Development Group and Frank Romano and Troy Schmidt. The course and is now known as Blackstone Creek Golf Club. While he would not say how much money the transaction involved… Banta Corp. plans to cut 500 jobs, close or sell five facilities Posted September 14, 2006 -MENASHA — Banta Corp. today announced plans to cut 500 jobs companywide, or about 6 percent of its work force, to improve its competitive position. The company also said it would close five print facilities… WisDOT.
Wisconsin's Great River Road scenic byway to benefit from $662,964 in federal
funds. Governor.
Announces nearly $1 million for business development, homes for low income
families. WisDOT.
$173,100 project at Portage Municipal Airport (environmental assessment, etc) WisDOT.
$166,667 project at Boyceville Municipal Airport (land purchase). WisDOT.
$180,000 project at Price County Airport (runway extension). WisDOT.
$402,106 project at Rusk County Airport (fuel facility, hangar apron). WisDOT.
$137,895 project at King's Land O'Lakes Airport (building purchase). WisDOT.
$75,000 project at Mauston-New Lisbon Airport (taxiway design, airport layout
plan). WisDOT.
$1.7 million at Marshfield Municipal Airport (terminal bldg). Editors Note: I am considering going into the Municipal Airport construction business… Development
News for the week of 09/01/06 to 09/08/06 Election
Day Tuesday September 12th Wednesday, September 6, 2006 - Mayor Dave Cieslewicz wants to start automated garbage collection, build a mid-State Street parking garage and improve the water system in a $166.9 million capital budget for 2007. The mayor is also proposing to deliver money for accelerated street repairs, native plants and trees in medians in no-mow areas, and to start a Door Creek area park on the far East Side that will rival Elver Park on the West. "There was not too much I wasn't able to do… Editors Note: Do you think area development will be credited for creating the revenues that allow for much of the capitol improvements outlined in the Mayors budget? BUDGET
REQUESTS OVER LIMIT
Thu Sep 7 2006 - Approving budget requests from Dane County department heads would mean increasing the county's tax levy more than is allowed by state law. County Executive Kathleen Falk is taking those requests under consideration, and will put out her own budget by Oct. 1 after getting input from County Board members… Venture fund will invest in state WED., SEP 6, 2006 - A new venture capital fund will invest in startup life sciences and information technology companies in Wisconsin and other Midwestern states. Avolte Venture Partners Midwest plans to invest $1 million to $3 million per company, averaging two to three deals per year, said Mike McNally, a managing partner of the fund. It is a sector fund of the Peak Ridge Capital Group based in Boston. McNally is chief executive officer of Peak Ridge. "The most successful funds don't invest in more than three a year because they need to make sure all the I's are dotted and the T's are crossed… Wealth In Wisconsin: New Study Projects Generations to Transfer $687 Billion in 50 Years SEPTEMBER 6, 2006 - Wisconsin’s Certified Community Foundations: Charitable Investments Enhance Community Viability. A new study projects $687 billion will be transferred among Wisconsin generations by 2050, with $105 billion changing hands by 2010. Commissioned by the state’s 21 Certified Community Foundations, the study includes county-by-county projections showing the transfer of wealth from one generation to the next. The ‘Transfer of Wealth in Wisconsin’ report shows how charitable giving could help preserve our quality of life… OPINION Plan A Good Start For Regional Unit Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - The Blueprint Envisions A Dynamic Development Entity To Promote The Region. With areas all over the world competing for the same jobs and workers, it's crucial that Dane County and the Capital Region stand out. A regional economic growth organization aims to do just that with the help of a draft plan. The plan focuses on the area's immense potential, and recognizes the need for an umbrella entity that will channel, market and publicize regional growth opportunities. Guided by the plan, unveiled Thursday, a Regional Economic Development Entity will… Illinois Biotech Company Will Move To Fitchburg Wednesday, September 6, 2006 - An Evanston, Ill., Biotechnology Company that says it has a better way to discover drugs will move to the Fitchburg Technology Campus later this month. Caden Biosciences -- formerly Cue Biotech -- also is getting a new name and $5.85 million in first-round funding, including $500,000 from the state Investment Board. "We're excited about (the move)," said chief financial officer Geoffrey Trukenbrod. "There's a significant scientific management and (biological) tool base in Madison… Deerfield Poised To Annex 209 Acres - Would Be Village's Biggest Addition Thursday, September 7, 2006 - The Village Board could act Monday night on a petition by DeForest developers Don and Joanne Tierney to annex 209 acres of town of Deerfield farmland for development as a residential neighborhood. It would be the largest annexation in village history, according to Deerfield Administrator Dean Otte. He said members of the board and planning commission… Neighbors Still Not Happy With Hilldale Thursday, September 7, 2006 - Updated development plans for Hilldale Shopping Center presented to the Urban Design Commission eliminate some stacked townhouses that had been planned next to the parking structure and offer more detail about how the project will look. Area residents, though, still appear to oppose the project, although only four appeared before the commission on Wednesday. Al Martin, who staffs the commission, said… Energy and Environmental Forum - September 12 We invite you to attend Energy Transition 2050: Building our Energy Future, taking place on September 12, 2006 in Madison, Wisconsin.This year, ET2050 will be the venue for sharing ideas on technologies, policies and practices we can use to reduce CO2 emissions. The event will include presentations on the role of coal in a low carbon economy, regional roadmaps for the energy transition, and the next phase in our region’s booming bio-economy… THU., SEP 7, 2006 - American Transmission Co. said Wednesday it will propose a 138- kilovolt transmission line