January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August
August 2-8, 2008 | August 9-15, 2008
Development News for the week 8/9/08 to 8/15/08
PUSH ECONOMIC PLAN INTO ACTION
Madison finally has an economic development plan to help it keep and grow good jobs. The City Council accepted a final draft of the plan last week following a unanimous recommendation from the city's Economic Development Commission.
ENTERTAINMENT CENTER IN THE WORKS
A bowling entertainment center proposed on Madison's Southeast Side could speed up development in the Stoughton Road corridor. Brunswick Bowling & Billiards has applied to the city's Urban Design Commission to build a 49,580-square-foot Brunswick Zone XL southeast of the Beltline and Stoughton Road.
DOYLE RESTATES SUPPORT FOR STUDYING NUCLEAR POWER
Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle said Friday that his support for exploring nuclear power is in line with the position of presidential candidate Barack Obama and not a reversal from his previous stance. But state Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, said Doyle told him in 2003 he would veto any bill that lifted a moratorium on building new power plants. Huebsch said Doyle's position had "thawed" by 2007, when the governor said he'd be open to studying nuclear power as an option.
BIG PROJECTS JUST FINISHED
Capitol West condominiums and Lucky apartments are two major residential construction projects completed this summer. These developments are not included in the past year's group of residential projects because they received building permits before July 1, 2007.
PRAIRIE RESTORATION BEGAN IN ARBORETUM UW ARBORETUM LEGACY
On hillsides and in fields and along rural roads all across Wisconsin can be found pieces of a landscape that once was. These are restored prairies and they are a legacy of a worldwide movement that had its beginnings within the confines of the UW Arboretum. There, in the 1930s, researchers such as wildlife ecologist Aldo Leopold and botanist John Curtis came up with the idea of bringing back the lost beauty of native prairies. They planted what became the first restored landscapes in the world and you can still walk through them today.
TWO NEW CENTERS TO GIVE BOOST TO NEIGHBORHOODS
The hundreds of east siders, young and old, who use the Goodman Atwood Community Center's many activities are just going to have to do without for the rest of the month. But it's a small price to pay for what lies ahead. Come Tuesday, Sept. 2, the popular community center will re-open in one of Madison's most ambitious building restoration projects, which has turned a clunky abandoned factory into an architecturally pleasing community gathering place.
DANE COUNTY NEEDS ATC'S HIGH-VOLTAGE LINE
Dear Editor: The American Transmission Co. has proposed building a high-voltage transmission line in Dane County to help meet our region's growing appetite for reliable electricity. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission recently determined ATC's application to construct this line is "complete," meaning that the PSC will soon begin an in-depth analysis regarding whether this transmission line is needed and, if so, how to pay for it and where it should be built. The PSC's analysis will include expert testimony as well as public hearings. The study could take up to 360 days.
FOR BICYCLITS, AN EASIER, BRIGHTER WAY
Bicyclists traveling from the West Side to the UW-Madison campus now have an easier and brighter passage. The new Campus Drive Pedestrian and Bicycle Path, which runs along Campus Drive from University Bay Drive to a network of sidewalks on Linden Drive, officially opened Friday.
POSSIBLE SITE OF LAB QUESTIONED\ A MISSISSIPPI SITE IS A FINALIST FOR A $451 MILLION BIOSECURITY LAB EVEN THOUGH IT RANKED LOWER THAN UW AND OTHER SITES.
The Homeland Security Department swept aside evaluations by government experts and named Mississippi - home to powerful U.S. lawmakers with sway over the agency - as a top location for a new $451 million national laboratory to study some of the world's most virulent biological threats, according to internal documents obtained by The Associated Press. UW-Madison was one of the sites passed over.
DEVELOPERS FOCUS ON APARTMENTS RENTAL PROJECTS POPULAR AS CONDO AND HOME SALES SLOW CONSTRUCTION UPDATE 2008
Rental projects have become a popular choice for area developers as the struggling economy and housing market troubles continue to make some prospective home and condominium buyers wary of making purchases. Three of the five most expensive Dane County residential projects that received building permits over the past year were apartments and the other two were assisted living centers for the elderly. The highest-priced condo project was Capitol West Townhomes, which is part of the Capitol West condominiums and ranked 10th.
Around the State and Points Elsewhere
-back to top-
Wisconsin State Journal.
Wisconsin existing home sales drop 22.2 percent.
