County Supervisors' Reaction to Lakefront Tower Proposal Mixed

The county supervisors representing Oak Creek offered contrasting statements Wednesday regarding a tower proposed for the downtown Milwaukee lakefront.

The proposed high-rise would replace the Downtown Transit Center, 909 E. Michigan St., and feature 180 hotel rooms, 180 apartments, restaurants, retail space and parking, according to a BizTimes Milwaukee report.

But negotiations between the county and the prospective developer can't move forward until authorized by the county board. And some supervisors, including Pat Jursik, say the proposal needs deeper vetting and more input from the public.

Jursik chairs the county board's economic development committee, which will discuss the proposal and make a recommendation to the county board.

"As the chair of the Milwaukee County Board Committee of Economic and Community Development, I am committed to ensuring the best possible use of any and all county-owned land," she said in a news release.

"The Downtown Transit Center is the most important development site in the entire state of Wisconsin. In the interest of all taxpayers, stakeholders and my constituents, I am asking for a public process for the redevelopment of this land."

However, Oak Creek's other county supervisor, Steve Taylor, said he was disappointed the committee is not scheduled to discuss the proposal in its July 16 meeting and called on Jursik to place the item on the agenda.

"Milwaukee County has a great opportunity to create an iconic new building on our lakefront and a grand new entrance to our downtown – while creating more than 4,400 construction jobs, 200 permanent jobs and an anticipated $2 million in tax base," Taylor said in a news release.

"I want to reiterate my support for moving this project forward. We must not delay the creation of these much needed jobs and tax base."

Update 2:30 p.m. Brendan Conway, a spokesman for County Executive Chris Abele, said the proper processes were followed when county officials and prospective developers went over proposals for the Downtown Transit Center.

Several supervisors were briefed on the four proposals submitted for the transit center site before Abele announced his recommendation Wednesday, Conway said. That's the process that was established, and the county wanted to stay consistent so there are no surprises for developers, he said.

"We're not doing anything differently," Conway said.