January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November
June 7-13, 2008 | June 14-20, 2008 | June 21-27, 2008 | June 28-July 3, 2008

Development News for the week 6/28/2008 to 7/3/2008

ALLIANT MOVING FORWARD WITH MINNESOTA WIND FARM

Alliant Energy unit Wisconsin Power and Light Co. announced Monday that it has filed both a Site Permit application and Certificate of Need application with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for the proposed Bent Tree Wind Farm in Freeborn County, Minn. In April, WPL executed a letter of intent to purchase the Bent Tree site from Wind Capital Group LLC. WPL said it expects the deal to be completed by the end of the year.

PUBLIC MARKET PROPOSED FOR DOWNTOWN MADISON

The nonprofit Common Wealth Development is asking the city to put up $500,000 to purchase land for a public market, an indoor foodstuff and crafts mall in the manner of Pike Place Market in Seattle and Midtown Public Market in Minneapolis envisioned for downtown Madison. Marianne Morton, executive director of Common Wealth, and Jim Bower, director of Blue Planet Partners, made their pitch Monday to the Community Development Block Grant Commission, which administers federal funds earmarked for economic development, community development and housing projects.

UNDER ARMOUR TAPS LANDS' END EXEC

Athletic apparel and footwear maker Under Armour Inc. announced Tuesday that Lands' End President David McCreight will become its president, responsible for long-term growth strategy development.

COUNCIL OKS FULL REZONING FOR ALLIED DRIVE PROJECT

Rendering courtesy of Schreiber-Anderson Associates\ After years of effort, the Madison City Council on Tuesday approved the full rezoning for the redevelopment of city-owned properties in the heart of long-troubled Allied Drive, including a $7.5 million first phase with 48 low-income rental units.

RESORT FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY NORTHERN BAY CITES DOWNTURN IN REAL ESTATE

Northern Bay, the company that owns Northern Bay Golf Resort & Marina, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in U.S. District Court in Madison on Monday. But the resort, on Castle Rock Lake in Adams County, about 30 minutes north of Wisconsin Dells, will stay open and continue to operate normally, the company said.

FIRM NAMED TO FINISH CONDO PROJECT

A Dane County judge has appointed a law firm to complete and sell a $4 million affordable condo project in an improving South Side neighborhood. The developer, Lake Point Madison LLC of Milwaukee, had failed to make payments on a $2 million loan from the city's Community Development Authority and last month walked away from the near-finished, 50-unit project on the 1800 block of Lake Point Drive.

INVITROGEN FUELS MERGER SPECULATION

Invitrogen Corp. recently agreed to buy Applied Biosystems Group for $6.4 billion, fueling speculation that other life sciences companies will merge. The companies, which make genetic analysis tools, antibodies, proteins and other supplies used in drug development, are vying for market share as biotech and pharmaceutical firms cut back on research and development. "If you pick any two of the larger companies, they are spending time, money and effort to call on the same customers," says Leerink Swann analyst John Sullivan.

SELLING CARS SAID TO BE FUN AGAIN SELLING DOMESTIC VEHICLES HAS BEEN TOUGH, BUT THAT'S CHANGING, SAYS A CAR DEALER HERE.

Sean Baxter said he couldn't major in the car business at Arizona State University, so he studied commercial real estate instead. The expertise he gained brought a new dimension to his family's automotive business at a time when the domestic car and truck market was struggling.

$250,000 IN TOURISM GRANTS\ MONEY TO FIGHT NEGATIVE IMAGE OF FLOODING

Gov. Jim Doyle stood on the Wisconsin Dells River Walk on Thursday to announce the availability of tourism grants to counter images of a state under water and boost the state's $13 billion tourism industry. The goal of the grants is to help communities market their tourism sites as open after flooding inundated much of southern Wisconsin.

MARQUETTE SECTION TO BE DONE EARLY\ ALL LANES AND RAMPS INVOLVED IN THE MILWAUKEE PROJECT ARE TO BE OPEN NEXT MONTH.

The largest and most expensive road construction project in Wisconsin history will be done early and under budget. Gov. Jim Doyle said Tuesday all lanes and ramps on the Marquette Interchange in downtown Milwaukee will open by the end of August, months earlier than the original December end date.

DEMOLITION PERMIT ISSUED FOR ST. RAPHAEL\ SITE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS THE CATHEDRAL'S WALLS WILL START COMING DOWN ON JULY 21.

The gold cross and soaring steeple are removed, and now the city has given permission to demolish the walls of fire-damaged St. Raphael Cathedral in Downtown Madison. City Neighborhood and Preservation Director George Hank on Tuesday issued the demolition permit. It was a controversial move because some residents and historic preservationists wanted to save the walls of the structure.

ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN HITS AREA EXPERTS SAY COMPANIES AND CONSUMERS ARE CUTTING SPENDING.

If you listen closely, you'll hear them: Whispers of the dreaded "R" word - recession - are starting to flutter around the Madison area. Experts say many local businesses are facing problems and both consumers and companies are cutting back on their spending.

EPIC EXPANSION CONTRACTOR WITHDRAWS FROM WMC\ J.P. CULLEN & SONS' CEO RESIGNED FROM THE BUSINESS GROUP'S BOARD.

The contractor for Epic Systems Corp.'s $200 million expansion in Verona has withdrawn its membership in the state's largest business lobby, and the company's leader has resigned from the business group's board of directors. The June 9 decision by David Cullen, chief executive officer of J.P. Cullen & Sons., of Janesville, to withdraw from Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce came after Epic decided to work only with vendors who don't support the business lobby.

