Kent and Kathy Ehley and Sue and Dennis Webb have formed Harwood LLC and purchased two downtown Wauwatosa buildings, which they plan to renovate for new tenants. "We’re interested in the village and the history of the village," Kent Ehley said. "Dennis saw this for sale and made an off-hand comment, ‘Why don’t we buy this?’"
They purchased the buildings at 7600 Harwood Ave. and 7610 Harwood Ave. for $686,000 from Streff Advertising, which moved to Menomonee Falls.
The buildings are located across the street from Ristorante Bartolotta. The two-story, 7,280-square-foot 7600 Harwood Ave. building is 105 years old. The two-story, 3,150-square-foot 7610 Harwood Ave. building was built in 1934 and was originally used by First National Bank.
When it owned the buildings, Streff Advertising used the 7600 building for office space and mostly used the 7610 building for storage.
"For years people would just walk past (the buildings) because it has not been retail," Kathy Ehley said.
Harwood LLC wants that to change. After they have been renovated, the 7600 building will have 3,600 square feet of first floor retail space and the 7610 building could be used as a restaurant.
"The village is all for it," Kent Ehley said. "They’d love to see (retail) instead of office, because retail draws more people."
"Everybody that sees (the 7610 building) says, ‘restaurant,’" he said.
So far several potential tenants have expressed interest, Ehley said.
"We’re just kind of been beating the bushes," he said. "It’s amazing how the networking connections work. Somebody tells somebody else and all of a sudden we get a phone call. I have been overwhelmed with the response and the people that are interested."
They plan to spend an additional $600,000 to renovate the buildings. They hope to complete the project in October.
In the 7600 building the staircases must be rebuilt and the doorways must be widened to make the building compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A large amount of asbestos must also be removed.
The Ehleys and the Webbs plan to renovate the exterior of both buildings. The 7600 building’s exterior will be restored close to its original appearance. That includes the addition of several new windows to enhance the first floor retail space.
"We’re trying to make it look, from a storefront standpoint, what it looked like when (the first floor) was retail," Ehley said.
The Webbs own Blue Lapin, a garden and gift shop located nearby at 7532 W. State St. They plan to move the store into the 7600 building and will occupy about 1,000 square feet on the first floor.
Harwood LLC is negotiating with a men’s and women’s clothing store for the middle portion of the 7600 building’s first floor.
At first the two couples planned to create two condominiums in the upper level of the 7600 building, that theywould live in. But then they determined that the floor did not have enough space. So, they are still thinking about what to use the second floor for.
"We’re not in this to flip it and turn it around quick," Ehley said. "We’re in this for the long run. This is a long-term investment."
They also plan to enhance the exterior of the 7610, adding more windows. The interior of the building has some hidden gems, including crown molding and ornamental plaster that was covered by up drop ceilings, which will be removed.
Milwaukee
Lance Manning plans to open a WOW Café Wingery restaurant franchise on Milwaukee’s east side. WOW stands for World of Wings. Covington, La.-based Wingery LLC was founded in 2001 and has 19 WOW locations, including 15 in Louisiana. The others are in Missoula, Mont., Shorewood, Ill.; Chicago and Orlando. WOW has 18 special sauces for its wings. Its menu also includes wraps, salads, burgers on Texas toast, quesadillas and fajitas. "The method we use, our wings are a little crispier than anyone else’s," Manning said. The Milwaukee WOW location will open around June 1. Manning said he originally wanted to open in Bay View, but lost out on a location there. The east side location was his second choice, but is looking better as more development is occurring in the area. "When I started looking the Kenilworth and the Whole Foods projects weren’t approved yet," he said. "Now I have a restaurant with about 40 parking spaces next to all of that synergy." Manning said he has the right of first refusal to be the franchisee for any additional WOW locations in Wisconsin. Eventually, he plans to open a few more locations in the Milwaukee area.