PICKING COMMERCE SECRETARY IS TRICKY FOR SEVERAL REASONS, THE JOB IS IMPORTANT AND CHALLENGING NOW.
With the abrupt resignation of Secretary Jack Fischer last month, the state Department of Commerce is looking for its fourth leader in four years - and at a critical time for the state.
The state is seeing thousands of layoffs in the auto, paper, airline and other industries amid a flagging economy.
SBA APPROVES 906 LOANS IN WISCONSIN
Almost $21 million in U.S. Small Business Administration disaster assistance loans have been approved for residents and business owners in Wisconsin affected by severe weather in June and July. The SBA approved 906 loans, the agency said this week. Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.
FANNIE MAE ACTIONS MAY JOLT INDUSTRY
Fannie Mae is making bold cutbacks that will send shock waves through the mortgage market, after posting a quarterly loss Friday that was three-times larger than Wall Street expected.
To slow its financial decline, the mortgage finance giant slashed its dividend to 5 cents a share from 35 cents a share and said it will eliminate loans for borrowers with solid credit scores, but little proof of income or small or no down payments.
Florida drug developer moves headquarters to Wisconsin
Florida drug developer moves headquarters to Wisconsin. A Florida company with a technology for reformulating oily drugs so they can be delivered intravenously is moving its headquarters and research lab to Wisconsin.
Duck farm sells 570 acres
Duck farm sells 570 acres. Land near Racine brings $3.4 million. Land surrounding a former duck processing plant in the Racine area has been sold at auction for $3.4 million.
School expansions one step away from reality
School expansions are one step away from reality. Central neighbors concerned with runoff. Brookfield’s Plan Commission on Aug. 11 recommended approval of conditional-use permits for building additions and parking lot alterations at Brookfield Central and Brookfield East high schools.
Taxing entities cash in on closure of TIF
Taxing entities cash in on closure of TIF. School district gets 46 percent of payout. With the early closing of Shorewood’s second tax-incremental financing district, more than $250,000 will be disbursed to the village’s various taxing entities.
Is the city’s grocery bag full?
Is the city’s grocery bag full?. It’s redevelopment vs. traffic headaches for proposed Mayfair Road site. The former Renner auto dealership might be the epitome of a blighted property — abandoned buildings, grass sneaking through cracks in the blacktop.
Joint venture to study hybrids
Joint venture to study hybrids. Johnson Controls-Saft wins U.S. grant to research plug-in cars. Johnson Controls-Saft will research the commercial viability of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles under an $8.2 million federal grant announced Tuesday.
Tyson Foods cuts 200 Jefferson jobs
Tyson Foods cuts 200 Jefferson jobs. Company cites flood damage at plant. Citing flood damage to equipment, Tyson Foods said more than 200 jobs at its Jefferson plant would be eliminated.
Local housing market may have hit bottom
The bad news is that southeastern Wisconsin residential real estate market is still slumping. The good news is that the market's rate of decline is slowing.
Wisconsin Banking News
National City Corp. will move its Wisconsin headquarters to 411 E. Wisconsin Ave. later this year, and will also open a bank branch there.
Development News for the week 08/02/08 to 08/08/08
-back to top-
EAST SIDE SITE FOR START-UPS\ UW-OWNED INCUBATOR SEEN AS CATALYST ON E. WASHINGTON
The University Research Park, a 260-acre suburban oasis for start-ups on Madison's West Side, will be trying to attract young student and faculty entrepreneurs with an edgy new urban incubator in an abandoned industrial building on the near East Side. The 6,000-square-foot incubator in the former Marquip Inc. offices and factory building at 1245 E. Washington Ave. will offer 10 suites to high-tech entrepreneurs in a Downtown setting, UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley said.
HEARING ON $7.25 MINIMUM WAGE PUBLIC HEARING SET FOR WEDNESDAY ON RAISING THE RATE.
Wisconsin 's minimum wage would increase to $7.25 per hour in July 2009 to match the federal rate under a proposal subject to a public hearing this week. The state Department of Workforce Development wants to raise the state's minimum wage from the current $6.50 per hour.
Around the State and Points Elsewhere
-back to top-
Pending home sales rise in June
Pending home sales rise in June. Tax credits might be influencing buyers in U.S.. The weak real estate market received a dose of good news Thursday when a report showed pending sales of homes in the U.S. took an unexpected jump...
