Park Towne News and Notes

News & Notes

The City of Madison wonders why local businesses believe the City is difficult for business. The latest ordinance that they are trying to pass is detailed in the first two articles below but it really is an example of how the City works. Which is rather than talk with the business community about how we can reduce emissions, which is the goal of the ordinance, they decide they will mandate another regulation onto the businesses. I believe that when you have an established relationship you talk and work things out but when the City goes straight to new mandates it reflects that their is no relationship and that the City views the business community as an adversary. This city will never be great without a relationship between business and the City, and unfortunately that does not seem to exsist.

Have a great week!

Joe

Development News for the Weeks of: 12/14/2013 - 12/20/2013

MADISON CONSIDERS ENERGY BENCHMARK LAW FOR BIG BUILDINGS

Proposal would require owners of larger private buildings to publish energy use information or face fine.
-Wisconsin State Journal

ALDERS WANT TO REQUIRE MADISON BUILDING OWNERS TO TRACK ENERGY USE

The chamber of commerce doesn't like the proposal but backers say compliance with the ordinance won't be difficult.

-The Cap Times

DEVELOPERS REFINE PLANS FOR PROJECTS ON NEAR EAST SIDE

Despite changes, massive project proposed on Williamson Street still faces neighborhood concern over height, massing.

-Wisconsin State Journal

JUDGE DOYLE SQUARE COMMITTEE DIGS INTO DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS

Committee questions development teams, staff as it begins to focus on a recommendation.

-Wisconsin State Journal

WISCONSIN BUSINESS GROUPS JOIN FIGHT AGAINST EPA GREENHOUSE GAS RULES

Four state Chambers of Commerce sign on to the legal challenge, saying the curbs on coal burning will hurt business.

-The Cap Times

IN THREE YEARS, WISCONSIN INSTITUTES FOR DISCOVERY HAS BECOME A CROSSROADS

A daily teatime at 3 p.m. is open to all staffers, intended to get researchers to run into each other informally and plant the seeds for collaboration.

-Wisconsin State Journal

DANE COUNTY HOME SALES CONTINUE GROWTH STREAK, BUT JUST BARELY, IN NOVEMBER

The 396 home sales were just one more than the tally in November 2012. For the year, sales are up 25 percent.

-Wisconsin State Journal

NOVEMBER SUPPLY OF DANE COUNTY HOMES, CONDOS FOR SALE LOWEST IN 7 YEARS

Sellers have advantage in market with only 4.8 months of supply.

-Wisconsin State Journal

MADISON'S SWIFT MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING AIMS TO GROW BY RETURNING WORK FROM CHINA

Company owners hope to capture at least $3 million annually in machining work now done in China, enabling them to hire up to 180 people over the next three years.

-Wisconsin State Journal

DANE COUNTY BUSINESSES SHOW THE BEST SIGNS SINCE PRE-RECESSION, A SURVEY SHOWS

Dane County businesses are bringing in more money, adding staff and increasing wages at higher rates than they have been since before the recession.

-Wisconsin State Journal

MADISON'S LAKES ARE 'IMPAIRED' BY RUNOFF-DRIVEN WEEDS AND ALGAE, STATE SAYS

Phosphorus levels mandate listing even though Dane County has adequate plans for preventing pollution from farms.

-Wisconsin State Journal

Around the State and Points Elsewhere

MARINETTE MARINE IMPACT HAS WIDE SWATH

MARINETTE - Growth isn't just at the shipyard or limited to the immediate area. To build its boats, Marinette Marine uses 250 Wisconsin suppliers ranging in size and scope.

-Wisconsin State Journal

MILWAUKEE ALD. JIM BOHL UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR SUSPECTED COERCION

Milwaukee Ald. Jim Bohl is under police investigation for allegedly causing a landlord to get hit with a slew of code violations after he refused to evict two sex offenders from a property.

-Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

MODERNE CITY LOAN REPAYMENTS ON TRACK

The apartment and condo high-rise owners have paid almost a third of their civic debt back with condo sales and apartment leases.

-Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

FUTURE COUTURE SITE WORTH $9.6 MILLION, REPORT SAYS

The Downtown Transit Center site, where developer Rick Barrett hopes to build the Couture hotel and apartment high-rise, has a fair market value of $9.6 milliion, according to a new report.

-Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

DEVELOPER SEEKS TO BUILD APARTMENTS AT EX-QUARRY IN BROOKFIELD

The apartment building owner who led an effort to defeat a proposed city park and apartments at a former Brookfield quarry is now hoping to do his own development on that site.

-Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

WEST ALLIS SELLS SITES FOR HAMPTON INN, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

The West Allis Common Council has approved the sale of two sites for a Hampton Inn, near State Fair Park, and a light industrial development on the city's west side.

-Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

OAK CREEK RAMPS UP SPENDING ON DREXEL SQUARE PROJECT

The City of Oak Creek has agreed to spend an additional $14 million on the Drexel Town Square retail and residential project -- coming on top of an earlier commitment of $23.5 million in public funds.

-Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

AMAZON PLANS SECOND KENOSHA FACILITY 575 MORE JOBS

Amazon.com Inc. plans to develop a second distribution center in Kenosha, a $62 million project that would add around 575 full- and part-time jobs.

-Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

US ECONOMY EXPANDS AT FASTEST PACE IN 2 YEARS

The U.S. economy grew at a solid 4.1% annual rate from July through September, the fastest pace since late 2011 and significantly higher than previously believed.
-Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

DOHMEN CO. BUYS THIRD WARD BUILDING FOR HEADQUARTERS

Menomonee Falls-based Dohmen Co. has purchased a building in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward, and will move its headquarters there from Menomonee Falls.

-Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

SENIOR HOUSING REDEVELOPMENT CONSIDERED FOR BROWN DEER

A Brown Deer assisted living center could be redeveloped into a larger senior housing facility.

-Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

KOHL'S TO REPAY GRANT TO MENOMONEE FALLS BY END OF JANUARY

Kohl's Corp. will repay a $2 million grant to Menomonee Falls, provided to help finance its now-canceled corporate headquarters project, by Jan.31.

-Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

BABTISTA'S BAKERY PROPOSES FRANKLIN EXPANSION

Franklin-based Baptista's Bakery Inc. is proposing another expansion, this time at a vacant distribution center within a block or so of its manufacturing plant.

-Milwaukee Journal Sentinel