Around the State and Points Elsewhere
-back to top-

Delafield development faces political problems

Delafield development faces political problems. The developers of a proposed 195-home subdivision on the city's northwest corner said they will continue to seek approvals for the project although they face some significant political barriers that they may not be able to overcome.. The developers of...

With land in demand, moratorium out of favor

With land in demand, moratorium out of favor. Property owners assert right to sell. Muskego property owners interested in selling their land spoke out June 17 against a proposed moratorium that would prohibit new land divisions and rezoning of certain rural, agriculture and conservation parcels...

New TIF would target specific area

New TIF would target specific area. Projects would have until 2030 to be completed. Shorewood officials are on the verge of creating a third tax-incremental financing overlay district in an effort to allow more time to attract new development...

Landfill eyed for homes site

Landfill eyed for homes site. Prospect still open on idle land tied to Allis-Chalmers. The process to redevelop a former Allis-Chalmers landfill continues now that the city of Greenfield has granted a one-year extension to a Minneapolis-based developer to purchase its portion of...

Northwest plans approved

Northwest plans approved. Council still to vote on city’s ‘gateway’. The city of Brookfield’s northwest corner should become a mixture of light industrial, retail and office space over the next several years, according to a neighborhood plan recently approved by the city’s Plan...

Around Wi: Northwest: Business Briefs

LA CROSSE: Madison developer Gorman & Co. has completed The Historic Gund Brewery Lofts in the former Gund Brewery bottling house, which was first built in...

MillerCoors begins merged operations today

SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company announced they have closed on the transaction to combine their U.S. and Puerto Rico operations to create MillerCoors. The new company will begin operating as a combined entity today.

Harken's new headquarters will begin lean transformation

Harken Yacht Equipment will soon break ground on a new 80,000 plus square foot facility in Pewaukee, which it expects to be operational by Jan. 1, 2010. When it moves, the company will invest heavily in systems and machinery to boost its production and quality control levels. 

Groundbreaking next week for new Jannsen & Company HQ

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held on Wednesday, July 9, to celebrate the start of construction for a two-story, 25,000-square-foot office building in Pewaukee.

Soft economy weighs on Oshkosh Corp.

Oshkosh Corp. announced that the economic slowdown and the rising costs for raw materials are taking a toll on the company, and it now expects a third-quarter loss of $1.22 to $1.32 per share. The manufacturer of …

Milwaukee TIF close-outs could add $36.5 million to tax base

The city of Milwaukee could close out two tax incremental financing (TIF) districts this year, which would add about $36.5 million to its property tax base, according to the city ’ s annual TIF report. For the TIF districts to be closed the Common Council must give its approval.

Governor Jim Doyle approves US 51 improvements

As part of his “Grow Wisconsin” initiative to invest in Wisconsin’s infrastructure and stimulate our state’s economy, Governor Jim Doyle recently signed a $9.1 million contract to improve US 51 between the Marathon County line and Lincoln County K. 

Most Wisconsin highways open for July 4th weekend

Most major Wisconsin highways including Interstates-that were closed during the recent floods are now open for Fourth of July holiday travelers.  An up-to-date list and map of road closures on major Wisconsin highways are available on the WisDOT Web site at (click on Incident Alerts) or by calling 1-800-ROAD-WIS.

Development News for the week 06/21/08 – 06/27/08
-back to top-

DOYLE'S GRANTS TO HELP TOURISM IN DISASTER-HIT AREAS

Tourism in Wisconsin got a $250,000 boost today to help areas affected by the recent severe weather and flooding. Gov. Jim Doyle said one-time grants of up to $12,500 will be made to non-profit marketing organizations such as convention bureaus, chambers of commerce and economic development groups to assist them in attracting visitors this summer and fall.

EASE RESTRICTIONS ON NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS, STATE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDS

Modification of Wisconsin's nuclear plant moratorium was among the controversial recommendations that the Governor's Task Force on Global Warming approved overwhelmingly Thursday, in its quest to reduce emissions of heat-trapping gases. The task force is not recommending that a new plant be built, but that utilities be able to propose and plan a nuclear plant if it is the most cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gases and fulfill the state's power needs.

PASSING THE TORCH, QUIETLY BADGER STATE GAMES EXITING MADISON WITH A WHISPER, NOT A BANG

Tom Chorney has been part of the Badger State Summer Games for two decades now, and he has just one regret. "I've never been to the opening ceremonies. We've always had competition on Friday night," said Chorney, who serves as tennis commissioner. "I've always wanted to be part of the march of athletes and watch the lighting of the torch. But I've never been part of it."

COUNTY OFFERS GRANTS FOR DEVELOPMENT

Dane County announced Monday the recipients of its 2008 Better Urban Infill Land Development (BUILD) grants. The cities of Middleton and Stoughton and villages of Belleville and Cross Plains will receive grant money in 2008. Middleton will receive $24,000 to help fund the redevelopment of the University Avenue Corridor. Business vacancies and barriers to pedestrians are two issues that will be addressed.

$10 MILLION HOTEL NEARLY READY TO WELCOME GUESTS THE 132-ROOM HAMPTON INN & SUITES-MADISON WEST IS GETTING A FINAL CHECK BEFORE WEDNESDAY'S PLANNED OPENING.

The curtains are hung, fresh linens adorn all the beds and colorful petunias line the walkway. The "Welcome to Madison" sign peers out from behind the reception desk. In the breakfast area, a battalion of coffeemakers stands at attention, waiting to be deployed.

ALDERMAN WANTS ALTERNATE SITE FOR PORCHLIGHT PROJECT

Madison 's south side already has enough low-income housing and facilities for special-needs groups, says longtime Ald. Tim Bruer. It's not the right place for 38 more units for homeless people. Besides, the city has earmarked the property being eyed for that use, a shuttered ROTC training center at 1402 S. Park St., for commercial development, he says.