Construction should begin soon for a new development in the Park East corridor. Deerfield, Ill.-based Legacy Real Estate Partners has received signed contracts from 10 buyers for its Flatiron condominium project planned for a triangular-shaped lot at Water, Jefferson and Pleasant streets. Construction is expected to begin in late June, said Legacy principal Rod Engel. "We have the pre-sales to begin construction," he said. "We’re just finalizing our construction costs." The general contractor for the project will be Brookfield-based Altius Building Co. Once complete, the five-story building will have 38 condominiums and 2,850 square feet of retail space.
The city of Milwaukee has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a 21,000-square-foot parking lot near Kinnickinnic Avenue in Bay View. The property is located at 2254 S. Allis St., and has 67.5 feet of frontage along Allis Street and 90 feet of frontage along Lincoln Avenue. The city is seeking $150,000 for the property. Any development on the property must replace the existing parking spaces. The city wants the property to be developed with multi-family housing, commercial space or a combination of the two. The RFPs for the property are due on June 30.
East Town Travel plans to move its offices in July from 765 N. Broadway to a new office in the Milwaukee Athletic Club, 758 N. Broadway. East Town Travel will occupy 1,800 square feet in Suite 910 in the Milwaukee Athletic Club building. The ninth floor of the building is being converted from sleeping rooms to a full-service commercial and business center. East Town Travel will also provide professional concierge and travel services for the Milwaukee Athletic Club’s overnight guests and 1,350 members.
Germantown
Pewaukee-based DBI Inc. plans to begin construction soon for commercial development on 50 acres of undeveloped property between U.S. Highway 41/45, Mequon Road and Lannon Road. Only about 20 acres of the land can be built on. "There’s going to be a lot of green space in there," said DBI development coordinator Peter Draper. DBI is trying to attract retail, office or industrial users to the property. "Essentially anything and everything," Draper said. "Whatever wants to come in." Some businesses are already committed to coming in. DBI will build an 18,000-square-foot building for La Fleur’s Academy of Gymnastics, which will move there from Menomonee Falls. DBI will also build a 13,000-square-foot building for Goff Auto Body, a 6,000-square-foot gas station and convenience store for Virendra Verma and a 15,000-square-foot multi-tenant retail building for Verma. There are about 15 acres remaining, which can be built on, for additional tenants, Draper said. "(The property) has great access to 41/45 and Cabela’s is going to be right up the road," he said.
New Berlin
Brookfield-based Briohn Building Corp. is developing a 34-acre addition to the Westridge Business Park. Construction has just begun on the business park addition, which will be built on vacant land southeast of Moorland Road and Grange Avenue. The development could provide space for 400,000 square feet of buildings said Briohn vice president Mike Byrne. The property is intended for light industrial use, but could also accommodate office buildings or retail stores, he said. "There’s been a tremendous amount of interest (from potential tenants)," Byrne said. "We have quite a few people we have been talking to. The appeal of the site is its proximity to I-43 and I-94. It’s about one minute to I-43 and about seven or eight minutes to I-94."
Oak Creek
According to a commercial real estate source, Opus North Corp. is planning to build a 270,000-square-foot industrial building in Oak Creek. Jay Craig, senior real estate director for Opus, declined to comment on the project. Opus is developing a business park on 92 acres it owns northwest of the intersection of Howell Avenue and Oakwood Road. The company has already built a 140,000-square-foot industrial building in the business park. "We’re entertaining a lot of different opportunities in the park," Craig said.
Oak Creek Medical & Occupational LLC recently opened in the former Oak Creek Police Department building at 7625 S. Howell Ave. The clinic’s services include physical exams, substance screening, breath alcohol testing, audio and pulmonary function testing, worker injury care and CPR training.