from a new substation in Fitchburg to Highway 18 in Verona.Four miles of the proposed six-mile, $21.8 million project would travel along Adams Road, already equipped with 69-kilovolt lines. A stretch along Fish Hatchery Road, to just north of Irish Lane, would be new and would connect to the new substation.The proposal is separate from a larger plan to build a major 345-kilovolt transmission line across the width of Dane County… Allied Drive should go for it (editorial) TUE., SEP 5, 2006 - Madison's troubled Allied Drive neighborhood will try to accomplish in just a few days this week what other areas of the city would normally take months or longer to pull off. The city and other sponsors are hosting an unusual, four-day series of planning sessions Thursday through Sunday at a Boys and Girls Club of Dane County center at 4619 Jenewein Road. The goal is to create a new vision for specific Allied Drive… Store at Hilldale sports a Macy's look THU., SEP 7, 2006 - The conversion from Marshall Field's to Macy's at Hilldale Shopping Center is almost complete but there were still signs Thursday of the Chicago retail icon. Green and white Marshall Field's shopping bags were in use, and clerks at the 170,000- square-foot department store wore Marshall Field's name tags… OPINION Biotech Support Pays Dividends Thursday, September 7, 2006 - To Capitalize On Its Biotechnology Potential, Wisconsin Should Continue To Invest In Uw-madison And In Regional Collaboration. Is Dane County really becoming nationally known as a hotbed for biotechnology, with the potential to generate jobs and income for Wisconsin as well as medical advancements for mankind? Are the millions of dollars… Jefferson Ethanol Interest Sold JEFFERSON, WI - Eastgate LLC has sold it’s interest in the Jefferson Grain Processors facility in Jefferson, WI. It plans on investing the proceeds in 875 E. Wisconsin, a property recently acquired by investors sponsored by Wangard Advisors, LLC… LARGE
PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS
From
Wisconsin State Journal, Thu Sep 7 2006
BUILDING
PERMITS
From
Wisconsin State Journal, Thu Sep 7 2006
Productivity Slows While Wages Rise Thursday, September 7, 2006 - Productivity -- the amount of output per hour of work -- increased at an annual rate of 1.6 percent in the April-June quarter, slightly better than the 1.1 percent increase estimated a month ago but down from a 4.3 percent growth rate in the January-March period. Wages registered a second sizable increase, rising at an annual rate of 4.9… Hilldale Plan Gets Positive Response Thursday, September 7, 2006 - Revised plans for the redevelopment of Hilldale Shopping Center have edged closer to gaining approval from Madison's Urban Design Commission amid lingering concerns including the amount of green space and the additional traffic congestion it would create along University Avenue. In an informational presentation to commission members… Surveys Track Changes, Trends With Area Lakes Wednesday, September 6, 2006 - Lake Mendota has undergone many changes over the years, and many of those changes are recorded by the Long Term Ecological Research Project. Jim Kitchell, director of the Center for Limnology… Making Camp Randall More Fan-friendly Wednesday, September 6, 2006 - The UW spent $500,000 this year on improvements to Camp Randall Stadium with the aim of providing better access to seats, bathrooms and concession stands, associate athletic director Doug Beard announced Tuesday. The main changes for fans are the introduction… Housing Bubble Has Burst; Prices Will Tell You Why Friday, September 1, 2006 - To hear the real estate agents tell it, the housing market has "lost steam."\ What they really mean, of course, is that it's hit a wall -- though you won't get them to admit that publicly. And from all indications it's not going to improve any time soon. As the Associated Press reported last week, "sales of previously owned homes in the United States plunged in July to the lowest level in 2 1/2 years, and the inventory of unsold homes climbed to a new record high." Which is further proof, the story said, that "the bloom is off the rose." In Dane County, sales of homes and condominiums in July were down 19.4 percent… Friday, September 1, 2006 - Executive VP named for Realtors group. John Deininger, a vice president… Veridian Homes has two new subdivisions… Southeast business park breaks ground… Panera proposed for Mineral Point Road… Sun Prairie condo construction begins… Home sales drop in June… Erdman & Associates building headquarters… People's Choice winners are announced… Around
The State Over $4 Million for New Neighborhood Housing Initiatives MILWAUKEE – New WHEDA Programs Focus on Developing Neighborhoods, Increasing Home Ownership Among African Americans. Governor Jim Doyle today unveiled an investment of over $4 million for new economic development initiatives aimed at developing Wisconsin’s neighborhoods and increasing homeownership through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). Condo
project in Oconomowoc gets an initial show of support Wisconsin
Briefing Barneveld winery spreads wings THU., SEP 7, 2006 - Moving beyond its regional scope, Barneveld winemaker Botham Vineyards has increased its production as it pushes its wines into the rest of the state. The Iowa County winery has contracted with Badger Liquor of Fond du Lac to distribute Botham products in Milwaukee, the Fox Cities and northwestern Wisconsin… Oak
Creek business park wins support Mortgage Disparities Rife - Study Finds Blacks, Hispanics Pay Higher Rate Thursday, September 7, 2006 - Black and Hispanic homeowners were more likely to receive refinancing loans aimed at borrowers with low credit ratings than were whites, according to a nationwide study by the Consumer Federation of America. In a survey of nearly 5 million refinanced… Saturday, September 2, 2006 - Area Native Has Master's. The village has tapped local talent to fill the village administrator position vacated by Jim Mielke in July. Taking over as administrator will be Nicholas Owen, a 1998 graduate of New Glarus High School. Owen has been the administrative and planning intern for the city of West Allis since January 2003… Developer
ordered to pay $90,000 in fraud case Viewed
from 100,000 feet, region's outlook a lot sunnier
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