This is what the Clark Building (right) looked like about 100 years ago.
Should the City of Waukesha provide “an economic incentive package” to the developers who want to put an upscale restaurant and high-end hotel on the Five Points? Darryl Enriquez says that those developers will be making a presentation to the Common Council tomorrow night to gauge interest in such a proposal.
My questions would include: why wasn’t this idea broached before the project was announced? Is the project contingent upon the city coming up with the money? How can you single out one business developer for financial assistance and not others? Have been sold a bill of goods by our esteemed mayor?
Of course, since the developers haven’t even made their proposal yet, my questions are premature. My initial reaction is negative, however.
The Landmarks Commission approved the design despite the fact that the owners didn’t know the building was a registered landmark. Huh, you don’t say. “Brad Kwasny of Zimmerman Architectural Design said the owners did not realize the building was a registered landmark, and said the proposed limestone exterior with colonial-like window trim and planter boxes attempts to create “20th-century nostalgic” appearance.”
Really? Compare the early 20th Century picture above to his idea of 20th Century Nostalgic:
Eh, I guess I’m not much of an architect, because I’m not impressed. It looks like a Bluemound Road strip mall.
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April 5, 2007 at 8:23 am
Jeff
That architecture is terrible. They could easily fix up the existing facade, which I think is more attractive. I understand that you need to make the building look as nice as as possible, but you can still create a nice building without destroying the architectural features that are already present.
As for the financial package, I think I would support it if the numbers work out. Cities offer development incenives for individual businesses all the time. It seems Milwaukee cannot attract a single business without some development incentives (Roundy’s, TJ Maxx, Linnens and Things, Manpower, Harley Museum). I think that this project is important enough to at least give it some consideration. The best possible solution would be a developer financed TIF where the City creates a tif district but the developer borrows the money and is repaid through the increment in property tax revenue from the project. This all but eliminates any risk on the City’s part.
April 5, 2007 at 10:51 am
James
The building is not a registered landmark it is in a historic district so contributes to the area.
The old buildings are gone, the most recent edition has been re-muddled beyond recognition and the only recognizable form they have to work with is a picture of a chrome diner from the 50’s.
Perhaps everyone could look at what this group has done before. The Delafield Hotel and I believe Hotel Metro in Milwaukee. In fact why not have a road trip to both places. Some of the naysayer’s could use a little vision.
It really feels like Waukesha has an inferiority complex and has little to no faith in their ability to do what all of their neighbors have done.
April 5, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Huckleberry Dumbell, Ace Reporter
So the architect was wrong when he said it was a registered landmark. I thought it was odd that it would have approved so quickly. Especially after they gave that doctor so much grief about the doors on his house. I think it will be a wonderful addition to downtown, but I’m not convinced that I want to give the developer tax money to do a private project. I’d want to see his proposal first.
P.S. I was here in the 50’s and I don’t remember a chrome diner there. It was Clark Drugs, a Walgreens or Rexall pharmacy. It did have a lunch counter though, as drug stores used to have. It might have been chrome.
April 5, 2007 at 3:22 pm
olbroad
I miss those old lunch counters.
April 5, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Huckleberry Dumbell, Ace Reporter
If we give this developer tax payer money to remodel and open a business, what do we do if the guy opening the martini bar down the street says that he wants money to have his building painted, tuck-pointed, bronzed, whatever? If we say no to the martini guy, what would be the reasoning? If we say yes to the martini guy, then aren’t we saying, “Free tax payer money to anyone for opening a business!”? TIFs are one thing, this seems fiscally irresponsible.
April 5, 2007 at 4:12 pm
James
Let’s not jump the gun Huckleberry.. Maybe they are going to do a “spot TIF” to make sure that we get our money back.
By the way, how was your first week back to work?
April 5, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Huckleberry Dumbell, Ace Reporter
Yes, as I said, everything I say is premature until the developer makes the proposal. I guess I’m just saving myself some time later. I also know that some people in the city government actually read this stuff and I throw it out there in case they hadn’t thought to ask the developers the same question.