Brownsville-based
Michels Corp. says it won't discuss the extent of the damages from an explosion at its
R1VER project in Milwaukee's Harbor District last weekend until the incident is fully investigated.
The Milwaukee Fire and Police departments responded around 5 a.m. on Saturday to calls of an explosion and fire near the corner of First and Becher streets, said Milwaukee Police Department Sgt. Efrain Cornejo. The explosion occurred at the R1VER construction site, specifically at its parking structure.
R1VER is a mixed-use project that includes a 210,000-square-foot office building, the parking structure, an apartment building with retail space, a 90-room hotel and potentially another 120,000-square-foot office building. Michels will occupy three floors of the first office building.
Cornejo said no one was injured by the explosion or fire, and that the incident does not appear suspicious. An investigation is ongoing.
Through a spokesman, Michels declined to comment on the incident and next steps.
"It's under investigation and until that investigation is complete, we just don't have anything to say," spokesman Thad Nation said on Thursday.
He said work is still taking place to determine the extent of the damage and what repairs will be needed on the parking structure.
Brendan Conway, a spokesman with We Energies, confirmed that natural gas was not the cause of the explosion and said none of the utility company's equipment was damaged.
BizTimes media partner WISN
reported on Saturday that some residents in the neighborhood were startled awake by the explosion.