RESIDENTS, LEADERS TO GIVE INPUT ON DOWNTOWN PLAN

What does the future hold for Madison's downtown?

City leaders, residents, business owners and others will look at the possibilities Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, giving input at six public meetings at the Overture Center's Wisconsin Studio on the new Downtown Plan, a year-long effort that started in April.

WILEY NAMED INTERIM DIRECTOR OF WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR DISCOVERY

Outgoing UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley has been named interim director of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, the public half of the now-under-construction research center that will include private collaboration and interdisciplinary science. Wiley announced late last year that he would step down as chancellor Sept. 1, and Carolyn "Biddy" Martin has been appointed to take his place.

SHOULD MADISON BAN THE DRIVE-THROUGH?

First it was a proposed ban on plastic bags. Now, a member of the influential Madison Plan Commission wants to ban the restaurant drive-through -- or at least restrict the ubiquitous symbol of America's auto-centric lifestyle.

DRIVE-THROUGH IDEA EXPLODES\ A COMMENT ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DRIVE-THROUGHS ATTRACTS CALLS FROM FOX NEWS AND CNN.

A suggestion from a member of Madison's Plan Commission involving cars, climate change and a Starbuck's drive-through ended up combining with Madison's liberal reputation to create a buzz among some international news channels and bloggers Wednesday. During a discussion June 16 on whether to OK a Starbuck's drive-through on East Washington Avenue, Eric Sundquist asked whether concerns about carbon emissions from cars and global warming should be one of the factors the group considers when it approves drive-throughs.

SOUR POWER EX-BREWER YOUNT TEAMS WITH FITCHBURG FACTORY TO MAKE LEMONADE

Baseball Hall of Famer Robin Yount is helping a local factory turn lemons into lemonade. A year ago, Foremost Farms announced it would be closing its juice packing plant at 3101 Fish Hatchery Road.

HOTEL BONANZA MORE HOTELS ARE SETTLING IN MADISON'S SUBURBS, BOOSTING REVENUE FROM ROOM TAXES AND LURING MORE CUSTOMERS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES.

The hotel's lobby is high-ceilinged and decorated in sophisticated, serene hues. A fountain splashes softly in the background. Guest rooms are equipped with 32-inch LCD flat-panel TVs and wireless Internet access. There's a state-of-the-art fitness center, an indoor pool and whirlpool, and a fireplace in the great room. A van stands ready to ferry visitors anywhere from the airport to business meetings to restaurants.

GM CLOSURE MAY COST 9,000 JOBS

A new analysis shows the closing of General Motors in Janesville could result in the loss of nearly 9,000 jobs and nearly half a billion dollars in labor income. The study - by Steven Deller, a UW-Madison/Extension professor and community development economist - used employment numbers from 2007. It doesn't take into account the 574 employees who will leave the plant under a recent special attrition program, and it doesn't factor in wage and benefit extensions workers have in their national labor contract.

CITY MAY SELL LANDMARK HOMES PANEL WANTS TO GET PUBLIC INPUT AT HEARING ON MADISON'S PLANS TO SELL ITS PROPERTIES IN JAMES MADISON PARK.

Residents are getting a last chance to help decide the fate of landmark houses in James Madison Park on Lake Mendota. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and others want to sell properties to fund improvements at the popular but worn park, but preservationists, park supporters and fiscal hawks have been divided on what to sell, whether to move buildings and how to spend proceeds.

DOWNTOWN LIVING TO BE EXPLORED

The next big idea for Madison's Downtown could come out of a series of meetings scheduled this week to help develop a new plan for the area. "We're in the phase where we're starting to talk in greater detail about all aspects of Downtown life," said Ald. Mike Verveer, 4th District. "It's everything from tourism and the Downtown role for visitors to Downtown living to transportation issues and beyond."

FOES OF TWO-WAY GILMAN ST. WIN

In the face of neighborhood opposition, Madison Ald. Mike Verveer, 4th District, said Sunday he will withdraw his proposal to convert the 400 block of West Gilman Street to two-way traffic. The proposal to conduct a three-month test of the two-way traffic on the stretch of West Gilman running between University Avenue and State Street was scheduled for review Tuesday by the city's Pedestrian/Bicycle/Motor Vehicle Commission.

THE HIGH COST OF SUCCESS BADGERCARE PLUS ENROLLS THOUSANDS OF NEEDY CHILDREN IN HEALTH-CARE PLAN

By expanding a state health-care program for the poor to those with higher incomes, state officials have achieved a seemingly contradictory goal - signing up tens of thousands of lower-income residents who qualified for coverage all along. As of May, the Medicaid health program BadgerCare Plus has already tripled the number of new patients that state officials expected to sign up for the coverage by June 2009. In its first five months, the health plan for families added more enrollees than the state has done in any similar period in at least a decade, officials said. That influx is adding more stress to a Medicaid budget that state officials acknowledge is already in the red by $78 million.

NON-RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION DOWN 92 PERCENT FROM A YEAR AGO

Building construction is taking a nosedive in the Madison metropolitan area, with non-residential projects down 92 percent from a year ago. McGraw-Hill Construction released a report Monday on future construction based on May contracts, showing only $9,625,000 in non-residential work contracted for during May, compared to $114,887,000 in May 2007.

FITCHBURG TECH CAMPUS GETTING ADDITION

Construction is under way on the third phase of the New Ventures Center in the Fitchburg Technology Campus, an addition that will bring a 41,000-square-foot building. The new building, at 5510 Nobel Drive, will be connected to a 42,000-square-foot building at 5500 Nobel Drive and will house The Alliance, a health care delivery service.

