Green commercial building planned in Walker’s Point

Kaufmann LeSage LLC, led by developer Juli Kaufmann, plans to build a 4-story, 30,000-square-foot “green” commercial building on a vacant lot at 538 S. 2nd St., in the city of Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighborhood. The estimated cost of the project, called Milwaukee Fix, is $7.2 million.
According to documents submitted to the city, the building will be designed in an attempt to achieve net zero energy usage, zero storm water discharge, 80 percent reduction in water demand, on-site waste water treatment and regenerative use of waste to energy.
Kaufmann is seeking a $900,000 EPA brownfield cleanup loan from the city’s Redevelopment Authority. The site was previously used as a scrap metal junk shop and is contaminated. The loan from the city would have a 3.25 percent interest rate. The proposal will be reviewed by the Redevelopment Authority on Thursday.
Kaufmann LeSage says it has commitments from tenants for more than 75 percent of the space in the building.
Clock Shadow Creamery, a cheese production facility and retail shop will occupy the entire first floor of the building. It will be operated by Bob Wills, owner of Cedar Grove Cheese.
The Healing Collective health center will occupy the second and third floors. The collective provides mental, physical and spiritual health services through the Walker’s Point Community Clinic, The Healing Center (an Aurora Health Care program for sexual abuse and assault survivors) and CORE/El Centro (a natural healing center).
The top floor of the building remains available. Three non-profit organizations and two small for-profit companies have expressed interest in the space, according to Kaufmann LeSage.