Harris Bank to lay off about 100 employees
Harris Bank to lay off about 100 employees. Cuts to come from suburban Milwaukee acquisitions. Harris Bank said it intends to lay off nearly 100 employees of two suburban Milwaukee banks it acquired this year...
Exchange will track biomass
Exchange will track biomass. Firm hopes record of trades will develop energy market. A Wisconsin nonprofit is looking to put the state at the forefront of the renewable energies market...
State makes new bid for Rainbow Springs
State makes new bid for Rainbow Springs. The state is offering to buy the long-failed recreation resort Rainbow Springs for $10.8 million, making it potentially one of the state’s most expensive conservation land purchases in southeastern Wisconsin, a state Department of Natural Resources official...
Southwest study could begin within the month; Study will cover nearly 3,000 acres of land
Southwest study could begin within the month; Study will cover nearly 3,000 acres of land. A study of nearly 3,000 acres in the Oconomowoc area that could help with the approval of several prospective developments into the city could begin as soon as the end of this month.. A study of nearly 3,000 acres in the Oconomowoc area that could help...
Old school site has development prospect
Old school site has development prospect. Buyer would turn Prospect Hill into campus for seniors. The New Berlin School District has a $1,225,000 prospect for its old Prospect Hill School...
Former Northridge property sold
Former Northridge property sold. Group of U.S., Chinese investors may attempt quick resale. The former Northridge Mall, which closed five years ago, has been sold to a group of U.S. and Chinese investors who may try to flip the property for a quick profit...
Drexel freeway interchange doesn’t come free
Drexel freeway interchange doesn’t come free. City must soon figure out how to share the costs. After a recent threat by state transportation officials to pull the plug on an Interstate 94/Drexel Avenue interchange, the pressure is on Oak Creek to come up with a funding plan to save the project...
Brookfield mayor, visitors bureau debate hotel tax revenue
Brookfield mayor, visitors bureau debate hotel tax revenue. The mayor said Tuesday the city needs to change the way it handles hotel room tax revenue so that the Common Council - and not the local convention and visitors bureau - controls how tourism dollars are spent...
Doyle’s goal for job cuts is unmet
Doyle’s goal for job cuts is unmet. Modest dent made in state work force. When he first ran for governor in 2002, Jim Doyle said his goal would be to shrink the size of the state work force to 1987 levels over the course of four budgets - amounting to about 10,000 jobs in eight years...
Johnson Controls gets 2 U.S. contracts
Johnson Controls gets 2 U.S. contracts. $100 million work aims to pare labs’ energy use. Johnson Controls Inc. has won two contracts valued at $100 million to cut energy use at federal energy laboratories in Tennessee and California...
Feingold will propose economic development bills
Feingold will propose economic development bills. Plans would help Milwaukee and Wisconsin, senator says. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) said Monday that he planned to introduce a package of economic development legislation that would benefit Wisconsin and particularly the Milwaukee area...
Housing market: Treating the disease
Housing market: Treating the disease. Foreclosed properties are the most visible sign in Milwaukee neighborhoods of an ailing housing market that is infecting homeowners, city neighborhoods and, more broadly, the economy...
Closures & Layoffs (Aug. 3-9): Six Months of Shrinking Employment
CoStar Group, MD - 5 hours ago
NewPage Corp. will close its Kimberly, WI, mill at 433 Main St. by the end of next month. The Kimberly mill produces approximately 500000 tons annually of ...
National City to move Wisconsin HQ to downtown Milwaukee
Cleveland, Ohio-based National City Corp. plans to move its Wisconsin headquarters from Brookfield to the 411 East Wisconsin Center building in downtown Milwaukee.
Germantown Sendik's opening in September
Devo Properties announced that the 52,000-square-foot Sendik's store it is developing in Germantown will open just after Labor Day.
Mukwonago medical center will become hospital
ProHealth Care plans to invest $75 million to $90 million to expand its Mukwonago outpatient center into a full-service hospital with 56 inpatient rooms and an emergency department.
Milwaukee's residential market may have bottomed out
Milwaukee was the only major metropolitan area in the country that had a year-over-year increase in the value of its residential real estate, according to a report.
July foreclosures down in Milwaukee
Milwaukee County and Racine County had a decrease in the number of foreclosures in July, compared with July of 2007.
UWM unveils eight possible sites for new dorm
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Real Estate Foundation this week unveiled a list of eight locations that have been proposed by developers for a new 500- to 700-student residence building.
-back to top- |