SMART DEALER AIMS TO OPEN THE SMALL GERMAN CAR MAY BE SOLD IN MADISON.

Construction of a Smart car dealership in Madison could begin by the end of the year, if Bergstrom Automotive, of Neenah, can get approval from distributors of the European small-car brand that was introduced in the U.S. this year. "The real issue is they can sell all the cars they can build right now, so they're not granting new dealership points until they can get more production," said John Bergstrom, president of Bergstrom Automotive, which opened Wisconsin's first Smart car dealership in Milwaukee early this year.

MAC SPORT CENTER IS EXPANDING BUILDING

Construction has begun on a 12,000-square-foot addition to the MAC Sport Center at 411 Prairie Heights Drive in Verona. The $1.2 million project, expected to be completed in October, will include a full-service health club, a sports performance area and an indoor turf field for soccer, cross country and other outdoor sports.

Around The State and Points Elsewhere
-back to top-

GM CUTS PRODUCTION TIME AGAIN JANESVILLE LAYOFF MORE THAN EXPECTED, UNION LEADER SAYS

The bad news just keeps blasting at General Motors employees in Janesville. Already facing the factory's shutdown by the end of 2010, workers were told Monday they will be off the job for 14 weeks this year, or half of the remaining six months of 2008.

Pabst Farms to get more new construction; Officials say hotel plans show city's growth potential

Pabst Farms to get more new construction; Officials say hotel plans show city's growth potential. Pabst Farms announced Wednesday it will break ground on a new extended-stay hotel and an industrial building this month, another step forward for a community that continues to see economic expansion.. Pabst Farms announced Wednesday it will break ground...

FLOOD DAMAGE OVER $470 MILLION AS WATER SLOWLY RECEDES

Floodwaters on rivers in southern Wisconsin are slowly receding from record levels, but damage assessments from the massive flooding continue to rise, now close to the half-billion dollar mark. The latest initial damage assessments gathered by Wisconsin Emergency Management in the 30 counties declared to be in a state of emergency by Gov. Jim Doyle show $470,533,951 in damages reported. That includes more than $203 million in residential damage, over $146 million in crop damage, $75 million in municipal damage and $45 million in business damage.

LAKE DELTON STARTS ROAD TO RECOVERY

Lake Delton, one of the centerpieces of the Wisconsin Dells-area tourism economy, began its long journey to restoration when construction of a temporary dam started Friday to prevent further erosion of the lake. Even so, village spokesman Tom Diehl says the lake won't be refilled until next year.

LAKE DELTON TO SKIP BIDDING PROCESS

Officials in this resort community on Monday approved forgoing a bidding process so cleanup and restoration of Lake Delton can continue without delay and also began the task of getting back in the National Flood Insurance Program. About 50 area business and homeowners attended the 20-minute meeting where the Village Board announced that the state Department of Transportation will handle repairs to the breached area of the lake and Highway A, with the goal of restoring the lake by the spring. The village is working to create a diversion channel in the lake to direct water to its intended outlet at the dam, which should be completed this week.

STATE'S TART CHERRY CROP NEARLY A TOTAL LOSS

There's nothing to cheer about tart cherry production in Wisconsin this year. The tart cherry crop in the Badger State will be an almost total loss in 2008, but not because of severe storms or flooding this summer.

Decision to come soon on Waukesha downtown condominium project

Decision to come soon on Waukesha downtown condominium project. City officials are hoping to learn next week if a proposed $10 million condominium project for a low-rent area of downtown will move forward...

Milwaukee loses jobs, but unemployment rate is down

Milwaukee loses jobs, but unemployment rate is down. The Milwaukee area continued losing jobs last month compared to the year before, even while the unemployment rate declined, the state Department of Workforce Development reported Wednesday...

Businesses feel ripples of housing crisis

Businesses feel ripples of housing crisis. ‘We are definitely in a new housing slowdown’. The housing crisis has hit not only homeowners hard, but also home builders, subcontractors and construction workers, from painters to carpenters...

Delafield officials reject proposed Hartland Culver's; Change in border agreement unlikely

Delafield officials reject proposed Hartland Culver's; Change in border agreement unlikely. Two high ranking city officials - the mayor and president of the Common Council - said they will not approve changes in a border agreement with the Village of Hartland to make way for a Culver's restaurant north of Highways 83 and KE.. Two high ranking...

State moves up in ranking of technology

State moves up in ranking of technology. No. 22 rating 5 higher than spot in ’04 survey. With its investment in biosciences and bioenergy research, and leadership in stem cell research, Wisconsin has continued to expand its knowledge economy, a new report by the Milken Institute shows...

West side project seeks more funding

West side project seeks more funding. Council panel halts cash until new condo-store plan emerges. After more than seven years and $937,159 in federal funds, the West Pointe mixed-use project at N. 27th St. and W. Wells St. is still not completed and needs more public money, a Common Council...

Developer says Rivianna project is still alive

Although some real estate industry professionals and observers in Milwaukee have assumed that the proposed Rivianna project is dead, Bob Schultz, the project's developer, says he is making progress and hopes to break ground near the end of the year. "It's not dead," Schultz said.

Second Franklin Sendik's

The Sendik's store that is part of the Shoppes at Wyndham Village development, under construction southeast of Highway 100 and Drexel Avenue in Franklin, is scheduled to open on July 9.

Dan Minahan has $20 million for Summerfest grounds renovations

Dan Minahan has $20 million for Summerfest grounds renovations. For the rest of us, pondering how to spend upwards of $20 million to improve the Summerfest grounds is a hypothetical exercise...

