124th Commerce District seeing significant investment

The area between Burleigh Road and Feerick Street (one block south of Capitol Drive), west of 124th Street to the 128th Street right-of-way, is seeing a significant transformation this year.

The City began meeting with property and business owners in the area about two years ago, to plan for scheduled street improvements.  In a series of focus groups with owners, a strong consensus emerged that a storm sewer system to replace open drainage ditches, and concrete streets with curb and gutter, would be preferable options as streets were rebuilt in the area.  The potential of "branding" the area was explored, and with the help of a professional facilitator, the name "124th Commerce District" emerged.

The 124th Street Commerce District logo preferred by area business owners

This name reflects the mix of commercial uses in the area.  There are 58 industrial buildings in the area, with about 1.4 million square feet of space; 13 office buildings with almost 200,000 square feet of space, and 7 retail or restaurant buildings with about 100,00 square feet.  The retail and office buildings on Burleigh and 124th Street, are mixed with industrial buildings that are home to manufacturers, wholesale and distribution firms, showrooms for home improvement products, and a variety of other uses.  The 124th Street area clearly has a wide range of commercial activities, and collectively an area of buildings greater in size than Brookfield Square Mall.

Storm Sewer and Street construction moving forward:

An engineered storm sewer system is being installed in the area, to replace a series of drainage culverts and some underground pipe placed over the years as the area developed.  Concrete streets with curb and gutter will facilitate the new drainage system, and provide an aesthetic improvement along with a durable road surface.  To further enhance aesthetics, colored concrete is being used in crosswalk areas on the Robin, Townsend, Wirth and Feerick intersections with 124th Street.  The City is also working with property owners to explore the potential for entry signs to identify the area.  All storm sewer and street improvements in the area are scheduled to be completed this fall.

Private investment picks up:

Investment by privately owned businesses in the area has increased substantially in the last year.  

Wisconsin Firearms Training - 

A group of investors purchased the old B&G golf store at 12730 W. Burleigh Street and is completely rehabilitating the building as a Five Star indoor shooting range and training center.  The facility is planned to open this fall, and the new exterior will complement the Exhibit Systems building immediately to the east, which remodeled and opened itself in May of 2013.

Wisconsin Firearms Training is rehabilitating the former  B & G Golf into a Five Star indoor shooting range

Kubichek Property Leasing - 

Kubichek is recladding the façade of its building at 12530 W. Burleigh, which is leased to Impact Networking, an integrated marketing, communications, and office equipment supplier.  The façade improvements will compliment both the Wisconsin Firearms Training and Exhibit Systems buildings to the west.

Kubichek Property Leasing is recladding the building at 12530 W. Burleigh, home to Impact Networking

360 Direct - 

360 Direct, a business to business marketing firm, purchased the building at 3245 N. 126th Street, just north of Burleigh, and has moved its national headquarters there.  360 Direct, with offices in Brookfield and Austin, Texas, provides digital marketing, strategy, inbound marketing, branding and web design, along with other traditional print, mail and advertising services.

LJ Design and Manufacturing (Laacke & Joys) - 

Laacke & Joys purchased the former VerHalen/Pella Window building at 3205 N. 124th Street, just north of Burleigh, and is rehabilitating the property to house its manufacturing operations. LJ makes sewn and other products for OEM's, municipalities, schools, the military and medical markets, and through its Concept Chairs division, makes a line of ergonomic chairs used in dispatch centers and other intensive use environments. LJ has recently moved 48 employees to this location.

Signs by Tomorrow -

Signs by Tomorrow purchased the building at 3415 N. 127th Street, and will be moving its operations from West Allis to a portion of this building.  Signs by Tomorrow provides a full range of exterior, interior, event, directional and wayfinding signage and graphic solutions. Signs by Tomorrow will be moving into the new property on September 15th. 

While much of this private investment in the area was in the works prior to the road construction, in several instances the City's plans for improvements in the area played a part in businesses deciding this was a good area to invest in.  The future looks bright for the 124th Commerce District.