For years, downtown Pewaukee struggled mightily. Not long ago, when someone drove down the main drag (Wisconsin Avenue), they saw an attractive beach and lakefront to the west, but the properties across the street from the lakefront were a depressing sight of vacant lots, gas stations, a laundomat and a carpet store.
However, things are changing in downtown Pewaukee. During the last five years, the downtown has taken on a new look, and more developments are being proposed.
The latest proposal is an $11 million to $13 million project proposed by Cameron Scott Development, which wants to build a four-story building, with 12,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor and 32 condominiums on the upper three floors at 125 W. Wisconsin Ave. The property includes a vacant lot, a former gas station that was vacated 1-1/2 years ago and another vacant building. The condos would be priced between $350,000 and $700,000.
The four-story building would be built next to a two-story building, called Old Main Street, which looks like several old buildings side-by-side. The 20,000-square-foot building was developed by Siepmann Realty Corp. in 2002 with retail space on the first floor and office space on the second floor. The retail tenants include Chocolate Factory, Seesters Mexican restaurant, a hair salon, bike shop, gift shop, bakery and a spa.
Siepmann also built a 5,000-square-foot building at 179 W. Wisconsin Ave. Recently, Ed and Amy Seekinger opened Piano Blu, an upscale restaurant in the two-story building.
The Siepmann development appears to have been the project that jump-started the rebirth of downtown Pewaukee.
"We always thought (downtown Pewaukee) was a diamond in the rough," said Jim Siepmann, president of Pewaukee-based Siepmann Realty. "What is happening there is absolutely what we had hoped for. We hoped to be the first domino to fall, encouraging more development to follow."
The combination of the Pewaukee Lake beach and the Pewaukee River are major draws for downtown, Siepmann said.
"People love water," said Village President Tom Calder. "There’s an attraction to the lake."
Another upscale condominium project is planned for the former site of a Sentry store in downtown Pewaukee. Grandview Realty & Development wants to build a four-story condominium building at 201 Oakton Ave. The Sentry store there closed in the mid-1990s. The 100,000-square-foot building would have 36 condominiums on the upper floors and office and retail space on the first floor.
The Grandview and Cameron Scott projects both plan to build a riverwalk on the Pewaukee River, and they plan to work together to build a bridge over the river.
"I think it’s the impetus that downtown Pewaukee needs to take off," said Robert Williams, president of TDI Associates, which is the architect for the Cameron Scott and Grandview projects.
In addition, the city and village of Pewaukee are collaborating to build a new, $5 million library at Main Street and Prospect Avenue on a long vacant property where Pewaukee Middle School once stood. The new 27,000-square-foot library, which is under construction, will replace the current library. The city is paying for $1 million of the costs of the library, which will be owned by the village. The cost to operate and maintain the library will be shared by the city and village.
In 2000, the village completed a $1.5 million project to narrow Wisconsin Ave., widen sidewalks and add decorative lighting to make the street more pedestrian-friendly. The project made the beach wider and included the addition of permanent bathrooms, but it was opposed at the time by hundreds of village residents.
"I think it has been more than accepted," Calder said. "It’s made the street safer, people are driving slower, it’s more pedestrian friendly and it’s more aesthetically pleasing."
More development could make the downtown area look even better.
"I want high quality development and businesses that are complementary to one another," Calder said.
Hales Corners
State Financial Bank plans to build a three-story 18,000-square-foot data center at 10500 W. Forest Home Ave., near the bank’s flagship branch and processing hub at 10708 W. Janesville Road. The new building will be about 100 yards northeast of the bank’s 44,000-square-foot, four-story building. "It will basically be a campus feel," said Darren Dewing, assistant vice president of purchasing for State Financial Bank. "We will connect the two buildings with a fiber optic umbilical cord, which will allow these two buildings to act as one. Looking to the future, we intend to be very competitive providing technology solutions to our customers. In order to do that we have to have a data center that will be capable of growing with us." The corporate headquarters for the bank’s holding company, State Financial Services Corp., was moved from the Hales Corners facility to downtown Milwaukee about a year ago. But the Hales Corners facility is still the site for the bank’s loan processing, call center and information technology center, Dewing said.