Development News for the week 06/14/08 – 06/20/08
-back to top-

VILLAGER MALL REVAMP PLAN PANNED, CALLED NOT ENOUGH

A pared-down plan for the redevelopment of the Villager Mall on Madison's south side drew criticism Wednesday from members of the city's Urban Design Commission, who panned it as a "low rent" compromise of planning principles. A 2006 redevelopment study commissioned by the city determined that the 1960s shopping mall on South Park Street no longer made the grade, said architect Lou Host-Jablonski, chairman of the commission. "The conclusion was: 'This isn't working. We need a new mall,'" he said. "This plan keeps that mall."

TROUBLED AREA GETS A BIG MAKEOVER

After years of anticipation, a commercial development is rising on the biggest vacant lot in what once was Madison's most troubled neighborhood. Developer Scott Norton is building a $1.8 million, two-story, 39,000-square-foot office and retail building at 1526 W. Broadway on the city's South Side.

AMBITIOUS LIBRARY PLAN GETS A FEW CRITICS

Plans to rebuild Madison's Central Library as part of a multi-story, mixed-use building drew some criticism at a public hearing Monday night. While only three residents elected to speak at the meeting, two raised concerns about the proposed format for the new building. Local developer Terrence Wall presented a plan at a May 1 meeting of the Madison Public Library Board that would create a nine-story building with underground parking, retail space on lower levels, library space on middle levels and office space on the top levels. The board voted unanimously then to begin the process of selling the library and seeking out developers, with Wall as the strongest contender.

CITY MAY TRY TO CONDEMN BILLBOARD\ IT'S AN OBSTACLE TO UNION CORNERS PROJECT

Madison may try to condemn a pricey billboard because it is interfering with a major development. But some believe state law that protects private property would make any effort futile.

FINAL PLANS OK'D FOR $9.2 MILLION ALLIED DRIVE REVAMP

Everything is a go for the ambitious redevelopment of Allied Drive -- potentially the most expensive venture ever for the city-backed Community Development Authority. The Madison Plan Commission Monday night approved final design plans for the $9.2 million first phase that calls for replacing nine older apartment buildings with 48 new units of varying sizes and layouts.

TOWN SUPERVISOR RECALLED\ THE DEBATE IN THE TOWN OF CROSS PLAINS INVOLVES DEVELOPMENT PLANNING.

Residents in the town of Cross Plains voted Tuesday to recall a member of the Town Board amid a contentious debate over development in the community. The vote was 386 to 277 to recall Sup. Bob Bowman. Replacing him will be Jeff Baylis, a former member of the town's Plan Commission.

WATER CREST CONDOS FEATURE LAKE MONONA SUNSET VIEWS 42-UNIT MONONA PROJECT WILL BE FINISHED IN SEPTEMBER

Developer Kevin Metcalfe said he was aware of Dane County's challenging condominium market when construction began a year ago on the Water Crest Condominiums at Monona Drive and Cottage Grove Road. Metcalfe and his brother, Tim, who own two grocery stores including Sentry Foods Hilldale, decided to take the risk anyway.

CLINICS WILL OPEN IN CITY SHOPKOS MERITER HEALTH SERVICES WILL RUN THE MEDICAL CLINICS IN TWO STORES.

Medical clinics will open this fall in two ShopKo stores in Madison, as the city joins a national trend of retail stores offering basic care to walk-in patients who have sore throats, flu symptoms or other routine ailments. The FastCare clinics, to open in mid-October at the ShopKo stores near East Towne Mall and West Towne Mall, will be run by Meriter Health Services, Meriter spokeswoman Mae Knowles said Wednesday.

MADISON'S HIGH-TECH SECTOR CUTS BOTH WAYS

The high-tech sector is proving to be a double-edged sword for Madison. Sure, it has produced dozens of companies and created hundreds of jobs for those with advanced college degrees. But many of the most successful firms end up being sold to giant out-of-state corporations.

BOSSIE'S FANCY NEW DIGS 270 UW-MADISON DAIRY COWS TO MOVE INTO NEW RESEARCH FACILITY IN RURAL ARLINGTON

This week, 270 dairy cows from UW-Madison's College of Agricultural and Life Sciences will be moving into a new dairy research facility at its Arlington Agricultural Research Station in rural Arlington, about 20 miles north of Madison. With a price tag of $5.1 million, the new facility can house 500 cows, doubling that of the old Emmons Blaine Dairy Cattle Research Center next door. It will be able to milk 64 cows at once. It features state-of-the-art housing, waste-management and milking technologies that dairy experts say are necessary for producing the kind of research needed by farmers in Wisconsin's $20.6 billion dairy industry.

REGULATIONS EASED FOR BUILDING ON SHORELAND

Owners of property on lakes and rivers in Dane County have been granted some relief from zoning regulations that limited their ability to alter their homes. Dane County Zoning Administrator Roger Lane has agreed to change a policy that required homeowners in shoreland districts to obtain a variance from the county's Board of Adjustment for minor additions and projects such as decks or porches.

GIALAMAS GIVES SPACE FOR DISASTER OFFICE

FLOOD RELIEF The Gialamas Co. of Madison, a development and property management firm, has donated 12,000 square feet of office space at 1111 Deming Way in the Old Sauk Trails Business Park for the American Red Cross disaster recovery office for Wisconsin flood relief.

2 SCHOOL BUILDINGS BEING RENOVATED\ DISTRICT TO SPEND $3.1 MILLION ON THE PROJECTS

Two Madison school buildings are receiving summer makeovers that will rejuvenate their ceilings and floors, brighten their lighting and update their wiring. The projects are off to a fast start at Glendale Elementary, 1201 Tompkins Drive on the East Side, and the building housing Orchard Ridge Elementary and Toki Middle School in the 5600 block of Russett Road on the West Side.

