Milwaukee Condo & Real Estate Scene

The Business Journal of Milwaukee: Downtown may see new 'gateway' - Large retail project proposed north of Bradley Center

In November 2007, the Bradley Center board retained Lauth Property Group, an Indianapolis firm, to develop the area north of the Bradley Center. Lauth is proposing to create a major downtown Milwaukee shopping and entertainment destination which would be an extension of the Bradley Center. The Bradley Center board is hoping that this new development will bring additional revenue for its main tenant, the Milwaukee Bucks.

Although Lauth's proposal is still in the preliminary stages, the plan is to provide 500,000 square feet of retail, entertainment, and dining establishments on 12 acres of vacant land. Lauth is also proposing one or two high-rise office buildings. According to Lauth, these plans will be modified based on feedback from national retailers. According to the article, "the initial response from retailers was 'very positive'."

Lauth thought our hometown store, Kohl's Department Store, would be a good fit for this new shopping and entertainment destination. Unfortunately, the Board of Directors for Kohl's does not agree. They do not have plans to build a store in downtown Milwaukee.


My Thoughts

Last month I reported that Target had expressed an interest in opening a downtown Milwaukee store and had shown an interest in three parcels. One of these parcels is located in the Park East corridor. Although Lauth and Target will not reveal their plans, I believe Target will be a very good fit in this development. I only wish Kohl's would see the value of opening a downtown store as well.

The Shops of Grand Avenue has been a huge disappointment. However, national retailers continue to see downtown Milwaukee as a viable market. Whole Foods Market and Urban Outfitters appear to be doing well on Milwaukee's East Side. Anthropologie entered the Milwaukee market recently by opening its store in the Historic Third Ward. With so much attention that downtown and the Park East have received during the past few years, it seems that it would be a costly mistake for Kohl's not to consider a move into this market.


Rich Kirchen, writer for The Business Journal of Milwaukee, provides greater details of Lauth's shopping and entertainment destination. Click here to read more about this development>>>


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Labels: Economy

posted by David Ray @ 2:34 PM