Delafield
Brookfield-based TOLD Development Co. recently completed the first phase of The Shoppes at Nagawaukee northeast of Interstate 94 and Highway 83, and construction will begin soon on the second phase. The first phase of the project consisted of two buildings, totaling 57,000 square feet. The first phase tenants are Best Buy, Famous Footware, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Noodles & Co., Panera Bread and American Dental Partners. The second phase will have a one-story 19,000-square-foot building and a two-story 75,000-square-foot building. The tenants have not been announced yet for the second phase, which should be open by late summer or early fall said TOLD Development principal Greg Kost. The third phase of the development will be an Applebee’s restaurant and a 4,000-square-foot retail building. The fourth and final phase will be for a small retail building.
Greenfield
Dr. Henry Rosler plans to relocate his practice, The Pain Management Center of Wisconsin, from 2040 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 650, Milwaukee, to a new building he plans to develop at 4710 W. Loomis Road, Greenfield. The new, 12,500-square-foot building would provide space for Rosler and Dr. Jordan Mandel of the Pain Management Center. The building also will have space for a dentist or other medical tenant. A home on the 1.5-acre property will be demolished to make way for the medical and dental office building.
Glendale
ShoreTrips has moved into 2,000 square feet in the multi-tenant Ironwood Office Center at 5205 N. Ironwood Road.
Thrivent Financial has moved into 820 square feet at 5205 Ironwood Road.
Briessentials, Inc., a massage therapy and aromatherapy business, plans to open for business in February at 204 E. Capitol Drive.
Wauwatosa
William Ibach plans to develop a 2-1/2-story, mixed-use building at 6745 W. Wells St., which is the site of a former Aurora clinic that has been vacant for several years. Ibach’s building would have 3,040 square feet of retail or office space on the ground floor and 12 condominiums, priced between $220,000 and $260,000, above the commercial space. The design plans for the building still must be approved by village officials, who want to make sure its appearance fits in with the neighborhood. The negotiations on the appearance of the building have delayed the project about three months, Ibach said. "There’s some issues with aesthetics," he said. "I hope we can (work it out). We’ll have to see. We’re busy coming up with alternative plans for the site if this doesn’t go through." The vacant medical clinic would be torn down if the development is approved, Ibach said.
Sussex
Business Marketers Group, Inc. plans to move to a 50,600-square-foot facility it will build on North Corporate Circle in the Sussex Corporate Center on the west side of the village. The company currently owns a 28,000-square-foot building at W227 N6370 Sussex Road in the Sussex Industrial Park on the east side of the village and leases 16,000 square feet in the corporate center. The company needs to expand and wants to bring all of its operations under one roof, said Tom Touchett, president of Business Marketers Group. The firm, which has 42 employees, packages stainless steel fasteners for the marine industry, manufactures industrial sewn envelopes for commercial printers and other businesses, makes consumer adhesives for the retail market and manufactures emergency dialing telephones and elevator telephones. Construction of the new facility is expected to be complete in September. The firm’s old building in the Sussex Industrial Park will be sold.
WPC Computers, LLC plans to move from Slinger to Sussex and will occupy 800 square feet of space at N64 W24678 Main St., in the Wessex Center. The space has been vacant for about a year since Milwaukee Credit Union moved out.
Brookfield
Schlossmann’s Auto Group plans to build a Chrysler dealership at 18900 W. Capitol Drive. "For the first time in 20 plus years, a new auto dealership will be built in the City of Brookfield," said Dan Ertl, community development director for the City of Brookfield. The newer auto dealerships on Blue Mound Road are in the Town of Brookfield. Schlossmann’s is buying seven acres from Soerens Ford, to build a 43,000-square foot building for the Chrysler dealership.
Developer Richard Conley plans to build a three-story, 32,000-square-foot, mixed-use building called Brookfield Junction at 2848 N. Brookfield Road. The building will have 10,500 square feet of restaurant and retail space on the first floor, eight apartments on the second floor and eight more apartments on the third floor. The development will include 32 parking spaces in the basement and 68 above-ground parking spaces.
Alan Gaudynski & Associates, a public relations consulting firm, has moved its offices from Regency Court in the Town of Brookfield to 250 N. Sunny Slope Road, Suite 200, at the Maplewood Executive Center in Bishop’s Woods in the City of Brookfield.