Dane County smoking ban proposed

Smoking in public places could be banned in rural Dane County towns under an ordinance that was introduced Thursday night before the Dane County Board of Supervisors. Backers, including County Executive Kathleen Falk and County Board Chairman Scott McDonell, announced the effort at a news conference Thursday morning at the Nau-ti-gal restaurant in the town of Westport.

Around The State and Points Elsewhere
-back to top-

PROJECTED COST FOR NEW ALLIANT COAL PLANT SOARS PAST $1 BILLION

The cost for Alliant Energy's controversial proposed new coal power plant has soared to a range of $1.1 billion to $1.2 billion, the company stated in a regulatory filing. Alliant previously said the new plant proposed to be the third unit of the Nelson Dewey Generating Station in Cassville would cost $850 million to $950 million. When initially proposed in 2007, the plant's cost estimate was under $800 million.

SURVEY SHOWS BOOST IN INVESTOR FUNDING

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Wisconsin had $146.9 million in private investments for startup companies in 2007, up from $102.9 million in 2006, according to a survey conducted by NorthStar Economics and the Wisconsin Angel Network.

WIS. COUNTIES DECLARED FLOOD DISASTERS

Five more Wisconsin counties were declared disaster areas Wednesday from storms and flooding, meaning 12 counties are now eligible for federal grants and low-interest loans to aid the recovery. The move came as the Federal Emergency Management Agency said the first grants totaling nearly $38,000 have been given for such things as emergency home repairs and temporary housing.

MOVE GAYS MILLS TO HIGHER GROUND? TOWN MEETING SHOWS SUPPORT FOR IDEA

After two devastating floods within 10 months, more Gays Mills residents are willing to consider picking up and moving their community to higher and drier grounds. The Crawford County village was inundated with a record-breaking flood of the Kickapoo River last week at a time when many were still recuperating from last August's deluge. About 200 residents of the village of roughly 650 attended a special meeting Tuesday evening to discuss whether the village should relocate uphill. The meeting ended with more questions than answers.

EXTREME MAKEOVER\ VIOLENT WEATHER PRECIPITATES REDESIGN OF INFRASTRUCTURE

The heavy rains, strong thunderstorms and fierce tornadoes that have attacked the Midwest in recent weeks are a sign of the future, and communities will have to adapt to more frequent occurrences of extreme weather, experts say. It could be an expensive process.

HIGH WATER SHUTS DOWN PLANTS ABOUT 300 WORKERS IDLED AT TWO COMPANIES IN JEFFERSON

High water from the Crawfish and Rock rivers has idled two manufacturing plants in Jefferson, forcing the temporary layoff of about 300 people. Production stopped June 11 at the Tyson Prepared Foods plant, which usually employs about 200 people, and Thursday at the Nestle Purina Petcare plant, where about 100 people work. Officials from the companies could not be reached for comment.

STATES FIGHTING FOR FILMING\ MINNESOTA HOPES TO ATTRACT MORE FILMMAKERS BY IMPROVING ITS REBATE PROGRAM.

Minnesota is in a high-stakes war between the states to lure filmmakers. Minnesota will pay Joel and Ethan Coen $500,000 to shoot their next movie, "A Serious Man," in the Twin Cities. Minnesota lawmakers came up with the money to induce the St. Louis Park natives to film in Minnesota, not Wisconsin.

STATE ORDERS BYPASS BUILT ON I-94 NEAR JOHNSON CREEK

Wisconsin Transportation Secretary Frank Busalaachi says he has ordered a bypass built on Interstate 94 in the Johnson Creek area to get the road reopened. The order came after authorities said the interstate could be closed for weeks due to flooding.

LOWER WATER REVEALS DAMAGE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WILL BENEEDED TO REPAIR ROADS, BRIDGES AND SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS

Receding floodwaters are exposing millions of dollars worth of damage to Wisconsin streets and highways, bridges and overwhelmed sewage treatment plants. Engineers and administrators who have begun surveying the wreckage say it will be many months before everything is back in working order.

Jobs drop since May 2007

Jobs drop since May 2007. But employment is up compared with April, state report shows. Wisconsin employers have subtracted 16,100 jobs from their payrolls since May 2007, the biggest 12-month decline in nearly five years. At the same time, the unemployment rate dropped to 4.2%...

Harley temporarily stops production

Harley temporarily stops production. Capitol Drive plant is closed this week, Tomahawk plant will close June 22-30. Harley-Davidson temporarily shut down its Capitol Drive plant this week as the company eases back motorcycle production...

Developer late on bills

Developer late on bills. Rivren owes $3 million. The developers of a condominium building in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward are facing over $3 million in overdue bills from their general contractor but hope to soon receive additional financing to pay off those debts...

Condo development proposed at 83-KE

Condo development proposed at 83-KE. A 30-acre parcel of land at the southeast corner of Highways 83 and KE adjacent to the Foxwood Estates subdivision might become home to a 48-unit condo development.. A 30-acre parcel of land at the southeast corner of Highways 83 and KE adjacent to the...

More development headed for Pabst Farms

Pabst Farms, the 1,500-acre mixed-use development at Interstate 94 and Highway 67 in Oconomowoc and the Town of Summit, announced today that a 128-room Staybridge Suites hotel will be built just west of the Aurora hospital that is under construction.

Pabst Farms gets 2 projects

Pabst Farms gets 2 projects. Hotel, light industrial firm’s construction to begin this month. Two more developments are coming to the 1,500-acre Pabst Farms planned community in Oconomowoc: a 128-room Staybridge Suites extended-stay hotel and a 30,000-square-foot light industrial...

