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Park Towne Development: News & Notes

We changed our format this week and hope you like it.  Have a great weekend.

 

Joe 

Development News for the Week of:    1/7/2012    -     1/13/2012  

   

PLAN REVISED FOR HISTORIC STATE STREET BLOCK

 

After hearing from the community and city officials, philanthropists W. Jerome Frautschi and his wife, Pleasant Rowland, have revised their $10 million plan to remake the historic 100 block of State Street. But some insist the changes aren't enough. The new plans would save the landmark Castle & Doyle Building, 125 State St., and the full facade of another building on that street but still would relocate or remove the rest of that building, another landmark, and three other buildings on the triangular block bordered by State, North Fairchild and West Mifflin streets.

 

CENTRAL LIBRARY FURNITURE, MATERIALS ON SALE THURSDAY
 

Desks, chairs and other materials will be on sale starting Thursday at the Central Library as it tries to earn a special certification. The library must get rid of 75 percent of materials that won't be reused or recycled for its new building or it won't stay eligible for a Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) certification. The sale will be open for all nonprofit organizations, including churches and schools, from 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the library at 201 W. Mifflin St. It will be open to the public at the library from noon to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

 

ARMY'S GROUNDWATER PLAN FOR EX-AMMUNITION PLANT UNDER REVIEW

 

State groundwater experts are reviewing a revised version of the U.S. Army's long-term solution to groundwater contamination at the Badger Army Ammunition Plant south of Baraboo. If the state Department of Natural Resources approves the Army's latest proposal, submitted to state officials last month, a period in which the public may submit written comments may begin as soon as February and last at least 30 days. 
 

Board recommends TIF for South Side project

 

The Madison Board of Estimates unanimously recommended $1.89 million in public assistance to the developer of a $24.8 million project on Madison's South Side. If approved at the Jan. 17 City Council meeting, the $1.89 million in tax incremental financing would go to Ghidorzi Cos. of Wausau, which intends to build a four-story, 76,800-square-foot building and 305 parking spaces on a roughly one-acre, triangular parcel bounded by Fish Hatchery Road, South Park and Midland streets.


CATALENT PLANS TO MOVE INTO FORMER GE HEALTHCARE LUNAR BUILDING

 

 The former GE Healthcare Lunar building on the Far West Side, at 726 Heartland Trail, will soon see new life. Catalent Pharma Solutions is remodeling the building and plans to start moving in around the end of the year from its current site at 8137 Forsythia St. in Middleton.

 

 DUNKIN' DONUTS ON SOUTH PARK STREET FACING OPPOSITION

 

Plans for a redevelopment of a blighted parcel at 801 S. Park St. are snagged over location of a Dunkin' Donuts drive-through lane. A group headed by Pat McCaughey has been looking to build on the site since 2009. The property which formerly housed the city's last typewriter repair shop is just south of the corner of Erin Street and South Park, across the street from St. Mary's Hospital.

 

 WHERE DID GENESIS ENTERPRISE CENTER GO WRONG?

 

Two years ago when Mary Feldt arrived at the Genesis Enterprise Center to take over management of the failing business incubator, the parking lot was clogged with snow, and there were $200,000 in overdue bills on her desk.

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 Around the State and Points Elsewhere

NEW JOBS EXPECTED AT KOHLER CO. PLANT HERE AFTER CLOSING OF ARK. FAUCET PLANT

 

Kohler Co. announced plans Wednesday to close one of the company's two Arkansas faucet-manufacturing plants and move a portion of the work to its facilities in Kohler, creating about 30 new jobs there.The consolidation will result in the closure of the company's plant in Malvern, Ark., with the work shifting to Kohler and to the company's plant in Sheridan, Ark.

 

HO-CHUNK PLANS FOR CASINO WITH UP TO 2,000 EMPLOYEES  

 

Up to 2,000 permanent jobs, 500 construction jobs, a swath of spin-off development and somewhere between $150 million to $200 million in overall investment.  That's what members of the Ho-Chunk Nation said a proposed 70,000-square-foot casino could bring to Beloit. The facility would house upwards of 2,000 slots and 50 gaming tables.  

  

APARTMENTS, HEALTH CLUB PLANNED FOR 3RD WARD 

 

 A proposed development, with a $30 million preliminary pricetag, would bring 150 high-end apartments and a health club to Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward. Mandel Group Inc. plans to start construction by the end of 2012 on the project, said Robert Monnat, chief operating officer. The building would be on the riverfront parking lot  next to Mandel's Marine Terminal Lofts, a condo building at 311 E. Erie St.  

  

 

An apartment building aimed at homeless families, and families at risk of becoming homeless, was unanimously recommended for approval by the Milwaukee Plan Commission Monday. The development, with around 35 units, would be built at the northwest corner of E. Center and N. Buffum streets by Chicago-based Heartland Housing Inc. 

  

 

A plan to convert the former Malcolm X Academy, on Milwaukee's north side, into apartments will be delayed because the developer won't meet a deadline to seek tax credits to help finance the project. St. Paul, Minn.-based CommonBond Communities Inc. wants to buy the building, at the northeast corner of N. 1st and E. Center streets, from Milwaukee Public Schools, and redevelop it into 55 affordable apartments, known as Harambee Heights. 

 

WARM WEATHER ALLOWS EARLY START ON LAMBEAU RENOVATIONS 

 

Everything else is going the Green Bay Packers' way this year, so why shouldn't the weather? An unseasonably dry and warm winter is allowing workers at Lambeau Field to forge ahead on the construction of an additional 6,700 seats, new entrances and other improvements. 

 

VOICES FINALLY HEARD IN NORTH ON MINING BILL 

 

What they had to say was important, but it was more important that they had the opportunity say it in northern Wisconsin. "They" are the people who will be most impacted by the proposed construction of an iron-ore mine in the Penokee Range of Ashland and Iron counties. And Wednesday, at the Hurley Inn, the State Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economy and Small Business held the first public hearing in northern Wisconsin in regard to Assembly Bill 426, which was proposed on Dec. 8 to change the state's mining regulations. 

 

 

A proposal to develop a 34-unit apartment building on Milwaukee's east side has run into concerns from aldermen and nearby homeowners about its height and number of units. Dermond Property Investments LLC is seeking city zoning approval for the four-story building, which would be developed at the northwest corner of N. Jackson and E. Pleasant streets.

 

RATE ON 30-YEAR MORTGAGE DROPS TO 3.89 PCT.

 

Fixed mortgage rates fell once again to a record low, offering a great opportunity for those who can afford to buy or refinance homes. But few are able to take advantage of the historic rates.