Kenosha
Ronald Del Frate and William "Bud" Wright are looking for a real estate developer to develop a six-acre property they own at 3100 Sheridan Road. Wright wants to sell his share of the property, and Del Frate said he would consider either selling his share or partnering with a developer. For the last five years, Del Frate and Wright have been fixing up a 90-year-old, 33,000-square-foot industrial building on the property. The building was once used to make trucks for the U.S. military during World War I. Del Frate and Wright have used the building to provide storage space. "I think in the long range, the building will be torn down," Del Frate said. The property sits on high ground about 1,200 feet from Lake Michigan. A high-rise condominium development could take advantage of the lake views, he said. "We’re trying to figure out the best plan of action of what to do with the land," Del Frate said. "It’s ready to hatch. It needs some capital to get going."
Mequon
Chicago Title Insurance Co. has opened a new closing office at 11412 N. Port Washington Road, Suite 113, Mequon. The company says it is opening the new office in response to customer demand and the strong real estate market in the north shore and in Ozaukee County. In the past, many of those customers have traveled to Chicago Title’s Wisconsin headquarters in Waukesha for closings.
Andrew Weiland is the managing editor of Small Business Times. Send news about commercial real estate to Andrew.weiland@biztimes.com or by calling him at (414) 277-8181 ext. 120. News can also be sent to Andrew Weiland, Small Business Times, 1123 N. Water St., Milwaukee, WI 53202.
Commercial real estate transactions
Leases
James T. Barry Co. Inc.
International Delivery Solutions has leased 25,175 square feet of space at 7340 S. Howell Ave., Oak Creek.
Nitragin Inc. has leased 35,000 square feet of industrial space at 4801 W. Woolworth Ave., Milwaukee.
Zizzo Group Advertising has leased 10,884 square feet of space and ENV Designs has leased 840 square feet of space at the ASQ Center, 648 N. Plankinton Ave., Milwaukee.
Irwin Union Bank & Trust has leased 9,300 square feet at 555 N. Plankinton Ave., Milwaukee.
Dickman Co.
Fastenal Company has leased 4,000 square feet of space at 15805 W. National Ave., New Berlin, from Marek Management LLC.
Siegel-Gallagher
IKON Office Solutions, Inc. has leased 14,300 square feet, Silvertrain, Inc. has leased 7,983 square feet, Staff One, Ltd. has leased 4,455 square feet, Stanton Healthcare Management, Inc. has leased 2,164 square feet, Eyecare Vision Care Center has leased 1,981 square feet, Merge Technologies has leased 21,196 square feet and Lincoln State Bank has leased 1,981 square feet at Summit Place, 6737 W. Washington St., West Allis.
Trillium Care Group, LLC has leased 2,860 square feet at the Tradesman Building, 500 Elm Grove Road, Elm Grove.
Comprehensive Genetic Services has expanded their office space to 6,282 square feet at the Intertech Business Center, 3720 N. 124th St., Wauwatosa.
Wachovia Securities has leased 6,309 square feet at the Adelman Building, 6980 N. Port Washington Road, Glendale.
Mastantuono Law Office S.C. has renewed its lease for 1,198 square feet at the Marshall House, 817 Marshall St., Milwaukee.
Dwyer & Oszewski, S.C. has renewed its lease for 2,006 square feet at the Forum, 3333 N. Mayfair Road, Wauwatosa.
Time Warner Cable opened a store in 4,000 square feet it has leased at Mayfair Mall, Wauwatosa.
National Business Furniture has renewed its lease for 20,387 square feet at 735 N. Water St., Milwaukee.
NAI MLG Commercial
Joshen Papers and Packaging Co. has leased 83,424 square feet of space at 8133 N. Granville Woods Road, Milwaukee, from Lamida Group LLC. The San Francisco Music Box Co. previously occupied the space, but closed its Milwaukee distribution center last year.
Argon Industries has leased 10,000 square feet of space at 9011 N. Deerbrook Terrace, Brown Deer, from HSA Commercial. Argon Industries needed the facility to accommodate its continued growth.
Sales
James T. Barry Co. Inc.