Out of the ashes: Wal-Mart revives

Out of the ashes: Wal-Mart revives. After months of debate and controversy, Cudahy Plan Commission members approved a site plan for Continental Properties’ proposed Cudahy Station, a mixed-used development anchored by a Wal-Mart Supercenter and a Milwaukee Wave soccer training facility...

TIF districts performing well, official says in annual report

TIF districts performing well, official says in annual report. District No. 1 could pay 15 years earlier than projection. South Milwaukee’s four tax-incremental financing districts are in good shape and performing at or above their projected financial targets, said Danielle Devlin, Community Development Authority...

Culver’s proposed for Highway 83

Culver’s proposed for Highway 83. The owner of one of the last remaining homes on the east side of Highway 83 is interested in selling his property to be developed into a Culver's restaurant.. The owner of one of the last remaining homes on the east side of Highway 83 is interested in...

Ruby Farms project takes twist

Ruby Farms project takes twist. Development plan may change, owner tells Brookfield council. Another prospective buyer has surfaced for a portion of the Ruby Farms site in Brookfield, and that may bring some changes to that property’s development plan...

As rain falls, planners nix Oakton condos

As rain falls, planners nix Oakton condos. A proposed condominium and office complex on Oakton Avenue was shot down by the Plan Commission Thursday due to a lack of engineering plans for the site that was under water due to last week's deluge.. A proposed condominium and office complex on Oakton...

Some oppose time limit on talks to board

Some oppose time limit on talks to board. County supervisor proposes keeping presentations to 15 minutes. A member of the newly downsized Waukesha County Board is running into opposition to his plan to limit how much time the board spends listening to special presentations...

Corn drowns just as global demand soars

Corn drowns just as global demand soars. Flooding sinks farmers’ efforts to fill food, fuel needs. The devastating Midwest floods are creating waves of economic pain with crops ruined, corn prices pushed to record levels and a damper put on expansion of the ethanol industry...

Boost service, cut fares to save county transit system, consultant says

Boost service, cut fares to save county transit system, consultant says. Cutting fares and restoring slashed service could be key strategies for rescuing the financially troubled Milwaukee County Transit System, a nationally known transit consultant told the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority on Monday...

Kenosha thrives after AMC

Kenosha thrives after AMC. But as change benefited city, many of its workers suffered. An office building has replaced an old tannery. Museums, yachts, a marina, restaurants and boutiques cover a lakefront landscape once dominated by industrial buildings...

Region must use planning to work for benefit of all

Region must use planning to work for benefit of all. A growing number of business, civic and political leaders recognize that if southeastern Wisconsin is to succeed in the global economy, we must embrace each other and work together as a region. This consensus is reflected in the emergence of cooperative...

State headlines: $55 million mixed-use development planned along Fox River

A $55 million development planned along the Fox River in Appleton would include a 10-story and three, four-story buildings all with mixed commercial and residential use. In total, the plans call for the buildings to contain 198 apartments and 114,540 square feet of commercial space, including a 75- to 150-seat theater and at least two restaurants.

State awards grant for Glendale condo development

Gov. Jim Doyle announced today that Canterbury Court LLC will receive a $400,000 brownfield cleanup grant of to help redevelop a formerly underutilized and blighted property. The developer will build 58 condominium units on a 7.5-acre site in Glendale that was formerly used by industry

Milwaukee may create TIF district northwest of downtown for housing

Milwaukee Ald. Robert Bauman is sponsoring a resolution to create a tax incremental financing (TIF) district northwest of downtown to spur housing development.

Groundbreaking ceremony planned for another Kenosha distribution center

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held in Kenosha on June 27, to celebrate the start of construction for a 587,710-square-foot distribution center.

Development News for the week 06/07/08 – 06/13/08
-back to top

KIKKOMAN TO OPEN RESEARCH FACILITY AT UW

Kikkoman Foods Inc. will establish a research and development laboratory as well as an environmental studies scholarship in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The new lab, which will open this fall, will be located at University Research Park in Madison. It will be led by one of the company's research scientists from its research and development facility in Noda, Japan.

FALL OPENING FOR UW-MADISON R&D LAB

Kikkoman Foods Inc., announced Friday it will establish a research and development laboratory and an environmental studies scholarship in cooperation with UW-Madison. The new lab will open in the fall and be located at University Research Park. The Kikkoman Foundation is also granting $100,000 for scholarships at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. Any undergraduate students pursuing environmental studies will be eligible for the annual grant, but preference will be given to students from Walworth County, home to Kikkoman's first U.S.-based manufacturing facility for naturally brewed soy sauce.

MASSACHUSETTS FIRM TO ACQUIRE MADISON'S THIRD WAVE

The $580 million acquisition of Third Wave Technologies by Hologic, Inc. is being called a "terrific marriage" of two firms involved in the research and development of women's health care diagnostic products. Madison-based Third Wave's patent applications for two human papilloma virus tests should complement the diagnostic and medical imaging systems of Bedford, Mass.-based Hologic, said James Leonhart of the Wisconsin Biotechnology and Medical Device Association

STATE, AG CO-OP PARTNER ON BIOENERGY CROPS

Members of the Premier Farm Supply Cooperative in Mt. Horeb will partner with the state Office of Energy Independence to demonstrate production and processing of bioenergy crops as a substitute for coal. The cooperative has received a $25,000 grant from the state to develop a feasibility assessment and business plan for the project and work with interested farmers to start growing switchgrass.

BIG WIND POWER ORDER SENDS AMERICAN SUPERCONDUCTOR STOCK SOARING

The global wind power boom just keeps blowing stronger for American Superconductor Corp., which has its wind power business based in Middleton. The Devens, Mass.-based company on Tuesday announced that it has received a $450 million order from Beijing-based Sinovel Wind Corp. to provide core electrical components for 1.5-megawatt wind turbines. Shipments are expected to begin in January and extend through December 2011. The order comes on top of tens of millions of dollars of previous orders from Sinovel.