Grafton
Amy and Joshua Melsheimer recently opened Lull Lulu, a luxury hair and nail salon, at 1110 Bridge St. in downtown Grafton. "All of the new investment in this town is really exciting and I am happy to fill the market’s demand for an upscale, yet relaxing and affordable salon," Amy Melsheimer said. The Melsheimers spent two months renovating the space before opening. It was previously occupied by a salon run by Petra Beulow, who maintains a hair and nail practice at Lull Lulu.
Elm Grove
Torke Wirth Pujara Ltd., an architectural firm, recently moved from 933 N. Mayfair Road, Wauwatosa, to the historic St. Mary’s Church property at 13100 Watertown Plank Road, Elm Grove. The church has not been used for worship for years and is being converted to office space.
Leases
Dickman Company
Direct Supply Inc. leased 6,400 square feet of industrial space at 7011-29 W. Mill Road, Milwaukee, from Lieberman Properties LLC.
Baldwin Transfer Inc. leased 59,250 square feet of industrial space at 11500 W. Burleigh St., Wauwatosa, from Jondex Corp.
Ideal Logistics LLC, leased 10,993 square feet of industrial space at N93 W14625 Whittaker Way, Menomonee Falls, from Muncie Riverside Associates Limited Partnership.
Right Way Industrial Company Ltd. leased 6,480 square feet of industrial space at 400 W. Bell Court, Oak Creek, from K&Z Partners LLC.
Grubb & Ellis|Boerke Company
Athlete’s Foot leased 2,500 square feet of retail space in Moorland Commons at 4770 S. Moorland Road, New Berlin, from E. J. Plesko & Associates.
Fantastic Sam’s leased 1,215 square feet of retail space in Cornerstone Centre at W182 N9606 Appleton Ave., Germantown, from JBJ Companies.
Inland Companies
Lindner Logistics leased 71,778 square feet of office and warehouse space at Brown Deer Business Park, located on North Deerbrook Trail in Brown Deer.
M&I Support Services leased 40,370 square feet of office space at 4701 Schroeder Dr., Brown Deer.
Aurora Medical Group leased 15,162 square feet of office and warehouse space at Stadium Business Park II, 4000 Mitchell St., Milwaukee.
Great Lakes Recovery leased 2,508 square feet of office space at West Allis Commercial Center, 2006-2142 S. 55th St., West Allis.
Union Security Insurance leased 2,060 square feet of office space at Executive Center III, 125 N. Executive Dr., Brookfield.
MWH Americas Inc. leased 1,448 square feet of office space at 789 N. Water St., Milwaukee.
Judson & Associates
Custom Stone Interiors leased 7,710 square feet of space at 1725 Dolphin Dr., Waukesha, from Hillcrest Business Center LLC.
Furniture Medic leased 3,750 square feet of space at N887 W226 Eastmound Dr., Pewaukee, from Dennis Boschi.
Tailor Made Products leased 3,300 square feet of space at 1860 Executive Dr., Oconomowoc, from Walter Bohrer.
Mid-America Real Estate
Performance Running Outfitters leased 2,000 square feet of space at Ruby Isle in Brookfield from Ruby Realty.
RFP Commercial
Wetzel Brothers leased 12,000 square feet of space at Oakwood Crossings Business Center I in Oak Creek from Opus North Corp.
Polacheck Company
Kidz in Shape Inc. leased 2,060 square feet of space at Capitol Drive and Brookfield Road in Brookfield from Rose Properties.
Jeff Liberman d.b.a. Verve leased 780 square feet at 223 Cook St., Lake Geneva, from Newport West Shops.
Caribou Coffee Company leased 3,015 square feet at 883-891, Lake Geneva, from Newport West Shops.
Neuman & Neuman d.b.a. Wireless Concepts leased 900 square feet at 8750 S. Howell Ave., Oak Creek, from Pranke Holding LLC.
Sales
Colliers Barry
Koebel Properties LLC purchased the 22,320-square-foot Washington House at 228 N. 6th Ave., West Bend, from MBB Holdings LLC.