ADH Enterprises has purchased a 49,856-square-foot industrial building at 180 James St., Slinger, from Schunk Graphite Technologies. ADH plans to lease the building to Weld-Fab Manufacturing Corp. to accommodate the growth of their business. Schunk plans to consolidate operations into its Menomonee Falls facility.
BBD Woodmill New Berlin LLC has purchased a 37,200-square-foot industrial facility at 17155 W. Glendale Dr., New Berlin, in the New Berlin Industrial Park.
Olive Goodman LLC has purchased a 100,800-square-foot industrial facility at 202 W. Olive St., Glendale.
Sisson Family Partnership has purchased 71 acres of land at the southeast corner of Highway H and Highway 11 in Sturtevant from Maresh Family Limited Partnership.
Erv Staacke and Tracy Woznicki have purchased a 15,140-square-foot industrial facility at 16995 W. Victor Road, New Berlin, in the New Berlin Industrial Park.
Baivier Properties LLC has purchased an 11,150-square-foot industrial building at 7802 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee.
Ibrahim Mahmoud and Salam Alramahi have purchased the 12,900-square-foot former Tracer facility at 4344 W. Capitol Drive, Milwaukee.
JNNF LLC has purchased the 38,082-square-foot industrial facility at 6209 W. Mequon Road, Mequon.
Ferro Investments has purchased the 18,000-square-foot Matrix Packaging facility at 700 N. Progress Dr., Saukville.
Boerke Company
Abdel Hafeth Hamed has purchased 2,849 square feet of retail space at 3477 S. 16th St., Milwaukee, from James Jashinsky. The sale price was $212,000.
Shamrock Olive Street LLC has purchased 13,400 square feet of industrial space at 111 W. Olive St., Glendale, from Bendrz Corp. The sale price was $281,000.
NAI MLG Commercial
Brian P. Konopka has purchased the 2,400-square-foot industrial building at 5555 S. 6th St., Milwaukee, from Ljubisa Vulovic. Konopka chose to purchase the building because it is near the airport and is accessible to the freeway. He bought the property for investment purposes and will lease it for additional income.
Ogden & Company Inc.
Gelin Enterprises LLC has purchased the 22,000-square-foot industrial facility at 7330 N. Teutonia Ave., Milwaukee, from Jack Silverman. The property, formerly the Crest Plastics building, will be the new home of Air Flow Inc.
New Construction
Briohn Building Corp., Brookfield, has completed the 1,800-square-foot tenant improvement for Goo Goo Gaa Gaa at 18905 W. Capitol Dr., Suite 100, Brookfield, in the Brookfield Towne Centre. Goo Goo Gaa Gaa is a baby and children’s boutique that carries a variety of children’s clothing.
Jim Pankow Inc., Plymouth, has been awarded the architectural design and construction contract for a new education center for Siloah Evangelical Lutheran Church and School, 3730 N. 21st St., Milwaukee. The new, 12,800-square-foot facility will have a gymnasium with seating for 400 people, locker rooms and multi-purpose classrooms. Jim Pankow, Inc. recently completed a two-story addition to the school, which is directly across the street from the new education center.
MSI General Corp., Oconomowoc, has completed the 11,000-square-foot second phase of Delavan Crossing, a retail center located on East Geneva Street near I-43 in Delavan. The project was a multi-tenant retail building on an outlot in front of a Kohl’s department store and a Wal-Mart Supercenter. The multi-tenant building’s tenants include Sonoma Cellars and U.S. Cellular. An additional 6,240-square-feet of space is available for lease by contacting Mid-America Real Estate. In addition, Douglas J. Fellows has selected MSI General Corp. for the design and construction of a new 10,000-square-foot building at 91st Street and West Heather Avenue in Milwaukee, to serve as offices and a training center for Pennsylvania Life’s Senior Solutions Center.
The Jansen Group, Inc., Milwaukee, has completed an office build-out for Norscot Group, Inc., 1000 W. Donges Bay Road, Mequon. The project consisted of demolishing a 25,000 square feet of office space and completely rebuilding. The improvements include mechanical and electrical work, data hook-ups and an emergency electrical back up service. The $1.3 million project was completed in eight weeks. Exterior work will be completed in the spring.
January 7, 2005, Small Business Times, Milwaukee, WI