LOCAL HOME BUILDING REMAINS IN DOLDRUMS

Home building in Dane County in May tumbled to a low for the month since 1999, when MTD Marketing began compiling records. Just 64 permits were issued for new homes and duplexes in Dane County in May, less than half of the 154 last May, and far below the range of 134 to 284 for the month going back to 1999.

SOUTH CAMPUS UNION TO OPEN IN 2011 FIRM LANDS $82 MILLION CONTRACT

The firm that built the world famous Santiago Calatrava addition to the Milwaukee Art Museum has been named construction manager of the new South Campus Union at the UW-Madison.

LOCAL EMPLOYERS STILL IN HIRING MOOD

Madison area employers are in a more optimistic hiring mood than they were three months ago, Manpower Inc. reported Tuesday in its quarterly hiring survey. For the third quarter, 23 percent of Madison area companies surveyed said they expect to add workers, while 3 percent expect to cut staff, 71 percent plan to maintain payrolls and 3 percent are uncertain. That's a net gain of 20 points.

Around The State and Points Elsewhere
-back to top-

Groundbreaking held for Cambridge Major expansion

A groundbreaking ceremony was held last week for the $40 million expansion of Cambridge Major Laboratories Inc. at W130 N10497 Washington Drive in Germantown.

AG SECRETARY PUSHES FOR LAND PROTECTION

Wisconsin 's agriculture secretary is renewing an effort to preserve the state's dwindling farmland. Secretary Rod Nilsestuen says the state leads the Midwest in the number of agriculture acres being lost, at 30,000 acres a year.

DELLS' WATERPARK RESORT PIONEER EXPANDING

The Wisconsin Dells property that invented the indoor waterpark resort has announced a $20 million expansion. In what it called an effort to re-position the Polynesian as a key player in the waterpark and convention center business in Wisconsin Dells, Polynesian Properties Development detailed in a news release a renovation that includes a convention center, condominiums, waterpark attractions and a complete cosmetic makeover of the Polynesian exterior and nearly 300 rooms.

Hybrid battery project boosted

Hybrid battery project boosted. Johnson Controls effort gets $10 million grant. The Johnson Controls-Saft hybrid battery joint venture has been selected to share in $30 million in federal funding announced Thursday to advance development of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles...

Mayor looks at role of WEDC

Mayor looks at role of WEDC. Development funds could be shifted to city. A move by Mayor Jill Didier to review the city’s funding of and involvement with the Wauwatosa Economic Development Corporation has business leaders and WEDC board members concerned...

Planning manager lauded for his development efforts

Planning manager lauded for his development efforts. Award notes Schaer's aim for improvements. West Allis Planning and Zoning Manager Steve Schaer has been honored with the Public Policy Forum's Leader of the Future award...

Commission rejects hotel, gas station concept plan

Commission rejects hotel, gas station concept plan. A conceptual review of a proposed development with a gas station/convenience store, retail building and four-story Comfort Suites hotel failed to gain the support of the Brown Deer Plan Commission on June 9...

Zoning for Wal-Mart advances in Cudahy

Zoning for Wal-Mart advances in Cudahy. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. hopes to begin construction by spring 2009 on a Supercenter proposed for Cudahy following a Plan Commission vote that recommended zoning approval for the development...

Site work for condos could begin soon

Site work for condos could begin soon. The Glendale Common Council on June 9 cleared the path for the construction of Canterbury Court by approving both a certified survey map and a development agreement. The actions end a two-year discussion about the development of seven acres on the south...

Commission OKs Ruby Farms proposal

Commission OKs Ruby Farms proposal. Zoning change needed for high density plan. Brookfield residents will have an opportunity next month to share their thoughts on a proposal for a large-scale development slated for the Ruby Farms-WTMJ land south of Bluemound Road and west of Calhoun Road...

Summit commercial development inching closer; Senior care centers start construction next month

Summit commercial development inching closer; Senior care centers start construction next month. A mixed-use development in the Town of Summit had a few more of its pieces come together at last week's Plan Commission meeting, leaving the project weeks away from initial groundwork.. A mixed-use development in the Town of Summit had a few more of...

Recall Efforts: Wal-Mart discontent

Recall Efforts: Wal-Mart discontent. It’s getting to be that “recall” might become Wal-Mart’s middle name. In Hartford two years ago, a citizens’ group started a recall effort largely over an issue related to Common Council approval of a Wal-Mart on the west side of the city. The group...

Economic Development: A sense of urgency

Economic Development: A sense of urgency. A new report tells a familiar tale about the Milwaukee-area economy: too many under-educated people in the labor force, too few college graduates, too many people leaving the area, a history of cautious responses...

Bank to invest in loft project

Bank to invest in loft project. $4.8 million to finance work at old Pabst site. An apartment building under construction at the former Pabst brewery site is getting a $4.8 million investment from a Cleveland-based bank...

CRE Spotlight: Major hospital expansion planned in Kenosha County

In yet another sign of how urban sprawl from Chicago is changing Kenosha County, Kenosha-based United Hospital System plans to double the size of St. Catherine’s Medical Center in Pleasant Prairie.

Blue Ribbon Lofts receives equity financing

National City Bank and Great Lakes Capital Fund are each providing about $4.8 million in equity financing

Out-of-state investors see value in Pabst Brewery project

Two out-of-state investment funds are bullish enough about the Pabst Brewery redevelopment project in Milwaukee that they see fit to invest money into the venture.

Zilber's affordable Pabst apartments will target 'creative class'

-back to top-