Dickman Company
LC Development Inc. purchased 46,714 square feet of retail space at 723-35 W. Historic Mitchell St., Milwaukee, from GMK Realty Inc./Morton & Claire Komisar.
67th Street Investments LLC purchased 26,266 square feet of industrial space at 7701-15 N. 67th St., Milwaukee, from North 67th Street LLC.
Judson & Associates
Alsa LLC purchased 24,733 square feet of space at W238 N1690 Rockwood Dr., Pewaukee, from Monroe Street Properties LLC.
Blue Skies LLC purchased 3,878 square feet of space at 1343 E. Wisconsin Ave. Suite 102, Pewaukee, from Jentzsch Properties LLC.
Louis and Candice Finco purchased 3,262 square feet of space at 1343 E. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 100, Pewaukee, from Jentzsch Properties LLC.
Lindsay Wallace LLC purchased 5,760 square feet of space at W300 N7707 Christine Lane, Merton, from John and Sherry Makowski.
House of Wisdom purchased 2,425 square feet of space at 11615 W. Layton Ave., Greenfield, from New Apostolic Church.
Inland Companies
Carpet Land USA purchased a 20,000-square-foot industrial building at 11315 W. Rogers St., West Allis.
Mid-America Real Estate
Highway 36/W II LLC purchased seven acres at 1001 Teut Road South, Burlington, from the Vasek Family.
NAI MLG Commercial
United Realty LLC purchased a 99,000-square-foot crane facility at 3100 W. Concordia Ave., Milwaukee, from Pyramax Bank.
Kozlosky Investments LLC purchased a 3,200-square-foot medical clinic at 10827 W. Lincoln Ave., West Allis, from Dr. Norman Hoeffleur.
New construction
Creative Constructors, Menomonee Falls, recently completed the interior finish-out of a 1,800-square-foot Starbucks café at 6537 S. 27th St., Franklin.
Gerald Nell Inc., Waukesha, was selected to renovate the narthex and lower level of Resurrection Evangelical Lutheran Church, 213 E. Howard Ave., Milwaukee. The architect for the project is John Schroeder Architects, Milwaukee.
VJS Construction Services, Pewaukee, is the general contractor for the redevelopment of the former Hotel Wisconsin in downtown Milwaukee. The 100-year-old, 12-story building is being converted into apartments. When the project is complete, the 170,000-square-foot building will have 108 units, a spa and 8,000 square feet of retail space. The project is expected to be complete in August.
Briohn Building Corp., Brookfield, recently finished the design and construction of a 2,483-square-foot tenant improvement for Salon Medusa in the Brookfield Marketplace at 15060 W. Greenfield Ave., Suite 102, Brookfield. Briohn also recently completed the design and construction of a 5,200-square-foot medical office renovation for Lake Medical Clinic in Aurora Health Care’s New Berlin facility at 14555 W. National Ave. Briohn also recently completed the design and construction of a 20,413-square-foot tenant improvement for Wristband Resources at 21365 Gateway Court Suite A, Brookfield.
Anderson-Ashton Inc., New Berlin, was hired to design and build a new, 8,000-square-foot day care facility for Zion Lutheran Church at the corner of Lisbon Road and Emerald Hills Drive in Menomonee Falls. In addition, Anderson-Ashton Inc. was hired to design and build a new 12,000-square-foot facility for C.I. Banker Wire & Ironworks Inc.
MSI General Corp., Oconomowoc, was hired to design and build a new 3,930-square-foot North Shore Bank branch at the corner of Highway 164 and Silver Spring Drive in Sussex.
Creative Business Interiors Inc., West Allis, recently provided interior construction, painting, business furnishings and installation services for Ken Cook Company, which remodeled conference space, created a lunch area and upgraded restrooms in its Milwaukee offices. Creative Business Interiors also recently completed a contract to design, build and supply furnishings for the 2,300-square-foot Century 21 Realty office space at the Roman Building in West Allis.
